Initial Music Magazine Research

Joni Sommerville AS Media Coursework 2016

The different types of music magazines

From the mind map in the top right, we understand that because there are so many different styles of music, there will be a wide variety of music magazines depending on the genre you are looking for/interested in. Therefore as an opening statement it is fair to say that the media has a great representation of all the musical genres in magazines. It is so important that we get such an extensive selection as we know that there are so many different types of reader who's interests all differ. For example those who are into heavy-metal might choose ‘KERRANG!’, Those who prefer Mozart over Marilyn Manson might read ‘music’ magazine. As well as others might be interested dance pop and so they could read mixmag. A principal factor that resides with them all is that the majority will follow the same codes and conventions- however altered slightly to suit the genre. For example on an initial glance, it appears that magazines are lead by celebrities as their following will attract an audience suited to that particular magazine.

Magazine Companies:

Development Hell ltd is the distribution company of Mixmag magazine. They also produce mixmagtv, mixmag events, mixmag.net and the world’s No.1 clubbing social network site dontstayin.com. Their company owns a multimedia platform for mixmag. Because they’re redound for their expertise in the media, and the respect they’ve had from stars such as Calvin Harris and Nina Kravis, I’d want to publish my magazine with them because they have the knowledge and power to get my magazine at the top of my readers list.

Magazine companies:“Bauer Media Group is a European-based media company, headquartered in Hamburg, Germany that manages a portfolio of more than 600 magazines, over 400 digital products and 50 radio and TV stations around the world. The portfolio includes print shops, postal, distribution and marketing services. Bauer Media Group has a workforce of approximately 11,000 employees in 17 countries.”- Online source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bauer_Media_Group

Again. Like Development Hell Ltd Bauer Media has an incontestable dominance in the media. From the figures above we know that they are well respected due to the large amount of numbers of employees and media products they manage and own.

Mixmag have made their media packs easy to access via the website: http://mixmag.net/page/advertisers-media-pack/ I have read the media pack and will repeat the information from it to have a better understanding of the target audience and their following as well as background. Brand Overview“Mixmag Media is a global digital media business operating in the fastest growing music sector: electronic music. We believe that content is king and we specialise in creating expert content for brands. We distribute that content on the platforms best suited to the audience and the campaign across our owned and operated channels; mixmag TV, website, print magazine, app, and socials – an dour partners in the Mixmag Media Network. We have built influential global audiences on video, social, mobile, digital and print platforms. We specialise in YouTube, Facebook Live, music streaming and social. We speak to 5 million music fans per week.

• Mixmag is a global brand • They have 13 different offices around the world• Their global partnerships are guaranteed to have the opportunity to reach a worldwide

audience • Content can be translated into a different language across 5 continents

Mixmag’s magazine readership 246,000Mixmag’s App readership120,000 Average Age of readership 24

Employment status

25% (Students), 70% (Employed)

Relationship status

18 % (Married), 73% (Single)

Education 34% (Post Grad), 64% (University)

Social grade 22% (C1), 46% (AB)

Mixmag’s weekly magazine reach

5,278,000

“ Our audience are early adopters and music lovers; engaged, passionate, influential and well-connected. They spend their money on going out, music, fashion and tech.” Technology 16x more interested in technology Music95x more interested in musicFashion 19x more likely to read and share fashion content within social ecosystem. Travel No.1 interest outside music for Mixmag’s online users

A BRIEF HISTORY OF MOJO“The music institution known as MOJO debuted in the form of a magazine on the news-stands of Britain in 1993.

Its inaugural cover story was an account of the complex relationship between Bob Dylan and John Lennon. There was general amazement that the age of sound bite culture should spawn a magazine that reveled in 16-page features of uncompromising quality. Ever since, it has reveled in the stories of music’s all-time greats and recommended new music of quality and integrity: the classics of now and tomorrow.

The rough idea, in the words of founding editor Paul Du Noyer, was for something “that had the sensibilities of a fanzine and the design values of Vogue.” Its title was chosen as a homage to Delta blues mythology and as a reminder of the magic at the core of music.

MOJO has been online since 2001.” http://www.mojo4music.com/about-us/

“Our award-winning editorial team prides itself in delivering a magazine that is packed with insight, passion, and revelatory encounters with the greatest musicians of all-time, be they established or emerging musicians.

The magazine is loved by its readers and artists alike because it engages them on the subject they love the most: music itself.

Every month MOJO brings you a definitive cover feature on an iconic act; a bespoke CD (especially compiled by the editorial team or a major musician in MOJO’s world); and our famous reviews section, the Filter, which brings you 30 pages-plus of the best of that month’s music, both classic and contemporary.

MOJO is the WORLD’S LARGEST UK MUSIC MAGAZINE, delivering a monthly dose of world class journalism and iconic photography to an audience of extremely passionate music consumers. If you’re featured in MOJO, you matter.

MOJO is the brand for those truly OBSESSED with music

MOJO is THE MUSIC EXPERT – a magazine of high brand values and integrity. A carefully crafted musical archive covering the very best of music across genres. From classic and modern rock, folk, soul, country to reggae, electronic and experimental. It prefers to celebrate quality over popularity – music that will stand the test of time.”

MOJO MAGAZINE

From the statistics and the audience profile we understand that unlike mixmag, MOJO targets a more mature and niche market compared to today’s mainstream that mixmag targets. I’ve chosen to look at magazines in the genre of my own magazine (Pop/mainstream music) as well as others that are not in order to evaluate and compare the differences as well as similarities in order for me to have a better understanding of the codes and conventions of a magazine.

Much like Mixmag, MOJO mag has a strong influence on its followers. As they have both proven and manifested a world in which they are Gods to their readers, this is due to the immaculate presentation of their work in all aspects and their celebrity-approved respect.

Again MOJO magazine establishes their power through their ‘Honours List’. Therefore not only do they produce media they organise social events that the stars themselves want to be apart of. They’ve done a role-reversal- their exclusivity means that those celebrities themselves want to b part of MOJO’s world, rather than the opposite.

The use of ‘name dropping’ signifies the connections that they have within the music industry. The ‘Hall of fame’ celebrities are talked about as though their close friends of MOJO magazine- this sets off alarm bells in their readers head.

From the words I have selected we understand that Immediate media have and outstanding knowledge of what the aim to do as a media company and the scale of there influence. The picture of the cyclist in the foreground connotes drive and determination to ‘win’- or be the ultimate media company in this case.

The use of visuals will make readers remember the proposed strategy a lot easier than without a visual.

“Immediate is the special interest content and platform company. Our fast-growing, multi-platform media business is home to over 1,300 people across eight divisions.

We own and operate some of the best-loved brands in the UK. And we only focus on special interest markets, engaging over 18 million passionate consumers each month, offering them world-class content and innovative new products and services.” Immediate Media co.

“BBC Top Of The Pops magazine is the UK’s biggest-selling teen title, with everything girls could wish for and more! We bring our readers closer to the stars with exclusive interviews, pictures and behind-the-scenes gossip. There’s also brilliant fashion and beauty, shocking real-life stories, gorgeous posters and must-have free gifts in every issue. TOTP Mag is the friend teen girls can rely on to give them confidence, make them LOL and share all the stars’ secrets. That’s why we’ve been number one for 20 years.”I have chosen to analyse ‘Top of the Pops’ magazine to look at the impact that print media has on a younger audience. This is so that I can think about whether or not my own magazine will be targeted at a younger audience or not. It will also give me a better understanding between the contrasts of the different genres of each magazine.

“BBC Top Of The Pops magazine is the UK’s biggest-selling teen title, with everything girls could wish for and more! We bring our readers closer to the stars with exclusive interviews, pictures and behind-the-scenes gossip. There’s also brilliant fashion and beauty, shocking real-life stories, gorgeous posters and must-have free gifts in every issue. TOTP Mag is the friend teen girls can rely on to give them confidence, make them LOL and share all the stars’ secrets. That’s why we’ve been number one for 20 years.” BBC Top Of The Pops Magazine is published by Immediate Media Company London Limited under license from BBC Worldwide who help fund new BBC programmes.

Like the rest of the magazines and their companies, they all assert themselves as the ‘best’. As well as they all want to bring their readers as close to stardom as possible. Therefore in my magazine I’ll aim to promote celebrity culture to my audience as regardless of genre this appears to be a reoccurring theme.

‘TOTP’ targets a significantly younger target audience in comparison with the previous two I have looked at, even though the majority of their readers will be unemployed. They still have hold a high disposable income simply because they’re children, and so if TOPTP can impress their readers (as well as parents) then they’re more like to nag and plead their parents to purchase this magazine.

I must also consider their average age to see if this a group I’d like to target as it’ll have limitations on what I can promote as a lot of artists regardless of genre, tend to piece together music that’s adult appropriate.

Mission Statements

“Mixmag is the worlds biggest dance music and clubbing magazine. Mixmag has the history, the authority and the creativity to give the right brands an authentic association with dance music and club culture.”

Music Magazine research, near me:

Here is a snapshot of the music magazines available to me at my local Tesco supermarket.