RESEARCH INTO EXISTING PUBLISHING COMPANIES

INTRODUCTIONMy Media Studies Foundation Portfolio main task will be researching the existing music magazines and publishing companies . Main purpose of this task is to become familiar with publishing industry acceptable norms and design conventions. In order to produce publication that is aimed at specific target audience the main purpose of this research is to find out relevant information that covers business side of print and publishing industry. Looking closely into publishing companies structure and what publications they are producing I will critically analyze their publishing strategies in regards to demographics and what other publication or mediums they are producing in order to achieve cross-media convergence.

Through this research I will be able to have a clear understanding of how corporate publishing industry functions and who are leading publisher of music industry. With close critical analysis of the products as well as promotional strategies they are using I will be in a position to design and make a print product which follows design norms and conventions and complies with publishing rules and restrictions.

The reason that I have chosen to research about music magazines is that music has been a part of world history and will be with it until the end. It is essential part of people’s lives, since some people work in music industries, play or produce music. Music played a huge part in history and will play a big part in the future.

REVOLVER RESEARCH

• The magazine was founded in year 2000, by 2006 it was bought by Future Plc. who sold the magazine to the current owner NewBay Media in 2012• NewBay Media also publishes the magazine, it is being published bi-monthly, 6 times a year• The magazine target audience is rock and metal fans, as its content is mostly focused on these two topics• Other topics that the magazine includes are some other types of music genres, singers and the unfortunate circumstances of some of the most famous music idols

NEWBAY MEDIA RESEARCH• NewBay Media was founded in 2006

• It publishes music magazines such as Revolver, Guitar Player, Bass Player

•Next to music magazines, NewBay Media also publishes magazines related to Education, Gaming, Video & Broadcasting and Pro Audio

• In total in publishes over 40 different magazines, these magazines are based on five different topics that have been stated above

• The parenting company of NewBay Media is The Wicks Group of Companies, this company own most of the voting shares of NewBay Media

NEWBAY MEDIA PUBLICATION MAGAZINES

TARGETING THE AUDIENCE Revolver magazine mostly targets elder part of population,

since the content of the magazine contain vulgar images and articles. There isn’t any specific age group that they target since there are also articles for teenagers in it

Also appeal to people who listen to new music, as they publish important and crucial articles about it

There is also a section for those who want to read about instruments that they play and tips on how to improve their skills

They target generations who are used to reading on computer by issuing online magazine and inform their readers what their magazine is going to contain by posting about it on the website

They also interact with their audience though social websites such as Facebook, Twitter, etc.

CROSS-MEDIA CONVERGENCE

Guitar PlayerGuitar WorldBass PlayerElectronic MusicianKeyboard MagazineMusic Week

Radio WorldTWICETV TechnologyDigital SignageBroadcasting & Cable

VIBE RESEARCH

• Vibe magazine was founded in 1993 by producer Quincy Jones• In 2009 the production of Vibe was shut down until InterMedia Partners invested funds in it and started publishing again• The company that publishes Vibe is Spin Media• In 2014 Vibe magazine moved to being online-only magazine• Vibe magazine mostly focuses on R&B and hip-hop music, with some articles on other genres of music

SPIN MEDIA RESEARCH• Formerly known as Buzz Media, founded by Anthony Batt, Marc Brown, Kevin Wooler and Steve Haldan under the name Buzznet

• In 1999 Batt and Brown started a blog and by 2006, Buzz Media was created.

•By 2012 Buzz Media acquired Spin Media and in March 2013 it was rebranded to Spin Media

•In April 2013, Spin Media acquired Vibe magazine which they now publish

•Their current chief executive is Stephen Blackwell

•Next to Vibe, Spin Media also publishes SPIN

SPIN MEDIA PUBLICATION MAGAZINES

TARGETING THE AUDIENCE

Vibe magazines target demographic is young urban followers of the Hip-Hop culture aged between 18-34

Vibe magazine is aimed towards both genders. By having both genders as the audience this means that the audience for vibe would be larger than if it was only targeting male population

The magazine involves slang and not complex theories or choice of words, which indicated that the target audience for Vibe is not an educated one, but those who take interest in music

Apart of it having Hip-Hop part, Vibe also issues articles regarding R&B, indicating that their target audience is even greater

CROSS-MEDIA CONVERGENCE• SPIN • Idolator (website)• BuzzNet (website)• The Frisky (women website)• Stereogum (internet publication)• Vibe• Death and Taxes (Indie music

news)• Absolute Punk (website)• Celebuzz (website)• Pure Volume (website)