Institutional Context

Bauer Media is a multinational conglomerate and would be the type of institution that would produce and distribute my product. This is becuase it is both vertically and horizontally integrated, owning a variety of subsidary companies across a bed of cross media platforms such as magazine, radio and mobile telephones

see the link below for a more in depth look at the extensive portfolio that Bauer Media holds

http://www.bauermedia.co.uk/Brands

"Bauer Media is a division of the Bauer Publishing Group, Europe’s largest privately owned publishing Group. The Bauer Publishing Group is a worldwide media empire offering over 230 magazines in 15 countries, as well as online, TV and radio stations......Bauer Media is a multi-platform UK-based media Group consisting of many companies collected around two main divisions – Magazines and Radio - widely recognised and rewarded as being industry innovators. " (taken from the bauer media website, about us (28/1/2010)

Being a multinational company means that there would be a large budget available to produce my magazine, ensuring that the production values and asthetic quality of my product would be of a high standard. Bauer Media also has lots of experience in the magazine market sector so will help my magazine succeed in sales beacuse of the companies expertise and recognisable brand name.

Furthermore, my magazine would maintain it's high asthetic standards as the circulation figures show that it would potentially generate a substantial revenue. Below is information about the ABC Circulation Figures (taken from the website)

FILM & MUSIC BRANDS
The world’s biggest-selling film magazine EMPIRE celebrates its 20th anniversary year with a sixth consecutive ABC rise to 194,016.
Earlier this year the EMPIRE team, led by Editor Mark Dinning, relocated to LA to work with the world's most famous film director and guest-editor Steven Spielberg. The special issue included exclusives from a veritable Hollywood Who's-Who - Jack Nicholson, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tom Cruise, Mel Gibson amongst them. Q continues to be the UK’s biggest selling music monthly with a circulation of 100,172. Its unrivalled access has allowed it into Bruce Springsteen's inner sanctum, Noel Gallagher's family secrets and U2's make-up box for world-beating exclusives has not only driven newsstand sales of the magazine, but provided complimentary content for Q’s digital offering - qthemusic.com, Q TV and Q Radio.
MOJO is the second highest selling music monthly after stable-mate Q at 97, 722. From Fleet Foxes to The Who to Nick Drake, MOJO remains dedicated to getting to the heart and soul of music - whether its new, cult or classic. KERRANG! remains the UK’s best-selling music weekly at 43,253. Changes in market conditions and music consumption have affected sales, but Kerrang! remains committed to serving its passionate rock readership with a weekly dose of news, features and reviews of the weeks hottest, gigs, albums and new music.
Stuart Williams, MD of EMPIRE, Q, MOJO and Kerrang!, commented:
“It’s been a huge year for the EMPIRE team, and it was the most extraordinary experience to work with the greatest ever movie director to create the greatest ever issue of EMPIRE in its 20 years.
“Q, MOJO and Kerrang! all have strength in breadth and depth in being complete 360 brands. Each continues to lead and define the music market by connecting all manner of music fans with their music heroes via groundbreaking editorial access and content.”

The stages of production that my magzaine would go through and the subsequent job roles associated with these are;

Photography- Photographers take different photos in differnent areas of the chosen subject for the magazine and decide out of the photos taken which would fit best in different areas in differenet articles. They would use photoshop to make pictures look more effective and fit in better with articles.

Advertising Department- These select areas in the magazine that should contain advertising from companies that will realte to the type of readers of the magazine, they will also choose the price of advertising in different areas in the magazine. There would usually be a higher price for an area with advertising that gets alot of audience views.

Editor- Checks the different articles to help with the choice of words and the set-up of the magazine to help with the final out come of the mgazine, they edit magazines to make the readers more attracted to the articles.

Print Companies- After magazines have been checked they are taken to a print company who porduce the final copy of the magazine which are logistically taken to shops to sell to the consumer.

With very little help, a small budget and lack of facilities i will have to manage all these postions above by myself to make my magazine succeed in the production process.

Propsal and initial treatment

My target audience are teenagers who are fans of indie music and don't like to be main stream, who have an interest in new technology and like to be up to date on styles and music. The porpose of my magazine is to inform readers on new bands, latest clothes. The most unique thing about my magazine is that it is an all in one information magazine which informs the typical reader of the magazine which will interest them. and new technology so after readeing the magazine the feel up to date with the world. I believe that my conents page, front cover and double page spread should all have the same colour because this makes the magazine look more professionak and looks neater. The masthead on the front cover should not be covered by the main photo due to it will make the masthead stand out more and will attract the reader to the information clearer. Sell lines will be placed either side of the main photo on the front. One main photo on the front cover which will be of the band in the main article, the clothes they wear should link to the styles of the reader vso they can realte to the band. From my research i have come to the conclusion that i should have four photos on the double page spread due to my target audience agreed that this was the best amount.The contents should be set in three rows due to it is easier to digest the contents than in a big list. The larger the picture in the contents the more important the article. The band i should chose for the main article in the magazine should be of an indie genre due to the audience prefer this music compared to other genres in the survey. I also feel my contents page should contain pictures that relted to the articles that are identified in the contents page. I also feel that in my contents page, numbers for different articles should be stood out in a colour that contrasts with the background so is easier to find information for 'Flickers through' of the magazine. I have also have come to the conclusion that a question and answer seshion for my double page spread should not occur due to readers of the magazine are not attracted by this mostly besause the questions are to specific, readers want to now more than just answers of a couple of words. The length of my double page spread should be rather long beacuse my audience are very sufisticated and have high literacy skills. The band in the double page spread should give the reader a quick fact file to introduce the act being interviewed. Also at the end of the double page spread should give the reader more information on how they can hear and see more about the band, like up-coming gigs and where you can purchase their music from.

Conclusion to my research

Secondary research showed me that i can do an in-depth amount of primary research that really helped me understand what the type of information readers are looking for. My secondary research also gave me an idea what big companies like NME and kerrang! do to be successful.
In my primary research i found out what the group of people i interviewed want and how i am going to present my magazaine to satisfy their needs, i can now adapt my choice of volcabulary aswell due to i know their occupation and what type of words this class of people want to hear.

Reader Profile - Mood Board

I created this reader profile, because it shows that i understand my audience well due to i know what they like and what they are interested in doing. i copied the idea of a reader profile from my NME magazine secondary research.

Focus Group

Talking to six of my focus group, i found that in my music magazine people want to "read things that just dont link to music, like sport and general news" they also like to see "A large picture on the front cover of the band that are part of the main article in the magazine." Also they would like to see "a masthead that stands out so easier to see and stands out from other information." Many of them also agreed that "colours in the magazine should stay the same throughout because it makes it look more professional and neater." Just like in my primary research, the focus group mostly said that four pictures is enough for a double page spread

Primary research

I gave the questionarries below to the public to help me decide on the possible audiences interests and what they would like to see in the magazine. This will help me create a better magazine because i can now relate my magazine to the readers interests and the types of things that will make them decide to buy the magazine. Companies who are also willing to advertise in the magazine are more persuaded to do so due to their potential customers are targeted because they know the customers of the magazine.

Age:
Gender:
Occupation:
Favourite genre of music:Favourite band:
How do you comsume music?
How much do you spend on music a week:
Do you play an instrument?
Favourite clothes brand?
Favourite drink?
Where do you shop most?
What’s your favourite piece of technology?
What colours would you want to see in a magazine?How many pictures would you want to see in a double page spread?
Would you want the same colours all through the magazine?
Would you want advertisements featured in the contents page?
In an interview would you want a interesting answer in a larger font?
From my recordings 75% are possible male readers and the main age is 17, so a young audience. 50% of the public i did the survey on played an instrument which means i can chose different articles which involve instruments and one which dont, either way there will still be an audince for the instrument-related article. Also, i have seen that my audience are mostly interested in indie pop/ rock, they like artists such as the Arctic Monkeys, The Kooks and The Courteeners which shows that i can write my double page spread on an indie band that will interest the audience due to they enjoy listening to this type of music. For possible advertisers the audience likes Ipods, Xboxes, laptops, coke and many more different interests that mostly realte to streotypical urban trendie/ indie group of teenagers. I also learnt from my recordings about how the magazine should be present, the audience want to see an average of four pictures on a double page spread and also like to see a corraltion of colours through out the magazine

Audience Research - Secondary

I had a look at NME's reader profile page which showed all the possible desires and belongings of a typical reader of the magazine. This is useful for businesses due to they now if they should spend money and advertise in NME this shows the target audience and if the target audience of a produce will interest readers of this magazine. This is very useful for NME due to they now what they can realate there texts to their audience. The page also goes onto say the percentage of male and female readers, that NME readers are willing to spend on different items, really it is jsut a brief summary on what they enjoy buying and doing and the cross media they use. This shows NME in producing a good magazine due to they now know what the readers are interested in and how the fact that they can attract the readers with what they are interseted in.
With Kerrang! Magazine they have given a view of what they feel is there typical users personality, it says ; 'Individually minded, independent of thought and musically experienced, an audience defined by attitude, passion and loyalty.' This shows that Kerrang! Know the typical readers of the magazine and can realte the readers characteristics to the articles in their magazine. This also helps Kerrang! Due to it helps them interview bands that will attract the consumers, bands that have 'attitude, passion and loyalty' will attract the readers of the magazine. Bauer Media owns Kerrang! and Q Magazine, so they have done and audience description for Q magazine.
Q Magazine's audiece profile is 'Open minded experience seekers, the Q audience don’t define themselves by the music they listen to. Music is an important passion, but their love of music will never be to the detriment of their other passions, such as film, sport and comedy.' This suggets that Q Magazine doesn't just use music to sell there magazine, they use different reader's interests to attract them.
In the rolling stones magazine they have used demographic research which shows the typical income, gender, age and jobs of the readers this means they can use sterotypical information of they socio-economic class to help them with intersts of the readers. The fact the they have used quantitive data shows that the numeric percentage information is a general estimate of the readers income, age. They have added in information about the readers education due to it will help them writing the articles because it shows how literat they are and the chiose of words they should pick to help the audince understand and digest the information on offer
Adults
11,942 -100%
Men
6,948 - 58%
Women
4,994 - 42%
Age 18 to 24
3,638 - 30%
Age 18 to 34
7,201 - 60%
Median Age
31.5
Employed
8,620 - 72%
Attending College
2,011 - 17%

For my conclusion, i do believe that NME has had the best use of maket research, due to they use alot of different ways to understand and get to know the buyers of their magazine better. This also helps the businesses that are thinking of advertising the magazine because they can also see if there target audience is reached. There in-depth research means that they can interest reders on a topic, bands, news and what they spend their lesiure time on, so the readers can enjoy the information that relates and informs them about their interests.

Contents Page- Q

The contents page in Q magazine colours are the same as the front cover, mainly red black and white these are trademark colours for the business so differentiates it from competition. The rede colour which states the page number stands out from the white background so is easier to find for the audience. At the bottom of the page there is a heading 'every month' this shows that if you like what is avaliable this month then next month will be as good so will keep customers. There is one main picture in the comtents which staes the most important atricle in the magazine, this suggests that the bigger the picture the more important it is so will attract readers awarness. The Q symbol is position and is the same colour as the one on the front cover. Also, some of the information is set in text boxes which gives the contents page a neater, more professional look. The contents page layout is set in three coloums so writing is easier to digest information. We see the band in the picture being on top of a mountain which may imply that they that they are at the top of their game and the best in their genre of music.

Contents Page - Kerrang!

The Contents Page in Kerrang! has a correlation, the larger the pictures in it, the more important article it is, this suggests that the larger picture gets the audiences interest due to it is a bigger picture. Also, the more important imformation in the page is highlighted in yellow so it stands out from the white background and the rest of the black writing, such things are yellow as the page number, news, features and live reviews. The magazine contents page has tatooed men who look very aggresive which is a sterotypical view of the audienue who buy this music and hopefully buy the magazine due to they can realte to the pictures. The contents is very clever, they give the reader very little information about different article's which makes the reader wonder what article are about more. The colours chosen for the contents page links to the front cover, makes the magazine look more representable. There is only one promotional advert on the front cover which is Kerrang!'s own, this makes the advertisment stand out due to it is the only one on the page.

Contents Page - NME

The contents page for the NME Magazine firtsly has a large picture in the middle of the page which stands out from the white background and the fact that it is in the middle of the page, it attracts the reader to the information so this implies that the articlein the middle is the most important and the main feature in the magazine. Arrows are used to point at important information. Page numbers are in different colours to the text so stand out better from the rest of the text, so it is easier to find from a readers point of view. The hole point of the contents page is to inform the buyer on what is avaliable in the magazine. The simple heading oof 'NME THIS WEEK' is very effective due to it informs the audience about the page through its simlicity. The use of humor in the heading 'Kasbain got romantidc in a church' targets

the audience who consume the magazine due to it is teenager, stertypically funny segmentation. NME uses the same colours for the contents page as on the front cover (black, white and red) the only colours not used again are pink and blue, the unique colours stand out more due to the consumer is not ued to themin the Magazine. They use sub-headings so the reader can easily find the article they want to read.Page numbers are next to the articles as this helps the reader find what they are looking for

Double Page Spread - Kerrang!

The double page spread in Kerrang! States in the top corner that this is a 'world exclusive' which suggests that the word 'world' means it is a big interview that is worth reading also the word 'exclusive' shows that this interview is only avaliable in Kerrang! impling that it is better than the competition due to it is unique. The use of contrsting the black background with the white heading makes the word 'The best' stand out better so have a steronger meaning. All four of the pictures in the article are in black and white this may link to the genre of the music that the band being interviewed are based on, it maybe old school music that was listened to and enjoy many years ago when black and white camers were only avaliable. The target audience for Kerrang! are mostly men so only male bands are used and dark colours are frequently used which are sterotypically used by readers for clothes so realates to the audiences look. The usage of red font in the text links to the bands genre of passion, anger, excitement. The picture of the band in the studio states that the article gives a behind the scenes, not usually talk about topics that the band are being interviewd on, which links to the exclusivitly of the interview. The article gives a promotional aspect to the band by stating up coming gigs and the new album which makes the audience aware of it and the use of the word 'epic' to describe the upcoming ablum publishes them even more.

Double Page Spread - Q

The Double page spread has a large picture which takes up lost of dead sp[ace was shows that the artist is important. In the top right of the second page it says 'Access all areas' this is an alliteration so easier to reader for audience and also that Q has an exclusive conversation on the artist and it methaphorically means they are a VIP which implies they go and get information which fans normally dont get, therefore people may want to read the article more because of this. The heading 'Danger! Shakira at work' is a play on words from danger buliders at work, this implies that the article Shakira is producing music and the picture highlights this. The commanding word ' Danger!' Gets the audience attention and may suggest that watch out competition and haters, Shakira is making brillant music that you should listen to. Most readers will just flick through the pages and only digest the pictures and headings, soo by showing a quote from the article it attracts the reader to the article due to the quote identifies the main, interesting part of the article. The picture has a large depth of field which shows the audience production material in the background which demonstrates and implies she is hard working at her job, and indicates what the text is about. We can tell that this article is aimed at the female audience due to they can relate to the teaxt because the smaller picture is her in a more glamourous photoshoot whilst the other, main photo is here at work this contrast shows that sterotypically women have to sides to them, working at their day to day job and getting dressed up to party on a night out.

Double Page Spread - NME

Double Page Spread - NME

Firstly, the band being interviewd are rather new to readers, so with the main picture being over a page big, it shows the band member's faces cleary, which makes the reader remember them better and the fact that the 'The Chapman Family' stands out so much due to the large font and the black background contrasting with the white writing audience can relate to the article if they hear the band's music. On the second page, we see a preview of what the bands interview is about, this preview of the interview contains interesting information about what the band has done so makes the buyer read the article to hear more storys about the band. The article is called 'New noise' which demonsates they are a newq band and also the use of the 'N' for alliiteration makes the heading more catchy for the reader. The fact that the target audience for the NME company is men 16 -24; house parties in this age group are very common and enjoyed, so the band in the picture at a house party can improve their fan base by realting to the band. The band members are wearing black whilst the surrounding models that are not part of the band are wearing white which makes them stand out better, also the usage of the light over the band rather than the models makes them stand out even more.

Music Magazine Cover - Kerrang!

Kerrang! Magazine.

The Kerrang! magazine is commonly known for being a rock genre magazine, they sell information about bands, gigs, interviews and reviews. The band on the front are very clos to the camera, which may sterotypically so their genre of music, very in your face, confrontal. The hole band are wearing black which make shte cover look tidier and probably links to what fans of the band may wear. The mast head is set to the back of the main picture which makes the picture stand out more to make it more eye catching compared to other information on the page. Alot of yellow and red colour is used to link sell lines together and makes the front cover look more professional, also the use of yellow stand out so attrcts the audience s eye to the different information. The top and bottom are used for articles and band names which appears on every cover, make it familair to readers. There is no negative space as all of the front cover is covered with images and writing. Important imforamtion like FREE and PLUS stand out due to they are in capitals which make them stand out more so they will sell better. The image is of the band looking very dangerous but inviting as they are looking straight into the camera. The picture of the band Avenged Sevenfold links to the heading "The world's most dangerous band." due to the band holding violent items to demonstrate the fact they are a dangerous band.

Music Magazine Cover - Q

Q Magazine

The magazine is based on many genres in music so has high potnetial customers, this is why it is one of the most popular magazines in the country.

The title "Q" is very simple and easily recognisable which makes it more easier. With the picture of Madonna and the information of different artists feature in the issue it gives the consumer a better indiaction of what is a avilable in the issue. With the backgournd of the writing behind "The 50 best british albums" being a british flag it links to what the writing is talking about and makes the writing easier to understand from the audiences piont of view. The strap line below the main heading stands out due to its grey colour contrasts to the black background. With the strap line stating that it has a 70 page special it is a memerable rounded up number. The sell lines stating who is in the magazine... "Ian Brown, Arctic Monkeys" persuades the audience to by the magazine. the slogan of "Briatins biggest music magazine" promotes their product and makes them differentiate from competition. The main article about Madonna is stated on the front and in the interview it states "Stupid Question! Next" this indicates to the audience that they want to read the rest of the article to see what other things she talks about. Looking at the pictures and text on the front cover the target audience of the magazine would be females or people who enjoy listening to female music artists. We also get this point as at the bottom of the magazine it has the phrase "Women in Music", this shows that the magazine is focusing on female music artists. Madonna's make up and hair is made to look as if it is perfect, this gives the impression that the photo may have been edited and airbrushed to show that Madonna stands out is of a 'celebrity' status.

Music Magazine Cover - NME

NME magazine Indie pop/rock

The target audience is young, music listeners who don’t listen to contemporary music and are interested in new bands, new albums the latest gigs, what bands are doing what, so to sum readers want to be updated in the world of indie pop/rock music.
The use of the letters “s” makes it a more catchy heading, so will attract potential customers with a short and snappy review in the magazine. Smaller bands, less important information is in smaller font due to less attract information that wouldn’t interest the buyer as much if it was in a larger font.
Red colour chosen for important information (sell lines.) Links to the red of the NME logo, which makes the magazine look more professional and tidy. Plus information stands out from the contrasting white background. Not only does important featured articles do this but also the main name of the magazine; White background contracts with the red “NME” heading which makes the magazine name stand out more as well.
The “plus” shows a quick overview of what else is available in this magazine. (Artist’s who are being interviewed.) This overview is written as a strip across the bottom of the front cover to represent what else is available if the consumer audience buy this product.
Main article information is in the centre of the front cover. “Centre attention.” Wants the audience to be aware of what is available in the issue, makes it stand out by doing this. Main article links to the two people on the front. Who are behind the font they are both in white tops linking two the background. There has been no cropping of the two stars which indicates the conversation they had between each other. The clothes Ian Brown and Jay-Z are wearing are a stereotypical view of what potential indie rock/pop genre audience will wear.
Not a lot of free space on the cover due to Ian Brown and Jay-z fill up free space which sell lines didn’t fill which makes the article look more felling and value for money is better by the audience point of view.
The word “LOUDEST” is in capitals to express the meaning of the word so audience can relate to the word and what the sell line is about.