2. GENERAL INFORMATION
Name of the magazine: ‘Billboard’ did not start with this one word title. When it was first produced it
was called ‘Billboard Advertising’ as it was a trade paper. However, due to its growing connection of
music during 1961, it’s name was changed to ‘Billboard music week’. But during 1963 the magazine
masthead was changed once again this time to just ‘Billboard’ which is still the magazine title today.
Where is the magazine based?:
The magazine is based in New York city in the USA.
Which company is ‘Billboard’ owned by?
Billboard is owned by ‘Prometheus Global Media’.
First Published?:
The first ever copy of billboard was released on the 1st November 1894.
Who is the editor of ‘Billboard’?
The editor of ‘Billboard’ is a man named Danyel Smith.
3. GENERAL INFORMATION
What is the topic of the magazine.
The magazine is based on music.
How often is the magazine released?
A new copy of the magazine is released every week.
What is the circulation of the magazine?
The circulation number for ‘Billboard’ magazine is 16,327.
What is the language of the magazine?
The magazine is in English.
What is the web address for ‘Billboard’ Magazine?
Billnoard.com
4. FACTS
• ‘Billboard’ is known to be one of the oldest ‘trade’ magazines existing.
• The magazine has not always been based in New York city when it was first discovered it was in
Cincinnati (USA).
• The magazine was discovered by two men named ‘William H. Donaldson and James Hennegan’.
• When ‘Billboard’ got its own second name in 1961 the whole magazine was about music.
• Billboard has its own music awards which is showing the magazines convergence.
• The magazine is available on the ‘Billboard’ web page along with other content, again this is showing
convergence.
5. COMPANY DETAILS
The magazine company is ‘Prometheus Global Media’.
They are a an ‘entertainment publishing company’ who are based in New York,
USA.
Formed in2009 due to the “Sale of entertainment and media division of Nielson
Business Media”.
The first ever CEO of this company had previously been a publisher at GQ and
Vogue magazine.
Recently during this year (2013) the company was bought by Guggenheim
Partners.
6. WHAT DOES THE MAGAZINE
INCLUDE?/GENRE OF THE MAGAZINE
• The magazine did not always focus on music. When it was originally first released, the magazine looked at ‘Bill
posting’ and also ‘outdoor amusements’. Music was not introduced into the magazine until the 1960s.
• ‘Billboard’ consists of many different international known charts. These charts show the popular songs and
albums every week and on different topics. But its main and central chart is the ‘Billboard hot 100 and Billboard
2000’.
• Firstly, the magazine was based on ‘Bill posting’. However, years later it started to show interest on amusements
such as circuses, fairs and parks etc. And in 1909 the magazine started to include ‘motion pictures’ and by the
1920’s it started covering ‘Radio’. Music only started to be included by ‘Billboard’ when it started a music sheet on
‘best sellers, charts and ‘top songs’.
• Because of the growing ‘Jukebox industry’ in the 1930s, ‘Billboard’ decided to start including music charts in their
magazines. At the begging these charts had certain genres of ‘ Pop, rhythm, blues and country’.
• During the 1950s the magazine began to do a column on the industry of television and it discussed the ratings of
television programmes. ‘Billboard’ carried on doing about amusements but then amusements (in 1961) and
television got their own magazine.
7. TARGET AUDIENCE
The magazine is targeting professionals in the music industry but can also be
viewed as a general business magazine.
It is unisex magazine and aims for ages between 20s-60s.
