2. The top three magazine publishers are
IPC media, Bauer and BBC magazines.
These publishers publish popular
magazines such as NME for IPC media,
Kerrang for Bauer and Top of the pops
for BBC magazines.
3. IPC MEDIA
IPC media are one of the biggest publishers in the United Kingdom owning
brands from across the magazines from home interest magazines to tv guides,
IPC is the leader of all publishers. In music terms music magazines IPC media
own NME magazine. NME has been around since 1952 making it 60 years
old. Across the years NME has become so big it has gotten beyond print now
and has now progressed onto NME radio, NME website and now NME
festival tents at Reading and Leeds. The magazine reaches an audience of 1.1
million people weekly with 16-24 year olds as their main target audience but
also accommodates for everyone of all ages as NME isn’t completely genre
specific as it has a large array of artists and bands. As a whole, NME is more
edging towards the indie and mainstream music. NME is available to buy at
large shops such as Tesco, WHsmiths and HMV.
4. BAUER MEDIA
Bauer is the largest publishing group in Europe owning 300 magazines in 15
countries such as Germany, USA, UK and France. Bauer Media began in
1953 making it 59 years old. As well as magazines Bauer media also own tv
and radio businesses from brands such as 4music, Kerrang, Smashhits and
Kiss all music related brands which are all genre specific with certain
audiences. Kerrang is a popular brand amongst Bauer Media’s products as they
have their own website, radio and magazine but also organize Kerrang tours
which happen yearly. Kerrang’s target audience is 16-24 year olds amongst
both male and females with an even balance of both. Kerrang is genre specific
as they focus largely on alternative/rock music only rather than a mix of
everything like some magazines. Q magazine is another popular magazine
amongst Bauer media with another genre specific magazine with a magazine
and radio station behind it’s well known name. Both Kerrang and Q magazine
have quite niche markets.
5. BBC MAGAZINES
BBC magazines reaches many audiences from magazines based on tv shows to
cooking magazines, BBC reaches them all. I believe that BBC magazines has
been so successful was because of their well establish brand known across the
world has helped them sell magazines. Thinking about music magazines BBC
magazines have done magazines for all ages such as Top of The Pops reaching
a young teenager to Classical Music Magazines reaching the older generation.
Top of The Pops was released in 1995 making it 17 years old and it is still
running strong with a target audience of 11-16 year olds buy the magazine as
it has freebies and young articles based on experiences other people their
target audiences age will go through. Top of The Pops is a mix of music and
young teenage topics. The music in Top of The Pops is more genre specific to
mainstream music as teenagers of that age will have more access to
mainstream music rather than other genres of music.
6. WHICH PUBLISHER WILL I USE?
For my magazine I will be using Bauer Media because of
it is the publisher for the rock magazine Kerrang which
is what my magazine will be similar to but also my target
audience will be similar to the audiences who buy
Kerrang magazine. Bauer Media is also a well known
company across Europe which will make my magazine
stand out there in different countries which could
persuade people to buy my magazine because it’s been
published with a trusted name.
