Researching into pop magazines

1. Researching Into A
Potential Target Audience
By Becky Slack

2. Primary Research - 10 Questions
1)Would you pick this magazine up off the shelf, why?
2)Do you think this magazine is eye catching?
3)What genre do you think this magazine is?
4)Do you think that the colour scheme fits the genre?
5)Do you like the layout of the magazine? Why? Any improvements
6)Do you think that the fonts are appropriate for the magazine?
7)Do you like the images used and if so why?

3. 1)Yes I would pick this magazine off the shelf due to the sell lines and images.
2)The magazine is eye catching because it has bright colours and entices you
in.
3)I think this is a pop magazine because it uses bright bold fonts and colours.
4)Yes because the bright bold colours gives a fun pop theme/genre.
5)I like the layout of the magazine because it promotes upcoming artists and
current.
6)The fonts are bold and help to bring out connotations of the artists.
7)I like the images because they are big and fun and also use bright lighting.
Answers To Questions - Person 1

4. 1)Possibly not because it looks like it’s for a younger audience.
2)Yes
3)I think it is a pop magazine
4)Yes because it is a bright colour
5)Yes the image looks good
6)Yes
7)I like the image because it is bold and vibrant
Answers To Questions - Person 2

5. 1)Yes the pink is eye catching
2)Yes
3)Pop
4)Yes but it looks aimed at females
5)Yes but the writing is bigger than expected
6)Yes
7)Yes the image is eye catching
Answers To Questions - Person 3

6. 1)Yes
2)Yes the coloured background is eye catching.
3)Possibly pop or R&B
4)Yes the background is bright
5)Yes it is because it looks professional
6)Yes
7)Yes the image is bright, bold and stands out
Answers To Questions - Person 4

7. 1)No the pink background looks like it is aimed at a female audience.
2)Yes the bright colour is eye catching.
3)Indie looks like possible coachella
4)Yes
5)Yes it looks professional and well spaced out
6)Yes but they look a bit boring yet remain professional
7)No it looks aimed at a female audience and not unisex
Answers To Questions - Person 5

8. 1)Yes the background is fun and playful.
2)Yes
3)Pop because of the bright colours
4)Yes but it looks aimed at females
5)Yes the layout is effective and well presented
6)No they are standard fonts
7)Yes the image is playful which matches the genre
Answers To Questions - Person 6

9. 1)Yes
2)Yes
3)Pop or indie because of the colours
4)Yes
5)Yes the layout is professional looking and fun
6)No they are boring and contradict the fun theme of pop
7)Yes the image is fun and playful
Answers To Questions - Person 7

10. 1)No
2)No the front cover looks empty with not much content
3)I think the genre is pop
4)Yes it looks pop because of the use of colour
5) Yes because it’s fun and spacious
6)No they look too serious for the genre
7)Yes the images is bold and can be interpreted in numerous ways
Answers To Questions - Person 8

11. 1)Yes the title isn’t completely visible so i’d look at what magazine it is.
2)On the shelf I think it would blend in with others.
3)Possibly a pop magazine because of the image
4)Yes because it used a range of colours
5)No it is hard to distinguish what magazine it is
6)Yes they suit the theme
7)No the image is boring and looks plain
Answers To Questions - Person 9

12. 1)Yes because it’s nice and colourful
2)Yes because of the use of colour
3)Indie because of the flowers
4)Yes
5)Yes because it is eye catching
6)Yes they look professional
7)I don’t mind it, I quite like the outfit on the model
Answers To Questions - Person 10

13. Results - Question 1
7 out of 10 people in the questionnaire
said they would pick the magazine off
the shelf. This shows that the
magazine has numerous factors yet to
be discovered as to why this magazine
is popular and the aesthetics liked so
much.

14. It is clear to see that 70% of
people that took part in the
questionnaire recognised that it
was a pop magazine due to the
colours and the image. However
30% of people didn’t recognise
this because of the image and
fonts.
Results - Question 3

15. Out of the people that took part
in the questionnaire, 100% of
them responded with yes to the
colour theme fitting. This shows
that readers distinguish pop
magazines to have either bright
coloured backgrounds or bright
and bold fonts. This helps to
create the fun and bold theme
that appeal to the chosen target
audience and gender.
Results - Question 4

16. The pie chart shows that
teenagers in general are the main
target audience according to my
research. 30% of individuals who
took part in the questionnaire
thought that teenage girls were the
main audience due to the colour
scheme of the magazine being
pink and this is related to women.
Looking at teenagers in general,
70% of people thought Billboard
was aimed at teenagers compared
to 30% who thought it was aimed
at young adults.
Results - Question 9

17. Through completion of the questionnaire and prior research to this task, I have came to
some conclusions that will help to make some decisions on my magazine. One of these
conclusions is related to colour. It is now important that I use a bright and wide variety of
colours throughout my magazine as this will help to create the bold and fun look that pop
magazines demonstrate such as Billboard and Top of the Pops. A second conclusion is to
use a wide variety of fonts. I think this is important (especially on the front cover) because it
will help to entice the reader into the unusual styled fonts yet still keeping it basic and
professional. One of the main ideas I have picked up on is the main image on the front
cover. I think that the image needs to be a medium close up to make a connection with the
reader and stand out amongst other magazines. I also think the image requires a posed
model within a studio as this makes the magazine easily recogniseable as pop, especially if
the lighting is high key and facial features are emphasised. Overall my magazine needs to
be fun, eye catching, colourful, bold, fun and most of all professional.
How Will This Information Affect My Ideas?