music magazines- key concepts

1. Music Magazines – Key
Concepts
By Olivia Lever

2. Introduction to Magazines
• The definition of a magazine is a publication that is issued periodically, it is
usually bound in paper and has a cover. It will usually contain, articles, stories,
poems and images by many writers and photographers. They are often made as
particular subjects or area such as hobbies, news, sports, celebrities, fashion or
music.
• The word magazine comes from the French word ‘magasin’ which means
‘storehouse’. This is an appropriate word as magazines tend to be storehouse’s of
information about a particular subject or area of interest. One of the first
magazine’s was the ‘gentleman’s magazine in London which started in 1731, this
was the first general interest magazine published.

3. How magazines differ from
newspapers• Newspapers and magazines are two modes of communication via print media that are used by millions of people all over the world. Though both
newspapers and magazine seem to have the same purpose and features there are distinct difference between these two print media.
• Magazines are thicker than newspapers and are also printed in colour and on glossy paper. They are also published less frequently than most
newspapers.
• Magazine will not be about about the last day’s events and they may contain feature material about ‘newsworthy’ people or occasions, but they do not
usually ‘break’ news stories. Newspapers contain relatively short articles on current news whilst magazines contain longer articles on a variety of
different subjects such as fashion, sport, movies, medicines, celebrities etc.
• They are also sold for a greater amount than newspapers. Quite often they are sold with a promotion which is sometimes sponsored by a large
company and free gifts are given away to both promote the product and also increase sales of the magazine.
• Anther noticeable difference between newspapers and magazine is their audience. Newspapers have a broad audience as they provide articles for
people of all ages and interest whilst magazines have a specific and targeted audience as they provide information on a specific subject area.
• Newspapers have a broad audience as they provide articles for people of all ages and interests while magazines have a specific and targeted audience as they
provide information on a specific subject area.
• Design and attraction is another difference between newspaper and magazine. Newspapers have simple design and layout, and the content is usually in black and
white. However, a magazine is complex in design; it uses a variety of colors and fonts, making the appearance of magazines more attractive than newspapers.
• Another difference that can be observed between these two media is headlines; a newspaper uses catchy headlines in order to attract readers whereas a magazine
uses baseline concepts.

4. Magazine Genres
• Magazines cover a huge range of titles and the range is widening all the time as
society changes and increases. For example twenty years ago there was no such
thing as lifestyle magazines specifically directed at men and now this is such a
huge market with popular titles such as ‘Loaded’, ‘GQ’, FHM and Zoo.
• The magazine market has seen a high degree of audience fragmentation The
publishing costs are low so very small readerships can be catered for at a
profit. For instance fishing was originally covered by just one general
magazine – now there are a huge variety; including Gamefishing, Trout &
Salmon, Fly Fishing & Fly Tying, Total Carp. This is so that there is a
magazine for every audience so that they can generate as much profit as
possible because magazine sales have been declining.

5. Magazine Front Covers
• A magazine front cover serves many different purposes. It sells the bran of the magazine, it has to be visually
appealing and have distinct differences from other magazine covers so that it stands out to attract readers. The
magazine covers must be different from the previous issue that they sold but still familiar and recognizable to the
readers. Magazine covers must present the publications character and its content. All of this together could mean
that the front cover is the most important page in the magazine.
• Magazine front covers are exceptionally important in order to create an identity for the magazine and to
differentiate from the competitors.
• The Genre needs to be clear to the target audience.
• There are many different approaches to the designs of a magzine frnt cover but these can be sectioned into four
major categories which are Image based, illustration based, type based and concept based covers.

6. Representation, Institution,
Genre and Audience
Representation – The magazine is
presented in a bright, chaotic and loud way
almost shouting out. The image it is
portraying is the up to date pop music
celebrities and their latest news. It is
apparent as the cover is filled with the most
popular music artist of this time this issue
was released.
Institution – The magazine is a BBC
Top of the Pops magazine and is
published by Immediate Media
Company (IMC) which is under
license from BBC worldwide who
help fund new BBC programmes.
IMC are a large corporate Company
who are a well established
Publishing house along with the BBC
being a large corporation.
Genre – The magazine focuses on the world of music
celebrities of the time and their lives and celebrity
status along with exclusive interviews, fashion
features and up to date facts on the music world.
This is known to the audience because of the front
cover being so filled with headlines and images of
well known artists. And also Top of the Pops has
been around for many years and is a household name
for Pop music lovers.
Audience – This magazine is
read by 8-14 year olds and
mainly female gender. It is a
UK published magazine and
read mainly by UK residents.
It is the biggest selling teen
lifestyle title on the marker.

7. Representation, Institution,
Genre and Audience
Representation – The magazine is
presented in a seductive and alluring
way focusing on the image rather that
the headlines. The image is portraying a
dominant and sexual female who is
looking down on others. We know this
because she is in the nude, physically
looking down with both her eyes ad her
head and she is also wearing heels which
connotes she is trying to show herself to
appear higher in society. She is also in
good physical health which is regarded
as perfection to some. This helps us to
reinforce what society should be and
question or challenge the norms in
society as she is going against the norm
of women being higher but also being in
the nude.
Institution – Vibe magazine was
founded by the producer ‘Quincy
Jones’. After shutting down
production in 2009 Vibe was
purchased by the ‘Private Equity
Investment Fund Intermedia
Partners’. It is now published by
‘Spin Media’. This is a large media
publishers in the industry.
Genre – The magazine focuses on
American Music and entertainment
and it predominately features R & B
and Hip Hop music artist and other
entertainers.
Audience – The audience for Vibe
magazine are listeners of to R & B
and Hip Hop and Rap their target
audience are people of the age of
18-34 male and females in the USA.