1. 1)What types of magazine and target audiences has IPC been associated with over the years?
The opening of the new century saw the arrival of three titles Yachting Monthly, Cage birds and
Motor boat. In the early 1900’s, IPC focused on woman's weekly which launched in November
1911 and also on Golf monthly. These two magazines are associated with lifestyle and sport. And
then finally, on homes & gardens which was published after world war one which is also linked
with lifestyle. Between the 1920’s and 30’s, they launched the monthly magazine Ideal Home
which referred to the government’s promise in 1921 to build 100,000 houses as part of its post-war
planning. Then, woman & Home entered the market in 1926. This was also similar to 1930’s
as this decade also focused on woman's lifestyle with titles such as ‘Woman’s Own’. But, other
titles were also published such as Caravan, Stamp Magazine and Prediction which started to
target at men as well as women. Then, in the 1940’s, ‘Woman's weeklies’ began to publish
information on behalf of the Government. In the 1950’s, music magazines began to came into
light; with the arrival of ‘New Musical Express’, NME was the first to publish the first official UK
record chart. In 1955; ‘TVTimes’ was published associated with commercial stations, targeting at
both men and women. In the 1960’s. IN 1963; began the formation of the ‘International
Publishing Corporation’ which bought together the 3 magazines ‘Newnes, Fleetway and Odhams
Press’. Following from this, in 1969; the magazine ‘Shoot!’ was launched which was because of
the interest from England’s World cup 3 years earlier. Others included ‘Rugby world’ and ‘World
soccer’ aiming at men aged between 19-40. Then, in 1970; ‘Horse&Hound’, ‘Country Life’ were
released as well as ‘Aeroplane Monthly and ‘Superbike’ which aimed at young men between 18
to mid 30’s. In the 1980’s; magazines such as ‘Chat’ ‘Mizz’ and ‘Wedding & Home’ and ‘Motor
Boats Monthly’ which aimed at both women and men as these are a range of genres. In the
1990’s there was the release of ‘What’s on TV’ which became the UK’s best selling magazine and
is still enjoyed today. In 1004; ‘Loaded’ was released which aimed at the young men’s market. In
the year 2000; the magazine had a new identity with a strategy based on being a brand-centric
business. Ignite! Launched ‘Nuts’ which was the world’s first men’s weekly magazine in 2004.
Then, in 2005; became the launch of ‘Pick me up’ which was the largest sampling exercise in UK
magazine history. Finally, IPC released ‘Tv easy’ which is Britains very first compct-paid-for TV
listings weekly. In sumary, the target audience began with aiming at women but then gradually,
the target audience became more men and then finally, into men and women.
2. 2. Why might IPC be an appropriate publisher for a new music magazine?
• IPC produce many different types of magazines that covers a wide range of genres.
These magazines have all been successful and have caught the interest of a wide
range of audiences’, of both men and women, young and older. This would make
any new magazine quite popular as the audience would recognise the publisher
and think of the previous magazines that have been published by this brand and
will immediately be interested and will buy the magazine. Especially music
magazines as one of their music magazines, ‘New Musical Express’ became one of
the best selling music magazines in the UK and so would make my magazine
recognisable. Also, because they have published a wide range of genres, the genre
of my magazine would most likely would have already been published by them.
3. 3.What sorts of genres of music/types of magazines might they be likely to publish?
• They would most likely publish magazines of the genre ‘Rock’ or ‘Pop’ as they
already published the genre of ‘Rock’ in 1952 when they launched the ‘New
musical express.’ NME set the ball rolling with its compilation of the first official UK
record chart – topping that bill as Britain’s very first number one was Al Martino’s
Here In My Heart’. So, they would most likely publish a genre of Rock which would
have to be modern as they publish magazines that relate to that era in time. For
this reason also, they may also produce a genre associated with pop as most pop
songs are in the record chart.
4. Why might alternative publishers like Bauer be appropriate?
• The publisher, ‘Bauer’ located in the UK, receives over 22
million customers every week through a portfolio of world-class,
multi-platform media and entertainment brands
including ‘Heat’, ‘Kiss’, ‘Grazia’, ‘Empire’, ‘Magic’ and ‘Absolute
Radio’. It creates a sense of entertainment for all types of
audience’s to enjoy. This means that when publishing a new
magazine, ‘Bauer’ may be an alternative publisher to consider
as it would mean that the magazine would be able to become
popular and have these 22 million customers viewing the
magazine. It would also be recognisable as they have also
created well known magazines that the audience would
recognise and so would pick up the magazine as they would
think that the magazine would be entertaining like the other
magazines that they have produced.
