1. AS Media Studies
Audience Research
Task 8 – Target audience research using focus groups.
The genre that my music magazine is going to be based on is R&B/Hip Hop;
my target audience is males and females aged between 16-24, that are
interested in R&B/Hip Hop music. This is the typical audience profile.
Who mainly listens to that music – The genre
R&B/Hip Hop is mainly listened to by males.
Gender – Male
Age - 16
Social Class – Working class
Ethnicity – Pakistani
Interests – Music, fashion, football and
blackberry phones.
Dress sense – Latest trainers, hoodies, jackets,
body warmers.
Why they listen to hip hop music – They enjoy
that type of music, can relate to the lyrics
How often – Listen to it very often, as it is relaxing.
What would they like in the magazine – The artists that it will feature, the
genre of the magazine, gossip about different artists related to the genre,
concert dates and the current trends.
Hoorie Begum

2. AS Media Studies
My Target audience (Profile of Typical Male Audience)
General Background Feelings about Music Magazines
Name – Tammur He doesn’t buy any music magazines or any
Sajid magazines in general as he thinks that they are
Age – 18 priced too high and the magazines that are out there
Ethnicity – Pakistani don’t really interest him and are aimed at him.
Lives - Sparkhill
West Midlands He likes the look of
He is currently a VIBE magazine
student and plans to because he likes the
go to university. urban side to it, and
features fashion.
How he uses music He likes artists such
He listens to music on as Drake, Lil Wayne
his iPod and his and Trey songs, DJ
phone regularly. Khalid, and Tyga, as
they speak about
He uses iTunes to troubles and difficulties
download music onto that he can relate to.
his phone and says “I
really enjoy listening
to music as it its
relaxing and it helps
me concentrate when He loves music
I am doing my work” especially R&B and
Hip Hop, he doesn’t
like the stereotypes
that are used
because he thinks
His Music Magazine
that the males are
Preferences
stereotyped as acting
In a music magazine
like a gangster and
he would like to see
trouble makers that
male rap artists that
cause havoc and are
look serious.
rebellious.
He would also like to
see the latest news
and gossip about the Likes to know the
artists, concert dates, latest trends that
bright colours, big, are about so that He enjoys buying
bold titles to stand out he can keep up different jackets it is
and the latest trends. with them. a bit of a habit.
Hoorie Begum

3. AS Media Studies
My Target audience (Profile of Typical Female Audience)
General Background
Name – Humayra Suleman Feelings about Music
Age – 16 She doesn’t really buy any music
Ethnicity – Pakistani magazines as they don’t really
Lives - Hall Green West Midlands interest her the actual music is what
She is currently a student and plans interests her not magazines as she
to go to university and study media. doesn’t find them useful
She likes the
How She Uses look of VIBE as
Music it has an urban
She listens to sense to it, and
music on her she likes that
iPhone sort of music,
regularly.
She downloads
music of off
iTunes, and she She likes artists
says, I can’t live such as Drake,
without music Rihanna,
as to helps me Beyonce, Trey
when I am Songs and
working.” Tyga.
She likes to
keep in touch
with the latest
fashions as she
likes to wear She loves R&B
different style of music, and she
clothes. doesn’t like how
the women are
stereotyped as
eye candy and
something for the
men to stare at.
General Background
In a music magazine she would like to see artists that are linked to the
genre of the magazine, she would like to see the latest gossip on artists,
and would like to see bright colours so that it catches her attention. She
would also like to see the latest trends in fashion as she likes fashion.
Hoorie Begum

4. AS Media Studies
Target Audience Research Focus Group
For this task I asked 5 males and females that are interested in the genre of R&B/Hip
Hop, I then analysed their results so that I could see what was best for my target
audience. I asked 7 questions and wrote down their main replies.
1. What images would you like to see on the front cover?
The image that they would like to see on the front cover of a music magazine
would be ones that are very dominating and striking. If it was a male then the
males would be wearing snapbacks and jewellery such as rings, necklaces
and chains. The women would look very sexy and seductive, with nudity.
2. What sell lines would you like to see on the front cover?
The sell lines should attract the audience so it should be short and snappy,
saying things about relationships and new music releases. Also exclusive
interviews and the latest fashion.
3. What kind of colours should you like to see on the front cover?
The colours that they would like to see on the front cover are bright colours so
that they retract the audience, and they don’t want to see dark colours as that
isn’t very appealing.
4. What type of language would you expect to see in the magazine/
They would expect to see informal language as it is a music magazine and
not a politics magazine for example. They would expect to see hip hop
language and a bit of slang.
5. What images would you expect to see on the contents page?
They would expect to see about 3 images of different artist or the editor, the
dates of concerts, and information about what artists are on what page. Also
an editor’s letter as that is what is in the contents age of most magazines.
6. What images would you expect to see on the double page spread article?
The image that they would expect to see is one big image on one side of the
page. The artists/band should be linked to the genre of the magazine, and the
artists should be stylish, and fashionable.
7. What would you like the article to be about?
They would like the article to be about the artist and what they have been up
to, what songs they are releasing, and what they have been up to recently.
They would also like to know about the relationship status of the artist.
Hoorie Begum