The document provides details on several music magazines that could be competitors for a new magazine. It summarizes the target audience, price, publication frequency, page count, and regular/feature content sections of magazines like Kerrang, NME, Rock Sound, Metal Hammer, Q Magazine, Classic Rock, Revolver, and Rolling Stone. The magazines cover genres like rock, pop, punk, and metal and target audiences ranging from teens to those in their late 20s/30s. They typically publish weekly or monthly and cost between £2-7 depending on extras included.

1. {
Researching the Market Place
These are some existing magazines of the same genre that my
magazine will focus on. These would later be the competitors of
my magazines.

2. Kerrang
• Kerrang is a popular music magazine that is based in the UK
which focuses on the rock genre. Its audience would vary
from 16 to late 20's as its content can appeal to may
different people interested in this genre. It looks at
popular, existing bands and also well established names in
rock (easily recognised).
• The price of the magazine is £2.20. This includes the
magazine and free posters imbedded in the content. It
rarely contains free-bees but free download links may be
available on the inside. If free-bees are issued in the
magazine the price increases for that issue.
• The frequency of publication is weekly. The magazine comes
out on Wednesday of every week.
• The issue size itself is average A4 and consists of 60-100 pages
(including the front and back cover).
• The regular content consists of 'News', 'Feedback', 'Shots'
(posters), 'Lives' (live gigs both coming up and
reviews), 'Albums' (new albums, ratings, overviews and
reviews) and 'Gig Guide'. Other features also consist of a
message from the editor and regular advertisements that link
into the theme.
• The feature articles in this issue include 'Bring Me The
Horizon', 'The Ultimate Rockstar Test' and (as this issue was
released near Halloween) 'Halloween Special' which
consisted of several Halloween themed special interviews
with bands such as Fall Out Boy and Slash.
• Website Address: http://www.kerrang.com/
• Publishers Website: http://www.bauermedia.com/
• Media Pack:
http://magazines.bauermediaadvertising.com/magazines/d
etail/kerrang
Kerrang issue no 1490 (issue I used
for analysis)

3. NME
• NME (meaning New Musical Express) is another popular
English music magazine. It focuses on the rock, pop and
punk genre of music. Its audience would vary depending
on the star or artist involved, but mostly late teens to 30's
would be the target audience.
• The price of the magazine is £2.20. This also includes added
extras such as free CD's, posters and downloads as well as
the content in the magazine.
• The frequency of publication is weekly. The magazine
comes out on Wednesday of every week.
• The magazine is usually an average A4 size and contains
around 100-150 pages. This includes feature articles, regular
content, posters (if in particular issue) and advertisements).
• NME's regular content is under the headings of
'News', 'Radar', 'Reviews' and 'Live'. Each section contains
similar content in each issue however the page titles will
change depending on the content. For example the 'Live'
and 'Reviews' section will always contain the same type of
content but the actual features will be different, such as
changing the artists or gigs looked at. The regular content
also consist of the 'Band Index' which takes up a column
down the side of the contents page. This simply states
which bands will feature in the issue (even if it is just a small
paragraph or image) and states which page they are on.
• The feature content in NME magazine usually consists of
articles or interviews about different bands. It also contains
specialist articles that record stories or events. These are all
present under the 'Features' title on the contents page.
• Website Address: http://www.nme.com/magazine
• Publishers Website: http://www.ipcmedia.com/
• Media Pack:
http://www.ipcadvertising.com/resource/g9fgogb7yus90v
pvbnh0ef7m.pdf

4. Rock Sound
• Rock Sound is a popular English music magazine that
has been created in the past 20 years. Although it is
fairly new compared to others in the same genre it has
become very popular amongst 15 to 25 year
olds, setting a younger target audience. Its genre looks
at pop, punk, pop-punk, emo, hardcode, post-
hardcore, heavy metal and extreme metal genres of
rock music.
• Rock Sound costs £3.40 as it is not as frequent as other
magazines.
• The frequency of the magazine is every four weeks
which totals up to 13 times a year.
• The issue size is A4 and consists of 80-100 pages. This
includes all its content, such as free posters, feature
articles and regular content.
• The regular content in Rock Sound magazine are
double page spreads (that link to the front
cover, however the content itself is a feature
article), tour dates, new albums and
artists, posters, 'Exclusive Information', letter from the
editor and 'Plus' section.
• Its feature articles consist of main double page spreads
which link to the from cover (both the main artist
advertised and what is advertised on the cover lines).
• Website Address: http://www.rocksound.tv/
• Publishers Website: Freeway Press Inc.
• Media Pack:
http://www.slideshare.net/CrudgeRockSound/rock-
sound-2012-media-pack

5. Metal Hammer
• Metal Hammer is an English music magazine published by
Team Rock. It focuses on the rock genre but specifically
looking at heavy metal rock. The average buyer of Metal
Hammer is 22 so its target audience would be 18 to 28. This
would however depend on the issue being released as
some are feature magazines on a certain band or artist
such as Iron Maiden.
• Metal Hammer has an average price of £4 but this has
been known to change to different prices for special
additions, such as the Ozzy Osborn feature addition which
cost £7.99.
• The frequency of publication is every month, making it 12
per year.
• The issue size is A4 and can consist of 100-200 pages. It is a
fairly big magazine as it is only released monthly therefore a
lot of content is featured in it.
• The regular content in Metal Hammer consists of
'Loaded', a life story from an artist/ band, a story behind an
album, information and reviews about albums, gig guides
and advertisements.
• Metal Hammers feature content consists of mostly special
band interviews. Most issues of Metal Hammer are themed
to one specific band, such as my example of Iron Maiden.
This means that the featured content in the magazines are
linked to the over all theme. This will usually take up 3-4
double page spreads and most of the cover and contents
page. Other featured content is specific band interviews of
featured gig reviews and competitions.
• Website Address: http://www.metalhammer.co.uk/
• Publishers Website: http://weareteamrock.com/

6. Q Magazine
• Q magazine is an English Magazine published by
Bauer media. It was first published in 1986 and
looks at classic Rock 'n' Roll. The target audience
for Q magazine is 15-24 year olds. This would
however depend on the individual issue and the
cover star (feature article).
• The magazine costs £3.90 and this can vary
depending if it is a special edition or not.
• The frequency of publication is once a
month, meaning there are 12 editions per year.
• The issue size is A4 and consists of 150-200 pages
depending if it is a special edition or not.
• The regular content in Q magazine consists of 'Q
Mail', 'Q50', 'Subscriptions', 'Crosswords' and '10
Commandments'. These all feature under the
'Regular' title on the contents page.
• The feature content in Q magazine consists of
'New!', 'Where are they now?', 'A round
with...', 'Ticket Touting' and 'The Q List'. These
feature alongside other main articles such as band
interviews and album features. These are not
feature articles but the content changes weekly
therefore it is not regular.
• Website Address: http://www.qthemusic.com/
• Publishers Website: http://www.bauer.co.uk/
• Media Pack:
http://magazines.bauermediaadvertising.com/ma
gazines/detail/Q

7. Classic Rock
• Classic Rock is a British magazine published by
team rock. It looks at the classic rock genre. It is
published alongside Metal Hammer and a
'lighter version' therefore looking at bands from
a 'lighter' rock genre.
• The price of Classic Rock magazine is £3.99 and
retails in most stores and news agents.
• The frequency of publication is monthly making
12 annually.
• The average size of the issue is A4 and ranges
from 100-200 pages. This includes any added in
posters and the front and back covers.
• The regular content in Classic Rock magazine
are general music articles, band interviews, a
message from the editor, posters, latest news
and feature stories.
• The feature articles in Classic Rock magazine
are mainly double page spreads (or more) on
certain bands, artists or events. These usually
are very detailed and take up a lot of space.
• Website Address:
http://www.classicrockmagazine.com/
• Publishers Website:
http://weareteamrock.com/

8. Revolver
• The Revolver magazine is a hard rock and metal
magazine which takes a very 'in-your-face
approach'.
• Its audience is mainly male 21-35 year olds.
• The magazine is priced at £6 to £15 depending on
the individual issue.
• Revolver magazine is a bi-monthly magazine
which means it is published once every two
months, resulting in 6 per year.
• As Revolver is a bi-monthly magazine its average
issue size is A4 but varying from 150-300 pages.
• Revolver's regular content consists of news in that
particular genre, band interviews and album
updates.
• The featured content in Revolver includes
exclusive interviews or articles on bands or
individual artists. This is often linked to the cover.
• Website Address: http://www.revolvermag.com/
• Publishers Website:
http://www.newbaymedia.com/
• Media Pack:
http://www.revolvermag.com/files/RevolverMedi
aKit2011.pdf

9. Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone magazine is an American magazine
which looks at popular culture. Its target audience
would be male aged 18- 24.
The Rolling Stone magazine retails at £5.28.
The magazine is published bi-weekly (once every
two weeks) totalling in 26 times per year.
As the magazine is bi-weekly it means when is
released there is more content then in a weekly
magazine. This means that the average size is A4
with 150-200 pages depending on the features.
The regular content in the magazine consist of
'Q&A (question and answer)', 'Letters', 'Rock and
Roll', 'National Affairs', 'Reviews' and 'Charts'. A
message from the editor is also included.
The feature content in the magazine consists
mainly of feature/ exclusive articles and interviews
with popular icons (bands, individual artists or
politicians). These take up a main section of the
magazine as each issue contains around 3-5.
Website Address: http://www.rollingstone.com/
Media Pack:
http://www.srds.com/mediakits/rollingstone/demo
graphics.html