Institution Rsearch

2. Introduction/ history
• Q is a popular music magazine released
monthly
• The fist issue was published in October 1986
• Although originally named “Cue” it later
decided to change to “Q” so not to be
confused with a snooker magazine.

3. Overview of the content
• Extensive review section
• With the star rating an album receives from Q
generally being advertised along side
• Well known for lists, e.g. “The 100 Greatest
Albums”
• Also includes promotional gifts like CDs

4. The publishing institution
• It is published by Bauer
Media Group
• It is a large European
based media company
• They publish a wide range
of media products
including: magazines,
digital products and radio
and TV stations
• Other magazines- Kerrang!

5. Typical reader profile
• Gender: Male (70%)
• Age: Between 15-40
• Median age: 32
• Interests: Rock and
roll music
• Income: 72% are
ABC1 with high
disposable income
Social Grade Social Status Occupation
A upper middle class higher managerial,
administrative or
professional
B middle class intermediate
managerial,
administrative or
professional
C1 lower middle class supervisory or
clerical, junior
managerial,
administrative or
professional
C2 skilled working class skilled manual
workers
D working class semi and unskilled
manual workers
E those at lowest level
of subsistence
state pensioners or
widows (no other
earner), casual or
lowest grade workers

6. Layout trademarks
• White Q inside a red square
located in the top left
corner of every magazine
• Every issue of Q has a
different message on the
spine.
• The magazine generally has
a white background on the
front cover
• The font colours are black,
white and red
• Front cover has a medium
close up image of an artist

7. Does the magazine reflect the values of
its audiences?
• The audience for “Q” is more mature music listeners.
Who would be less focussed on stardom of the musicians
and more on the music.
• This is reflected by the magazine because of the content.
Instead of having lots of articles about celebrity life and
gossip, it is more to do with the actual music shown by
the extensive lists and reviews.
• The audience is also represented buy the house style
because the colours of: red, white and black is pretty
simple and not that wild. This creates a more
sophisticated feel to the magazine without appearing
boring because the audience are mainly 30s and so still
fairly young.