1. Analysis Of Questionnaire –
I am currently designing and producing my own music magazine that focuses on the ‘Hip-
Hop’ genre in order to make sure I am correctly identifying what it is that my target audience
wants I complied a questionnaire and had twenty people fill it in, my feedback from the
questionnaire is presented here both in word format and with detailed pie charts displaying
the percentages.
1) What Is Your Gender?
Males
50%
Females
50%
Males
Females
The first question I asked was a simple one, what is your gender, I aimed my magazine
predominantly at boys but at the same time I did not want to alienate the female readership so
I felt it was important to include views, opinions and thoughts from both the male and female
perspective hence why I put my questionnaire to ten females and ten males, thus in theory
making it as fair as it can be.
2) Are you in my target age range, between 15-25?
Yes
80%
No
20%
Yes
No
I quickly identified my target audience as males aged 15 – 25 who were interested in the ‘Hip-
Hop’ genre, therefore I put my question mainly to males in this age range but I also made
sure to put it to people outside of my target age range in order to gain a full perspective on
potential readers of all ages.

2. 3) Are you interested in the 'Hip-Hop' genre of music?
Yes
90%
No
10%
Yes
No
Again, wanting to get as much useful feedback as possible I made sure the majority of people
who filled in my questionnaire were interested in the ‘Hip-Hop’ genre but I also made sure as
before with the target age range question that I included a few people who were not
interested in the genre in order to gain incites into their perspectives and feelings.
Here you can see I asked an open ended question hence why I have such a range of
responses, despite part of this question failing in the fact I have received numerous
responses for artists who have only been selected a couple of times although it was not a
total failure what I wanted to achieve was to find out who is generally the most popular ‘Hip-
Hop’ artist there is a unanimous winner in Eminem with 17% of the votes whilst he is closely
follow in joint second by 50-Cent and third is taken jointly by Tu Pac and the Notorious B.I.G.
by finding out who my potential readership is interested in will benefit me no end, I can
research artists such as Eminem and 50-Cent and include elements found on double-page-
spread where they are the subject and introduce some of these elements into my magazine
thus creating a familiar surrounding for new readers who will have likely read articles about
such artists as Eminem and 50-Cent before.

3. 5) If you answered 'Yes' to question 3 please state what it is
that attracts you to the 'Hip-Hop' genre -
Other
0% The instruments
and vocals used
0%
The artists/bands
involved in the
genre
89%
The lyrics of the
songs
11%
The image of the
'Hip-Hop' genre
0%
The artists/bands involved in
the genre
The lyrics of the songs
The instruments and vocals
used
The image of the 'Hip-Hop'
genre
Other
Question five is still a continuation of question three, question five is asking what it is that
attracts you to the ‘Hip-Hop’ genre, again its clear to see there is a unanimous decision, the
artists and bands are what matters to the people and that is one of their biggest attractions
into the genre with 89% of the people I asked selecting this opinion as their biggest attraction
to the genre, in addition to that the lyrics of the songs follow but it is considerably far behind
with just 11% further more the image of the ‘Hip-Hop’ genre received 0% this is an indication
that when it comes to producing my magazine perhaps I would steer away from the traditional
‘gangster’ image associated with ‘Hip-Hop’ as its evident my potential readership are mature
and uninterested in the ‘Hip-Hop’ ‘lifestyle’ but still enjoy the artists and the music. Like the
image of the ‘Hip-Hop’ genre the instruments and vocals used received 0% but this may not
be a clear representation that the readership are not interested in instruments due to the fact
instruments play a minor role in ‘Hip-Hop’ and therefore would have minimal impact upon its
listeners. Furthermore under the category ‘Other’ nothing is listing indicating my question was
well thought out and had the available opinions ready for the choosing by the people filling in
the questionnaire.
Overall the data collected here will be very useful when it comes to producing my magazine, I
will be sure to avoid the stereotypical ‘gangster’ look that is often associated with ‘Hip-Hop’
but I will also be sure to include several indications to well known and iconic ‘Hip-Hop’ stars
as I have clearly found out the artists involved in the genre are what’s important to my
potential readership.

4. 6) Do you currently buy or read music magazines?
Yes
80%
No
20%
Yes
No
For my sixth question I asked simply do you currently buy or read music magazines in order
to gain an incite into my potential readerships buying habits and to see if there was a potential
gap in the market for a new ‘Hip-Hop’ product. Thankfully its clear there is undoubtedly the
readership with the purchasing power to take a product such as mine off the shelf as 80% yes
they do buy or read music magazines, meaning there is a strong likelihood they would be
interested in a new ‘Hip-Hop’ magazine such as the one I will produce.
7) If you answered 'Yes' to question six please state how often
you buy music magazines -
Fortnightly Basis
0%
Monthly Basis
0%
Yearly Basis
0%
Daily Basis
19%
Weekly Basis
81%
Daily Basis
Weekly Basis
Fortnightly Basis
Monthly Basis
Yearly Basis

5. Question seven is a continuation of question six, it asks if you do buy music magazines to
state how often you buy them, the people I asked my questionnaire to are clearly passionate
and committed music fans as 81% of them buy magazines on a weekly basis whilst the
remaining 19% buy them on a daily basis giving a strong clue that when I come to produce
my product it would be best if I target it as weekly based magazine rather than perhaps a
monthly based magazine which are normally more common.
8) Again, If you answered 'Yes' to question 6 please state
which music magazine you buy most frequently -
The Source
13%
XXL
13%
Billboard
13%
Vibe
55%
Hip Hop
6%
Vibe
Billboard
XXL
The Source
Hip Hop
Again, question eight is a continuation of question six it asks which magazine you buy most
frequently, the magazines I have allowed them to chose from are magazines that
predominantly focus on ‘Hip-Hop’ but they also have their own unique styling elements to
them which will allow me to decide on how popular certain aspects of these magazines are for
example colour scheme thus allowing me to chose which would be best used as a basis for
the creation of my magazine and therefore should make for a popular creation.
All five magazines I gave them the option to chose from were ‘Hip-Hop’ magazines I chose
not to offer them any other type of magazine that specialises in other genres because I
needed responses in reference to ‘Hip-Hop’ magazines because which ever one proves the
most popular would make it a prime candidate for my product to be modelled after in this case
the magazine ‘Vibe’.

6. 9) If you answered 'No' to question 6 please select a reason for
not purchasing or reading music magazines -
They don't seem to
be aimed at people
like me
75%
I don't know much
about the
magazines on offer
0%
They're too
expensive
0%
I don't buy
magazines of any
type
0%
Other
0%
I'm not particularly
interested in music
25%
I don't know much about the
magazines on offer
I'm not particularly interested in
music
They don't seem to be aimed at
people like me
They're too expensive
I don't buy magazines of any
type
Other
Still continuing as a continuation of question six, nine asks for a reason as to why you do not
read or purchase music magazines. Only a small proportion of people answered ‘No’ to
question six so therefore this question applies to a minute number of people although the
feedback remains as important, its clear that people who don’t buy or read music magazines
is because they feed alienated; ‘They don’t seem to be aimed at people like me’, gaining
75%, meaning it is not the assumed fact that they aren’t interested in music as that received
only a small proportion just 25% in comparison to the music larger 75%, were people feel that
magazines aren’t aimed at their demographic. This feedback can be very useful to me when it
comes to producing my product as I will need to make sure I cater to my target audience but
also don’t make it so I alienate other potential markets totally, keep windows of interest open
that may entice readers of both sexes and different age ranges.
10) If you already purchase music magazines what would
encourage you to purchase them more often or in greater
numbers or if you do not purchase them at all what features
may persuade you?
Key dates on things
like upcoming gigs
and festivals
0%
Competitions
(prizes: CD's,
concert tickets, etc)
5%
Other
0%
Cheaper prices
20%
Free gifts (T-Shirts,
CD's, Posters, etc)
60%
Current news and
exclusive interviews
15%
Competitions (prizes: CD's,
concert tickets, etc)
Free gifts (T-Shirts, CD's,
Posters, etc)
Current news and exclusive
interviews
Cheaper prices
Key dates on things like
upcoming gigs and festivals
Other

7. Question ten, requires a response from everybody it asks if you purchase music magazines
what would encourage you to purchase them more often and if you did not purchase them
what features may persuade you? I include several options for the participants to choose from
but as I did on many questions previous included an ‘Other’ box which remains unutilized
which again tells me all my options were satisfactory; clearly the most popular element that
should be included in my magazine would be ‘Free gifts (T-Shirts, CD’s, Posters, etc)’ which
received 60%, indicating so called ‘Freebees’ make or break a potential purchase,
furthermore other options such as ‘Cheaper Prices’ received 20% significantly less than the
60% for ‘Free gifts’ but still of significance whilst ‘Current5 news and exclusive interviews’
received 15% Competitions received 5% and ‘Key dates on things like upcoming gigs and
festivals received 0% indicting these are significantly less important to my potential readership
and I should therefore concentrate my efforts onto producing a cheap magazine that includes
some kind of free gift.
11) How much would you be willing to pay for a music
magazine?
£2.01-£3.00
60%
£1.00-2.00
15%
I w ould only pick up
a music magazine if
it w as free
5%
50-99p
20%
Over 4 pounds
0%
£3.01-£4.00
0% 50-99p
£2.01-£3.00
£1.00-2.00
I w ould only pick up a music
magazine if it w as free
£3.01-£4.00
Over 4 pounds
Having clear seen from my date collected on question ten that cheaper prices are something
very important to the participants in my questionnaire I decided to next ask them how much
would they be willing to pay for a music magazine? £2.01-£3.00 received 60% indicating the
fairest my magazine should be sold at would be around £2.99 as its in the middle of the most
popular price range and this price would also warn people that this is perhaps a more
upmarket magazine and the slightly heavier price tag would more than be made up for by its
contents, unique design, potential to win competitions and receive free gifts. Only a small
percentage of my participants selected the option; ‘I would only pick up a music magazine if it
was free’ indicating they are willing to pay for a quality project.

8. 12) What colour scheme would you most like to see used for
the front page of a music magazine?
More subtle colours
e.g. Whites, Greys,
Greens that are
pale and neutral
15%
Other
0%
Bright colours e.g.
Reds, Oranges and
Yellow s that are
eye-catching and
bold
85%
Bright colours e.g. Reds,
Oranges and Yellow s that are
eye-catching and bold
More subtle colours e.g. Whites,
Greys, Greens that are pale
and neutral
Other
For question twelve I moved finding out what it is my participants find aesthetically pleasing
for this question I asked, what colour scheme would you most like to see used for the front
page of a music magazine? Here there is a clear unanimous decision in favour of ‘Bright
colours e.g. Reds, Oranges and Yellows that are eye-catching and bold’ with 85% clearly
surpassing the 15% in favour of more subtle colours; therefore when it comes to producing
my product there is no doubt I will focus on bold and bright colours in order to produce
something that really stands out on the shelf.
13) What kind of image would you most like to see on the
front page of a music magazine?
One large image of
an artist or band
linking in w ith a
main cover line
70%
A series of smaller
photos relating to
individual cover
lines
30%
Other
0%
One large image of an artist or
band linking in w ith a main
cover line
A series of smaller photos
relating to individual cover
lines
Other

9. Continuing with finding out what elements would please my potential readership visually I
asked; what kind of image would you most like to see on the front page of a music magazine?
Again a unanimous decision in favour of; ‘One large image of an artist or band linking in with
a main cover line’ receiving 70% significantly more than the 30% received for; ‘A series of
small photos relating to individual cover lines’ meaning once again when I come to designing
my product I will use this data and make sure my end product resembles the responses I
received here on the analysis of my questionnaire.
14) What contents would you most like to find within a music magazine?
General up-to-date
information on the
music scene
60%
Latest new s both on
the music scene and
in general
5%
Write in section to
have your opinions
published
20%
Exclusive behind the
scenes interview s
and photos
10%
Competitions
5%
Other
0%
Information on the
specific bands or
artists
0%
Competitions
General up-to-date information on
the music scene
Latest new s both on the music
scene and in general
Write in section to have your
opinions published
Exclusive behind the scenes
interview s and photos
Information on the specific bands
or artists
Other
Question fourteen, what contents would you most like to find within a music magazine? I gave
the participants in my questionnaire as range of different options to chose from, with 60% this
is the clear choice for the masses; ‘general up-to-date information on the music scene’
followed by ‘write in section to have your opinions published’ with 20% the other options only
received minimal attention by participants indicating general up-to-date information and a
write in section are what they would most like to see such elements as these could help
create a well rounded finished product that caters for my target audiences needs and wants
very well.

10. 15) If a new music magazine entered the market specialising
in the 'Hip-Hop' genre would you purchase it?
Yes
80%
No
20%
Yes
No
The next question I asked was a simple one which I asked in order to find out if there was a
clear market out there for my magazine; if a new music magazine entered the market
specialising in the ‘Hip-Hop’ genre would you purchase it? Clearly there is a market available
for a news product specialising in the ‘Hip-Hop’ genre as 80% of my participants said ‘Yes’
they would purchase it.
16) Finally, which of these magazines do you find the most
appealing and if you had to purchase one with your own money
which would it be?
E
80%
D
0%
C
5%
B
0%
A
15%
A
B
C
D
E

11. The final question asks; which of these magazines do you find the most appealing and if you
had to purchase one with your own money which would it be? I gave my participants the
following magazines to choose from:
A was NME, B was Mojo, Q was C, KERRANG! was D and
Vibe was E. There is a clear verdict in favour of E, Vibe; Vibe
being the ‘Hip-Hop’ magazine out of the five to chose from
indicates the participants of my questionnaire really know
their music especially their ‘Hip-Hop’ therefore when it comes
to producing my product it would definitely be in my favour to
follow the basic codes and conventions Vibe uses in this
photograph in order achieve an overall successful end product.
Evaluation –
In conclusion the data I have obtained from these
questionnaires has been indispensible, I have managed to
gain an incite into my potential audiences minds taking their
thoughts and opinions down and processing that data in order
to make my end product better, overall the participants of
this questionnaire have influenced almost every element
of my product from the colour scheme and style to its overall
content and articles, the data collected from these
questionnaires has undoubtedly influenced my
decision making considerably. I will take as many opinions
expressed here as possible forward and implement them into
my finished product.
George Parkin.