This document discusses the target audience for a hip hop magazine. It will target male readers, ages 18-26, who are primarily African American. This demographic matches the audiences of other popular hip hop magazines. The magazine will also target those in socioeconomic classes A, B, and C who can relate to or admire the lavish lifestyle often portrayed in hip hop music and culture. According to uses and gratifications theory, the magazine will attract "explorers" and "social climbers" who are interested in hip hop music, artists, and culture as a form of diversion. The primary stereotype the magazine aims to reach is African American males between 18-26 years old.

1. Audience Profile – Genre: Hip Hop Target Audience:
Gender and Age (Hartley’s 7 Subjectivities) and why
The denotation of the target audience for my magazine will be aimed at the
male gender as many hip hop magazines feature black artists of the male
gender. 78% of readers for XXL are of the male gender with a staggering fact
of 67% being African Americans. This is a prime example of why my magazine
will be aimed at these target groups as they are drawn towards the hip hop
genre. My magazine will be aimed at people within the age bracket of 18-26
years old. The reason for me aiming my magazine at this specific age group is
due to the fact that the group is modern, broad and hip hop aims at younger
adults as the genre has broken into the music world for approximately 25
years therefore appeals to those of a younger age.
Socio-Economic Needs and why:
The appearance and features of my magazine imply that this magazine is
primarily aimed at those of high wealth or those who admire wealth based on
the stereotypes associated to hip hop culture which is dominated by bling,
cash, possessions and meeting girls therefore is appealing to those of the
ambitious category and also aims at the male gender due to this upbeat and
female dominated lifestyle. Therefore my magazine will be aimed at those of
class A or B as they are able to relate to this high class lifestyle full of jewelry
and cash however this could also aim at those of class C1-3 as many hip hop
artist came from a poor background encouraging people of a lower class to
admire the genre.
Katz’ Uses & Gratifications Theory and Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs
The prime target audience for Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs targeted by my
magazine would be ‘Explorers’ due to the fact that over the last 20 years hip
hop has had a massive breakthrough and has changed social media in many
ways and ‘explorers’ read magazines based on this purpose and this also
attracts ‘social climbers’ as they are attracted into the hip-hop lifestyle such as
bling, driving flash cars and meeting girls in which youngsters admire. The
method used for Katz’ theory is by targeting those in the ‘diversion’ section as
readers attract themselves to the music, artists and culture implied by this
hip-hop magazine and all hip hop magazines.
Stereotype(s):
My magazine is aimed at African American males between the age of 18 and
26 years old as Hip hop is a modern genre that appeals to a younger
generation of an African American background