We conducted interviews and distributed questionnaires to gather both qualitative and quantitative data about preferences for a new music magazine. Interviews allowed participants to elaborate on their answers, providing more in-depth responses. We were surprised by the interest from females in a music magazine focused on R&B artists, as we had thought the genre may only appeal to males. The interviews revealed a demand for magazines catering to female music fans and including both male and female artists.

2. Interview Conclusion We decided to conduct interviews as well as hand out questionnaires to allow us to gather a variety of data. Questionnaires only supplied us with quantitive data whereas interviews allowed us to gather qualitative data. We used a number of different questions to gather different forms of data. This allowed the participants to elaborate with their answers, allowing us to collect more precise, more in depth responses. We used interviews in aim to find out exactly what they wanted rather than us supplying them with what they could have, this allowed them an opportunity to have their say about what they want included and offers choices for them. However using both questionnaires and interviews supplied us with different forms of information both which were useful to us. We could interpret the answers in a way to mix and match them together. To suit as many of our target audience as possible, this way we please as many people as we can. We asked basic questions which we thought will provide us with the answers we need to put together a successful magazine based on what our target audience say they want. The questions were not too difficult and were easy to answer. This allowed us to easily gather results and put them together in a way to make them more readable. We could use the data from our interviews to compare with the data we got from the questionnaires. We based the questions specifically on the information we needed to ensure we got that information. This will be useful when planning our final product as we will have all the relevant information we need ready for us to use it. This will make planning quicker and easier and will therefore save us time and allow us to spend more time ensuring the product is designed to a good quality. We were surprised by some of the comments made during the interviews as we didn’t think as many females would want a music magazine offered and were surprised by the number of females that said they would buy it. Until our research we were unsure about whether this product would be a good seller, but concluding from our questionnaire and interviews we can see that it would. The interviews attracted more people as they were interested to know what was happening and many were asking for more information. This encouraged us to complete more interviews in order to gather a wide spread of people allowing more room for variation.

3. Responses to interview For our first question in our interview we supplied an existing front cover and asked what was most appealing to the reader. Many commented on the Bright colours and bold font. The colour attracted most in general. A main attraction was the artists that were included which artist was printed on the cover often determined who would read it. They said they would often skim through a magazine before buying to see what was offered and if there were any articles of interest. We found that often the price can make a difference to who buys and if they buy the magazine. A really cheap magazine can be seen as good in terms of price but not necessarily in terms of quality. Some said they would rather pay a little more to receive that extra quality. Others said they would pay extra if they knew they would receive extras such as posters or free gifts. From the majority of people we asked they all said they liked the mix of male and female artists, this offered a variety for them and divided the magazine but meant it offered them information from both sides. They said they liked to hear about new upcoming artists but with a mix of well known artists so they can relate to what they know. They told us it was important to know about who was in the charts so we should include this information. It was all about keeping up to date and informed. When asking what attracts them most to a magazine the biggest response was the cover and what it includes. They said this was most important as this is what grabs the attention of the person looking/buying the magazine. If the magazines were seen as too highly priced this often turned them away from buying the magazines. They wanted good quality but at a sensible price.

4. There are not many music magazines offered to women as a particular audience. Many were mainly targeted at men and this was often off putting for them as they felt they were being excluded. They felt they were just as important that it was unfair to stereotype men are the only ones who read magazines. As a result many were interested in the idea of a music magazines aimed at just women. But supplying typical ‘male’ information aswell, including male artists etc. Some said even though particular magazines were stereotypically ‘masculine magazines’ they would still buy them as they thought no reason why they shouldn’t be able to. This occurred specifically to those interested in rock music. We were surprised by some people’s comments as before our interview we were unsure of how females reacted to magazines, we didn’t think we would get as much response as we did. We were told about the variety of magazines that are currently available and we found there were not many aimed at the R’n’B genre many were more suited to those rock or indie fans. They were keen to see others made available. Before conducting these interviews we told our audience what our aim was and what we were planning to do. After a few were included others were interested in what was going on, and some were asking for more information. As a result a successful target audience was gathered this way we received more information from a larger group of people. Once friends were included they were often more reluctant to buy, through word of mouth or friends recommendations. We attracted people from what we might stereotype or associate with the R’n’B genre. Our interviews included any females from age range 17-25 of any background and race.