My media product, "Takeover" magazine, would be best distributed by IPC Media, the company that owns and distributes NME magazine. [IPC Media] has experience reaching the target audience of indie/rock music fans through large retailers. Distributing through [IPC Media] would allow my magazine to leverage their existing audience and distribution channels. I would also advertise "Takeover" using similar social media strategies as NME and MOJO magazines to promote directly to my target audience.

1. Evaluation Question 3
What kind of media institution might distribute your
media product and why?
Katy Bishop

2. The Production Process
The production process would involve the 5 main steps as illustrated in a comic strip above.
The first would involve thinking about the initial idea of the magazine including the
content, its audience, the genre of music and the overall look of the product. Then research
into current similar products would take place in order to investigate who their audience is,
how they appeal to them through colour, layout, font etc. whether it has been a successful
product and more. Flat plans would then be produced, these are drawings which allow a
visual aid during the making of the magazine by showing the layout and positioning of the
pages. The magazine will then start to be constructed using software such as Photoshop or
InDesign. The magazine will then be proofed read and edited where needed. Lastly, the
product will be distributed to an institution ready to be sold to customers of the products
target audience.

3. Distribution
The magazines I researched before producing by own where NME and MOJO. These
magazines are all owned by company publishers and distributers which own other
magazines as well.
Firstly, NME is owned by IPC Media, the UKs MOJO is owned by the distributing
leading consumer magazine and digital company Bauer Media. This company
publisher. This company has allowed NME offers over 300 magazines in 15
to expand over many media platforms from countries as well as TV and radio
the magazine to NME.com and NME radio. stations. Some of the other magazines
IPC Media also owns a wide range of that Bauer Media owns include angling
magazines alongside NME including Chat, times, bike, todays golfer , heat, take a
Homes & Gardens, Ideal Home, 4x4, TV break and TV choice as well as music
Times, Teen Now and Yachting Monthly. magazines Q, Kerrang! and empire.
These magazines are aimed to both mass These products are distributed to mass
and niche audiences but still distributed on audience however some are still niche
large scales in large retailers. Consequently, regarding age and content. This means
my magazine would be likely to be my product could also be distributed by
distributed by a company like IPC media as a company like Bauer Media as they
it has a wide audience of ‘indie kids’ and distribute to large audience through
the punk/rock subculture similar to NME. large retailers.

4. Who would distribute my product?
As IPC Media publish and distribute NME Magazines alongside NME.com, NME Video, NME Radio and
NME live events and awards they are very knowledgeable and effective in reaching out to the target
audience of the indie/rock genre. This allows them to publish products that will be appealing to readers
regarding the content and look of the magazine ensuring they purchase the magazine in order to increase
their revenue and continue to produce more products. As my product, TAKEOVER is similar to NME using
the same forms and conventions of the indie/rock music genre to appeal to the target audience, it would
allow IPC media to apply the techniques used to publish NME to my product. Additionally, this process
wouldn't’t be as risky to the company as they have an already established audience which they could add
to by publishing a similar product. Furthermore, my magazine would help to increase the indie/rock
audience and custom as my magazine focus’s on up and coming artists of the genre whereas NME is
mostly about established artists. This would be a positive for IPC Media as the two magazines could work
together to widen the audience and popularity and thus increase revenue. Lastly, as IPC Media has a good
reputation it will help to make my product well known and be published and distributed to a high
standard which will increase my magazines reputation as audiences will know that my magazine is being
distributed by a reliable source making audiences aware that my magazine is a also a reliable and
professional product which will in turn increase sales and revenue.

5. Advertising my product
NME is advertised on many platforms especially through its corresponding TV Channel,
radio station and online website. NME also uses social networking sites including Facebook
and twitter as well as music sites like spotify and RSS feeds to promote the next issue of the
magazine, give readers exclusive information about artists and bands or allow audience to
listen to music featured in NME. Another way which NME advertise is through their live
events and awards platform where they can promote issues when tickets are bought by
giving special promotions or offers and by advertising their brand on gig/festival/tour
posters/tickets. MOJO also advertise using social networking sites such as YouTube and
tumblr. They also have an online website where audiences can sign up for newsletters, buy
tickets and subscribe.
With my product I would also apply similar advertising strategies as the success of the
above magazines prove their ability in reaching into audiences. For instance, using social
networking is a simple way to gain my audiences attention directly by creating pages
and accounts where my audience can interact and communicate with each other. Also,
this form of advertising is free. Furthermore, as my product grows I will be able to
introduce more platforms in which I could advertise my products such as a
radio station or TV channel. Another way could involve paying music
companies that hold festivals or have music channels for the same target
group to promote and advertise my product.

6. Distributing my product
As my media product is aimed at a wide audience the most
suitable place for distribution would be within large retailers
such as WHSmith, HMV, supermarkets like Tesco, asda and
Sainsbury's and at most local new agents. This would make my
magazine easily available and accessible to my target audience.
Additionally, as my magazine provides a subscription service in
copies of the magazine it would allow regular readers to collect
and own every issue by post or by picking up from local
newsagents who participate in subscription rather than buying it
from retailers who may increase the price its sold for to make
more profit directly for the supermarket or store.
Furthermore, the constant rise of web 2.0 will allow my
audience to purchase and order issues online making in easier
and more cost effective for my product to be distributed and
advertised online as ‘add-ons’ for websites and online stores of
the same indie/rock genre such as a fashion store.