This document discusses potential media institutions to distribute a new music magazine product and analyzes their advantages and disadvantages. It examines three competitors: Q Magazine distributed by Bauer Media Group with a large reputation but may not be interested in smaller publications; NME distributed by IPC Media with experience but a focus on rock genre; and The Fly distributed by MAMA Group which supports independent and up-and-coming artists similarly to the new product but is a free publication. In summary, it evaluates these distribution options based on their experience, genres, sizes, and alignment with the new music magazine's goals.

1. EVALUATION QUESTION 5
What kind of media institution might distribute your product and why?

2. COMPETING MAGAZINES
 Q Magazine (Bauer Media Group)
 NME (IPC Media)
 The Fly (MAMA Group)

3. Q MAGAZINE (BAUER MEDIA GROUP)
 Monthly magazine
 Circulation: 80, 418 monthly
 Around since the 80s. Had time to build up a readership, popularity, experience
and a reputation.
 Well known brand. Other ‘Q’ brands include Q Radio and Q Awards.
 High profile artists across all genres are featured in Q.

4. WHAT WOULD BE THE ADVANTAGES AND
DISADVANTAGES OF BAUER MEDIA GROUP
DISTRIBUTING MY PRODUCT
Advantages:
 The company has built up a large reputation within the industry, and will therefore
have the equipment and expertise to produce my magazine and increase it’s
potential of succeeding in the industry.
 It has many brands across the media industry and not just in magazines. My
magazine would be able to branch out to these brands.
Disadvantages:
 It’s a very large company, and it wouldn’t necessarily want to publish a small
publication like mine. It’s content and genre may not fit the wants of the company
since it covers the genres that my magazine also promotes.

5. NME (IPC MEDIA)
 Weekly magazine
 Circulation: 23,924 (weekly)
 Longest running competition. First published in the 50s.
 Well know brand. Other NME brands include NME Radio, NME Awards,
NME tours and it’s online site.
 Good reputation within the music industry, with big names in their
magazine. High profile artists.

6. WHAT WOULD BE THE ADVANTAGES AND
DISADVANTAGES OF IPC MEDIA DISTRIBUTING
MY PRODUCT
Advantages:
 Large, long running company that has a lot of experience and equipment to help
my product succeed.
 NME is a large brand which has sponsorship from other large brands. These
brands may be able to support my magazine in gaining a name within the
industry.
Disadvantages:
 NME’s main genre is rock, and may therefore not be interested in producing a
magazine of my chosen genre.
 Sponsorship from brands may take away the magazines unique style and content,
and take away from it’s individualistic approach to the music industry.

7. THE FLY (MAMA GROUP)
 Independent magazine.
 Monthly
 Circulation: 104, 596
 Virtual magazine online and physical magazine.
 It’s contributors also write for Q magazine and NME magazine.
 Features up and coming, smaller, independent artists. For
example, Florence & The Machine were once featured on The Fly
cover.
 Free magazine.

8. WHAT WOULD BE THE ADVANTAGES AND
DISADVANTAGES OF THE MAMA GROUP
DISTRIBUTING MY PRODUCT
Advantages:
 The Fly is a small, independent publication, much like mine, and has made a name
for itself from a small leaflet.
 Some of it’s writers also write for Q and NME, so that would be a good connection
with some of the bigger institutions.
 It has the largest circulation of all my competition.
Disadvantages:
 The Fly is a free publication, so I may have to decrease, or even get rid of
altogether the charge of my product.