The document considers potential media distributors for a new music magazine. Bauer Media is discussed as a option because it already distributes the indie-focused magazine Q, but Q may also compete for the same audience. IPC is also considered as it has popular music magazines in Europe and distributes 350 million copies annually, though its indie-focused NME magazine could also compete. Ultimately, Bauer is selected as the best choice due to its stability and large reach in the UK and abroad, while recognizing the competition with Q but that Q has expanded beyond indie music.
1. What kind of media institutions
might distribute your media
product and why?
By James Rawlinson
2. BAUER
I have chosen Bauer as a distributor of my magazine because I have
researched their existing magazines and one that links with my media
magazine is ‘Q’. Q is part Indie music related. Another reason I have
chosen Bauer media is because they reach a lot of people worldwide.
Bauer reaches 15 countries and sells 38 million magazines a week.
Bauer is also one of the biggest distributors in the magazine
industry, They sell a variety of magazines. However because they
already distribute Q, a indie magazine it would be hard to get the
indie readers to buy my magazine. However I based my media
magazine on Q so more of their readers might switch if they like the
magazine.
3. IPC
IPC would be a reasonable choice because of its popular music
magazines in Europe. And although it they pin point
Europe, countries such as USA and China are reached. IPC would be
a good choice because they sell over 350 million copies a year so
this would make my magazine very popular. IPC distribute the music
magazine NME, which is a popular indie magazine but also
concentrates on popular music so it would be as hard to compete
against it.
4. Overall
Overall, Bauer would be the best choice for a
distribution company for my music magazine
because of NME’s success from IPC. However, IPC
was bought by AOL Time Warner for £1.15bn and
after two years lost £99bn and this shows the
company (IPC) to be unstable and might not be
able to sell my magazine. Bauer is a very stable
company in the UK and reaches a large
audience, however Q is a direct competitor with my
magazine, but Q has started to move on to popular
music and my magazine will get the attention of the
indie readers.