This document discusses key concepts related to music magazines, including their codes and conventions, target audience, representation of genres, and business models. It describes common front cover and contents page elements. It also explains that music magazines aim to entertain readers by providing reliable information on artists' lives, music, and tours through images, articles, and reviews. Their business models include advertising revenue, readership/subscriptions, and promotional partnerships to sustain audiences interested in the featured music genres.

1. Key Concepts
Tara Wilton

2. Codes & Conventions
Front Cover
• Masthead
• Full bleed image
• Sell lines
• Barcode
• Price
• Website address
Contents Page
• Title
• Features
• Images
• Reviews
• Editor’s note
• Page numbers
Double Page Spread
• Title
• Article
• Pictures of the artist
• Pull quotes
• Background
• Page number

3. Audience
• To create a personal identity. The artists involved may be considered idols and role models to the reader which they aspire to be like.
• The information included is reliable and trustworthy, they wouldn’t print something fake and dishonest as it would make it an unreliable source.
• They enjoy reading about artists personal lives, upcoming tours, albums and singles.
• It is a cheap way to relax and read about something that the reader is interested in.
• Competitions and freebees allow the readers to feel that they are getting more for their money. It also saves them spending lots of money on
concerts and products if they are included in the permanent price of the magazine. It also gives the reader a sense of satisfaction.
• They can feel like they have a relationship with the magazine because it is aimed specifically towards them to entertain them and keep their
readership.
• The reviews will help them to make a judgement on artists’ tours, albums and songs.
• It is a fun pass time and can be a popular item to read on holiday or while travelling to keep the reader entertained and give them something
to do.
• Depending on the type of music magazine, the reader can find out about the real music industry and the production of the music, or they can
find out about the artists’ love lives and other personal information.
• Why do audiences read magazines? What do we expect from a music magazine?

4. Audience
• Pleasures & Benefits
• The reader can create their own personal identity by reading about the artists that they consider
idols and that they look up to.
• The reader can make personal relationships with other people who read the magazine and who are
interested in the same artists favoured by the reader and included in the magazine.
• Competitions and freebees give the reader a sense of satisfaction as they are included in the price
of the magazine and are not charged extra.
• It enables them to create a relationship with the magazine and feel like they are part of something
bigger.
• It is a relaxing pass time
• Some people prefer the idea of having the magazine to hold.
• Print magazines make it easier to flick through the pages until something catches the
reader’s eye.
• The magazine could be valuable and worth something in the future.
• It gives people something to do while travelling (signal on a smartphone can cut out or
be prohibited e.g. underground on a train or flying on a plane)
• Good quality of images that the reader can cut out and stick on their walls
• Ability to collect all the issues
• Easy to show friends (create personal relationships)
• Why do people still read music magazines in light of access to the internet?

5. Representation
• Indie/alternative
• The indie genre of music is presented through the way the different artists and bands portray
themselves and their music. Each artists music is different to the others and has a unique twist
to it. Usually, the main singer will have a very distinctive and exclusive sound to their voice,
and the instruments used will compliment it nicely. Their style is labelled as ‘Hipster’ as they
wear clothes which they think will express themselves and their music in the most effective
way. The term ‘Indie’ comes from the phrase ‘independent music’ which is strongly associated
with guitars, rebellion and meaningful lyrics. The artist/band likes to create their own music
with their own instruments.
• The stereotypical ‘indie’ fan would be a teenage boy wearing tight skinny jeans, riding a
skateboard with headphones in.
• Most Indie bands are home grown, having started off practising in garages and bedrooms,
eventually performing at various gigs. They are often regarded as ‘outsiders’ who use music to
break out of the mould and obtain a voice.
• It is aimed towards males and females to display the different kinds of people they can reach
out to using their music.

6. Representation
Artists Albums
Deaf Havana Old Souls
Twin Atlantic Free
Mumford & Sons The Road To Red Rocks
Bastille Bad Blood
Fall Out Boy Save Rock & Roll
The 1975 IV
Lower Than Atlantis Changing Tune

7. Institution
• How do magazine publishers make money?
• Advert Revenue – companies pay the magazine to feature adverts that the target audience would be
interested in.
• Readership – people buying the magazine and subscribing to the magazine
• How are they attempting to retain audiences?
• Bright colours and good images to attract the reader
• Offering good value competitions
• Keeping to a house colour scheme to make it recognisable
• Including social networking to relate to the modern day technology benefits
• Regular features
• Product placement in Tv Programmes, Films etc
• Popular artists included
• What business models are used to ensure a sustained audience?
Aspects such as music channels, radio stations and a stage named after the magazine at a festival
help to ensure a sustained audience by promoting the magazine and the type of genre and the
collection of artists that are featured in that magazine. If the magazine is well liked, then it is likely that
all these business models are likely to be successful as the magazine has a good reputation.