This document provides information about magazines published in the UK and their production companies through four paragraphs. The first paragraph introduces that many music magazines are published in the UK by a handful of large production companies that also work in other media. The following paragraphs then discuss the specific companies that publish popular music magazines like Kerrang!, Mojo, Classic Rock, Q Magazine, and Prog, providing details on their ownership and other publications.

1. Market Research
By Georgia Muir

2. Magazines published in the UK
Many many magazines are published throughout the UK, and a good number of them are music magazines.
However there is only a handful of production companies that produce and publish hundreds of magazines each.
Not only do these companies produce magazines but they work on many other media platforms too. These
production companies often work in other countries and also with other companies.
• Kerrang!
• Mojo
• Classic Rock
• Q Magazine
• Classic Pop
• Prog

3. Who publishes them?/what else do the publish or
own?
Bauer Media Group
Kerrang!, Q magazine and mojo are published by Bauer media group.
It is a worldwide media group offering over 300 magazines in 15 countries. They also own online
platforms, TV channels and radio stations. They were founded in 2008 and are one of the largest
publication teams.

4. Team Rock
Team rock are a publishing company who publish Prog magazine and classic rock. They are a UK based company
who were founded in 2013. They also own their own radio station as well as publishing four rock magazines.

5. Anthem Publishing
Anthem publishing publish classic pop magazine. They were awarded independent publishing company of the year
and are Britain's only publisher of both music making and music listening magazines.
Classic pop is the UK’s retro-pop magazine so they are an important publishing team.
They also publish different genres of magazines.

6. Puff- This attracts the reader as
they’re getting something free. Also
it is in a bright yellow box and the
word CD is highlighted red which
draws attention to it.
The top strip- This gives basic
information about what is included
in the magazine. It gives the reader
something quick to read that tells
them about the most important and
the biggest stories/articles inside
without having to read too much
detail.
The cover as a whole is made to have a
50’s look. From the ‘A date with Elvis’ to
the Plug in the top right hand corner, it all
has a very 50’s aura.
Masthead- Name of the
magazine.
In the right third is a list of the
stories inside, persuading the reader
to buy by using plugs, bright colours
and capital letters as they add a
‘wow’ factor and make the reader
want to read.
In the left third is another list of
things that are inside the magazine
to tell the reader a little about what
they can find out about inside, there
is also the use of a plug again to
draw the reader in and persuade
them.
Plugs to draw in the audience.
In the central third is the main image which is the focal point of the cover
and draws the most attention. The central image usually makes people want
to read the magazine a lot more as it is of someone they admire or someone
they want to hear about. It is like propaganda.
Masthead is always in a unique
font found nowhere else in the
magazine as it is the magazine
logo.
The magazine has a
tagline
Model is always made to be above the
masthead on the cover of the magazine.

7. Set out in columns which makes it
easy to interpret and know where
you’re looking.
The contents is bright with a
white background which makes
it look clean which makes it easy
to see where what is and what
page you need etc.
Set out with subtitles- Regular
articles, what goes on, special
edition articles etc. This makes
the contents clear and gives the
reader an easy read which is
what is always wanted.
Images are related to articles
that are in the magazine which
gives an insight to what the
reader will be reading about.
Mojo magazine always include places of
where the pictures were taken/where the
articles are based.
Each image includes a little
tagline/subtitle to show what it is
about where to find the article etc.

8. It is set out neatly in columns which
looks tidy and very mature which suits
the target audience of this magazine.
They have kept the same theme throughout
the article including colours and shapes etc.
They have also linked things in together for
example the logo has the same types of
colours as the photo. The logo also looks like
a beermat which links into the photo as it
was taken in a pub whilst they had a pint,
this shape and colours are also carried on
throughout the image.
The article is also produced for the way of the
natural eye. As we automatically start in the
top left corner, they have included a little bit of
text there which will give you an insight and
then you follow on to look at the image and
then the logo before reading the article.
The background is white leaving the page
looking neutral and clean and making
everything stand out to the reader.
The article seems to be very relatable as
they are in a pub which is a place where we
have all been and a place that we can put
ourselves. It isn’t a fancy studio. Also as the
colours are neutral it helps us to relate.
There is no dominance between the two
men as they are both on the same level
which is different to the usual main leader
compared to others.
The position of man suggests he has
a lot of pride about where he is, so
maybe about where he’s from or
where he spends his time of even his
successful career.

9. Masthead- this is in the typical Kerrang! font
which if was seen on another word you would
know it was Kerrang! because of how iconic it is
for this magazine. It is also cracked and messy
and in capitals because it explain the magazine
for what it is very well as it is a rock magazine
which isn’t very serious and is for a somewhat
gothic/rock crowd and it has a young target
audience.
Puff- this sort of thing attracts the
reader as they are getting free posters
of bands they like. It is in very different
font and the number ‘6’ is highlighted
red and it has a couple of examples of
the posters to give an insight to what
they will get. This type of thing attracts
a lot of readers with Kerrang!
Plug- this makes the reader think
that they are getting more than
they paid for as it says that there is
‘also this’ or ‘plus this’ which
insinuates that its something
amazing for the ‘bargain’ that the
magazine is.
The model is above the masthead as it makes
them stand out for publicity.
The top strip consists of puffs and
plugs which is different to the first
cover but it is also more related to
Kerrang! and Kerrang! readers.
The cover is set out in thirds but it is set out
messily with things all over the place, for
example the twenty one pilots subtitle is
taking up room in all thirds and things are
slanted and the writing is more extreme
rather than sophisticated and neat which
suits the younger audience they have. The
picture of twenty one pilots also seems to be
messy from their stance and they aren’t just
in the central third which is where they
normally are.
The text on the Twenty One Pilots story
is very unprofessional and shows that
the magazine is for the younger
generation as it relates to them more.
The cover has a colour theme which is based around the main
image of red and black and orange. This makes the magazine look
a lot more put together.

10. The image takes up two thirds of the page
whereas the contents only takes up one
making it quite small in comparison
which makes the reader think that they
have less to read which appeals to them
as media prints aren’t supposed to be just
reading.
There is headers on the contents page which
makes it easier to read. For example if you
are looking for one particular thing you can
just look for the heading it comes under
instead of reading through the whole thing.
The whole page seems to be quite arty with
illustrations all around it for example near the
‘Contents’ title. This adds a more relaxed
element to the magazine instead of being
serious and sophisticated.
The picture of the guy shows that the magazine
doesn’t hold much seriousness as he isn’t in a
serious pose or pulling a serious face. He is
messing around and seemingly relaxed instead of
posing professionally. Also the background isn’t a
posh studio backdrop, it is something arty and
strange again which adds to the aura and genre of
the magazine.
There is also the theme of yellow and
black on the contents and down the
right hand side there is what looks like
warning tape used for blocked off areas.
This would entice the reader as it is
‘dangerous’ and it shows the genre of
the magazine and also what could be
included.
The contents area is a clean area with simple
texts telling you about stories inside whereas
the rest of the image is quite messy from the
stance of the person in the picture and also the
background.

11. You can tell that this article is an interview as
the questions are in a brighter colour compared
to the answers which is the biggest clue.
This article also includes a plug
which draws the attention to the
reader. The word ‘big’ being the
main thing that draws the
attention. People like to know big
news and when they see some
advertised they have to read on
therefore it gains more audience.
This page has the same theme as
the contents page with the black
and yellow ‘danger tape’ border.
This entices the reader just as
much as the ‘big news’.
The background is black whilst the writing is white. This is
switching the normal around and creating something
unpredictable. This makes the article seem unique.
There is a section of the interview that they have taken from the text and
quoted on the main picture of the article. It doesn’t give much or anything
away which would intrigue the reader and make them want to read to find
out what it is about. This is like a plug.
There is small pictures to entice
the reader. They can look over
them and wonder what they’re
about or if they are a fan of the
people in the magazine then they
will enjoy having small images of
them.
The image isn’t a studio one.
It doesn’t look set out and
fake and edited. It looks
natural and real. It seems as
though the people in the
image are in their element
and doing what they enjoy.
This is nice for readers to see
and it makes them want to
know about them if they
already don’t.

12. This version of the magazine is very
different to every other edition as it is
celebrating the 100th anniversary. Usually
it follows the same theme from colour to
layout. As it is celebrating a 100th
anniversary it has many different images
of different music artists from the 90’s as
that is what this edition is about.
The masthead on this cover is in a small
square in the top left corner of the magazine.
It is in the typical red and white ‘Q’ magazine
logo style which instantly stands out to you
and tells you which magazine it is.
There is a top strip which contains
information about what would be found
inside but also one at the bottom with the
same. Because it is an anniversary cover, the
only areas that you can give the reader
information about what is inside is by
putting it around the edge to not disrupt the
cover.
In the middle of the magazine is the
headline for the anniversary cover and what
is obviously the biggest and move important
story in this issue of the magazine which is
why the headline is so big and prominent.
Also the headline is in the typical ‘Q’
magazine colours whereas nothing else on
the page is which shows the importance of
it.
There is also a puff which intrigues the
reader and draws their attention and it
also a persuasion technique. It has taglines on it for the anniversary
which is somewhat a persuasion
technique and also metaphorical which
always stands out to readers and so it
would draw them in and make them
want to read the article.
There is a puff that includes information that
tells the reader what kind of people they can
read about inside the magazine. This would
attract the reader if they’re a fan of one of the
music artists. Also it says ‘Relive your 90’s’
which would make someone want to read to
remember their past and who they used to
listen to and it would also make them
remember old memories of the 90’s and
everyone loves reliving good memories so of
course it would make them want to read on.

13. This is more of a messy layout
of a contents page compared to
others. It is still simple and
easy to read but the contents
are more spread out rather
than being in one section with
a picture in the rest. It has a
lot more pictures in between
each contents area and there is
more to be said about each
section.
The contents page follows the
same colour scheme as the ‘Q’
logo which makes the
magazine look more put
together as a whole. It also
makes you think of the ‘Q’ logo
more which would make you
think of it more in general and
so it is a marketing technique
that ‘Q’ use.
They keep the main articles in one section and then the
articles which aren’t as important are on the next page
under the ‘also in the issue’ subtitle. This draws attention to
the articles they think people would prefer and read more
which would make it easier for the reader.
It is set out in columns, 3
on the left page and 2 on
the right. This makes it
look neater and easier to
read.
The page numbers are big
and in brightly coloured
bubbles which stands out the
reader and makes it easier for
them to find the article rather
than having to read through
the whole of the contents.
The title of each article is bigger than the rest of the text as
people know where to look when they’re looking for one in
particular.

14. Much like the contents page this
article looks clean and tidy and very
easy to read.
It follows the same colour theme of
the rest of the magazine, using black
and red text with and white
background with a cream coloured
box at the side.
The picture doesn’t seem to be in a
studio environment but it is co-
ordinated and planned rather than a
natural image taken during their
work or show etc.
There is an extra section
which contains more
information about other
artists. This is a marketing
technique as it advertises
those artists too instead of
just the ones that the article
is about. As the section is
another colour to the rest of
the page it makes it stand
out a lot more.
There is a quote from the article
which is printed bigger than the
rest of the text and it is made to
stand out in black and red text.
This brings attention to the
reader and makes them want to
read more as they would want to
know what it is about and have it
expanded on.
It contains a little bit of graphic
design which is used as a part of the
title of the article. It connects in
with the article and the images on
the page.
There is a few plugs on the pages. These make the reader want to read on and let them know extra
information. ‘The month in music’ plug is at the top left hand side of the page which would already
draw attention as it is the way of the natural eye. There is also the box in between the writing that says
‘must know’ on it. This draws attention because people are interested as soon as it seems compulsory
to know something. Both boxes are also filled in red which is another thing that draws attention.

15. This tells me that the majority of my
audience are from a younger generation
and so I will need to create my magazine
to suit this audience age group.
This also tells me that not much of the
older generation are as interested in
music and so for a successful magazine it
would need to include things to draw a
younger audience rather than things more
suited to an older audience.

16. This tells me that the majority of my
audience is female and so the music
magazine would need to be more female
based regarding colour schemes and
things included in the magazine.
However there is still a big amount of
men which means that I would most
likely need to make my magazine
suitable for both genders. If I did this it
would attract more audience.

17. The majority of people chose pop as their
preferred genre of music with almost 43%
and 9 people and so it would most likely be a
good idea to create a pop magazine.
However the same amount of people chose
rock and alternative when the two are added
together which means that I could also do a
rock/alternative magazine as it would attract
the same amount of audience.

18. This tells me that the majority of
people don’t seem to buy music
magazines at all with 7 people choosing
never and 9 people choosing rarely.
However out of the monthly and
weekly option, the one with the most
was the weekly option. This tells me
that I would need to create a magazine
to be published weekly.
This means that my magazine would
maybe have less pages as there is less
to update and it would also affect the
content.

19. This tells me that the majority of
people who answered my survey
mainly read a rock/alternative
magazine. This would mean that it
would be the best idea to create a
rock/alternative magazine as it would
get more reads.
However 8 people skipped this
question which may suggest that they
don’t read magazines or there is a
magazine on there that they do not
read.

20. There was a vary of answers with
this question. The majority of
people chose the artists inside
option. This tells me that people
will be more interested with
content and the type of content
there is and so I need to choose
things/people that my audience
would be interested in. Some
people also chose the articles
advertised which shows that I
need to think about which articles
will be on the cover as the ones on
the cover will attract the most
audience.

21. This tells me which articles to
include in my magazine the
most. The majority of people
prefer interviews and so that
would provide more readers as
it would contain something that
they want to read.
A lot of people also said that
they prefer gossip articles and
so more of them would also get
more readers as they will want
to read and hear about the
gossip.

22. This gives me an insight to how
much people are wiling to spend
on the magazine which helps me
to realise what limits there are
when it comes to actually buying
the magazine. The majority of
people chose £2-£3.
This tells me an average of how
much my magazine would need to
cost. It also shows me what my
limit is as it limits how big my
magazine is and things like that is
it reduces/increases my budget.