The document discusses the growth and strategies of Vibe magazine. It states that in 2004, Vibe's rate base will increase to 850,000 copies, up from 825,000 in 2003. This represents growth of over 3% year-over-year and 750% since its launch in 1993. The growth is being driven by strategies like newsstand promotions, in-store promotions at music retailers, and regional and international promotions. The document also provides demographic information about Vibe's audience, noting it has a 50/50 gender split and median age of 27, with multi-ethnic readership from various backgrounds.

2. Moving forward into 2004, Vibe’s 11th year of publishing effective from their
first issue (January), the VIBE rate base will be 850,000. This represents an
increase of more than 3% from the 2003 rate base of 825,000 and an
increase of 750% or 750,000 copies from their launch in September 1993.
This tremendous growth is being achieved through the following tactics,
newsstands, airport/terminal, promotions with high visibility, in-store
promotions at music retails, trade advertising, targeted regional promotions,
promotions in all major book and video chain stores, college bookstore
promotions and international promotions etc.
The VIBE subscriber base continues to grow, with an estimated increase of
close to 5% in 2004. Approximately 15,000 new subscription orders every
month from insert cards within the magazine, internet sources, two direct
mail campaigns etc.
The audience of men to women is 50/50. The
median age of Vibe’s readers is 27 years old and the
median HHI income is $40, 595. Vibe’s readers are
known to be multi-ethnicity, from black, white,
Asian to Spanish and Latin Decent and more people
of colour over all. Vibe’s audience vitality 1997 –
2003 up 212% in audience since Vibe was first
measured.

3. The image of the Artist overlaps the
name of the magazine, this might
suggest that the man, the artist, is
perhaps a well known representation
of genre of the magazine.
Red is used all over majority
of the magazine, eye catching
and portrays various moods
and feelings., and with this
issue it is quite a lot of sexual
connotation with the red
standing for hot, sexy and
the artist with his top off
drenched in water.
Although anyone can
immediately see the
picture is for the female
audience, sub-headings
on the front cover are
clearly for male readers
i.e. ‘4 Ways to Rock a
Suit’. This tells the
readers it caters for
everyone.
The topics mentioned on the
cover of the magazine all relate
with African American culture
as the Artist on the cover.
Not only does the magazine
address the music issues
but sports... ‘In the NBA’
and Worldwide news
‘Haiti.’
A common convention of Vibe magazine is the
simple one coloured background with a lens flare
and photo of their main topic/Artist(s) of the
issue; usually who’s hot in the charts right now.
Different text sizes are used but fonts remain the
same throughout the magazine, different colours
are also used to highlight particular titles of the
magazines. The colours used are also linked to the
colours in trend that Artists might be wearing in
the shoots featured in the magazine.

4. Q’s readership is 547,000.
Their social group consists of 72% ABC1 readers who
have high disposable income.
The target age is approximately 29 - Q’s audience is
known to be younger and more affluent than any other
music monthly.
68% of the readers are male.
Q’s solos readership is an impressive 69% – this means
you can only reach these 378,000 people through using
Q.
Brand influence:
Q’s specialist depth and
knowledge of the world of music helps make it a brand
with significant influence value. In a study vs. other
magazine brands, Q scored an impressively high score
of 73%, higher than both GQ and Esquire
This is reinforced by the average Q reader’s propensity
to play the role of an Influencer amongst their peers
for everything from financial services to food and
toiletries

5. The masthead is very simple just the
letter Q–being the magazines
recognisable symbol-in a bold white
and red colour theme. Its bold effect
stands behind the main image which
blends in nicely as a whole image,
because the masthead is bold and
recognisable to its audience it can
take risks like this.
The skyline is very bold as it is
the main text on the whole
front cover seen as there is no
cover lines. It’s written in gold
highlighting important text see
it’s quite a royal colour.
Red is always a continuous
theme throughout all the issues
of the magazines. It’s a
common convention and code.
Any other colour used on the
issue will be unrecognisable to
the audience they’ve managed
to build up.
The main image on this issue. It is a
medium close up making it the main
focus, as also all of the text has either
been blended in or placed around the
image. The band has been put into black
and white making the front cover as a
whole have a laid back approach, as it
makes the band look calm. This is also
good on keeping small focus on the text
as they have been put in brighter
colours. The lead man at the front is
holding a trophy which is just a giant Q
this is directly under the masthead Q
which symbolises a mirrored effect, also
it looks good by the colour differences
on both Q’s.
I have found certain codes and conventions that Q use, creating a strong theme and identity for itself
and making it recognisable.
The use of colour is important here as the red masthead stands out and is very strong. The semiotics
behind red often draw attention and it is recognised as a stimulant, red is sub-consciously perceived
as exciting and energetic. It is also often linked with love and danger.
Leading on from the use of red within the masthead, I have found that throughout each cover,
elements of red have been used throughout. This again works creating an identity for Q Magazine.
In terms of text, I have noticed that Q has used only a hand-full of various fonts which work well
together. This small group of fonts again links to the concept of creating an identity, making it stand
out and easily recognised. For their sub-headings they often use bold capital fonts and for the
smaller text, more classical serif fonts giving connotations of sophistication. You often find the
colours of these headings are white or red as they stand out against the backgrounds and work with
the on-going colour palette.
"The UK's Biggest Music Magazine" is on each normal issue and again links within the theme as it is
repeatedly used on each monthly issue.

6. Again you can see the consistent colour theme of red/black/white continuing onto the contents page.
There is a classic black and white picture of a man on the contents page which links to the font at the
top of the page; the classical times new roman font. Red is used at the top which holds the Q title as it
does on the front cover. Moreover, this contents page are quite different from other Q contents pages
as pages numbers are included beside every description or image. The pictures have been placed in
different angles creating a scrapbook-like effect, as though it has been stuck down. This gives
connotations of a personal feel with the reader.
Q CONTENTS PAGE ANALYSIS

7. MAGAZINE INSTITUIONS
• Bauer Media is a division of the Bauer Media Group, Europe’s largest privately owned
publishing Group. The Group is a worldwide media empire offering over 300 magazines in
15 countries, as well as online, TV and radio stations.
• Bauer Media joined the Bauer Media Group in January 2008 following acquisition of Emap
plc’s consumer and specialist magazines, radio, TV, online and digital businesses.
Collectively, the Group employs some 6,400 people.
• Bauer Media is a multi-platform UK-based media Group consisting of many companies
collected around two main divisions – Magazines and Radio - widely recognised and
rewarded as being industry innovators.
• Our business is built on influential media brands with millions of personal relationships
with engaged readers and listeners. Our strategy is to connect audiences with excellent
content through our broad multi-touch point brand platforms, wherever and whenever
and however they want. Our wide portfolio of influential brands gives us advantages over
pure play magazine or radio competitors.
• Our magazine heritage stretches back to 1953 with the launch of Angling Times and the
acquisition in 1956 of Motor Cycle News, both still iconic brands within our portfolio.
• In 1994, the company bought a small magazine called For Him Magazine which is now the
core of the best-selling international multi-platform brand FHM.
• In 1996, we acquired digital music TV channel The Box, as a route into the small screen
business, which has grown into Box Television, a seven channel joint venture TV business
with Channel 4.
• Today, Bauer Media spans over 80 influential brand names covering a diverse range of
interests including heat – the must have weekly celebrity title, Parkers, MATCH!, CAR and
Yours. For a full list our powerful brands, click here.
• Bauer Media is a sister company of H Bauer Publishing, publisher of the UK's biggest TV
listings, Take a Break and Bella.

8. THE MUSIC INDUSTRY
• With its broad roster of new stars and legendary artists, Warner Music
Group is home to a collection of the best-known record labels in the music
industry including Asylum, Atlantic, Cordless, East West, Elektra,
Nonesuch, Reprise, Rhino, Roadrunner, Rykodisc, Sire, Warner Bros. and
Word, as well as Warner/Chappell Music, one of the world's leading music
publishers, with a catalogue of more than one million copyrights
worldwide.
• WMG comprises an array of businesses aimed at helping artists achieve
long-term creative and financial success while providing consumers with
the highest-quality music content available. WMG is engaged in the
recorded music business (including artist services) and the music
publishing business, and is a leading company in national and international
repertoire that operates through numerous international affiliates and
licensees in more than 50 countries.
• Our recorded music business includes our growing artist services business,
which offers artist management, merchandising, touring, fan clubs, VIP
ticketing, sponsorships and brand endorsements, and numerous third-
party solutions that facilitate the sale of music-based content directly to
consumers. Our artist services business works with WMG artists as well as
artists not otherwise signed to WMG labels.
• Our primary music publishing business, Warner/Chappell Music, is one of
the world's leading music publishers, with a catalogue of more than one
million songs from more than 65,000 songwriters, and includes Non-Stop
Music, a full service music production library company.
• In recent years, we've grown to become the world's third-largest recorded
music business and third-largest music publishing business and, during a
time of dramatic industry transition, have established ourselves as one of
the music industry's most successful companies.

9. Throughout my research I have noticed that
in Q magazine there is always a consistency
of colours – red/black/white, however, with
Vibe magazine colours are always depending
on the main focus of the issue of the
trending season colours to do with fashion.
A similarity between the
two magazines is that they
both have their main
images at a medium close
up placed on top of the
masthead.
A difference between these two
magazines is that on the front cover
Q has always got so many sub-
headings and quotes, however, with
Vibe they have short punch lines
regarding what’s including in the
magazine. The reason why I think
this is, is that Vibe magazine have a
lot of their audience online so most
of them are watching music videos
and interviews to do with their
latest music whereas Q magazine
readers are on the run and the
magazine is more accessible for
them
Another difference between the two magazines is that Vibe will
always have one, two, no more than 3 people on the front cover.
Moreover, Q will always have a different number of people on
the cover no matter the identity of the magazine.