IPC Media is a large British publisher that produces over 85 print and digital media brands, reaching nearly 27 million adults in the UK through print and 20 million online users monthly. It organizes its magazine portfolio into categories targeting male, female, and upmarket audiences. Future PLC is an independent British magazine publisher founded in 1985 that focuses on niche audiences in music, technology, video games, and film. It stresses priorities like engaging enthusiasts, strengthening partnerships, and balancing its portfolio to identify audience needs. The document analyzes several major publishing companies and their brands before concluding that Future PLC would be the most suitable publisher for a proposed new music magazine called Country Avenue due to its international presence and experience with monthly magazines.

1. IPC MediaIPC Media is a British institution which produces over 85 media brands, with their print brands reaching two thirds of women and 44% of men in the UK – almost 27 million adults in the UK. The online brands reach around 20 million users each month. IPC Media offers subscription to their customers making access to the print much easier. IPC Media categorises their magazine brands into three: IPC Inspire(male dominated audience): Country Life, Horse & Hound, Rugby World and Decanter, as well as lifestyle brands including Nuts, Mousebreaker and NME.IPC Connect (female dominated audience): Look, Now, Chat and Woman; TV entertainment brands including What's on TV, TVTimes and TV & Satellite Week and, online, the goodtoknow network. IPC Southbank (female, upmarket): Marie Claire, InStyle, lifestyle brands including woman&home and essentials and home interest brands including Ideal Home, Livingetc and housetohome.

2. EmapEmap (East Midland Allied Press) is a London based publishing company which started out as a local newspaper in 1947. Today, Emap is a top 10, global media group which focuses on brands in retail, media, finance, fashion, health, education, government and automotive sectors. Emap values innovation, creation and imagination. They sponsor events internationally. In 2008, Emap sold its radio, television and media businesses to Bauer (German publishing company) for over a billion pounds.

3. Bauer Media GroupBauer Media a privately owned German publishing institution which offers more than 300 magazines in 15 countries worldwide, as well as online, TV and radio. Their magazine genres reach Motoring, Pets, Transport, Music and Lifestyle. Bauer started out in 1953 and today they are recognised as the ‘industry innovators’, publishing brands like Kerrang!, Q, Grazia, and TV channels including 4Music, The BOX and Smash Hits.

4. Prometheus Global Media(formerly e5 Global Media)Prometheus is an American publishing institution specialising in media and entertainment outlets. The company was only established in 2009, so their range is limited, however from the brands they have established each of them is very successful in the USA, and some in the UK. Their most popular publications include Billboard and the Hollywood Reporter. They sponsor the annual advertising awards CLIO Awards.

5. American MediaAmerican Media is a private publishing institution founded in 1936. This company concentrates on tabloid newspapers and entertainment/lifestyle magazines; with an approx. Circulation of 6.8 million each month, reaching 54 million readers. Some of their brands are currently being sold in the United Kingdom with a large success. Some of the most popular titles include Star, The National Enquirer, Country Weekly and The Globe.

6. Future PLCFuture PLC is an independent, British magazine institution founded in 1985. It is UK’s number one international exporter and licensor of monthly magazines with core audience of young or young-at-heart males. Future PLC focuses onniche market sectors like music, technology, video games and film, making their aims much clearer to the audience they are targeting and they know exactly what they need to achieve. With clear aims, come clear values. Future PLC stresses their priorities: Engaging prosumers – Future defines prosumers as “enthusiasts whose passion for their hobby makes them more like professional consumers” (Future PLC, 2010)