you expect to find in a music magazine? The questionnaire analyzed music preferences and magazine buying habits of students aged 16-25. It found that: 1) Pop music was the most popular genre, followed by indie/alternative and rock. 2) Half of respondents bought music magazines, most commonly Kerrang and Q. 3) Most obtained music online through Spotify, iTunes or downloads rather than stores. 4) The majority would pay £2-3 for a magazine and preferred mastheads like NME over Billboard.

1. Ryan Denner
Music Magazine Research: Questionnaire Analysis
The purpose of my primary research is to collect information about music and, particularly music
magazines from my primary audience to find out what they would expect from my magazine,
allowing me to gain information that I will use when designing my magazine to make it suitable for
the target audience and, so I can try to meet all their preferences.
I conducted my primary research through the use of a questionnaire. I collected quantative data on
my questionnaire as all my questions were multiple choice meaning the data could be used to work
out percentages. Some of my questions had a choice to put another option meaning the responder
could choose another non listed option allowing for some qualitative data to be received aswell.
The majority of responders who filled in my questionnaires were all students aged between 16 and
25, as this is my primary audience who my music magazine will be aimed at. A small proportion of
the responders were aged under 16 but, were still students which provided information about a
possible secondary audience for my questionnaire. 80% of my responders were male while 20%
were female. I interviewed mainly males as I decided that this would be my primary target audience.
Favourite Genres Of Music
R 'n' B
Heavy metal
Indie/Alternative
Favourite Genre Of Music
Rock
Pop
0 2 4
6
This shows that the most popular genre of music from the people I questioned was pop, closely followed by
indie/alternative and Dubstep. The least popular genres were classical and, country. 2 people responded with
the other category and, said ‘screamo’ as another genre of music they liked that wasn’t included in the
questionnaire. As pop music proved the most popular, that is the likely genre that I will likely choose to do for
my music magazine as it will appear to the largest audience.

2. Ryan Denner
Do you buy music
magazines?
50% of people said they did buy music magazines
suggesting half of students, of this age group do buy
them. This means there is a large amount of people
that buy music magazines within my target audience
Yes suggesting that this is a good audience to aim my
50% 50%
No magazine at.
Where do you obtain your How long do you spend
music? listening to music each
week?
Other
0% Less than 1
Amazon hour
10%
Spotify 1-2 hours
Where do you 30%
I-Tunes obtain your music?
20%
2-3 hours
In Store
0 10% 3-4 hours
2
4 20%
10%
4-5 hours
The most popular methods to obtain music were a joint
amount between in-store, I-tunes and, other. People who
specified other all put illegal download sites such as Pirate 30% of people I questioned listened to music for
Bay or UTorrent, or they put a YouTube converter. The more than 6 hours a week. The people who
amount of people who illegally download music through listened to music for this time were most likely
these methods may not be 100% accurate as people don’t to buy music magazines or attend
want to admit to doing it. Overall, it shows more people concerts/festivals as they had a bigger interest in
now attain their music online, oppose to in store although a music. Everyone I interviewed listened to music
large percentage still get their music this way. From this for more than 1 hour each week suggesting that
data, it has indicated that my magazine should be available music is a popular culture among students in this
in a digital form as most people go online for their music. I age group. This suggests my magazine should
will also make any free merchandise available via a aim towards this age group as they listen to a lot
download as this is the most popular way to consume of music. It also suggests that the audience will
music. It also suggests more people are buying individual already know a lot about music so, I should be
singles so; reviews should be about them and not full writing it to an audience who already have an
albums. understanding about the topic.

3. Ryan Denner
Which music magazines do you
buy?
Billboard
Rolling Stone
Which music
NME magazines do you buy?
None
0 2 4 6
This back up the previous data that 50% of people don’t buy music magazine. The most popular music magazine
bought was Kerrang suggesting a lot of people who buy music magazines are rock music fans as this is who the
magazine is aimed at. Q was also popular and, that is aimed at a different audience who listen to various genres
of music suggesting people often like a variety of different genres so, I could include more than one genre of
music within my magazine. 2 people choose other, and said they also bought metal hammer and, FHM. This
suggests a wide variety of magazines are popular within the audience.
What would be the Which of the following
average price you mostheads is most appealing
would expect to pay to you?
for a music magazine?
0%
10% Under £1 NME
20% 40% 40%
£1 - £2 Billboard
£2 - £3 Q
40% £3 - £4 Rolling Stone
30%
£4 + 20%
0%
The majority of people would expect to pay The joint favourite mastheads are NME and, rolling stone.
between £2 - £3, so my magazine will cost This shows different people like different designs as some
between these prices. No-one said they would prefer the more simplistic design of the NME logo while
pay more than £4 suggesting this is too others prefer the fancier font of the rolling stone logo. I
expensive for my target audience so, I should have decided from this I will make by font bold and,
definitely charge less than this for my simplistic like NME as the target audience like the style and,
magazine. it will help the magazine stand out. The least favourite was
the billboard masthead with no votes showing people don’t
like the style of the logo so; I will make sure mine doesn’t
look like that, as it won’t appeal to the target audience.

4. Ryan Denner
Which of the following would you expect
to find in a music magazine?
Other
High Quality Images
Info About Upcoming Artists
Festival Guides
Which of the following would
Concert Reviews
you expect to find in a music
Album/Single Reviews magazine?
Free Merchandise
Interviews
0 2 4 6 8 10
This summarises what people want from a music magazine so, I can use their responses
to help when creating my music magazine. Album/single reviews was the thing most
people would expect within a music magazine so, I will make sure I include one within
mine. I will also include high quality images and, interviews as these were also popular
choices of what my target audience would expect in a music magazine.
This market research has aided me in making some key decisions for my music magazine based on
the feedback from my target audience. It has provided an insight into what people expect from my
music magazine aswell as providing information about my target audience. The information I found
through my primary research has allowed me to make a decision on what willdefinitely be included
within my magazine, and I decided that Album/Single Reviews, High Quality Pictures &Interviews will
all definitely be within my music magazine. Additionally, it helped me decide what I will design my
masthead to look like, as I decided it would be in a bold simple font that would stand out similar to
NME. It also helped me decide on the price my magazine should cost, which I decided would be
£2.99 and, it also helped me decide the genre of music that will be the primary genre featured
within my magazine which I decided would be Pop. These findings will allow me to design a music
magazine that will appeal to my target audience.