IPC has been associated with magazine publishing for over a century, producing magazines across a wide range of genres and target audiences. They launched some of the UK's most iconic magazines, including magazines focused on music such as New Musical Express in the 1950s. IPC would be an appropriate publisher for a new music magazine due to their proven success in the music space, including their ability to target the right audience. While alternative publishers like Bauer Media also have experience with music magazines across different genres and would also be a suitable choice.

1. Task 4
1) What types of magazine and target audiences has IPC
been associated with over the years?
International Publishing Corporation (IPC) has
been associated with three leading magazine
publishers –George Newnes, Odham’s Press
and Fleetway Productions who merged with
Mirror Group to form IPC. Over the years IPC published a lot
of different magazines:
• In the 1800s; The Field, Country Life, Horse & Hound,
Shooting Times, Yachting World, Amateur Gardening,
Cycling Weekly, Amateur Photographer and The
Railway Magazine.
• The early 1900s saw new arrivals to start the new
century; Yachting Monthly, Cage Birds, Motor Boat,
Woman’s Weekly and Golf Monthly.
• The 1920s; Magazine publisher Odham launched a new
monthly magazine called Ideal Home. Newnes’ also
launched a similar magazine called Homes & Gardens.
• In 1926; Woman & Home was launched and by 1929 it
had grown to 144 pages.
• The 1930s; The launch of Woman’s Own, Caravan,
Stamp Magazine and Prediction.

2. • The 1950s; this included the launch of New Musical
Express which had the first official UK
record chart.
• 1955; After ITV was launched, TV
Times was published which IPC
bought in 1989.
• The 1960s; They launched a new
football magazine called Shoot! Others
included Rugby World, World Soccer, Anglers Mail and
Family Circle.
• In the 1970s; The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh visited
the publishing towers. They also launched, Aeroplane
Monthly, Sporting Gun and SuperBike.
• 1980s; IPC formed with Marie Claire to create European
Magazines Ltd. The IPC introduce the Editorial Awards.
This decade had seen the arrival of; Essentials, 4x4,
Eventing, Chat, Mizz, Motor Caravan Magazine,
Wedding & Home, Country Homes & Interior s, Classic
Boat, Model Collector, Motor Boats Monthly, Practical
Parenting, VolksWorld and Bird Keeper.
• The 1990s; IPC launched a lads magazine called
Loaded, which opened up the market of young men’s
magazines.
• 2000s meant a name change for IPC to IP C Media.
• In October 2001, Time Inc bought IPC Media for
£1.15bn.

3. • In January 2004, Ignite! Launches Nuts which was
backed be an £8 million investment.
• In January 2005, IPC unveils Pick Me Up which was
backed by a £6 million investment.
• April 2005, they release TV easy, which was the first
compact paid for TV listings weekly and is backed by a
£10 million marketing investment.
2) Why might IPC be an appropriate publisher for a new
music magazine? What sorts of genres of music/types of
magazines might they be likely to publish? Why might
alternative publishers like Bauer be appropriate?
IPC has been a very successful music publisher, with some
release in 1930s still going strong today. IPC is ideal for a
new music magazine as the chance of success is a lot

4. higher. NME which was launched in1952 was one of the most
successful music magazines of its time. NME being such a
big hit shows that IPC are able to work well within the music
magazine industry. Another reason why IPC would be
appropriate is the already made fan-base. They have created
a variety of different magazines which shows their success at
targeting the right audience. NME focused on indie/rock as
the main music genre. Hence, IPC are likely to publish a rock
music magazine.
Bauer Media has many different magazines some examples
are; Closer, Grazia, Kerrang!, Q, FHM and Zoo. Bauer would
be a good alternative to IPC as they have had many
successful music magazines. Kerrang! a rock magazine, was
first published in 1981. Over the years Kerrang! has expanded
into different media formats such as Kerrang! Radio and
Kerrang! TV. Bauer Media has also published Q magazine,
which features many different artists and was first published
in 1986. Q magazine has interviewed artists from different
genres of music. Therefore, Bauer may be appropriate for
new music magazines as they have experiences with different
types of music.