1. 1800s-1900s
Throughoutthis time period IPC focused on magazines that focus on higher
classes as opposed to lower classes, publishing magazines like “horseand hound”,
“shooting times” and “yachting world” this shows methat ICP would makea good
publisher due to the fact that they knew who their target audience was. Also the
magazine mentions that there are lots of magazines that year which are still being
published now, this shows methat IPCareloyal to their magazines.
1920s
In this era IPCdecided to publish magazines based on whatwas in fashion at the
time for example in this time period the publishers wanted to sell their magazines
which are about houses “the governments promisein 1921 to build 100,000
houses” they made magazines such as “women&home”. This shows methat IPC
are very awareof what’s going on in the world and whatkinds of things are in at
that time, this would make them a great music magazine publisher because they
know whatpeople are interested in.
1930s
In the 1930s IPCstarted targeting newer audiences, specifically women, with
launches of new magazines that include “women’s own” and “women” these
magazines are still going strong to this day. The way that IPCdecided to focus in
on women’s magazines proves to me that they are willing to be different and
attempt to rope in a different audience. These magazines also featured a cover
mount prize, this, along with the 1800s-1900spossiblechanceto win a price of
“£1 a week for life” shows methat IPCknow how to gain a bigger audience using
gifts. In this era the first colour magazine was also published, this shows thatIPC
adapt to their time well.
1940s
In this time period the women’s weeklies still continued to be published by IPC,
they went alongside the war at the time “a key wartime role was played by IPC’s
women’s weeklies” this kept up the morale of women during the time of the war.
This again reinforces whatI had previously said aboutIPCkeeping up with the
times and showing that they know whatthey’re doing and how to interest a
target audience whatever the time era. In this era IPC’s covers thatwere
2. published for women are now seen as iconic and as “classic works of art in their
own right” this makes them a good choice to be a music magazinepublisher
because they know whatkind of magazine covers attract audiences.
1950s
In this time era IPClaunched iut very firstmusic magazine in NME (New Music
Express) this was a huge step for IPCas it was a very new thing at the time and
the magazineNME is very popular to this day and is probably considered as one
of the biggest most famous magazines ever. This proves to me that IPCare
experienced with very successfulmusic magazines which would makethem an
obvious choice for me, it also suggests thatthey would be interested in publishing
pop music or chartmusic magazines.in the same era IPC published a magazine
called “TVTimes” following the arrivalof ITV, the covers featured famous TV stars
which again would be an important quality in a music magazine, to have famous
musicians.
1960s
In this time period IPCbroughttogether 3 rival companies and they “found
themselves all working for the same parent company” this proves to me that IPC
are very flexible with who they’re working with, which is good in terms of music
magazines becausethey’re is many different genres of music in different
magazines so they would haveto be flexible. Towards the end of the 60s IPC“saw
the birth of a new football weekly-shoot!” this was launched due to the rise in
football interest following England world cup win. This shows thatIPCknow what
the public are interested in which is good with music magazines as peoples
interests in music are constantly changing.
1970s
The 1970s wasn’tthemostsignificant era for IPC, they attempted to go back and
focus on someof the older magazines, thesemagazines targeted the audience of
upper class people, as IPCgot someof the Royal Family involved in some of their
magazines, showing thatthey can even get some of the mostdifficult people to
get involved in their magazines.
1980s
3. In the 80s IPCexpanded its magazines to other European countries with “the
formation of European magazines ltd” this shows methat IPCunderstand how to
increase their market and audience. In the sameera IPCalso showed me how
they can encouragetheir workers when the“IPCeditorial awards areintroduced”.
1990s
In the 90s IPCproved that they could target a range of different audiences, they
showed that they could target TV magazines, women’s magazines, men’s
magazines and music magazines, all with success. This is a good quality to havein
a publisher as it shows thatthey can work with a variety of audiences rather than
justone, this shows methat IPCmay even be able to handle a music magazine
that targets a niche market. They also launched “the UK’s bestselling magazine”
“what’s on TV” proving that IPCknow whatsells and how to execute it.
2000s
In the new millennium IPCmagazines is renamed to IPCmedia this shows how
they are willing to adapt to the millennium, they also moved onto online based
things such as websites and free games, this shows thatIPCcan also taget the
younger market, this is a huge aspect in publishing a music magazinebecause the
audiences age completely changes the genre of music they listen to. This new
younger marketalso underlines how they are morelikely to target pop music in a
magazine.
2010s
In recent years IPChas “restricted around three key audience groups: men, mass-
market women and up-marketwomen” this tells me that it would be a great time
for IPC to publish another music magazinebecause this divide in sex is how music
magazines are made, they often target one sex. IPCarealso still launching new
magazines like “style at home and goodtoknow recipes” showing that IPCarestill
interested in launching new magazines.
