Research Task Nine : Target Audience Research And Analysis

For this research task I made a questionnaire asking different questions relating to music magazines and music in general to get an understanding of peoples views. After collecting my data I made it into a table to make it easier to read.

From this I found out that many people have similar and very different music tastes and interests within music. There is also common theme of young people not being interested in music magazines due to the prices of them, this may be due to the fact that many young people dont not have access to disposable income to spend or dont have the time to get a job to purchase them. This is also the same for going to gigs as they can be very expensive and so many young people cant go. another reason is because they may not have access to transport to get to the location of the gigs, having a busy life with school could also be a large factor affect if and when people can go to gigs. As well as the fact that the majority of young people have access to the internet and social media where information is easily shared and free to acquire. Because of this young people may not feel the need to go shopping or find a specific music magazine website to get their information if they can easily find out the info they need on platforms such as tiktok, Spotify, Instagram etc. There is also evidence of older bands and artists still being popular to listen too, showing that despite not being born during the time the music was made or popular, the quality of the music and genre is what makes it interesting and that present day trending music isn't always good enough to listen to. Many people buy music magazines as a way to collect them, making them an expensive hobby to keep on top of. because of this having free copies, cheaper editions or prizes/ something unique, it may be a better incentive to get people interested in buy that particular magazine. Peoples favourite artists may not be in the same edition as their favourite genre meaning they need to purchase more than one magazine, because of this people may be put off buying them if there isn't a guarantee that both topics are in the same magazine. By having free editions or cheaper prices for certain editions, it may entice more people to buy them and keep buying them.

Reflection Point : What Have I Learned About Independent Music Magazine Websites?

Independent music magazine websites all follow a similar layout. At the top of the home page there will be hyperlinks which take you to a different page relating to the title of the hyperlink, such as shop or about. This allows for easy access to finding information about the magazine or website which you may find helpful or important. There is also links to their social media pages such as twitter or Instagram, allowing people to find the website though a different platform as well as gain more readers through the ability to share and comment on social media posts, so regular readers of the magazine website can share it with other people they may or may not know, meaning it is easy for them to gain popularity. Throughout the home page and other hyperlinked pages, there will be adverts placed at to the top of the page as well as to the sides, this is used so that the people who use the website can visit a different website, which can be completely unrelated, and purchase the products which were being presented to them. 

The website's home page will have an image of their latest edition along with some information about the contents and when it was produced etc. The people who frequently use this website may find it helpful as they are able to get an insight into what that specific magazine will be talking about as well as the pricing and additional information which they may want to know about. When you scroll further down the home page you will find new-stories about other artists or bands. Sometimes it will be about the music they are producing but it can also sometimes be about drama or information unrelated to the music they are producing and more about their personal life.  Readers may find this interesting as it means they can get a look into their favorite bands personal life as well as possibly find new music to listen to, or find a new album by a artist they like which they can then listen to. 

Research Task Eight : Research Into Other Independent Music Magazine Websites

Part one

The way in which 'Metal Hammer' sets out their home page of the website is in the same theme as other independent online magazines. They have their masthead in the same font as the magazines, showing evidence of digital convergence, making it easy for readers to identify the magazine and know it is related. At the top of the page, it also has hyperlinks used to direct the readers to a different page which may have information they are interested in, for example newsletters and shop. They have also placed their socials at the top, making it easy to link other platforms they are on to their website so that they can be shared to other people who may be interested as well as get feedback on their publications as it allows the readers to contact them through comments and likes. It also gives you the option to subscribe to the magazine, allowing you to access subjects within the magazine that other people may not be able to access, as well as a search bar so that you can instantly find the information you are curious about. Another way that 'Metal Hammer' follow the generic conventions of independent magazines is through the use of advertisement  at the top of the home page. Like with the subscription, the advertisement allows them to have an income as they get paid to display and promote other products or websites. The further you scroll down the home page it shows you the latest news of bands, independent artists and other information about music that is relevant to their readers. 

Part two

Further down the hope page it allows you to access other stories and information of featured artists and bands which relates to the theme of heavy metal, as that is the type of audience this independent magazine is trying to reach. The advertising continues down the page, still trying to promote other products, which is in theme of other magazine websites. Unlike other independent magazines though, they also mention very well known bands and artists such as 'Iron Maiden' and 'Ghost'. This shows how they may be trying to reach a wider audience by talking about well known artists to capture the interest of people who know them, which may lead them to find other small less known bands and artists with the same style of music. By doing this it may convince them to subscribe or buy the magazine so that they can get more information on new artists and find new people to listen to who have the same style of music they are interested in. By referencing well known bands and artists within those bands, it may be trying to reach out to a certain audience such as people of older generation as they mention older metal bands which younger people may not know, as well as an audience who prefer metal and heavy rock.

Part three

 

When using the hyperlinks at the top of the home page, it takes you to a different page. For example the shop hyperlink takes you to a separate page which promotes their products and merchandise. This would have many advantages for the magazine, one of these would be the fact that by having people be interested in their products it means that they get more money from people buying their stuff, it acts as another source of income from their audience. It may also mean that people go out in public in their t-shirts or use their bags. By doing this it may catch random peoples attention and cause them to be interested in where they got the products from and lead them to the magazine, meaning their audience would widen and they would be able to gain more money from the new people subscribing and buying their merchandise. They also have hyperlinks at the top of the page to take you to a different page promoting other styles of their products which are based on different genres of music within the heavy metal music industry. For example, Prog takes you to a page with Pink Floyd merchandise, whereas Louder has Green day and Joy Division merchandise, trying to attract readers who have different styles and interests. 

Extension Task:

Part one

The way that 'So young' lays out their home page is different from other independent magazines like 'Metal Hammer' The format takes up the whole page, unlike many other magazine websites which are set more vertically to fit on smaller screens such as phones. They also dont have any advertisement on the home page, which is unusual as many if not all websites have some type of advertisement for an outside product. However, they do also have ways in which they fit the normal formatting of independent website magazines. They have their masthead in the centre at the top of the home page, in the same font as the magazine, also showing how they have digital convergence to make it easy to show they are both linked together. They also have their socials at the top of the page making it easy for people to go from the website to the other apps and vis versa, allowing them to gain a wider audience through current readers sharing the magazine online and making it easier for other people to find the magazine and be interested it. Their hyperlinks to other pages within the website are also situated at the top of the page, making it easy for readers to get to the information they are interest in. It also makes it easy for people to buy their magazines as the option to buy now or read now is in the middle of the top part of the page, surrounded by their best seller. By showing readers the best seller and giving them the option to buy now, its allowing them to see what the magazine is like and to buy it quickly.

Part two

Further down the home page it gives you an insight into the events and opportunities that the magazine has. It gives you information on how expensive it is to subscribe as well as enticing people through the use of discounts on their clothing. Below that it shows you all of the festivals and the opportunity to buy them. By placing these together it may be a way to convince people to subscribe as it means they get access to festivals that other magazines may not have, or by wanting to go to these festivals it may convince readers to subscribe as they may find the information provided to them interesting or helpful. The bright colours and discount on clothing could be used as a way to interest their audience which may be for a younger generation who are interested in alternative music. Again there is no advertisement present on the home page, showing how it differs from other magazine websites.

Part three

When clicking on the shop hyperlink at the top of the home page it takes you to a different page which consists of their merchandise. One way this may differ to other magazines, such as 'Metal Hammer', is the fact that the products they are selling is only their merchandise and subscription. It is a good way to get people interested in their magazine as they may wear the items of clothing and gain interest from other people who see the products and want to find out more. However one downside to this is the fact that readers may be interested in the bands featured within the magazine and want merchandise of them as well as just the independent magazine. However by having all possible items to buy such as clothes and the different issues, it makes it easier for people to buy as all products are in one place so you dont have to search around the website to find the product you want to buy. 

Reflection Point : What Have I Learned About Independent Music Magazine Front Covers?

Independent music magazine front covers, such as 'RnR' and 'TheWire' which I have looked at, follow a similar layout. They use a prominent image of an artist as their main image which can be cut off by the masthead 'TheWire', usually in the same font and size but can be bright colours. The information about the magazine, such as the main cover-line and the name of the artist which is featured, are also positioned in front of the main image. The name of the main artist, which is the main image, is in a larger font compared to the rest of the copy on the front cover. The bright colours and large font which is used by these independent magazines make them easy to recognise and pick apart from other magazines. They may also use editing techniques such as blurring the background to make the artist on the front cover stand out more and highlight how they are the main subject in which the magazine is going to be based around in that issue. Some of them may also come with free products such as RnR have free CDs that come with each issue, used to entice new readers and keep original readers interested. 

Research Task Seven : Independent Music Magazine Websites

 Part One

The way 'TheWire' magazine is set out makes it easy for readers to navigate. By having all their hyperlinks at the top of the page, its one of the first things that people would see, meaning its easy for them to access the links they want. As well as placing the search bar at the top, making it easy for subscribers and new readers to search up a certain magazine they are looking for or information. They place the price of the magazine, as well as other options of reading, underneath the information about the latest publication of the magazine. This allows people to get the information they need about the contents of the magazine and then make the decision to buy it if they believe that it is a magazine they would be interested in. They also place the information about the current magazine next to an image of the front cover, also giving you information about the contents within the magazine to further enrich the readers with information. By doing this the readers may find something they are interested in and being convinced to purchase the copy and possibly subscribe or buy more issues of the magazine. They also use digital convergence between the website and the magazine itself. The masthead of the magazine 'TheWire', is also featured on the top of the website. Although it isn't the same colour, its the same font, making it easy to show that they are both connected to each other and have relevance, there is continuity. They also have a skyline at the top which is take up with advertisement, used to promote other companies or websites products/offers. 

Part Two

There is a continuous layout as you continue to scroll down the page. The other stories which are featured on the website are laid out in two columns running vertically down the page, each of them having a small description of what the image is promoting and a hyperlink to that page, where the reader will be able to find out more. There is also yet another opportunity to sign up to the website, find out what you will receive or get removed. There is also another block of advertisement, similar to the top of the page, where you may be advertised something you are interested in, as well as a way for them to gain money as the advertising companies pay them to present their products. They also place hyperlinks of their socials to further get people interested with their magazine and reach a wider audience. People would be able to follow, share, comment or like on their posts, for example on Instagram or Facebook. By doing this it allows their subscribers to share the content of the magazines with other people, reaching a wider audience and getting more people interested in their magazines, gaining more profit. 

Part Three

When clicking the hyperlink for the 'Events' it takes you to a new page which gives you the information on all the events such as exhibitions, tours, gigs etc.The events are also placed in countries outside of the UK, for example 'La Monte Young & Marina Zazeela: Dream House' is situated in the United States, showing how this magazine has a global and international audience which isn't confined to just the country they are published in. Highlighting how anyone anywhere can get involved in the magazine and become a subscriber. Although you are no longer on the home page of the website, they are still promoting their latest issue of 'TheWire' by having an image of it off to the side, as not to take away from the information being given on this page, but to still push towards their readers to buy this magazine. They are also recommending to sign up to their weekly newsletter to get a 'seven day digest of forthcoming events'. This may get readers interest to sign up as they are able to get information and updates on the latest events which they can take part in. 

Reflection Point : What Have I Learned About Magazine Contents Pages?

Within the contents pages of magazines, there is always a main image which is the feature or main topic of what the magazine is trying to sell to its target audience. The main image is also always situated either directly in the middle of the page, easily draws the attention of the reader, or is slightly off centre but still takes up the majority of the page. With the main image there is also, most of the time, a cover line which anchors the subject of the magazine to the image. Due to the fact that magazines have a targeted audience and engaged readers it means by giving them an option to look at the contents page and read what topics are going to be covered, it makes it easier for them to decide if the magazine is something they are interested in buying. It also makes it easier for new buyers to see if they are interested in purchasing the magazine and becoming a subscriber. 

A lot of the time magazines also have advertising or show off free products that you can get with the first purchase for example the CD's in the RNR magazine. This is one way that magazine companies entice new buyers into becoming members. Which could be argued to be a trick to get people to buy the magazines and become invested with the contents and become a member, keeping them interested.

Research Task Six : Wider Research Into Magazine Contents Pages.

 

Research Task Five : The Wire Music Magazine Contents Pages

 

Research Task Four : How Does 'RnR' Magazine's Front Cover Appeal To Audiences?