Audience research

Magazines have different types of audiences, and they are based on many different things such as demographics which is: age, gender race, location and employment status. But it's also based on other things such as psychographics which is: personality, values, attitudes, interests and lifestyles. If we take We Love Pop magazine as an example, we can see the type of audience they're aimed at. They are aiming their magazine at teenagers, the magazine is specifically aimed at teenagers who like pop music, have taste in fashion, and like to keep up to date with the latest trends. The magazine includes free gifts which will attract the reader as well. Overall We Love Pop magazine, is aimed at a younger audience with a specific taste of music, it's a low budget magazine and has a quirky design. It has content that is not as exclusive as an interview, or a photoshoot. We Love Pop has content that has been taken by the paparazzi and what they have purchased off them. It has more childish content, and sexualises men specifically, as they are aiming their magazine at teenage girls. 

Another magazine that we could use is Kerrang Magazine, Kerrang is a rock magazine, that has a reputation and is notoriously known. The magazine has a range of articles from a range of artists, the readers profile magazine says: they are aimed at a younger audience 15-24, 60% are female and 40% female, this gives us a lot on information as to why Kerrang designs their magazine a certain way, it also tells us about what the readers are into, which helps with what type of articles to include. We can see that they're into computer games, fashion and are the typical "modern youth." This is crucial to get the specific type of audience a magazine has, as they need to know the type of things that need to be featured in their magazine to attract an audience.  

For my sub-genre I want to specifically look at magazines that have a indie/rock audience. This will include magazines such as NME, Rolling Stone these fit into the type of magazine, I wish to create therefore by knowing the type of demographics, and psychographics the magazine specifically looks for, it will give me and idea as to what type of magazine, I need to be designing for my target audience. When researching about NME's target audience, I found that the average age is 25 years old, and that NME specifically targets men between 17-30. I found out that 73% belong to the social grade ABC1 this the upper middle class, the middle class and lower middle class. This means that the target audience is male and they have money to spend on subscriptions, and find out new upcoming music. Another point is the majority of NME readers enjoy new entertainment, they enjoy modern, trendy things and love technology. NME has a specific target audience, and they are of the same sub-genre that I want to create a magazine, that features what these specific people want.

Rolling Stone, also fit my sub-genre in which I want for my magazine. Rolling Stone feature articles on rock/indie artists, and this is what I want my magazine to include. Rolling Stone have a predominate male audience at 61.7%, and 38.3% female. They have and age range of 18-34 and are mainly white. The majority of them are in education, and are middle class to upper middle class, 48.4% are single. Rolling Stone has a slightly different target audience to NME, therefore I will have to incorporate both readers profiles, into my own work to get the right target audience.

My magazine overall, should be more aimed at males because by looking at both reader profiles that fit into my sub-genre they are mainly male. The age range of my magazine should also be a younger audience from the ages 18-25. I would aiming more at middle class and upwards, as we can see from readers profiles that these are the type of social class that would, purchase and read my magazine. I would also need to include, more modern articles, and what is trending in the industry, as reader profiles show that the audience prefers to know about new upcoming content. The reader profiles show that the audience I should be aiming at is people who have money, they like to spend their money on albums, computer games and technology. Both of the magazines that fit into my sub-genre, have a very distinctive look about them. They are easily recognised by readers and our notorious, they also have a very high professional look to them, this must be incorporated in my magazine, if it is to be successful and be adapted to my target audience. My magazine should also be mainly aimed at, white males. This is so it fits into my sub-genre, the majority of rock bands are predominately white males. The people who fit into my target audience, like to be kept updated on the latest trends, and spend their money and go out on the weekends. My magazine must include the latest artists, content, and trends, in order to attract my target audience.