target readership

 

 

NME is considered to be a magazine aimed at the late teen to twenties age bracket, you can tell this from the sharp, block colours used in the magazine covers and articles. you can also tell from the artists and articles that are featured in the magazine. the readers of this magazine will most likely be the type that like the slightly less mainstream bands and artists, the type that like to spend their free time going to gigs and festivals, this is because NME  focuses on 'real' and 'good' music rather than the stereotypical press done by the more 'trendy' magazines purchased by more mainstream readers. they may also be the type that call themselves "indie", they spend their money on new clothes and vinyl records.

 

 

 

 

 

Q magazine's demographics show that their main audience is males aged 20-50. the magazine caters to this with its subtle and calm writing rather than big block writing shown in some teen magazines, Q has a more sophisticated look to it. although they do articles on all different types of music Q mainly focus on the more 'indie' and 'alternative' bands/artists, this means that their audience will be different to that of a magazine such as Kerrang. the readers will spend most of their free time doing cultural things or paying instruments, this fits in with stereotypical fan of the type of music that Q focuses on. they might spend their money on cultural pursuits or on new technology and clothes so that they can be modern and up to date. they are more the type to go out for a meal or go to the cinema rather than go clubbing.
















how has the internet changed the music press

 

 

the internet has changed the music press drastically, years ago the only way you could get news stories and info was if you went and bought the actual paper magazines, now you can just go onto Google and search it I a few seconds. this has caused the whole magazine industry to die down a bit and they have had to adapt so that they can keep up with the times. some magazines can be bought online and read digitally, whereas some magazines such as NME have adapted by introducing other subjects into their magazine such as film, TV and politics.

also the internet has now become a breeding ground for ne, up and coming bands, they can post their content all over the internet and gain recognition from record labels or the mainstream music press.





the music press - a brief history

 

 

 

1950s - the first press was from Melody Maker and New Musical Express, they were very uncritical of artists and all the press was very good and positive for the artists. the content was pretty much all charts, singles, releases and gig/show dates/listings.

 

1960s - the arrival of more "rock and roll" type bands such as The Beatles and The Rolling Stones changed the tone and feel of the press. this is due to them portraying the typical "rock and roll lifestyle" of lots of drugs and women. this also changed the music and the music writing.

 

1970s -  early 70s: music press is still very positive and doesn't give much criticism to artists, this is until the glam rock and prog. rock groups/artists start to spend lots of money on lights, costumes, lasers, etc.
mid 70s: NME starts to popularise the genre of punk. the authors of the papers start to focus on other things as well as music, such as politics, philosophy, etc. fans od the music magazines start to become divided between the people that like the more "musical" magazines such as Melody Maker that focus on actual music subjects, such as techniques and instruments. Then there's the fans that prefer the more social magazines such as NME that focus on other subjects as well as music.
late 70s: some readers are abandoning the magazines that don't focus on "normal" bands and have started to be mainly about politics and random news rather than actual music press.


1980s and 90s - magazines start to introduce new styling and articles. changes in layout, typefaces and design. this makes more people interested in the magazines because they are more visually appealing to the mainstream public.

present - there isn't as much of a sense of exclusiveness with music magazines because lots of other things like newspapers, etc. are doing the exact same thing, but they are showing off more of the  "pop culture". there is so many people trying to be famous that the press cant handle al of the "news" 

magazine double page spread analysis:

magazine contents page analysis:

magazine cover analysis: