'Guitar Techniques' Magazine Double Page Analysis

'Guitarist' Magazine Double Page Analysis

'Guitar Techniques' Contents Page Analysis

Analysis of Magazine Publishers

Future PLC

Founded in 1985, Future PLC is ranked the sixth-largest media corporation in the UK; it publishes over 30 magazines in a variety of fields including video games, technology and music.

The company started in Somerton, Somerset, in 1985 and now sells magazines all over the world, with a very large market in the US; some of its most popular magazines include PC Gamer, Voted the world’s most popular PC gaming website, BikeRadar, the world’s most popular cycling reviews website, and MusicRadar, the world’s most popular website for musicians.

Based upon the types of magazines that Future PLC publishes, they majority of their magazines appeal to young, pro-active people with specialist interests and hobbies; this suits my magazine very well as its aimed towards younger people with an active interest in guitars and guitar playing.

As of September 2013, Future PLC has begun the transition towards a more digitally driven publication business, looking to publish more on the virtual and digital platforms rather than the conventional paper format; future claims this will allow them to keep up with the ever-expanding publishing market that is developing more into technical means of distribution.

Future PLC has a whole website dedicated to its musically driven titles, giving a much greater digital and multi-platform presence to its musical magazine; this would be invaluable to my magazine as the digital market is booming and the introduction of online resources associated to my magazine would raise its profile and popularity dramatically. Also, Future PLC provides a free digital download of each issue to any mobile device for the reader, this incorporation of modern media to my magazine will allow it to attract to a much wider band of modern, tech-loving readers and will allow this new audience to take the magazine wherever they go.

Time Inc. UK

Formally IPC Media, Time Inc. has one of the largest publishing portfolios selling over 350 million copies each year. IPC Media was originally founded in 1968 but taken over by Time Inc. UK, a division of Time Warner, in 2001 and now publishes popular magazines such as NME, Country Life and Horse & Hound. The company is based in London and reaches 130 million consumers each month through over 90 popular


titles, making them the second biggest publishing company in the UK.

Time Ins. Produces content based at a very refined and sophisticated audience, with titles such as ‘Super Yacht World,’ ‘TV Times,’ ‘Shooting UK’ and ‘Style at home.’ Based upon its current titles, I don’t think that Time Inc. UK would be the best option for publishing my magazine; the target audience for their magazine contrasts too highly with the proposed audience for my title. 

Each of Time Inc. UK’s titles is accompanied by its own mobile app, providing a much greater modern presence and attracting a more technologically-minded, modern reader who likes their magazines easily accessible wherever they are; The app also provides a more expanded reading experience with added article features and multimedia content. Many of Time Inc. UK’s titles, mainly NME, have their own award events; this pushes the publicity and popularity of the magazine even further, dramatically increasing sales.

Bauer Media Group

Founded in Hamburg, Germany in 1875, Bauer Media Group has been managed by five consecutive generations of the Bauer family; to date, it is the UK’s 3^rd biggest publisher. Bauer media expanded its publication presence even further after it the group acquired Australian magazine publisher ‘ACP Magazines in 2012. By 2011, Bauer had expanded to approx. 11,000 employees, turning over 2.4 billion euros (£1.9 billion) from over 300 individual magazines in 15 countries.

Many of Bauer’s publications include ‘Kerrang!’ magazine, ‘4 Music,’ ‘Planet Rock’ and ‘Mojo’ magazine; this magazines are very similar to the style and themes my magazine meaning Bauer Media Group would be most suitable to publish my magazine; Its audience suits my magazine’s targeted relaxed music listener and musician who enjoys reading magazines for the latest music new and content.

Bauer’s multi-platform presence is huge, Bauer publish content for television – with channel such as ‘4music’ and ‘BOX Television – as well as many radio stations, including ‘Planet Rock’ and ‘Absolute Radio.’ This further extension of media platforms greatly increases Bauer’s presence in the media world creating a bigger influence of the market; as a result of this, people would be more likely to read a magazine published by Bauer. This is very good for my magazine as, because it’s very small and new, it can increase its readership quickly and effectively.  

'Guitarist' Magazine Contents Page Analysis

Overview of the Magazine Industry

Magazine Industry

'Classic Rock' Black Sabbath Special Edition Magazine Cover Analysis

'Guitar Techniques' Magazine Front Cover Textual Analysis

Initial Ideas Statement

After looking at existing music magazines, I soon realised that I wanted to produce a unique magazine that would appeal to a large group of people. With 1 in 5 people being guitarists, I decided that a guitar-based magazine, appealing to all types of guitarists, would prove a big hit.

My magazine would be based around existing guitarist magazines such as 'Total Guitar' and 'Guitar Techniques,' two very popular guitar magazines. Common features of these magazines include tutorials, tabs, interviews with both high-profile and up-coming guitarists, new equipment and tips for improving your playing; I hope to incorporate some of these features in my magazine.

My colour scheme will follow the dark and moody colours of rock and roll such as dark blues, reds and black with whites for highlights and text. The majority of the main cover will probably be taken up with a medium shot of either myself or a friend of mine playing the guitar, a large main cover line and all the other cover lines.

'Total Guitar' Magazine Textual Analysis

Contents Page

My Student Magazine

Written Magazine Cover Evaluation

Student Questionnaire Evaluation

Student Questionnaire Evaluation

Gender

We nearly asked an equal number of both gender, with 16 males and 14 females. This allowed our results to give a more accurate representation of the whole college, gathering interests from both sexes.


Would you read a college magazine?

Unfortunately, 66% of our results said that they would not read a college magazine if one was made available to them. This is disappointing as it means that a college magazine would not achieve the kind of reception we would like. We need to insure that all the factors of the magazine meet it's specific target audience so they are attracted to it and would read it.


How regularly would you like a magazine released?

The clear winner, with 17 out of 30 answers, is weekly; however, a few people said daily and slightly more said monthly. I think weekly is a good pace for a college magazine because it means that everything in the magazine would be recent and relevant and a large amount of content can be added to cover the whole week.


How much would you pay?

We asked people, based on how often they thought a new issue show be released, how much they would be wiling to pay for each magazine. Understandably, most people said the they would only pay less than a pound for a magazine. This is understandable as most students are on tight budgets and cannot afford expensive luxuries such as college magazines.


Top 3 interests?

Our most popular interests, that students would like to see in the magazine, were University and finance; this is not surprising as these are the two biggest things on students minds at the moment. These were followed closely behind by Jobs, fashion and What's on; by implementing these top interests into the magazine, we can attracted our student target audience.



What Colours?

Our most popular colours for the magazine were blue, red and black. These are all very gender neutral colours that can appeal to all, as well as being eye catching and vibrant to attract people to the magazine. Using these colours on the front cover will catch people attention and entice them to read the magazine. 

How would you like to receive?

33% of students surveyed said they would prefer to receive the magazine virtually; this means that all the features of the magazine are produced clear enough so they are not distorted when compressed. Also, a digital copy needs to be created at the final stage.

Willing to contribute, Problems Page and Discount Vouchers

These answers will not really affect the overall aesthetic of the magazine, but are key pieces of information in the construction and distribution of the magazine. However, the high demand of a Problems Page and Discount vouchers presents us with a  key selling point; if we advertise these features on the front cover, the magazine will attracted it's target audience and sell well.

Student Questionnaire Evaluation