Target Audience Questionnaire Table

From my research, it shows that my magazine cover has been given a positive response with regards to readers.

At the start of this project, I had to undergo an audience lifestyle questionnaire where I needed to answer questions on what type of audience I’m aiming my magazine at. From this, I set out my magazine trying to fulfil all these answers.

As well as taking this into account I had to take on the form as an encoder, operationalising this theory into practice. I did this through giving the magazine a meaning with regards to the question answers, and displaying it in a way that the decoder (respondents) could understand and figure out who the magazine is to be aimed at.

Like I mentioned above, the response given has come back with a positive outcome. The 3 main questions of ‘What gender, age and social class?’ have all come back similar, demonstrating that the cover gives out an impression for those audiences.

I wanted to aim the ages range from 16-25, however a range of 18-25 has come back from the 3 respondents. This may be 2 years later that the intended, but I am not going to change it due to how close they are. I feel that even if they thinks it’s an 18-25 audience, 16 and 17 year olds will still buy it based on their music interest with Drum and bass.

Social class has also come back all the same with middle class being the set target audience. Like this, gender has also come back all positive with Male being the set target, and all respondents seeing this.

The type of car question has also come back in a positive way and though different answers and ranges were set, and average outcome similar to mine was displayed overall. I aimed the answer at a young persons ‘first car’ who would generally have a small engine car. In the society we live in, this type of car is set with the ‘drum and bass’ genre of music with loud and proud displaying symbolism.  Furthermore, with the average come out at 1.0-1.4 litre car is does display that the target set is something that other look for and is shown with the respondent’s answers.

The questions I’ve answered above for me hold the biggest representation and curiosity, however the others answers I feel don’t hold a massive meaning.  However, this isn’t to say that I’m not pleased with the respondent’s answers, as they’ve generated common answers and demonstrated an easily decoded magazine.

In conclusion to this research, it’s good to see that the ranges of answers are all similar. From this, it demonstrated that my music magazine can be successful within this genre, and hold importance within the target audiences.

First Attempt of Front cover

Mock up front cover

Audience Lifestyle – Constructing the Imaginary Entity

     What car/mode of transport do they use?

·         Volkswagen Polo

   What accommodation do they live in?

·         Semi-detached home

  What do they drink?

·         Coca Cola

  What TV shows do they watch?

·         Friends, scrubs and inbetweeners

What music do they like?

·         Drum and bass

 What is their favourite meal?

·         Scampi and Chips

What sport do they watch and what sport do they play if any?

·         They watch and play football, as well as playing cricket.

 Who is their partner or are they single?

·         Single

Where do they go on holiday?

·         Greek islands

 Do they vote and if so who for?

·         Conservative

What type of bar/pub/club do they go to?

·         Clubs and pubs e.g.-Ministry of sound

What is their favourite band?

·         Chase and status

Where do they buy their clothes?

·         Topman, River Island, next, republic, gas station

 How much monthly disposable income do you have?

·         £550

Target audience for my magazine

To make a successful music magazine, ill need to aim it to sell within a specific target audience. This will allow me to create the magazine using specific aspects that will hopefully appeal to this group of people. There are many factors that I need to consider when targeting my audience, and from this achieve these in abundance.

The audience I’m going to target is the 18-28 age bracket, with the magazine being based on ‘drum and bass/Dubstep’. With the world of music ever expanding, so has the use of genres. It has now come to the stage where music by such artists has ‘Tinie Tempah’ and ‘Pendulum’ are taking the world by storm due to their unique and personal sound. With this in mind, millions of people around the country and world find this music brilliant to listen to, and therefore want more.

My typical person/entity who I'm aiming for the magazine is a 18-25 sporty male who likes socialising with his friends, and going out at night . With Drum and bass being  a popular music sound when going out clubbing, a number of people will hear this sound on a regular basis, indicating a good idea and overwhelming interest of ths sound. These clubs could be used as an area to advertise the magazine, maybe trying to get posters on the wall showing the artists that they will hopefully be listening to at the time.
This idea of a sport male ages 18-25 will be targeted to be from a  middle class background. This signifying factor for this was that the magazine price will range, depending on the content and reasonable offers inside. Furthemore, this allows me to change the price not worrying that a 20p-30p price difference wont discourage the public in buying.

What my magazine will bring this target audience is a chance to read about latest artists as well as information regarding upcoming ones, including interviews and articles. Reviews and ratings will also be present, with an area where people will be able to see the top 10 drum and bass songs of the week to check out.

Preliminary Contents page

How Do Magazines Make Money?

There are many ways in which magazines make money. This centres mostly on advertisement. Advertisement provides magazines with income, through companies paying for their business to be shown in the magazine. This could range from a small box in the corner of a page, to full double page spread located right at the front of the magazine.

      In relation to this, the pricings vary with the size. With smaller boxes costing less for business’, and larger advertising pages costing considerably more. From this, you would find that smaller upcoming businesses will use the smaller advertising boxes and when growth and profit increases, they can begin to take over the larger advertising pages,

    As well as advertisement, magazines also make money through the selling of the product. With the product itself not costing a lot to make, they’ll sell the magazine at a small profitable cost depending on amount of payed advertisment included.

    In conclusion to this, it’s quite clear that the main way in which magazines make money is through advertisement. This allows the magazine to bring in a decent income to cover costs and possible a profit, with the business also being recognised by every reader.