MAGAZINE GENRE

TOP 10 MUSIC MAGAZINES IN THE UK OF 2009 AND 2008

1: In 2009 Q had a circulation of 158,271 (-6.1%)

2: Mojo has a circulation of 121,746 (1.0%)

3: The Fly has a circulation of 109,734 (1.5%)

4: Uncut has a circulation of 88,756 (-19.4%)

5: Kerrang! Has a circulation of 80,186 (5.3%)

6: New Musical Express has a circulation of 74,206 (-3.4%)

7: Classic Rock has a circulation of 56,037 (12.0%)

8: Metal Hammer has a circulation of 45,359 (3.0%)

9: Mixmag has a circulation of 41,757 (-1.1%)

10: Word has a circulation of 35,142 (1.1%)

The circulation percentages are very close, magazines are fighting to gain larger markset size, as well as market share. Not one of the above magazines are R&B or Pop based magazines. A majority of the top ten magazines are rock based. This is because there is no R&B and POP based magazines available in the UK. The only magazines I can think of which are R&B and POP based are all based in the USA. An R&B and POP based magazine is a nonexistent market in the UK magazine industry, and I therefore have chosen to create an R&B and POP based magazine which can cater to those who are not huge fans of rock.

Also a majority of the age groups which read these music magazines are above the age of 24, yet the approximate age of people who read magazines in general range from the age of 12 – 34. So young people simply do not read music magazines, this may be due to the lack of music magazines available. In order to overcome this attitude, I want the target market of my magazine to be between the age of 14 and 24.

Also when I was researching magazines, I found it hard to find a music magazine with a female on the front of the page, so I have chosen to put a female on the front of the magazine to appeal to the female generation mostly.

The genre alone, of my magazine could act as a USP.