Transcript The music press

LO: To identify relevant
information and make
appropriate notes for
the exam
The music press
A case study
Institution – Publishing house
Bauer Media Group is Europe’s largest privately owned publishing Group.
Offering over 230 magazines in 15 countries, as well as online, TV and radio
stations - a turnover of 2.08 billion Euros.
Two main divisions – Magazines and Radio
millions of personal relationships with engaged readers and listeners
to connect audiences with excellent content
wherever and whenever and however they want
1953, launch of Angling Times.
1981, 6 June first publication of Kerrang!
1990, acquisition of London dance station Kiss FM (Kiss 100)
1994, the company bought a small magazine called For Him Magazine (FHM).
1996, acquired digital music TV channel The Box, (Box Television), a seven
channel joint venture TV business with Channel 4.
Bauer Media spans over 80 influential brand names covering a diverse range
of interests including heat – the must have weekly celebrity title, Parker's,
MATCH, CAR and Yours.
Strong brand identity
(Codes and conventions)
A clear purpose
Mission Statement
Kerrang! will ensure that we are constantly appealing to our
spectrum of readers. From the younger teenage readers who are
more open to different genres of rock music – from emo to thrash
etc, to the readers who respect Kerrang! as an authority when it
comes to our scene’s heritage bands. Each issue will include a
balance of bands and scenes to guarantee that we’re providing for
our readers’ need for variety and their passionate appetite for
their favourite bands as well as their desire to be introduced to
new music within our world. We will focus on the BIGGEST things
that are going on in our world each week, as well as guaranteeing
that we are giving our main base of younger readers everything
they need to get into, on top of this the interest in older, harder
bands, cementing our role as an educator.
Precisely identified
audience
Representation
http://magazines.bauermediaadvertising.com/why_magazines
Audience uses and gratification - Generic
•Readers become deeply engaged with their magazines. As a result a
strong relationship, a bond of trust, grows up between the reader and
his or her chosen magazines. Reading a favourite magazine is like talking
with a friend
•A reader’s identification with an engaging magazine can go well beyond
the simple provision of information and ideas. When a magazine strikes
a chord it can reinforce the reader’s own self-image. This creates a
particularly powerful and trusting relationship
Copies tend to be read repeatedly, often picked up more than once
during a day and on more than one day. More than 90% of all pages are
opened by the typical reader. The average page in a paid-for magazine is
looked at 2.5 times by each reader
•The intimacy between reader and magazine benefits advertisers. The
magazine environment delivers a reader in the right frame of mind to
be receptive to the advertising. In the sympathetic context of the
right magazine, the strong positive brand values of the magazine can
transfer onto the advertisements
Collectors items - http://www.rockmine.com/Archive/Musicpapers.html
Success means pleasing the
audience
Being trustworthy and creating a sense of
community
Staying in tune with trends
- Youth culture/needs
- Trending sounds and fashions
- Ideologies and information
1981
1986
Being at the forefront of technology
- Print techniques (from 3 colours
(1981) to multi-coloured (2013)
- From the block printing press to
digital prints
- From print to digital platforms
Having versatile business structures
- 1987 becomes weekly rather than
fortnightly
- Acquiring and discarding products
- 2000 launch of digital radio
- 2001 launch of digital TV
1999
2013
Example of ‘Convergence’
Kerrang! is the original multimedia platform boasting
magazine, online, radio, TV, K! Awards, K! Tour, and K!
podcasts.
Example of ‘Synergy’
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media-network/media-network-blog/2013/mar/07/fall-rise-magazines-print-digital
The Future of magazines