Target Audience, Ideology and Representation

Every magazine that is published has a different target audience, whether this be a niche audience or a wide spread audience, this is particularily apparant in music magazines. Their are hundreds of different genres of music, some more popular than others, the magazines reflect the tone and audience of the specific genre. The way information is displayed through the magazine appeals to the target audience.

The front cover reveals a lot about representations of the genre of music, through the use of graphlogy:

• Font - the size and the style
• Image- the angle and appearacne of the model
• Colour Scheme

These are examples of front covers from music magazines:

Top of the Pops is clearly aimed at young girls between 8-14. The genre of the music, pop, is clearly stated in the title. The title is pink and glittery which is typically a girls colour and fits into the targe audience of the magazine. The font on the front cover varies with both serif and sans serif being used, the sans serif font of the title shows it is modern and simple. The colour scheme of the magazine is pink, red and purple, although red and pink usually clash, in this case it works and makes the heading and tag lines stand out. Generally this magazine shows typical conventions of a pop magazine, as it's target audience would find this very eyecatching and will draw them in.

Q is a magazine aimed at an older more mature audience, whilst

still mantaining a wide coverage of genres. The front page is very simple and not overcrowded, unlike the Top of the Pops. This shows that the magazine have recognised their target audience and that they prefer structure whilst a younger audience prefers colourful and exciting. Although it is aimed at an older audience they are maintaining a modern approach by using a sans serif font throughout the front cover.

NME magazine has generally a rock/indie audience, with me alternative artists. This means automatically their demographic audience is much smaller so they can focus on the music and not the sales. This follows a three part colour scheme and the yelllow stands out against the darker background. The red and the yellow clash which would appeal to the target audience because they prefer to 'be different' and to not follow a crowd. There are very little sell lines around the front cover, suggesting that people that read the magazine will know what it will include.

All these magazines present ideologies about a group of people. Ideology is a set of beliefs a person or group holds and all music magazines hold these different ideologies, which affects the way they are represented. For example a magazine for an older audience of sophisticated music content would not generally have a image of Justin Beiber on the front, as it does not link with the ideologies of the audiences.

In the example of 'Top of the Pop's' there are several ideologies of pop music represented these are:

• Girly Colours
• Non violent imagery
• No sexual content
• Gossip

In the example of 'Q' the ideologies of mature musical interest shown are:

• Simple and Neat
• Varied interests musically

In NME the ideologies of alternative music are:

• Different (colour clash and image)
• Quite loud

Rock

• Loud
• Sexual Content

Hip Hop

• Drug and Alcohol Use