My trip to buy a music magazine.

So today I went to my local newsagents to have a look at some music magazines available and what's actually out there. I took note of what stood out, what interested mead what was popular amoungst the public. This was all very interesting so I've decided to share what I've found.

Most popular music magazines can be found in local newsagents and supermarkets, however, suprise suprise, the one I was personally looking for was not there! I was really dissapointed as this now means a trip into town, but I did leave with some positive information and more understanding of the current music magazine market.

The magazines this particular newsagents had in stock where 'NME', 'Kerrang!' and 'Metal Hammer', which, in fairness, cover a variety of music tastes but only across the 'rock' genre. None of these covered 'pop', 'R&B', 'Hip Hop', 'Urban' or any other similar music types. This definitely shows which magazines fair more popular, and which sell better. The music genre's where all very specific and I feel there isn't much for 'rock' fans in general who aren't interested in all the 'indie' music or the 'punk/metal' genre.

The left third of the magazines were all very eye catching and varied. I noticed most of the cover lines, including the main cover line, were situated at least half in this third and where all bold, eye catching and bright, with colours that co-ordinated, meanig it was pleasing to the eye. The prices wheren't very visible and you needed to pick it up to note them. The seling lines where visible along with the first part of the masthead, making each magazine easily distinguished to the potential buyer, to instantly seperate it from surrounding magazines. One magazine that takes advantage of this is NME, where the whole masthead is visible when layed out on shelves, making it more likely to be noticed and seen buy the potential audience.

There was several copies of NME, layed out separately from the other musci magazines on the shelf, meaning it must be a very popular magazine. This insinuates more 16-18 indie/alternative/light rock fans of the social class C1 and C2 are probably more likely to go out and buy a music magazine. Kerrang had only 2 copies out, suggesting that a few 13-25 year old heavier rock/punk/alternative fans of the class C1,C2 and D will venture out to get this magazine or not as many. Metal Hammer only had one copy on the shelf, suggesting it's the least popular magazine and the 18-30 year old metal/hard rock fans of the social class C1, C2 and D are also less likely to go out to get this magazine. Contrary to this, it could suggest NME has sold fewer, than Kerrang or Metal Head, however, die to the shelf layout, I stick with my first connotation.

Kerrang and NME, although advertising posters and competitions on the cover that are festured inside, did not have any form of booklets or add ons to advertise separate that come with the magazine. This makes it look as if when youbuy this, you only get this. However, Metal Hammer included a separate booklet filled with posters from that music genre, making it look as if you're getting more than the magazine and a bargain. This will encourage the audience to pick it up and buy it so they can get more for their money. It even nearly worked for me! in fact, I may go back and buy it ! :)

This trip has definitely broadened my knowledge of what the public want, what is most attractive and how the magazine pulls it off. Today, Metal Hammer magazine was the one I wanted to buy, due to it's catchy freebee and the layout of the magazine which I will soon to be analysing on here. I've taken note of the gap in the market for cheaper, appealing weekly magazines for a general 'Rock' genre and I've certainly enjoyed taking all this in and can conclude with a trip well spent!