Task 8 – Audience profile and focus groups

The genre of my music magazine is rock and alternative rock and the stereotypical audience of this genre is evenly both males and females around the ages of 16-24.

Profile of a stereotypical audience:

Gender: Male and female

Age: 16-24

Social Class: Working class

Ethnicity: White ethnicity

Interests: Listening to music, going out, finding out about new music and going to concerts.

Dress Sense: Skinny jeans, flannel shirts, dark colours, dr martens, denim/leather jackets and band t-shirts.

Why they listen to rock music: The music often addresses problems that the audience can relate too and it can help them through their problems. Also, it is a good way for them to relax and enjoy themselves.

How often they listen to rock music: Very frequently.

Focus group questions:

1. Which of these titles do you think would best suit a rock magazine? Riot Sound Rush Alter Sound Rock Infest Radiate Rock

2. Which of these fonts are best suited for the masthead?

3. What would you prefer the main double page spread to be about? Why? Album and live concert reviews Interviews with new artists Articles on popular artists

4. If my magazine cost £2.50, how often would you be able to buy it?

5. What artists would you most like to see in an alternative/rock magazine? Arctic Monkeys The 1975 You Me At Six The Neighbourhood Panic! at the Disco

6. Would you prefer the front cover and double page spread to be more image based or text based?

Analysis of the focus group questions:

1. Which of these titles do you think would best suit a rock magazine?

After asking this question to a focus group, the most common feedback I got was that the title of my music magazine should be Riot Sound, Alter Sound or Rock Infest. I have decided that the most suitable name for my magazine will be Alter Sound as the main genre I am planning on focusing on is alternative rock, and I will incorporate some other aspects of rock, such as pop punk.

2. Which of these fonts are best suited for the masthead?

The most popular answer to this question was the Blackout Sunrise font. Also, they had said that the Old Letterpress Type font and Amity Jack font suit the style of magazine that I am going for, so I have decided that these may be used for cover lines.

3. What would you prefer the main double page spread to be about? Why?

The focus group thought that an interview with a new artist would be most suitable for the double page spread article as it would be a good way to start the first issue of my music magazine.

4. If my magazine cost £2.50, how often would you be able to buy it?

I discovered that my target audience would buy my music magazine fortnightly if it cost £2.50, as they think that they wouldn’t be able to afford that price every week. Therefore, I am planning on

lowering the price to within the range of £1.50 - £2.00, as this seems more affordable for the audience I am aiming my magazine at.

5. What artists would you most like to see in an alternative/rock magazine?

Overall, they said that the artist that they would most like to see in a new music magazine is Arctic Monkeys. However, I am going to include almost all of these artists as they said that they have an interest in all of these so I am considering including these in my cover lines.

6. Would you prefer the front cover and double page spread to be more image based or text based?

The focus group said that they would like to see an even amount of images and text on the double page spread, as they do not want to be reading too much text. Also, they said that the main image should dominate the front cover, and a few smaller images can be included when necessary.