Zoe Brant

TIMELINE OF MUSIC MAGAZINES

Billboard music created the first music magazine with the first issue being printed in 1894. however it wasn’t until the

late 30’s (1936) when music magazines became popular. The Magazine is targeted towards music professionals but

it is also accessible by the public. It was named Billboard in ’61 and first became available in the USA.

The billboard charts involved from the issues of the magazine later on in the century and became radio airplay. The Billboard charts played and provided different music

genres.

BILLBOARD MUSIC

Britain's oldest music magazine which was released in July 1926. It was originally created for the genre of Jazz, but eventually moved on to accompany the Rock and

Indie genres.During the 50’s it was rivaled with another magazine called New Musical express

which was targeted more towards the younger generation and towards unoccupied rock. Both magazine had articles about upcoming music and new artists.

In 1999 Melody maker went though a make over and came out with a glossy format. In 2000 Melody maker was merged with new Musical Express which were both

owned by IPC media.The developments in the printing and with the introduction of the digital era have

changed how Melody maker was printed. During the early years of the magazine life it was printed on what seems to be news paper and had. Very dull fonts and colours.

Compared to melody maker in its last years the way the magazine was produced was a lot better, the logo stood out more and the magazine was now made out of a

better quality a per with a a glossy cover.

MELODY MAKER

New Musical Express was created in 1952 and was also set up in the UK alongside Melody Maker.

However while Melody maker was associated with Jazz, NME was associated with the Rock genre. NME was also targeted towards youth. During the rampage of the Mods V Rockers, those who’s collective identity was a rocker may have read this

magazine.In society today it is one of the most popular running magazines in the UK. This

showing that the rock genre is still very large and active today.NME has come a long way in how it was first launched and the look of two magazine

today. Back in the 50's the magazine was printed on newspaper paper, the re was very little/no colour scheme. Today the magazine has undergone a major

transformation with a news and shorter masthead. It also has a glossary finish to the cover, and with the digital era, it has become much more colourful and bolder.

NEW MUSICAL EXPRESS (NME)

The Rolling stones magazine was first published in 1967 and in the USA.

The target audience for this magazine was youth due to their more knowledge of technology than the older

generations.The magazine created and documented music as an

important part of youth culture. Articles included topics about youth subcultures and social change, and even about

political issues within the music industry at the time. It primarily focused on culture music.

ROLLING STONES MAGAZINE

Smash hits was created in 1978 and first launched in the UK.It’s target audience was primarily young people and teenagers. This magazine is

important in the development of music as the magazine covered different genres of music. It also showed and wrote about music in a different way from previous

magazine's (I.e Like Pop).The last Issue of Smash hits was published in February 2006.

The production quality of smash hits has changed since it was first launched. The colour scheme back in 1978 was rather dull and looks like it would attract the target audience of young people. Also the quality of the magazine is quite poor and nothing

stands out. Compared to the later version of smash hits, which has a bolder masthead and more colours;which draws the attention to it more.

SMASH HITS

Kerrang was introduced in 1981 in the UK and was often compared to Smash hits.

The magazine itself focused more on heavy metal and rock music and was more focused on music culture.

There is no target audience for Kerrang and it sells to a wide ranage of different audiences. With different

generations the sale of of the magazine has either dropped or rose.

KERRANG!

Published in the UK during 1986.Q magazine did not have a target audience as it did not primarily focus on one specific genre like Kerrang did.

It also looked at music from a different perspective.

Q MAGAZINE

Became available in the 80's.It was filled mostly with adverts and contained sources of

buying and selling music.It first started out as a A5 publication. However in 2003 it

became a A4 magazine in colour.

RECORD COLLECTOR

Mojo was first published in 1993 within the UK.This magazine looked more at classic rock which catered to

a wider target audience. This meant that the magazine itself had to contain a large

variety of different types of rock music.

MOJO MAGAZINE

First published in 1995 in the UK and was published by BBC magazines.

This magazine was aimed towards the younger generation as it discussed Music such as pop.

Top of the pops had more posters and content which aimed towards the younger generation. Today it does not primarily

focus on music anymore.

TOP OF THE POPS