I asked four people with different interests 'What are you're main interests in regards to music and how would you like this reflected in a music magazine?'. I thought it was important that I asked people with a variety of different interests as i would gain varied answers. The people that I asked were in the age range of 16-24 which is my ideal audience profile.
Kat, 16
"I'm more in to indie and acoustic music so I'd prefer a magazine that reflected those genres of music. It's important to me that what I read reflects me as a person , so I would be more interested in a magazine that felt like it was targeted at me personally. Although it would be a music magazine, as I'm in to fashion and culture, I would like to be able to read about topics that included these aspects. I feel that music and fashion go hand in hand at sculpting our society as teenagers, so to be able to read about both in a magazine that was targeted for me would persuade me to purchase it. I feel that many music magazines are aimed more at men than women, so to read something that wasn't categorised in to a specific gender would also be great to read."
Joe, 19
"I have quite an eclectic taste so any magazine that collaborated good styles of any music would interest me. I think that it's important to read about things that can stimulate your mind, and I believe that music can do that. When you read a magazine you need something that will inspire you to go and do something you would otherwise have avoided, but also include things that interest you already. I really like to read about new artists and their stories, how they got in to the industry and things like that. It gives you the realisation that anybody can achieve their dreams and inspires you to go and achieve your own. It's also important to learn about those who've already made it, the legends of music that have made their mark, I think they can inspire anyone regardless of music tastes. I often go to gigs and festivals so to be able to read about those would benefit me as a reader, and I'm sure many other readers also. I feel that it could benefit readers if they learnt about culture or politics. Many teenagers that re in to music are rarely in to either of these topics, they seem to think it's not 'cool' to know about the world, as if it doesn't affect them. If a music magazine that interested teenagers could incorporate both topics in to it's content it would send a message out to teens that they can appreciate politics and culture, whilst appreciating music."
Ali, 17
"I listen to a collective genre of music, but mainly new releases that are popular amongst everyone. I enjoy listening to most styles of music, but feel that a new 'pop culture' is creating clones that are all interested in the same thing, yet feel that they are unique. If a magazine could have a coalition of different artists, old and new, with different music backgrounds, I feel that the barrier that has been created could be knocked down and open up a more diverse music world. I'm really in to fashion and feel that at times music and fashion are made very seperate. if i read a fashion magazine such as Elle or Vogue, I rarely find an artist who I'm interested in as they rarely fit the fashion stereotype. If I could read about music that I love, alongside fashion that I'm interested in, I would be more likely to purchase a magazine as I'd feel it was targeted for me."
Eddie, 21
"I'm more interested in Hip-Hop and R'n'B, but I don't fit right in to the stereotype. I have quite a versatile music interest and listen to many genres ranging from reggae to indie, to rap and often acoustic. I do read magazines such as The Source and XXL which I feel contribute to my musical needs. They both offer a range of different topics and also include fashion, as well as new artists who I may be interested in listening to. I feel that it is important for a reader to easily relate to the topics that are been introduced to them, and that they should feel comfortable reading about what is in front of them. Being given options and alternative subjects is important as it gives the reader a variety of topics to choose from, instead of being tied down to one particular area. My lifestyle entails that I go out quite often, and it would be good to read about places that I could go to instead of regular venues that i attend. To be able to read about everything, every aspect of life alongside music, would be a great way to involve and attract a reader."
