What kind of media institution might distribute
your media product and why?
OVERALL
Overall, I chose to go with IPC Media to distribute my magazine due to their experience in the genre of magazine that is similar to mine. Also, their audience is primarily female which is an advantage as they are the target audience of my magazine. Through distributing magazines like NME, I feel that they will have the correct knowledge to distribute my magazine effectively and make it well known.
IPC MEDIA
IPC Media’s audience are primarily female with almost two thirds of the UK being female and just 44% being male. Therefore, this would benefit my magazine as the target audience is mainly female teenagers. IPC Media distribute popular music magazines such as NME, Nuts and Uncut. These music magazines have a particular genre and are not mainstream, creating a strong correlation between my magazine and NME as they both have the genre of indie rock. Therefore, I believe my magazine would become popular with this distributor as it has close comparisons to the magazines they already own. However, IPC Media produce magazines similar to NME and the indie rock genre. This could be a disadvantage as there are already magazines like this owned by the company and mine may not stand out to readers.
I have commented on two major media distributors: Bauer Media and IPC Media and explained the advantages and disadvantages that would be in place if they were to distribute my magazine.
I have completed extensive research into both distributors and have made a final conclusion as to which is the best for my magazine. I have looked at magazines which the distributors own and compared them to my magazine through genre, style and music to see which would be the best suited to my magazine. For my magazine, I need a distributor with a large target audience as it is the first issue and needs to be introduced alongside popular magazines which may be of a similar genre. Also, the magazines they own must be considered as they will have experience in certain types of music magazine.
BAUER MEDIA
Some of the strengths that Bauer media have are that it distributes magazines in 15 countries as well as online. This is an advantage when distributing my magazine as my target audience (teenagers) are interested highly in television and online. Bauer Media produce magazines such as ‘Kerrang!’ which is a rock magazine, unlike mine which is indie rock and therefore this media institution may not be the right distributor for my genre of magazine. Also, as Kerrang! is one of the bestselling weekly magazines, this could be an advantage as my magazine could follow the same route.