Task 4a- Research into music magazines and constitutions

1. What types of magazine and target audiences has the IPC been associated with
over the years?
The IPC has been associated with pretty much every type of magazine there is. Hobby
magazines like Amateur Photographer, Stamp Magazine, Cycling weekly, Yachting
world and The Railway magazine are more unusual magazines and some were
launched in the 1800s. A major target audience of the IPC over the years has been
women. Many womens magazines have been launched over the years like for example
Womans weekly, which started in the early 1900s, Womans own and Woman which
in the 1940s supplied essential information about the war on behalf of the government
and rallied women to the wartime cause. Many of these magazines still exist today along
with new ones like NOW which is also has a target audience of women. The IPC has also
had a lot to do with TV magazines since the 1950s and the rise of television. The TV
Times was originally published by the ITV companies, however was acquired by the IPC
in 1989. Whats on TV? launched in 1991 by the IPC was the UKs best selling magazine,
but lost its title to the very similar TV Easy in 2005. These TV listings magazines have a
huge target audience and have proved to be very popular over the years.

2. Why might IPC be an appropriate publisher for a new music magazine?
The IPC might be an appropriate publisher for a new music magazine because they have
a lot of experience with many genres of magazines but they also launched the first music
magazine. The New musical express (NME) arrived in 1952 and included the first
official UK record chart. NME was also the first major UK music title to get its own
Internet site, nme.com in the 1990s. The website went on to become Europes most
popular music website. Therefore I think the IPC would be a brilliant publisher for a new
music magazine because it has a lot of experience in the field and they are clearly able to
conquer the online world as well as printed copies.

3. What sorts of genres of music/types of magazines might they be likely to
publish?
In terms of music magazines, the IPC would be likely to publish more of the
rock/punk/pop genres of magazines. They have experience in the creating and
publishing of music magazines as the success of their first music magazine NME has
proven, and they would have knowledge of what different target audiences want.

4. Why might alternative publishers like Bauer be appropriate?
Other publishing groups like The Bauer Media Group would also be appropriate for
publishing a new music magazine. It is one of the most successful media companies in
the world with more than 570 magazines, over 300 digital products, and 50 radio and
TV stations. The companys portfolio also includes printing companies, postal services
and services in the fields of distribution, marketing and media sales. Therefore, I feel
Bauer have more than enough experience to publish a music magazine. They would be
aware of what different target audiences want playing a primary role in the Womens
Weeklies, Womens Interest, Womens Lifestyle, TV Listings, Puzzles, Mens Lifestyle,
Music & Film and Specialist magazine markets.