The document summarizes the results of a questionnaire given to gather information about target readers for a new music magazine. Key findings include:
- Females ages 16-19 made up most respondents.
- Readers preferred magazines to be published weekly with 52-66 pages.
- Popular artists, venues, and magazines like NME can provide inspiration.
- Incentives like posters and 3 column layouts were favored.
- Most readers like indie rock and attend gigs, informing the types of content that should be included.
2. What is you gender?
The first question I asked on my questionnaire was what gender the participant was. I did this to see who is more
likely to engage in taking part in research. There were 5 males and 20 females who answered my questionnaire
which is 80% of the participants. This shows that I will have get a different set of opinions from other males to
balance the results out as my magazine is aimed at both male and females.
3. How old are you?
The second question I asked was the age of my participants so I could get an idea of what kind of people would be
reading my magazine. I posted the questionnaire online for people to partake freely. My results showed that 17
year olds partook the most however the ages ranged from 16-19 and there was one 25 year old. This tells me that
the people interested in my magazine are a younger audience and therefore should gather more information on
what entices this audience into reading magazines.
4. How often do you read
magazines?
61.11% of participants said that they read magazines weekly, this allows me to make a decision to publish my
magazine weekly. By publishing my magazine weekly it means it will help spread brand awareness as my target
audience are able to pick up a new copy with new contents each week instead of waiting monthly like some other
magazines. I think publishing my magazine weekly will also appeal to the younger people in my target audience as
they have more disposable income to spend on things such as magaznes.
5. Who is your favourite band
or artist?
The results from this question will help me when deciding what exclusive interviews to include in my magazine as my
participants answered with a range of artists. However, not all the artists which people answered with are relevant to my
genre of magazine therefore if I were to redo this survey I would have gave some options of artists which relate to my
genre to get a better idea.
6. Do you like pull out posters
in a magazine?
64% of participants said that they like incentives such as a pull out poster in a magazine. This statistic shows me
that I should consider including an incentive to gain the audiences attention. Using incentives may also give
readers a sense of buying into more than just a magazine which may encourage them to buy magazine as they are
getting more than just standard contents.
7. How much would you
pay for a magazine?
44% of participants said that they are willing to pay £2.50 for magazine. These results help give me an idea of what
I should be pricing my magazine at, I will take into consideration that £2.50 is the majority vote so the pricing should
stay close to this number. By pricing my magazine at around £2.50 it means that it is affordable for my target
audience to be buying each week.
8. What is your favourite
magazine?
40% of the people that took part in my survey voted that NME is their favourite music magazine. This is helpful
information as NME have covered articles on many indie bands which I can use for inspiration to help draw in the
attention of my audience. Also NME follow codes and conventions throughout their magazine and therefore I can
look to NME for ideas about design, mise en scene etc. to better my magazine.
9. How many pages should
a magazine have?
After looking at my results I am able to see that the average amount of pages my participants would think suitable
for a magazine would be 52 pages. However, I plan to make my magazine around 66 pages as this allows more
space to include more articles for my audience to read. I have decided to go against what my participants have
said as 52 pages is below the average amount of pages in a published magazine and therefore If I want my
magazine to sell I am better sticking to the average page amount like other big magazines do.
10. How many columns would
I like to see
64% of participants said that they would prefer to see 3 columns of text on my contents and double page spread,
this helps give me an idea of how to layout my text when constructing my magazine. Using 3 columns would keep
the layout of my magazine neat and stylish whilst also allowing me the space to add relevant information into the
article.
11. Do you go to gigs?
Almost all of my participants 92% said that they go to gigs. This tells me that it would be a good idea to include a
regular feature about gig reviews as gigs are a popular thing with my target audience. As nearly all my participants
said that they go to gigs I could further research to find out what kind of gigs my audience would like to read about
e.g. gigs by upcoming bands.
12. Which is your favourite
venue?
40% of my audience voted the o2 academy as their favourite venue where as Wembley stadium and
echo arena tied last with 15%. This information will help when I am deciding where to sell my
magazines. From the results it shows the most of my audience attend smaller gigs rather than
stadium gigs therefore I would prioritise having my magazine sold at smaller venues such as o2
academy’s.
13. Which is your favourite
colour?
Red was given the most votes with 35%. Asking my audiences favourite colour will be useful when
working out a colour scheme for my magazine as I want to use a colour which is popular amongst
my audience as this will make my finished product stand out increasing the chance of sales.
14. What was the last gig
you attended?
When asked what gigs my audience last attended there was a varied response of artists this
information will help when I am choosing who to include in my magazine. The artists also give
insight into what kind of genres my audience like therefore I can include artists not on that list but in
the same genres when researching which artist would best fit my magazine.
15. What 3 words do you
associate with indie rock?
Again I gave my audience free choice to what they responded to this question so I am not
prompting them to pick certain words instead get a true range of answers. I asked this question to
gather information on what words I want to be using in my article and covellines to attract readers.
Words such as cool and edgy are included in the list which suggests that the design of my magazine
should portray this to stand out from other like it.
16. Do you like the name
Lost for my magazine?
95% of my audience answered with yes to liking the name I have chosen for my magazine. I asked
this question as it is important that my audience like the title I am planning to use because a title
that isn’t catchy and appealing to the audience wont sell successfully.
17. Would you be interested
in a news article?
75% of my audience voted that they would be interested in a news article in my magazine. The
results suggest that including a news article would be in my favour showing that my audience are
interested in what is happening in the music world. News articles are also a good way to work with
artists to promote things like tours and festival announcements.
18. How often should a
magazine be issued?
45% of audience voted that a magazine should be issued fortnightly. Although issuing a magazine
monthly has been voted the least favourite this is how I plan for my magazine to be issued. I want a
monthly issue because it works well with regular content I plan to include.
19. Would you read an
online magazine?
90% of my audience voted that they would read on online magazine. This information is useful
because if my magazine is a success I can look at starting a website which will include all the article
from the current spread and showcase the main articles. An online magazine will help widen my
customer base as people in other countries would be able to access the content.
20. Do you prefer more text
or images in a magazine?
65% percent of my audience said that they would prefer images over heavy text in my magazine.
When creating my magazine this will be useful as I know to include pictures which entice my readers
in to reading the articles they are focused upon. Pictures are usually the first thing a person looks at
on a page so I will ensure I use pictures that I think will stand out to my audience.
21. Do you like artist Q&A?
80% of my audience voted yes to having artist Q&A’s in my magazine this is useful as I can have
Q&A’s as regular content in my magazine. I feel like using Q&A’s in my magazine will make it more
personal to readers because if they see that their favourite artist is the issues Q&A they are more
likely to buy it. I could also use information provided about artists in other question to help pick who
I choose for each issue.