In addition to distributing a questionnaire, I conducted a focus group with a few members of the target audience. I showed them three issues of Kerrang! magazine and asked them some questions in rlation to the magazines. These are the collective responses to the questions I asked:
Q: What is the most important feature of these front covers?
A: “The artists in the images are clearly rock artists. They have musical instruments and they have tattoos.”
Q: Would the rock music magazine name ‘The Edge’ appeal to you?
“Yes because it represents the artists in the genre well. Rock artists are ‘edgy’, and ‘The Edge’ can relate to the rebellious attitude of rock artists; they are on the edge of society and breaking away from popular trends.”
“Yes because it represents the artists in the genre well. Rock artists are ‘edgy’, and ‘The Edge’ can relate to the rebellious attitude of rock artists; they are on the edge of society and breaking away from popular trends.”
Q: Are the colours on the front covers appealing to you?
“Yes, black, white and red represent the genre well.”
“Yes, black, white and red represent the genre well.”
Q: What would you like to feature in a double page spread?
Interviews because then it is obvious that the informaion is factual.
Q: What benefit do music magazines give to you?
They provide useful information such as
tour dates and new music recommendations.
Q: Do freebies make you want to buy the magazine?
Yes because you feel rewarded.
Yes because you feel rewarded.
Q: Would you rather have weekly issues with less content or
monthly issues with more content?
Monthly issues because it is too much money to buy weekly. I'd rather have loads of content relevant to what is happening that month. Weekly issues might be too repetitive.
Q: Do you prefer more images or more text on the…
-Front cover?
-Contents page?
-Double page spreads?
-Contents page?
-Double page spreads?
On the front cover and contents page it’s better to have images – they catch my attention and text doesn’t. However I prefer more text and information on double page spreads so I can be informed of upcoming new music and what artists have to say.
