Music Press

Music Press

Music magazines have had a huge drop in sales over the past few years. This is shown as Q (a monthly magazine) has seen its audience dropping from 200, 000 copies a month in the 90’s to about 50,000 now. This is also backed up by the fact NME an iconic music magazine has seen readers drop as low as 20,000 a week.

The blame for this is largely heaped on the digital age as now people no longer have to buy a magazine to see the latest news, reviews or interviews when they can get it for free on the internet.

Another reason for loss of readers is thought to be the content within the magazines. As many magazines eg. NME ditched large, detailed features for snazzy but simple top 100’s in the early 2000’s. This led to a loss in sales for many magazines.

Also the decline of music press could be down to the improvement in transport, no longer do people have to read a magazine to see what the big bad world really is like as they can easily travel to places all over the world quickly and relatively cheaply.

Or maybe the death of musical press is down to the new generation. No longer is it seen as cool to go out and buy a music magazine or is it to even go out of the norm and try and get yourself noticed as a budding musician so nobody does it.

1950’s music magazines

A lot longer articles were used and more simple information was portrayed for example band name and age etc. Also bright colours were often relied on to try and attract the reader in.

1970’s music magazines

Were based on one topic e.g. Punk as a lot of people listened to the same type of music instead of a variety. A house style was also conveyed a lot more.

Early 1970’s

Glam Rock, Progressive Rock in their prime e.g. David Bowie

Mid 1970’s

Punk in prime

Magazines started not just to be about music but politics etc.

Late 1970’s

Readers start to abandon NME as they want magazines more about music.

1978 music magazines

Smash hits magazine launched this brought a new type of magazine to the fore. It was focused on trivia, food, pop musician’s lifestyle etc. It also tried to keep in touch with readers views and had pages based on readers’ comments. Smash hits was a big reason fashion in media became so popular.

1980’s and 1990’s music magazines

New layout to music magazines was created e.g. Blitz magazine. These magazines had better editing meaning a more stylish magazine than something like NME.

Video technology within music

New singles now come with video (Sometimes the video even costs more than the single to create.) MTV launched and was one of the reasons that little known bands could get big easier.

Today

Digital Technology has exploded and changed the industry. Audiences now discover new music online and pop culture is everywhere e.g. newspapers and TV’s. Does a music magazine even serve a purpose?

The differences between music press in the 1950’s and now:

·         No longer is the magazine focused on large celebrities etc. As anything can be found about known people on the internet. So now to get readers magazines are largely focused on new talent so then readers may actually find something they didn’t know.

·         There is now less advertising of records to buy as downloading music has taken over.

·         Magazines are no longer focused on long articles about bands and are more likely to do top 100’s etc.

·         They are focused on added information to musicians as simple information is already known.

·         The content in the magazines now have a larger variety as music people listen to is a lot broader. E.g. in the 1970’s magazines were largely focused on Punk as that is what most people listened to. Now the magazine is based on hip-hop, pop, grime etc.

·         Magazines now are published on the internet more than print e.g. NME as they are more accessible for people.

·         The magazines target audience have changed to older generations as they are now people who still enjoy reading magazines unlike the new generation.

How has the internet affected magazines?

·         Social Media (so people can interact with celebrities more.)

·         It is easier to access than magazines.

·         It is cheaper to look on the internet than buy a magazine.

·         You can get more information on the internet.

·         Breaking news comes a lot quicker on the internet.

What are magazines now used for?

Pre- internet                                                                                                          

-          Find out about favourite artists

-          Be introduced to new artists

-          Get general music news

-          Get information e.g. Release dates

-          Get related information e.g. where to buy a guitar

-          Exclusive content

-          Merchandise

-          Free Gifts

-          Sense of community

-          To see latest charts

-          Fashion

-          Images

-          To be cool

Today

-          As a souvenir

-          Something physical not just something on the internet

-          A lure e.g. concert tickets.

-          Nostalgia

-          Exclusives e.g. interviews

-          Gossip/ rumours