Music Magazine Research

Music Magazine Research

The genre of music I will be publishing my magazine in is indie, indie rock. Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. The meaning of the term ‘indie rock’ is contested today by many musicians and fans. Some use the term ‘indie’ to describe independent music defined as any music produced by artists working within the network of independent record labels and underground music venues. Others see indie rock as a distinct genre of rock music with a specific artistic aesthetic, and care less about the context in which it is made. Many embrace both meanings of the word, believing that the aesthetics of the genre and its means of production are deeply intertwined. Indie rock artists are known for maintaining in complete control of their music and careers, releasing albums on independent record labels and relying on touring, word-of-mouth, airplay on independent or college radio stations and, in recent years, the Internet for promotion. However, in the 2000's many acts with a musical style identified as "indie" signed to major record labels and began promoting themselves through more traditional media outlets. This has led to a further blurring in the meaning of the term.

The media that exist for this genre of music are mainly dominated by the brand ‘NME’ or ‘New Musical Express’. It started as a weakly published magazine in 1952 and over the years has turned into a brand by opening ‘NME Radio’, ‘NME TV’ and ‘NME.com’. The ‘NME’ is a major competitor for indie music magazines and one that I can look at in more detail and use it for inspiration.

The producer of ‘NME’ is a company called ‘IPC Media’.  ‘IPC Media’ also produce other magazines in Women's weeklies such as ‘Now Magazine’ and ‘Look’ they also produce leisure and specialist magazines like ‘Ignite!’ and men's lifestyle and entertainment magazines and women's lifestyle and home interest. IPC Media are UK's leading magazine distribution business and because of this I think that looking at there music magazine it will help me because they are obviously doing things the right way and I can use there techniques and style as inspiration for my magazine.  

In current publications of ‘NME’ they typically include Interviews with well-known bands and up and coming bands reviews on gigs and festivals, the latest news about bands, albums, music and festivals. Also they do a main story, which is normally to do with the main image on the front cover and normally follows with a large section dedicated to in inside.

‘NME’ costs £2.30 and for that you get a 66-page publication, with interviews, reviews and exclusives and NME which is published every week normally on a Tuesday.

‘NME’ is aimed at people who clam to ‘Indie’ and enjoy alternative music and like to be first to hear about new bands and future stars.  

The NME or New Musical Express is called this because the magazines genre is music and it’s all about new music and up and coming bands. And the Express is due to the frequency of the issues released.

My music magazine should have a name that reflects the contents and style that I would like my magazine to have. It has to be music related because the magazine is based around music and I want the name to be easily recognized and associated with music. Also the name has to represent the style of magazine I’m producing, for example because my magazine is an indie, alternative music magazine I will avoid words that you wouldn’t link to that type of music.

The band on the front cover of this NME magazine are a new band called ‘The Vaccines’.  The band members are relatively all equal as their heads are the same height; however the lead singer is in front of the other members to show his importance. In the image the band members are just sitting on a sofa looking at the camera holding guitars because of the tag line ‘The return of the great British guitar band’.

On this cover of NME they have used a picture of John Lennon, one of the members of The Beatles. The shot is a close up of his face and he is smoking, which represents how music was different back then as now smoking is frowned upon.    

On this cover of NME there is an image of Paul Weller from the well known band The Jam. This shot is a mid shot and in the image he is standing up with his arms crossed and has a face is looking disappointed, which goes with his quote “This generation needs to stand up and fight”.

On this cover of NME there is an image of an old retro vinyl record. The shot is a close up of the vinyl, this is because it goes with the tag line on the cover of 'the 100 greatest albums, you've never heard'.