My Magazine Case Study:

By Adjoa A’ Boafo

Origins & History• Q magazine was founded in 1986 by Mark Ellen and David

Hepworth they felt that the music press of the was ignoring a generation of older music buyers who were buying CDs — then still a new technology.

• Q was first published in 1986, setting itself apart from much of the other music press with monthly production and higher standards of photography and printing.

• In the early years, the magazine was sub-titled "The modern guide to music and more".

• FUNNY FACT: Originally it was to be called Cue (as in the sense of cueing a record, ready to play), but the name was changed so that it wouldn't be mistaken for a snooker magazine.

Editorial Style Of Magazine• Q's current editor is Paul Rees, former editor of the UK edition of Kerrang!, another musical Bauer

publication based on heavier rock/metal music.

• The Target Audience is for 16+• The magazine has an broad review section, including: new releases ,reissues music compilations, film

and live concert reviews, as well as radio and television reviews.

• It uses a star rating system from one to five stars; indeed, the rating an album receives in Q is often added to print and television advertising for the album in the UK and Ireland. It also compiles a list of approximately eight albums, which it classes as the best new releases of the last three months. The magazine is well known for compiling lists. It has created many, ranging from "The 100 Greatest albums" to the "100 Greatest '100 Greatest' Lists". The most famous of these is the classic "50 bands to see before you die“

• Every other month, Q - and its sister magazine, Mojo (also owned by Bauer) - have a special edition. These have been about musical times, genres, or a very important/influential musician..

• Every issue of Q has a different message on the spine. Readers then try to work out what the message has to do with the contents of the mag. This practice — known as the "spine line"

• Much of the magazine is devoted to interviews with popular musical artists.

Publishing/Websites and Competitors• The officail website for Q magazine is

http://www.qthemusic.com/

• In 2006, Q published a readers' survey; the 100 Greatest Songs Ever, won by Oasis' Live Forever.

• In the April 2007 issue, Q published an article containing the 100 Greatest Singers, won by Elvis Presley.

• Q has a history of associating with charitable organizations, and in 2006 the British anti-poverty charity War on Want was named its official charity.

• In late 2008 Q revamped its image, with a smaller amount of text and an increased focus on subjects other than music. This "Rolling Stone-isation" has led to criticism from much of the traditional Q readership, though it is yet to be seen if this change in attitude will dramatically affect sales.

• Q’s major competitior is Kerrang, and scuzz as these are the othe main music magazines for this genre.