Rolling Stone -
Rolling Stone was founded on November 9th 1967 by the American publishing company Wenner Media LLC. The company is based in New York City US, and is published bi-weekly. The magazine is mainly targeted at older male music lovers who listen to rock/alternative music it is also described to follow with the 1960s/70s 'hippie counterculture' . However in recent years the company have given the magazine a more current feel to appeal to younger target audiences - mass more frequent magazine readers. The magazine was known for its controversial editor with strong political coverage however it has developed becoming a music magazine with some political features.
Rolling Stone is an American magazine however is sold in many other countries, it features many well known artists which appeal to the target audience but also well known as British or American music icons; readers don't need to be apart of British or American culture to know who is on the cover. Previous magazine cover artists include (in order over the years) John Lennon(1967, reoccurring), Tina Turner(1967, Reoccurring), The Beatles (1967, reoccurring), Jim Morrison,Janet Jackson(1983),Spice Girls (1997), Jay-Z (2007), Lady Gaga (2009), Glee cast (musical comedy TV show)(2010), Adele (2011).
This shows how the magazine has developed over the years to appeal to the mass audience. With a variety of music genres and artists it shows how Rolling Stone began as a specific rock based, political infused music magazine appealing to niche however is now a popular music based magazine appealing to the mass. Also photo quality and editing is a lot better as technologies have developed and are now a lot more advanced. In the early years of the magazine the layout was very similar of that from a newspaper with similar dimensions - a more square rather than a rectangular shape, however it has slowly adjusted and developed into your 'typical' magazine layout.
Rolling Stone magazine is also sold internationally in a wide variety of countries, this broadens their audience. Countries include:
- Argentina, Uruguay, Australia, Brazil, Bulgaria, China, Colombia, France, Germany, India, Japan, Mexico, Poland, Russia, Spain, Turkey.
Around 56% of the buyers are men and 44% are women and 56% of the magazine buyers are in their 20’s.
Their USP is their variety of artists used as the cover model, and the 'exclusive' interviews with them talking about their personal life.
Top Of The Pops-
Top of the Pops magazine was founded in February 1995, it is published and owned by BBC Magazines. The company is based in London and is published monthy. The magazine is aimed at young teenage girls and when it began was described as 'the missing link between NME and Smash Hits'. It was published as a supplementary to the TV Show Top of the Pops (1964-2006). It began as a music based magazine however has slowly developed into a teenage girls magazine that claims to contain 'Every issue is packed with amazing star gossip, plus hot fashion and beauty advice, sexy lads, and side-splitting cringes. Take a personality quiz to find out more about yourself, check your horoscope, sing along to our songwords, or simply pop an exclusive poster on your bedroom wall.' this shows how the magazine is infused with music however is now a teenage celebrity and gossip magazine.
The magazine is only distributed and sold nationally in the UK, and features mainly British teenage TV show celebrities, presenters and artists/bands. Previous cover models include:
Spice Girls (reoccurring), S Club 7 (reoccurring), All Saints (1997), Boyzone (1999) Hear'Say (2002) Liberty X (2002, 2003), Westlife (2004), McFly(2004), Girls Aloud (reoccurring) Leona Lewis (2008), The Wanted (2010) , One Direction (2011)
This shows how the magazine hasn't changed significantly from the first edition. The logo and writing has developed, also the quality of the image. This shows how technology has progressed since 1995.
Top if the Pops magazine sales figures have significantly decreased from the peak of its popularity in the late 90s. TOTPs circulation figures today are around 98,000 sales per month in comparison to the 90s when the magazine was at the peak of music magazine sales, selling more copies per month than any other British music magazine. This could have been because in the 90s BBC were at the top of almost every aspect of the British media industry. Since then new technologies and channels have been invented which appeal to more teenage audiences. Meaning the popularity of the magazine has decreased.
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