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Audience Profile – Genre: Hip-hop / Rap Target Audience: Gender and Age (Hartley’s 7 Subjectivities) and why: Since hip hop and rap are a relatively new music genre it is suited more towards the younger generation. VIBE Magazine’s readers consist of 55% males and 45% women; of this total the majority age group was 18-34 at 67% and the majority race was black/African American at a high figure of 75%. With all this information I can easily say that my magazine would be most suitable for the people who fit this criteria. Socio-Economic Needs and why: Since the research from VIBE’s readership profile conducts that the majority age group ranged from 18-34 I can assume that they may fit best in C2,D,E and maybe C1 just because the age group is still relatively young to expect the readers to have a very high paying professional career such as a doctor or lawyer as mentioned in A. Katz’ Uses & Gratifications Theory and Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs: I believe that my magazine would mostly suit the reader’s needs of ‘diversion’ (Katz) and ‘personal relationships’ (Katz); diversion being the need to relax and escape, a simple form of entertainment and relaxation. Using the media (my magazine) can be used to fulfill personal relationships with friends or becoming part of the social group, as the younger generation nowadays is fond of keeping themselves updated with the latest trend to keep their relationships well. From Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs I believe that the main motive for the magazine readers would be self- actualization and esteem in order to gain a form of self respect. Many readers tend to aspire to those celebrities featured on the front cover as star image (Richard Dyer).
