Reader Profile Analysis

Q Magazine and Under The Radar

• First published: October 1986• Founders: Mark Ellen and David Hepworth• Publishers: EMAP• In 2008 EMAP sold Q magazine to the Bauer Media Group

Changes made to the magazine over the years:• The original subtitle was “the modern guide to music and more”• The original target audience were older people who were buying CDs, meaning the

magazine was aimed at a new market as CDs were a new technology• The original name was “Cue”

Q

For their reader profile Q have a picture of Lily Allen on a motorbike with a smokey background. This relates to the sort of artist that feature in Q magazine. It also relates to the type of audience the magazine is targeted at. This is because she looks fairly rocky and alternative, which relates to how the magazine is a rock/alternative magazine. Therefore their target audience are more rebellious, which would relate to how Lily Allen is on a motorbike, which have connotations of rebellious natures. Lily Allen is also dressed completely in black, which would relate to Q magazine’s target audience. The smokey background, creates mystery and a more defiant atmosphere. This would also appeal to the target audience as they would be able to relate to her.

• For Q’s reader profile they refereed to their ideal reader as “Chris”. This shows how their audience are mainly male targeted and dominated.

• Chris is also 29 years old. This show how their target audience are young adults in their 20s and 30s.

• The reader profile says that Chris leaves in Leeds, this suggests that their target audience are people who listen to more alternative music, as this is a stereotype people from the north of England.

• The reader profile highlights how important music is to Chris. This suggests that their magazine is aimed at people who truly enjoy music and music is an important of life. Therefore suggesting that Q is a serious music magazine.

• Referring to “gigs, festivals and those electrifying moments”, suggests that their target audience like more alternative music, which is the genre of the magazine.

• The reader profile suggests that their target demographic are of the socio-economics A, B and C1

• The reader profile also suggests that their target audience are technologically able, and use a variety of technology to listen to music.

• The reader profile also highlights how most of the audience are employed and have a reasonable amount of disable income

Under The Radar

Under the Radar publishes five issues a year and is exclusively distributed across North America by Curtis Circulation. Under the Radar can be found at all major newsstands and bookstores, including Barnes & Noble, Barnes & Noble College Bookstores, Bookworld, Books-A-Million, Hastings, Waldenbooks, B. Dalton, as well as a large network of independent record stores and college bookstores. Additional promotional distribution occurs each year at the SXSW Music Festival as well as at one-off events. Under the Radar is also distributed internationally.

Under The Radar

• Under The Radar, has a male dominated audience, which is stereotypical for Indie music magazines

• The magazine as a young adult audience

• The audience would be of the socio-economic groups B. C1 and C2

• A majority of the audience also have completed higher education

• The audience is also very technologically involved