Target Audience

As i am using NME magazine as influence for my own magazine 'Ignite' i have decided to research into NME's target audience because it will be the same as mine.

NME magazine is primarily aimed at a teenage demographic (between 13-19 years of age)

and targets this audience because they are writing about and interviewing 

artists of certain genres of music, like my music genre indie rock, which is the type of music this demographic listens to most. 

 NME targets the teenage audience not only because of the genre of music but also because of special features that would appeal to teenagers like 'The Inbetweeners' because it is a comedy that also targets the teenage demographic

Another way NME help target their audience is through house colours. Although my music genre, indie rock, is a more serious genre and NME complies with the genre through dark serious colours it does sometimes use a brighter more colourful secondary colour, like red, yellow or blue that appeals to a young demographic.

However although it mainly targets teenagers, statistics show that 24% of readers are above the age of 19, so the magazine still needs to remain formal and mature in terms of conventions like cover lines so that it appeals to a slightly older demographic who are mature. It also ensures that if a brighter secondary colour is used it is still used sufficiently and sensibly for the benefit of an older demographic as well as a younger demographic.

In terms of gender, NME has a unisex target audience however it is still male dominated as 73% of readers are male. NME ensures that they target this audience by including bands/ artists of all genders and generally having a formal, organised approach that can be appreciated by both genders.

NME also has a popular website  and offers digital subscriptions. This is also used by NME to target their teenage audience because most teenagers are in touch with the latest technology and music technology which NME makes use of by having a website with online features, which teenagers can make use of as they are technically able. 

Overall NME have a target audience of a younger unisex demographic which it appeals to through multiple techniques. Therefore I now have a good idea of who target audience is for my own magazine and i will ensure i use similar methods to NME's which will help me target this audience effectively.