2. Research

Magazines

Magazines are publications, usually published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles or reviews. They are generally financed by advertising, a purchase price or pre-paid magazine subscriptions. There are many different types of magazines, from weekly, monthly, quarterly and annually. Magazines now come in a variety of genres, for specific areas, interests, hobbies and lifestyles.



An example of the selection of magazines on sale.

Most magazines have similar format:

Format of magazine
(click to enlarge) 

History of magazines

In 1586, Josse Amman, a Swiss painter, published magazine on the fashions of the day, with the title ‘Gynasceum sive, Theatrum Mulierum’. It is thought to be the first fashion magazine. In 1693 John Dunton published ‘The Ladies Mercury’ a periodical specifically for women, including an advice column. He later published ‘The Athenian Mercury’ which audience was both men and women; it included articles on love, religion, science etc. Although these are considered some of the earliest forms of magazines, they are not as we know them now, there were rarely any pictures or illustration, some could say it resembles what we would know as a newspaper now.

The first magazine in the form we know it was ‘The Gentleman's Magazine’,published in 1731, London, it is considered to be the first general interest magazine. Edward Cave, who edited The Gentleman's Magazine under the pen name "Sylvanus Urban", was the first to use the term "magazine". It contained general news and a variety of topics Cave thought the educated reader would be interested in; from commodity prices to Latin Poetry. The magazine stopped printing in 1922.

The Scots magazine: Past and Present

The oldest consumer magazine still in print is The Scots Magazine, which was first published in 1739, though multiple changes in ownership and gaps in publication totalling over 90 years weaken that claim. Lloyd's List was founded in Edward Lloyd’s England coffee shop in 1734; it is still published as a daily business newspaper.
.

Music Magazines

During mid 19^th Century, a number of music periodicals emerged giving composers a chance to circulate their music to a large number of other musicians and music fans. Publications such as ‘The Musician’, ‘Perry's Music Magazine’and ‘The Echo’ were quite popular at the time, however most did not last long and consequently. Possibly, one of the most well known US music publications from that time is ‘The Etude’ published continuously by Theodore Presser & Co. from 1883 till 1954.

<><><><><><><><> <><><><><><><><>

The Etude through time (1883, 1921 and 1954).



Evolution of the composition

Just from these examples, we can see how music magazines in particular have stared to evolve, first, starting with simple, text based cover, with possibly a few embellishments around the side. Later, we see one central image, on a simple cover, and finally, in the last year of production, here, we see a central image, taglines and mention of other featured articles.

Since then, music magazines have become more adventurous with their composition, and colour palette. A good example of this is New Musical Express (NME). NME is a popular music publication in the UK. Published weekly since March 1952. In the 1970's it became the best selling British music magazine.

NME change to blue to celebrate
Primal Screams 20th anniversary.

 

At first their composition is once again resembling a newspaper, later on their look evolves to a central image, with a mention of the main featured article.



Later on, in the late eighties and early nineties, NME become more experimental with their composition, including more than one image, flashes and other featured articles. Now, in the in the 'noughties' and 'teens', NME are aware of of how much of a popular established brand they are; they feel comfortable enough to change their well-known iconic red masthead to other colours some weeks to better suit the colour palettes of that cover.

Publishers

 Magazine publishers are the companies that prepare, print and issue the magazine for public sales. Many magazine publishers print a lot of varying magazine genres.

For example, one of the biggest magazine publishes is the worldwide Bauer Media Group based in Hamburg, Germany. Founded in 1875, they operate in 15 countries. They work in publishing print and digital magazines. Worldwide circulation of Bauer Media Group's magazine titles amounts to 38 million magazines a week.

At the beginning of 2008, Bauer expanded its portfolio by acquiring Emap’s Radio and Consumer Magazine divisions and changed the name of these new UK businesses to Bauer Media.

With the recent addition of the former Emap Consumer Media titles, Bauer is now the largest consumer magazine publishing company in the UK, playing a primary role in the Women’s Weeklies, Women’s Interest, Women’s Lifestyle, TV Listings, Puzzles, Men’s Lifestyle, Music & Film and Specialist magazine markets.

They publish magazines varying from the likes of Bella, Zoo, Kerrang, Classic Bike, Closer and many more.

Another notable publisher is UK based company, IPC Media (formerly International Publishing Corporation)  is a consumer magazine and digital, with a large portfolio selling over 350 million copies each year. It was founded in 1958 and is based in London. It produces magazines for what they see as three audiences; men, mass market women and up market women. It splits into suitable groups of publishing; IPC Inspire, Connect and Southbank.

Their portfolio IPC Inspire comprises a wealth of leisure brands aimed at men including Country Life, Horse & Hound, Rugby World and Decanter, as well as lifestyle brands including Nuts, Mousebreaker and NME.

Whereas IPC Connect (their division aimed at mass market women) comprises well known women's weeklies including Look, Now, Chat and TV entertainment brands including What's on TV, TVTimes and TV & Satellite Week.

And lastly, IPC Southbank, caters for their audiences of upmarket women comprises of luxury fashion brands including Marie Claire and InStyle, lifestyle brands including woman&home and essentials and home interest brands including Ideal Home, Livingetc and housetohome.