Target Audience

• How does your media product present different social groups?
• Who would be the target audience for your media product?

Target Audience
Originally uploaded by Phoebe Rees

This image of young people at Reading festival represents the target audience for my music magazine.

How does Pulse magazine represent particular social groups?


Target Market
The target market for Pulse magazine is young people aged 14-25, living in the Norwich area. The magazine, which is specifically driven towards live music, focuses on music events in the Norwich area which young people would take an interest in would be able to access regardless of age or financial restrictions. The audience for modern live music events such as gigs and festivals is largely dominated by young people who create the lively atmosphere that surrounds it, as you can see from the photo here. These people represent the readers of Pulse: they're young, lively and looking for a good time. All of these factors are reflected in the content of Pulse magazine which provides gig guides, reviews and news of up and coming local bands and events that young people can relate to and get involved with.


Demographics/Psychographics/Stereotypes
As Pulse magazine is relevant to a fairly niche market, it doesn't try to subvert conventional stereotypes, however some factors may appeal more to certain social groups. For instance, Pulse magazine mainly covers the indie/rock genre of music which may not appeal to some stereotypical groups such as "goths" or "hoodies". Some of the featured events such as the articles on local bands and venues are also driven towards young people with financial restrictions and may not interest audiences from a wealthier background who can afford to attend gigs at larger venues such as the O2 in London. As for demographics, Pulse only has relevance for people living in Norwich however, brand expansion would allow Pulse to produce sister magazines for other cities in the UK. This way, Pulse appeals to a wider audience whilst still maintaining a unique, niche quality, a trait proven to be successful as the competition within the magazine industry grows in intensity.


Detailed annotation of how Pulse magazine appeals to it's target audience is presented through flickr notes in my final piece.