Magazine Analysis- NME

NME is the longest published and believed to be the most respected music tabloid magazine in the world according to their publishers. Its first issue was released in 1952 and is produced by IPC Media who also publish large amounts of a variety other popular magazines. For example, ‘Marie Claire’ is quoted as being ‘Britain’s leading fashion magazine.’ It is mainly aimed towards women aged 25-34, where as other magazines IPC produce such as ‘World Soccer,’ have a target market is also quoted as being adult football enthusiasts aged 18-30.

According to the publisher the target audience for NME are men 17-30 year olds with a general keen interest in music. However, the magazine does mainly contain alternative music specifically attracting late-teens, early twenties interested in that topic. Consequently, NME statistically shows that their readership are 74% male and 26% female with a median age of 23 years. Despite, this age average range it is no surprise that students make up 42% of the buyers.

According to NME’s media pack, ideal readers are young male men obsessed with music. The readers rely on the editorial and the adverts to keep them with the latest music and styles.

The magazines cost £2.30 and publish weekly. Incidentally, its circulation is approximately 38,500 copies every 6 months where as its readership is about 325,000 people a year.

Therefore, despites NME’s relatively narrow target audience it still believed to be one of the most successful music magazines at present time.