Evaluation Question 3

What is a media institution?

A media conglomerate, or media group is a company that owns numerous companies involved in mass media enterprises. For example, TV, radio, motion pictures or in my case, magazine publishing.

Who distributes my existing style model?

Vibe magazine is my style model and it’s media company is Eldridge Industries. Vibe’s first issue that I can find dates all the way back too January 1998. The magazine is published in English and is edited by Datwon Thomas. There were formally 6 other editors prior to Mr. Thomas. The magazine is based in the US in New York City.

Other big magazine institutions.

IPC Media is one of the UK’s leading consumer magazine and publishers, with a large portfolio selling hundreds of millions of copies each year. However, as of 2014, the company has been renamed too Time Inc UK. Time Inc was founded in 1968 – 49 years ago. As of now, it has 17 Lifestyle publishing divisions, 15 Luxury publishing divisions and 31 Specialist publishing divisions.

What company would I like to distribute my magazine and why?

I’d like Bauer Media too publish my magazine as they currently do not run any contemporary R&B / hip hop magazine. They mainly distribute sport magazines which include fishing, cars and bikes. With a few exceptions of music related magazines like Kerrang and Q. I believe that introducing a new genre of music magazine to their list of brands would be beneficial to Bauer and my magazine. The music magazines that they do own, often have their own sites and radio like ‘Q’. This would be most beneficial for my Hourglass Magazine as they will be able to reach a larger audience over the internet and radio.

Expanding my product.

I believe that the genre of my magazine, R&B is very urban and modern. Because of this, it is likely the appeal to a younger generation of  18 – 30 year olds. I am also aware that this age range is very up to date with technology and social media. Because of this, I would be able to expand my product beyond a magazine brand and onto the social media platforms such as twitter and Facebook. This would be beneficial to reaching as many people as possible.