Evaluation Question 3

1. EVALUATION QUESTION 3
WHAT MEDIA INSTITION MIGHT
DISTRIBUTE MY MEDIA PRODUCT
AND WHY?
BASE

2. POTENTIAL DISTRIBUTERS
• BAUER MEDIA GROUP-
• Bauer Media Group is a European media company who manages more than 500 magazines,
over 400 digital products and 50 radio and TV stations around the world, making it Europe's
largest privately owned publishing Group.
• Due to Bauer Media Groups grand scale there is a relatively big chance they would be
interested in publishing BASE R&B music magazine, mainly due to the fact BASE is a new
upcoming modern R&B magazine that incorporates traditional R&B as well as new artists
which is unique to other pre-existing magazines currently on the market
• However the fact that BASE magazine is a new magazine may act as a disadvantage for
distributers as there is uncertainty about the revenue and successful the magazine will
produce.
• Although Bauer Media Group publishes magazines of all different genres and target
audiences, they do publish the markets leading music and entertainment titles, including
KERRANG and Mojo, which is encouraging

3. TIMES INC. UK
• Times Inc. UK is a subsidiary of Times Inc with a large portfolio selling over 350
million copies annually.
• Similarly to Bauer Media Group the possibility of Times Inc. UK being interested
and willing to publish and distribute BASE magazine is relatively high due to the
fact BASE offers a unique magazine which is not like any other magazine on the
market.
• However due to the fact that BASE magazine has not been officially published nor
distributed yet there is no certainty that the magazine will be a success which may
be a reason why Times Inc. UK may refuse to publish BASE.

4. WENNER MEDIA LLC
• Wenner Media is a very successful and famous magazine publisher especially well
known in the entertainment and music industry, for example they publish the
Rolling Stones.
• Due to the fact that Wenner media are notourishously known within the
entertainment and music industry is very interesting and is hopeful for BASE
magazine as this may increase the probability of BASE being published.
• The Rolling Stones magazines is one of the worlds leading music magazines and
after researching into the other magazines Wenner Media publishes there seems
to be a gap in the market for a magazine like BASE, which is unique and
incorporates both traditional and modern R&B.

5. ANTHEM PUBLISHERS
• Unlike the other magazine publishers I have investigated, Anthem Publishers is a
relatively small British based company who publishes magazines on a far smaller
scale in comparsion to Bauer Media Groups for instance.
• Although Anthem Publishers are relatively small, they do publish magazines from a
range of categories, for example, music, food, travel..
• I feel that Anthem Publishers would be a good option for BASE magazine as it
would help BASE slowly build up a steady reputation but still allowing it to grow.
• Anthem Publishers are also more likely to be interested in publishing BASE
magazine more than the bigger companies, such as Times Inc. UK because they are
a smaller company and deal with more new and upcoming magazines, for example
Vintage Rock and MusicTech.
• Therefore for the listed reasons above, I believe Anthem Publishers will be the best
suited distributers for my magazine.

6. VIBE MAGAZINE
• Throughout the production process of my music magazine I have been inspired by the American
pop/R&B/rap magazine, VIBE. I have used numerous pages of their productions in my analysis work and
have been inspired by certain unique conventions they use.
• VIBE magazine is fairly similar to BASE in the terms of its layout, colour schemes, photos.. Therefore I
believe it will be interesting and important to find which publishing companies VIBE magazine has used
prior to deciding on BASE’s.
• From my research I have found that VIBE magazine was founded in 1993 and since then has a number of
different publishing companies, including Spin Media and InterMedia Partners. All of the publishing
companies VIBE magazine have used are very large, successful and publish a huge range of different types
of magazines and are involved in the distribution of films, TV programmes, radio shows etc.
• Although these publication companies have been successful and worked well for the well established
magazine VIBE, I feel as though due to the fact BASE magazine is a new and upcoming magazine it may be
better off starting with a smaller publication company, for example like Anthem Publishers.
• Smaller companies are also more likely to be interested in a new upcoming magazine in comparison to
the larger companies as they will benefit a lot more if BASE turns out to be a success, however, the
smaller companies are also essentially taking on a bigger risk if they take on BASE as their revenue is so
much less to the bigger companies.

7. WHICH DISTRIBUTER WILL BE BEST
FOR BASE?
• As a result of my research I have concluded that considering all factors
(the fact that BASE is a new upcoming magazine, targeted at a age specific
audience of around 14-30 and incorporates both traditional and modern
R&B) that it is probably better off being published and distributed by an
independent small scale company at first.
• The reason most magazines tend to avoid smaller distributers is that there
is less chance that the magazine will be published on a big scale (i.e.
worldwide).
• However I feel as the large distributers will be less willing to take on BASE
magazine as it is a new magazine, unique and nothing on the market is like
it.
• Although I believe a smaller company would be more interested in
distributing BASE at first, there is a chance that if this is successful, a larger
company (for example Times Inc. UK) may buy BASE’s distribute contract
and distribute and publish BASE magazine themselves, which would be a
huge successful as the chances of BASE being a worldwide successul
magazine will be dramatically increased/

8. DISTRIBUTION METHODS
• Due to the fact I believe BASE is more likely to be distributed be a smaller
independent company, such as Anthem Publishers, the main distribution
method will be physical copies of BASE being advertised and sold in shops.
• For example independent newsagents, off-linceses and music/CD shops,
such as Good News
• The reason I believe this method will be more successful and realistic
instead of online purchases or purchases in big shops, for example chain
supermarket brands like Tescos, Sainsburys, Morrisons etc is because a
company like Anthem Publishers does not have the financial capacity to
support this.
• However as mentioned before, it would be ideal for BASE to be taken over
by a larger company , such as Times Inc. UK in the future; which means
that different distribution methods will be used, for example, online
purchases, distribution of magazines to a wide range of shops (e.g.
WHSmiths, Foyles..)

9. TARGET AUDIENCE
• My main target audience for my magazine is from
around mid teens - late twenties/early thirties (e.g. 14-
30) for both males and females of the economic status
of around average.
• Due to having a rather young target audience it would
be beneficial to have BASE available to purchase online
due to the widespread influence of technology making
adolescents more likely to buy a magazine online then
walk to a shop, however this is most likely not an
option with a small independent distributer which is a
major disadvantage of not using a big company, like
Times Inc. UK.

10. PROS VS CONS
PROS OF ANTHEM PUBLISHERS CONS OF ANTHEM PUBLISHERS
• The main pro of using a small distribution
company is that the magazine is more
likely to receive more attention and is
considered a higher priority in
comparison to a large company who
deals with hundreds of other magazines
• Another strength of BASE using a smaller
distribution company is that Anthem
Publishers will have more time to give
BASE help and support, which is vital for
BASE as they are a new upcoming
magazine so any additional help and
advice is very important and helpful.
• The main disadvantage of using a small
distribution company is that the
magazine is less likely to be published on
a big scale, for example world wide.
• It is more likely that Anthem Publishers
will distribute BASE on a small scale, for
example selling magazines in small
independent shops, whereas larger
distribution companies may sell copies of
BASE to Tescos, WHSmiths etc.
• Anthem Publishers make a lower annual
revenue in comparison to bigger
companies, like Times Inc. UK which acts
as a disadvantage to BASE as they will be
less willing to invest a large sum of
money into the publication of BASE as it
is a bigger risk for them.