The target audience for a hip hop/rap magazine is mainly males aged 16-30. This age group listens to hip hop music and is attracted to the often explicit lyrics and references to violence in the genre. Younger children may be offended and older audiences may not connect as well. The magazine will focus on male artists, fashion, and lifestyles to attract its core demographic. It will also appeal to those in the lower socioeconomic classes who are drawn to the materialism of hip hop culture. The magazine aims to satisfy readers' needs for personal identity and social status through exclusive news and depictions of clothing brands, following Katz's and Maslow's theories. The stereotypical reader seeks the latest hip hop information and
1. Audience Profile – Genre: Hip Hop/ Rap
Target Audience:
Gender and Age (Hartley’s 7 Subjectivities) and why
The target audience will mainly be male audience with an age group between 16-30. This is s
suitable target audience because the content within the rap magazine will contain male artists
that will attract mostly male viewers. The age group is 16-30 because the music may contain
explicit content because it fits in the genre of the rap and hip hop genre which could involve
violence which is unsuitable for a younger audience and could offend the elderly so therefore it is
perfect for the age I have picked. Furthermore people in their 20’s/ 30’s will listen to this music
because in the 90s hip hop was in its prime and was very popular. This is evident as the general
target audience for XXL magazine is 78% male readers, with the median age of 27, and 44.7%
college buyers, and 67% African Americans. The model on the front cover will also wear urban
clothes such as Nike, Adidas, Reebok, Supreme, etc. Obviously this relates to what many of the
young adults wear as it links to the genre of music that is hip hop/ rap.
Socio-Economic Needs and why:
In terms of socio-economic needs the magazine and genre of music will be suitable for maybe C2
but very suitable for D and E because the type of music will attract more younger adults which
generally falls under the the lower grades of the socio-economic needs spectrum. This is because
it mainly attracts the younger audience which makes sense that they don’t have a job because
they are too young and they need to focus on their college work.
Katz’ Uses & Gratifications Theory and Maslow’s
Hierarchy of needs
According to the Katz’ Uses & Gratifications Theory the purpose of the magazine will be to
personal identify. This will present what is happening in the music genre at the moment. As well
as this it will allow the reader to divert themselves into the magazine and immerse themselves in
the story of exclusive news about a certain artist as the magazine is very captivating and invites
the reader to read by the use of cover stories which are directed by the contents page. From
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs many of the readers would be social climbers as they would be
attracted to the clothing that the models wear in the magazine as they are materialistically. The
type of clothing can vary to urban or skater e.g. Supreme. In the picture Shaune is wearing a
Ralph Lauren shirt over a white t-shirt which is considered to be very fashionable and it follows
the 90s rap clothing. Although the type of audience would definitely not be caregivers because
the content within the magazine will not have emotional cover stories just music based around
hip hop and occasionally the materialism used.
Stereotype(s):
The audience that will be attracted to this magazine will be young males who seek the latest
news on hip hop and their followed artists. The stereotypes will also wear skater or urban clothes
which consist of expensive brands such as Supreme or Ralph Lauren. As well as this they will be
interested in skate or just chilling with their friends listening to the same genre of music that is
hip hop/ rap
Name: Maximilian Stainer
Candidate Number: 3138