Are Music Magazines Dying Out?

In this modern day of 2017, changes are being made in every aspect of the entertainment business in order to keep up with the high demands of the consumers, if they don't, they are caught behind and are surely doomed to fail. This is no different with magazines, especially music magazines, the changing times cause publishing companies to adapt to various forms of media in order to reach out to their target audience, the recent boom of Spotify, apple music, and platforms like YouTube and Amazon starting to adapt to the music consumer market, magazines like, NME, Mojo and Vibe are starting to become redundant and lag behind.

Jonah Weiner wrote about the reasons that he felt were killing the music magazine industry, in the article, "Spinning In The Grave". He stated three main ways in which this is happening, they are:-

• "There are fewer superstars, and the same musicians show up on every magazine cover"
• "Music mags have less to offer music lovers, and music lovers need them less than ever anyway"
• "Music magazines were an early version of social networking. But now there's this new thing called Social Networking"

1.  There are fewer superstars, and the same musicians show up on every magazine cover.

This point, basically states, thinking of nowadays music superstars like Kanye West or Beyoncé, if they released a new album, every big music magazine will want them on the cover of their next issue, and there lies the problem, its too saturated. Think about it, if you were to go into your local new agent, how many magazines would you find with the same cover star, probably a few, and what Jonah is saying, along with many other critics is that its getting too boring for music lovers and consumers too see the same star over and over again. You can of course say that not every consumer will read a magazine purely because of its cover star, and that's right, but how can you ignore how the majority are drawn in by the cover, and if all of them look the same, where is the appeal?

2. Music magazines have less to offer music lovers, and music lovers need them less than ever anyway

In similarity to the first point, this one looks at how little music magazines have to offer due to the over saturation of the market. If you really think about it, how much can a magazine actually offer you, yes a few articles on a few tracks or artists, maybe some suggestions, but with the changing time people want things there and then, they don't have time to wait, and they certainty do not need some critic playing the middle man and swaying their decisions, if they wants to listen to a song, they don't have to buy a whole album or single record to listen to it, they can simply stick it in on YouTube and listen to if for free. Many readers would prefer to listen to a track rather than read about it first, technology has well and truly leapfrogged over the printed word, no one can argue with that, and people want what's hot and new, and they want it now, who has the time anymore for an absolete form of media?


3. Music magazines were an early version of social networking. But now there's this new thing called "Social Networking"

Back in the day, music magazines offered a different view point on the music industry, it offered interviews, behind the scenes, and soundtracks you wouldn't of heard usually, basically all things you wouldn't of known about, unless you read that magazine. But now, you can get all of that and more online through websites and social media, so the question stands... Why pay for something when you can get it for free? In practical terms most people would go for the free option for obvious reasons, but you get that small minority of people, who like to buy magazines because they are "old fashioned" or "hipster", and there is the answer to the question really, for the small amount of people who buy magazines to call them "hipster", which in general terms means outdated or vintage, can show that magazines are dying out and there isn't much we can do about it, but that's life.

Music Magazine Photo Shoot

Magazine Publishers

Bauer

Bauer media group is a European based media company based in Hamburg, Germany and was founded in 1875. They manage over 1000s forms of media products which of that includes around 600 magazines.
As of 2013 they had approximately 11,00 employees working for the, all over the world making them one of the largest media publishing companies in Europe.
Some of their most sort after and famous magazines they have published over the years includes Q, a music magazine originally published in the UK and Kerrang, a brand of rock magazine that has grown into its own radio and TV channel.
As of 2013 their yearly revenue is around the 2.4 billion euro mark, which not only makes it one of the most successful music magazine publishers in Europe but one of the most successful companies based on annual profit in Germany.
They mainly deal with very popular music magazines to a wider audience as to ensure the most profit, however they have been known to publish the occasional "niche" magazine to appeal to a select audience, this variety is what makes them so popular and successful.

 

Time Inc.

Time Inc. is an American based, mass media company founded in 1922 in New York city by Henry Luce and Briton Hadden. It currently publishes over 100 magazine brands, including its most famous title Time Magazine, and its main headquarters are situated in New York city. It produces many forms of media including magazines, events like concerts and websites.
It also has a UK based magazine publishing company called Time Inc. UK, which create such magazines titles as Country Life and NME.
As of 2016 they had around 7,200 employees working for them around the globe, this also includes their UK base.
In 2015 its revenue grew to a staggering 3.1 billion US dollars, however it saw a 881 million dollar decrease of the year before, this is due to the very low demand of magazines there is in modern day society, with the growth of the internet and web based articles, Time Inc. are struggling to keep up profits and adapted to out modern day needs.
Although Time Inc. is still today one of the most successful magazine publishers of all time with a great history, it is proven to struggle to change along with the demands of our 21st Century society, which sees them to loose money, however they have shown in the past they can turn it around.

Magazine Publishing Process

During the magazine production progress, a write must always have in mind how or who to get their magazine published with. The process is long and not always successful but it is always and important factor a writer must be able to over come.
The process of making my magazine, got me thinking about how I can get this published if it was for real? So I researched online and found an article by  Jeff Goins explaining the publishing progress in a step by step guide.

 

 

"Step 1: Start with a topic

Think of an idea that is original, interesting, and compelling.
Try to do some free-writing or mind-mapping to flesh it out on paper.
Focus on what you know, on what you have a unique perspective on.

Step 2: Make a list

Do some research. Take note of a few publications you’d like to pitch. Make sure you have a good variety. This will increase your chances of getting published with one of them.

I usually pick a few smaller and larger publications when I do this. I vary the list to improve my chances.

Step 3: Write a Query Letter

Query letters are short, formal letters that you send to to the editor to consider you for publishing. If the magazine has more than one editor, send it to the person who accepts pitches for your particular topic.
Address him or her by name, include the date, and pitch the idea in a short outline form.
It’s also a good idea to provide some sample work that you’ve done (in the form of links, preferably, if you have published anything online).
If appropriate, try including more than one idea in the letter. This will increase the likelihood of getting a response.
If you need help writing one, try this tutorial: How to Write a Query Letter

Step 4: Wait

This is important: Give the magazine adequate time to respond.
If they have a policy for pitching articles, read it. Most likely, it will be something like this: “If you don’t hear back from us in [X amount of time], you can trust that we weren’t able to use your piece.”
Wait a week or so before following up. If you don’t hear back within a few weeks to a month, send a letter to the publication, telling them you’re moving on with the idea. When in doubt, ask permission to follow up. For example, if I’m wanting a quick response on a piece, I may say:

If I don’t hear back from you in a week or so, would it be all right for me to follow up?

If they say yes, then you never have to feel awkward about sending a follow-up.

Step 5: Follow up

If they do respond to your pitch, they will tell you one of the following:

a) They don’t like the idea.
b) They want you to tweak the idea.
c) They want to publish the idea.

Oftentimes, I go back and forth with a publication before we land on a good idea.

Once you land on a good idea, they may ask for outline.

Once you’ve agreed on a deadline, then it’s time to start writing. The hardest part is done. Now, all you have to do is write the article. And next time, you probably won’t have to go through this process.

The more you do this sort of thing, the easier it gets, especially as magazines and editors begin to know and trust you."

 

- Jeff Goins (https://goinswriter.com/how-to-get-published-in-a-magazine/)