Audience Study - NME magazine

I think that the main audience of NME magazine quite young, starting at 15/16 and continuing until the late 20s, and are obviously people who like indie/alternative music. Therefore I think that their kind of breakfast may be something quick and easy such as toast or a breakfast bar, as they would be typically going to college/uni early and would probably be in a rush, so a fast breakfast is what they would be looking for.

Their mode of transport would probably be public transport such as the bus or metro/train, as a lot of the readers are students who either don’t have their licence yet, or can’t afford a car alongside their university fees. If they do have a car, I would imagine it would be pre owned and a bit of a ‘banger’, unless they are from a wealthy family. In that case I think that they might have a vintage car, or a car which is unusual and individual, which is relevant to the magazine’s genre.

Their accommodation varies considerably, as a large majority of the readers may still live at home with their parents if they are young or can’t afford to move out yet. Another portion of the readers may live away in a university hall with peers while they do their degree. Furthermore, some readers could have their own flat, or even a house, however I think that only a very small amount of NME’s readers would have their own house.

I think that readers of NME drink anything that is quick and convenient to keep up with their busy lifestyle. I also think that they may try and drink things that are cheaper, to keep their budget under control and save their money for more important things such as clothes and gig tickets. These drinks could include fizzy pop and energy drinks. I also think that the readers would drink a lot of alcohol, as students make up the majority of the readers, and they are renowned for going out and getting drunk on a weekly basis.

I think that some of the TV shows they might watch include various programs on the indie/rock music channels such as documentaries on certain bands, and chart shows. I also think that the readers may watch shows such as Friends, The Big Bang Theory and Fresh Meat, as they feature people their age and are popular comedy shows which feature content relevant to them.

Obviously, the readers of NME like a certain type of music, and that is indie/alternative/rock music. They probably wouldn’t like generic pop music, and would tend to steer towards bands rather than individual artists. This is because most readers of NME are very appreciative of instruments and live music; therefore bands fit their needs much more than the likes of ‘Girls Aloud’ or ‘The Saturdays’. They also like artists who aren’t as well publicised as others; bands which are ‘up and coming’ and aren’t in the public eye because they either haven’t made it yet or don’t cater to a larger audience.

Their favourite meal is probably something along the lines of a McDonalds or a pizza, as they are young adults who are after quick and easy meals which they can either cook themselves or pick up from a fast food restaurant. The readers also probably prefer junk food to healthy food, and would therefore choose a fatty, sugary meal rather than a nutritious one.

One of the main (and only) sports that I think the readers of NME would watch would be football. This is because I feel that NME is probably more popular with men, who typically watch and/or play football. The majority of the male readers probably only watch football on the TV or have a season ticket to their favourite team’s league, and wouldn’t tend to play for a team.

I doubt many readers of NME are married, however a small minority may be. I think that the majority of readers are either single and enjoying their younger years, or are in a short term/casual relationship with someone their age, who is interested in the same things as them, such as music, fashion and career.

Although it isn’t quite a holiday, a large and popular festival takes preference over a holiday abroad for readers of NME. For example, a lot of the readers probably go to Reading/Leeds festival, which can and usually does cost the same amount of money as going abroad, and would therefore be instead of a holiday. This is because readers of NME are obviously interested in rock/alternative music, which is the main genre at many large festivals, and are students who want to have a good time, drink a lot of alcohol and see some great bands.

I doubt very much that readers of NME vote at all, as they are young and concentrating on what they believe to be the more important things in life such as music, education and having a good time. They are probably quite rebellious, as don’t care at all about government issues and who is running the country, purely because they don’t want to.

Finally, I think that readers of NME would tend to go to local pubs with crowds of friends to have a pint and enjoy each other’s company. I doubt they would go to clubs which play dance/rave music as it wouldn’t appeal to them and wouldn’t be their kind of ‘scene’. They would attend local gigs on a regular basis, because they may be in a band, and more than likely know someone who is. They may also be seen in modern, cool bars in the heart of the city enjoying the night life with crowds of friends.