Evaluation Part 3

What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

The four main distributors for the magazine industry are Marketforce, Comag, Frontline and Seymour. They have national and international distribution networks that will have access to major retail outlets like W H Smith and online platforms. Major magazines like NME etc distrobute through companies like this, this is because they are trying to sell the magazine to as many people as possible and reach the mass market. Where as my magazine is much more specialist and targets a radical market, they dont like to follow the mainstream, so by having my magazine is shops such as W H Smith it would put my audience off buying it because it could turn mainstream. Although the magazine that i have based all my research on Clash does distrobute through a major company called Comag. This magazine appeals to the same kind of people as mine and this has really worked for them and the magazine has become really popular because it is so much different to what is normally sold on the selves. The danger with this is that the magazine can become too common and the main audience that it was first targeted at loose interest.

Independent distributors will have access to smaller independent news retailors, specialist book stores and may distribute online. My magazine is target to a niche market so I would probably distribute it through a smaller independent company. Vice a magazine that is targeted to a similar target audience have there own distribution network, Vice is not normally found in your normal corner shops, these types of magazine are distributed on a much smaller scale to major distributors. It is found in shops that sell independent music, like the rough trade shop, this is a specialist independent shop that only sells its own music. This would appeal to my genre because they like independent bands, and things that are classed as mainstream. Although some people may see it as risky not to go for major distribution it is because i know the audience i am going for is very loyal and will travel in order to get it and the fact that it isnt easy to get would appeal to them. Also i would be able to distribute through the internet and sell my magazine through there and as technology is developing this is going to get easier and easier and its also the cheapest way or distributing. Also if i sell online then it means i can distribute and advertise through many different platforms such as social networks.
Vice is an independent company and they have a facebook page that people can like and is pushes you in to buying the magazine. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Vice-Magazine/110376875652502
Overall i would market and distribute my product like vice does, they do really well and attract a good market of people that they targeted. It would be too much of a risk to go and distribute it though a large company because it would then become mainstream which is not what my magazine is about.