Q3. What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

Magazine distribution is really important because it is how the magazine reaches the public; that is its role. It is important that the magazine is distributed by a company who can present a positive image to the target audience. I think that the most important thing to do when choosing a distributor is look at the magazines they are already distributing and see if they are already in contact with the target audience you are aiming the product at because if they are, they will be in contact with businesses that stock similar magazines and will have the experience of distibuting a magazine that a certain genre. 

I think that a media institution such as IPC Media would be the best to distribute my magazine. This is because, even though it already distributes music magazines such as “NME”, “Uncut” and “Guitar and Bass” none of them follow my musical genre, my magazine is aimed at a much younger audience than these, therefore there is a gap in the market for it & possibly a unique selling advantage over the others. In addition to this, the fact that it already distributes such well-known music magazines means that they have the necessary experience and an already well-established, loyal customer/fan base that might be interested in a new branch of music magazine – “THE ZONE”.

I initially considered Harris Publications Inc. as the institution to distribute my magazine as it is an American consumer-magazine, that publishes over 75 titles, however it already distributes music magazines with an identical genre such as Juicy, XXL, King, Dog News, therefore, it would be unlikely for them to want to distribute a competitor magazine such as ‘THE ZONE’ , as it may affect its existing successful magazines.