Uses and Gratification Theories of Music Magazines
Music magazines serve many general purposes to its audiences. This can be categorised, four-fold. Said categories are as follows;
- Information
- Personal Identity
- Integration and Social Interaction
- Entertainment.
Firstly music magazines provide information to its readers in many different ways. The relay of information such as relevant events and societal expectations, plays a huge part in the information different genres relay to its readers. In addition the information aspect of music magazines, can add to a sense of fulfilment to the reader as from reading the magazine they will have gained knowledge, or will have leaned from the magazine. Furthermore the information has a societal impact on the reader because fans of a particular band or genre will desire as much information about said bands as possible in order to meet the social cliques' expectations.
Furthermore many music magazines aim to appeal to the personal identity of the reader, often using iconology to relay this notion. For example during the 1980's the 'New Wave of British Heavy Metal', 'Punk Rock' & 'Hair Metal' played massive roles in society and the way people dressed and presented themselves. For example, famous bands such as Motley Crue, Poison, Twisted Sister and Kiss, particularly in the United States, had a huge impact on fashion with many fans wishing to emulate their idols and they way they presented themselves, with such iconology as big hair, and obscene make up. For the same reason the punk revolt of the late 80's caused many people to copy Sex Pistols star, Johnny Rotten with such iconic things as safety pins in ears and Dr Martin boots. Magazines played a huge role in society at the time because often thy would provide style tips to readers that coincide with an image of important societal figures at the time leading many readers changing their own styles in order to feel a personal connection with the artist's presented, thus highlighting the personal identity enforcement in music magazines.
Integration and Social Interaction (as briefly mentioned) plays a massive part in magazine readerships, even in the modern day. Despite the encroachment of social media and the Internet music magazines are still a good source of information to fans, as many social cliques now resolve around the music world and particularly specific artists with many fan bases coming to the social foreplay in the modern era, with such developments as 'Directioners' (One Direction) and 'Beliebers' (Justin Beiber) causing many people determined to leave no stones unturned in finding information about their favourite artists, bringing a sense of one-up-manship within social cliques, that will give an indivudual the 'upper hand' and so this is why music magazines include such things and 'random facts' to appeal to the social sector, and to the readers demands.
Finally music magazines provide a much more innevitable purpose, this being entertainment. Reading provides much entertainment to people worldwide, and therefore the use of iconic acts and people audeinces find interesting to read about adds to the entertainment purpose of the magazine. Entertainment of music magazines effects people in many different ways, these include;
Furthermore many music magazines aim to appeal to the personal identity of the reader, often using iconology to relay this notion. For example during the 1980's the 'New Wave of British Heavy Metal', 'Punk Rock' & 'Hair Metal' played massive roles in society and the way people dressed and presented themselves. For example, famous bands such as Motley Crue, Poison, Twisted Sister and Kiss, particularly in the United States, had a huge impact on fashion with many fans wishing to emulate their idols and they way they presented themselves, with such iconology as big hair, and obscene make up. For the same reason the punk revolt of the late 80's caused many people to copy Sex Pistols star, Johnny Rotten with such iconic things as safety pins in ears and Dr Martin boots. Magazines played a huge role in society at the time because often thy would provide style tips to readers that coincide with an image of important societal figures at the time leading many readers changing their own styles in order to feel a personal connection with the artist's presented, thus highlighting the personal identity enforcement in music magazines.
Integration and Social Interaction (as briefly mentioned) plays a massive part in magazine readerships, even in the modern day. Despite the encroachment of social media and the Internet music magazines are still a good source of information to fans, as many social cliques now resolve around the music world and particularly specific artists with many fan bases coming to the social foreplay in the modern era, with such developments as 'Directioners' (One Direction) and 'Beliebers' (Justin Beiber) causing many people determined to leave no stones unturned in finding information about their favourite artists, bringing a sense of one-up-manship within social cliques, that will give an indivudual the 'upper hand' and so this is why music magazines include such things and 'random facts' to appeal to the social sector, and to the readers demands.
Finally music magazines provide a much more innevitable purpose, this being entertainment. Reading provides much entertainment to people worldwide, and therefore the use of iconic acts and people audeinces find interesting to read about adds to the entertainment purpose of the magazine. Entertainment of music magazines effects people in many different ways, these include;
- Feeling of Escapism
- Relaxation
- Cultural enjoyment
- Filling Time
- Emotional Release
- Sexual arousal
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