Audience

1. Audience – Uses and Gratification Theory
Personal Identity
• Finding reinforcement for personal values
• Finding models of behaviour
• Identifying with valued other (in the media)
• Gaining insight into one’s self
- Music magazines use a range of different musicians usually, as this enables their audience to identify with at least one of the featured artists.
Additionally when a person finds a models behaviour or looks desirable or relatable, for example if somebody see’s Ellie Goulding wearing certain
trainers they are more inclined to buy them trainers because they might want to look like her.
Information
• finding out about relevant events and conditions in immediate surroundings, society and the world
• seeking advice on practical matters or opinion and decision choices
• satisfying curiosity and general interest learning; self-education gaining a sense of security through knowledge
- Music magazines are a source of information to their target audience, they may highlight key music events and review new albums and songs.
They update the audience on all things music, for example, new bands, new songs, breaking news and tour dates. In addition to this they give
their audience a sense of security when talking about the genre, as the audience know if they tell their friends something they have read in the
magazine, it will be accurate and validated. They can feel confident when reading information produced the magazine.

2. Audience – Uses and Gratification Theory
Entertainment
• Escaping, or being diverted, from problems
• Relaxing
• Getting intrinsic cultural or aesthetic enjoyment
• Filling Time
• Emotional Release
• Sexual Arousal
- All magazines are used for some kind of entertainment, whether it be for escaping your problems, filling spare time, or just general enjoyment.
As well as this sexual arousal is a common type of entertainment magazines are used for, its known that looking a good looking people is a sense
of enjoyment.
Integration and Social Interaction
• Gaining insight into circumstances of others; social empathy
• Identifying with others and gaining a sense of belonging
• Finding a basis for conversation and social interaction
• Having a substitute for real-life companionship
• Enabling one to connect with family, friends and society
- Music magazines and other magazines just in general give their audience as sight of social interaction by fiving their audience the knowledge
and topic to start conversations about. It can even lead to escapism for some, as the magazine can be a substitute for human companionship in
some cases. For example, if someone was to read articles on Ed Sheeran they may feel like they knows him well and they might feel like they
identifies with him.