There are many magazine publishing companies both worldwide and local. These include, Bauer, Dennis, IPC, BBC Magazines, National Magazine Company, Conde Nast and Clash. Some of them focus on just specialist (such as fishing or other hobbies) and others only deal with mainstream (lifestyle and general magazines). Bauer publishes the music magazines Q and Kerrang along with a lot of TV and lifestyle magazines. Kerrang is a music magazine based on rock, metal, indie and other alternative music genres; therefor I do not think Bauer would publish my magazine. Conde Nast would not publish my magazine because they are based heavily on mainstream and not specialist. Most of their magazines are variations of lifestyle magazine, travelling and health and beauty. Dennis have published many mainstream magazines, about lifestyle, cars, technology and current affairs. Dennis may publish my magazine because they do not currently publish music magazine but I think it is too specialist so would not fit in their company. IPC are currently publishing NME, an alternative music magazine but one that focuses on different music from mine.
I feel that IPC would publish my magazine, despite already publishing NME because they are the biggest rivals of Bauer, who currently publish 2 music magazines. Also, ‘Skunk’ holds a different overall theme and target audience to NME but is very similar to Kerrang. The benefits of choosing a large company, instead of self-publishing, include the links to current advertisers. They will be able to advertise in other magazines from their publishing company, such as NME, because it may appeal to some of the readers.
Is your target audience sufficiently large or sufficiently wealthy to be able to attract a large company? They would be interested in the advertising revenue as well as the cover price sales. Therefore you would need to prove that your target audience was commercially viable. Do you think it is? Also you should note that you have been discussing publishers rather than distributors of magazines. For example IPC have a related distribution company called MarketForce. WH Smith is another large distribution company. Take a look at their websites and add some relevant information.
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