Complete Analysis of a Music Magazine: Q Magazine

  Q magazine was launched in 1986 as “the modern guide to music and more”, wanting to set itself apart from other music publications. The name comes from the word Cue, the original title of the magazine (as in, cueing a record to play) but this was changed to Q so that it wouldn’t be mistaken for a snooker magazine.

 This concept of being a magazine that is unique, new and exciting has stayed the same. Only in 2008 did Q revamp its image, using a smaller amount of text and featuring articles on other subjects such as film and TV rather than just music.

 Generally, Q is a rock music magazine, featuring both classic artists and new releases, but may also feature indie and alternative artists.

 Q is the UK’s number one actively-purchased magazine and has a circulation of 61, 485 with a readership of 377,000. It has an ABC1 profile of 72%, meaning most of its readers have high disposable income. The median reader age is 32, and male readers make up the majority of the readership with 70%.

 One of the main things that set Q apart from other magazines is its high quality photography and printing, something it has prided itself on since its beginning.

 For its contents, Q is mostly focused on music: an extensive review section featuring new releases and reissues, as well as compilations e.g. the 100 Greatest Albums. There are also interviews with artists as well as TV and film reviews.

 Like many magazines, Q is a multi-platform brand – publishing in print, online and its own iPad app. It uses social media to reach wider audiences, with 104.1k followers on Twitter, 86,871 likes on Facebook and 2,186 followers on Spotify. Q Radio reaches 196,000 people a week playing “an eclectic mix of the best in rock” and often featuring artists as guest presenters. Every year it’s the official partner of the Glastonbury festival, and produces a free magazine handed out onsite.