research - distribution.

There are two types of magazine distribution, Major and Independant. The scale between the two is the main difference. Major distributors are well known for selling popular magazines, for instance, Frontline is one of four mainstream distributors along with Marketforce, Comag and Seymour which distributes major magazines such as Heat and Take a Break. These type of magazines produced are main-stream and appeal to a wider audience who will frequently purchase them. The companies that publish these magazines are huge conglomerations such as the BBC, Haymarket and Bauer, Bauer publish the most popular monthly music magazine, Q. The audience for this type of magazine are people that are set on achieving what they want and have a strong love for music. Q uses a 'multi-platform strategy' of distribution, such as a music channel on television and radio, which therefore makes it accessible to a large audience and also people who may want to know the latest music news without having to buy the magazine. Mainstream distributors are very money motivated, and a profit and good sales are their main aim. Mainstream magazines are sold in places such as Adsa, Tesco, WhSmith, newsagents, and other large stores that sell magazines. This shows how much money goes into planning and distributing these magazines and how large the scale is in which magazines are distributed.

Independant distributors are very different from major distributors as money is not there main priority. Vice is an independant magazine sold in stores such as Urban Outfitters, Size and Retro Bizarre. The audience of Vice, are commited audience, and will go to the places Vice is sold and know exactly the type of magazine they are purchasing. The audience of Vice are alternative and non-following metropolitans aged 18-30, who like to set their own trends and live in large cities. Vice are their own distributors which shows independance and a tight company. Sales of Vice do not need to be near enough as large as Frontline, as Vice are their own publishers as well as distributors, they do not need to make a large fortune to break even, as not as much money has been put into it.