Top of the Pops magazine is a monthly magazine published by the BBC, which was originally launched to supplement the Top of the Pops television show and continued despite the termination of the TV show in 2006. TOTP was formerly aimed at young teenagers and resembled the 'Smash Hits' magazine but its emphasis on music has gradually shifted to focus more on young girl's lives and interests, resembling more of a stereotypical teenage magazine. The use of slang and informal phrases such as 'Christmas cringes' and 'Joe buffs up' relates to the young audience, as does the short captions inside the magazine accompanying pictures, rather than long articles.
Content and approach to music
TOTP magazine focuses on chart music and mostly features popular artists such as Girls Aloud, McFLY and Rihanna that appeal to young teeangers. However, the magazine's emphasis seems to be more on the appearance and private lives of celebrities rather than their musical talent, reflecting the caption on the cover, 'More gossip! More Scandal!' For example, the cover photo and main interview is of High School Musical stars Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgen, reflecting on their relationship, with the headline 'Together forever?', encouraging readers to buy the magazine to find the answer. The interview is accompanied by a section where photographs of the couple are analysed and their body language is seen as reflecting the state of their relationship, for example; 'Zac and Vanessa's fingers are interlocked suggesting an intimacy that can't be faked'.
Popular singers such as Jonas Brothers and McFLY are also interviewed in the magazine but are rarely questioned on their music and instead personal questions such as 'Are you single?' are asked to probe into their personal lives and uncover gossip stories beyond their musical careers.
The magazine also contains features on fashion and make-up tips, often resembling stereotypical teeange girl magazines rather than a music magazine and in this issue, Rihanna's make up is used to promote other make up brands to encourage girls to mirror Rihanna's appearance rather than her talent.
Editorial Content: 'opinion leaders' and reader interaction
In TOTP magazine, there are many chances for readers to interact and write in to the magazine by publishing letters from readers including photographs or their opinions on a certain topic. The letter page, run by DJs - JK and Joel allows readers to take part in discussions and express opinions on celebrities and gossip stories which is very different from other music magazines where readers interact by reviewing new music rather than the lives of the music artists.
Promoting the industry
TOTP magazine promotes and gives away prizes that appeal to the young female target audience, such as Nintendo DS games and High School Musical merchandise and promotes certain products and celebrities at times of popularity, for example, High School Musical features in almost every TOTP issue around the time of the film release. Pop singers and groups are also interviewed often when releasing a new single or album, for example Girls Aloud are interviewed in this issue of TOTP following the release of their new album. Nintendo DS is also promoted through this interview as Girls Aloud appear in these advertisements, as the target audience for Nintendo DS and Girls Aloud are likely to overlap. The advertisements in TOTP magazine consist mainly of products expected in stereotypical young teenage girl magazines such as female hygiene and Nintendo DS games, rather than music promotions as expected in a music magazine.
The free gift with this TOTP issue was a tin pencil case with matching stationary, appealing for young girls using this stationary for school. This free gift demonstrates how the emphasis on music for TOTP magazine has shifted to target young girls' interests and now is hardly recognisable as a music magazine.
No comments:
Post a Comment