Focus group questions, answers and analysis

What is your favourite Indie music magazine?

• NME- because it sponsors Reading festival, and is reliable as it is quite old.
• Spin- has good covers and artists of interest
• Doesn't have one

From these answers i have found two magazines that i can focus on to base features on for example well known artists and reliable information. I have also found that there is a gap in the market for a new Indie music magazine due to some people not having a favourite.

What colours would you associate with the Indie genre?

• Red 
• white
• bright
• black
• earthy

I can base my colour theme around these colours as they reflect the genre of music my magazine will be based on.

What font/ style of text would you expect to see on an indie magazine?

• Modern
• Box-y
• sharp
• bold

These characteristics are quite similar in ways and are easily combined therefore i should be able to find a font that presents these aspects well.

What kind of layout would you find most suitable?

• Big masthead, minimum writing
• Large picture as background
• Brief text surrounding large photo
• minimal small photos around 

I think a layout including these aspect will work well, i agree that there should be minimal photos and if so very few to avoid distraction. A large masthead with minimal writing will enable the masthead to hold the attention.

Would you prefer big articles, small articles or a range?

• A range but it a dominant amount of large
• Range
• Range
• More large articles than smaller
• Range

These responses are fairly similar therefore i would present a range of articles.

Would you prefer more quotes and information on the contents page?

• Editors message
• few small pictures linking to text
• quotes from few pages
• not many photos

I think the suggestion of an editors message would be suitable as i feel this gives a magazine a personal touch and also introduces the issue. Quotes and few images will allow the reader to grasp an insight in to the magazine without having to read at all or much, therefore would be more appealing.

Would you like to see photos on the contents page?

• perhaps large photo as background
• yes but small
• if a photo covers the background there shouldn't be anymore photos surrounding or on top

These responses are useful as they give a range of ways that i layout the contents page as well as how many photos should be used.

Would you like to see interviews on the double page spread, if not what else?

• Yes focusing on the artist rather than the genre itself
• Yes including information about upcoming gigs

Many from the focus group found the double page would be most useful for an interview, suggesting information about upcoming gigs.

Would you prefer the main front cover photo to link to the double page?

• yes this would be useful 

Everyone agreed that this link would be suitable as the front cover would display the most important feature.

How much would you be willing to pay?

• £4.50
• £3.00
• £1.99

This has given an idea of the largest and smallest amounts the focus group would be willing to pay.