Evaluation: Question 3

3. What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

Having a distributor for the magazine is really important, as they will determine whether or not the magazine will sell.
I will compare two magazine distributors: Bauer Media and Gold Key Media.

Bauer Media:
Advantages -
Bauer media has over 300 magazines in over 80 countries, and has more than 80 influential brands, this is more market leading brands than any other media owner. Bauer also owns 'Q' magazine, one of the influences and potential competition for my magazine.
Due to Bauer distributing 'Q', the UK's biggest monthly music magazine, it will have a good grasp of what is needed for my magazine to do well, as the genres of magazine are similar.
Disadvantages -
Although it is an advantage that Bauer distributes 'Q', it is also a disadvantage, with 'Q' being my main competitor. Due to 'Q' being the UK's biggest selling monthly music magazine it is likely that Bauer Media will put this magazine before my own, not putting in as much effort to sell as many magazines as they could, and instead spending money and time on 'Q'.

Gold Key Media:
Advantages-
It is the largest newspaper supplier, magazine distributor and targeted media placement company to the travel and leisure industry throughout the UK, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Therefore it is a well experienced company, and will sell my magazine. They place quality magazines and newspapers in over 3000 hotels across the world meaning that people staying in a hotel could pick up my magazine, like it, and continue to buy it. It also means that the magazine would probably be spread across the world.
Disadvantages-
It doesn't specialise in music magazines so, although it does have experience selling magazines, it does not have the specialised experience for selling music magazines.

Weighing up the advantages and disadvantages from both companies I have decided to go with Bauer Media as they have much more experience in the music magazine industry. Although there is the chance that Bauer will favour 'Q' over my magazine, I feel that they will do a better job in distributing my magazine as they have much more experience in that particular field.