Uses and Gratifications Theory.

The main two theories or models applicable to my media product could be the Hypodermic Needle Model, or the Uses and Gratifications Theory.


I believe the Uses and Gratifications Theory is mostly suitable as, unlike TV adverts many dismiss subconsciously, there is a conscious decision in buying a music magazine. The idea is that we consume any kind of media because we find pleasure in doing so, or we want to find out more information that is otherwise hard to obtain. 


Music magazines use interviews and 'exclusive' information that claims to be totally new and previously unheard in order to appeal to their teenage target audience and give them the satisfaction of being the first to know a new piece of information. 


However, it can be argued that subscribers and those who regularly get a music magazine may fall into the Hypodermic Needle Model of getting a weekly magazine and not allowing any new information to be properly processed; buying the magazine such as 'Kerrang!' or 'Rock Sound', merely for the free posters and CD's available.