Magazine Case Studies

Smash Hits
Smash hits was an unsuccessful music magazine which was founded in 1977 by Nick Logan, the magazines last publication was on the 13th February 2006. However, Smash Hits still has a website, radio station and a TV channel. The first publication of the magazine was in 1978, which featured Belgian one hit-wonder Plastic Bertrand - real name Roger Jouret - on the cover. Originally, the magazine was published on a monthly basis but then later on changed to being published every fortnight, because of its great success, especially with its main target audience- Teenagers. Smash Hits' circulation fell in the 90s, as it was no longer to its target audience anymore. This could have been due to the internet supplying the once exclusive sources to the target audience. One of the main features in Smash Hits was the top 20 song lyric selection... As the internet progressed and became more widely used, the target audience could access these lyrics, not only could they access them, but they are free. It is thought of that teenagers want exclusive and new information and items - Smash Hits' main feature was perhaps not appealing anymore, due to the internet. Over the year, Smash Hits supplied the same information. The magazine had a 'write in section' where the reader could write in to the magazine with their opinions, which would then be potentially published in the magazine. However, the internet supplied an easier method of creating personal relationships and sharing opinions, through online forums and chat rooms. Smash Hits was possibly overridden by the internet and other music magazines which do not have a mainstream audience. Smash Hits was an unsuccessful magazine as time progressed, it isn't certain why, but the internet appears to be supplying everything Smash Hits did and even more.