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

When it comes to magazines it is essential that their is a good amount of media convergence. Media convergence is the merging of mass communication outlets. For example bringing the internet to the television or vice versa. Media convergence allows you to advertise one type of media over a number of large media sources. For example 'Complex' magazine who are a huge hip hop magazine producer will advertise their magazine on social media (Facebook, twitter), radio stations, music award billboards. Here are a few examples below:

The image above is Complex magazine using social media for advertisement and an online news feed. This is one type of media convergence. On the right is famous NYC rapper Nas on the red carpet at The Complex music awards. These two images clearly show media convergence.

I have researched a few media distributors that I believe would distribute my media product:

InterMedia Partners - InterMedia Partners are a New York based media distributor business. I believe they would distribute my media product because they already supply other hip hop magazines. one example of this are VIBE magazine and the Source which are two of Americas biggest hip hop magazine brands. I think my magazine is suitable for them to distribute because it belongs to the same bracket as the two magazines I just mentioned. This may be the favourite for being the most likely to distribute.

Bauer Media - Bauer Media are one of the worlds largest media distributors. The German corporation currently hold a portfolio of over 600 magazine brands including large names such as Kerrang! or Q! The biggest issue with Bauer is that they tend to edge towards the rock genre which is a very different genre. This may be doable but less suitable than InterMedia Partners.

Marketforce UK - Marketforce are a UK based magazine distributor. They distribute big names such as 'Hello!' Being located in the UK is helpful because my media product would be in a UK production line. The problem with Marketforce is that they only distribute within the UK and not abroad. My target audience is scattered all over the globe which is the main reason this distribution business isn't suitable. Secondly they don't have a music magazine signed to them yet which means they work in a completely different market.

Overall I think the business that makes the most sense to work with would be InterMedia Partners because they already have experience in distributing large hip hop magazines. Bauer wouldn't be a bad option due to their shear size but InterMedia have the exact knowledge i need to make sure my media product becomes well known in the market.