Distribution Plan

My plan for distributing my magazine will merge traditional magazine distribution with digital magazine distribution. As set by precedent for many magazines I will follow the traditional method by signing with a distribution agency and marketing my magazine through retail stores and shops from Barnes and noble to even Starbucks. We will also have the option for a mail in subscription which is how magazines are traditionally distributed. On the digital distribution side of things I will create a website where it will be available for sale of single magazines and subscription options. This website will also feature bits of news exclusive to our online website and pieces from our issues to help market our product online. I also plan on creating a Rap Caviar app which will function as a place to find all the latest hip-hop and rap news. This app will also feature an option to purchase or subscribe to our magazine as another means of distribution.

Revisions- Two Page Spread

For my revisions on my two page spread I took into the account the criticisms I was given when the class reviewed my midterm version of this magazine. In order to make my magazine issue for presentable and professional I created a spread with a white  background and text that was bounded by margins. My text size and spacing was based off of precedent set by major magazines in the industry. I also laid out my photos and tittle based on what was seen from industry standards while I was researching. I also edited my text and better phrased my writing within the text to match industry standards. All criticisms I heard were fixed within this two page spread giving me a final product that is not only professional in style but attractive for readers.

Distribution Research- XXL Magazine

XXL magazine has established itself as one of the most coveted magazines within the rap industry. They have provided us lists of the top up-incoming rapper's for over a decade and have made a name for themselves as a magazine to read if you interested in the culture of rap. XXL mag has reached a broad audience with their circulation number being about 205,000 and publishing about top up-incoming artists and reviewing rap/hip-hop albums. They partner with Townsquare Media to market and advertise their content. XXL magazine digital distributes their magazine and subscription offers through online eCommerce websites. You can purchase and look at subscription options on their website xxlmag.com or even on discountmags.com. You can also find issues of their magazines at local retail stores, book stores, and even some coffee shops. I could institute the digital distribution method used by XXL to Rap Caviar by going to these eCommerce websites creating an account and finished product and marketing it on the websites to where they are available to purchase.

Distribution Research- The Fader Magazine

The Fader magazine is an established rap and culture magazine within the music industry. It renowned history is part in due to their style, publishing, and distribution techniques. The Fader, in January of 2016 established a distribution deal with Caroline Distribution which is a distribution division of Capitol Music Group. From here the Fader's presence and growth has grown rapidly with the increase exposure due to online distribution. The print edition of the magazine reaches a circulation of over 565,000 and is known for giving some of today's top artists their first covers such as Kanye West and Kendrick Lamar. You can purchase the Fader magazine issues  on their eCommerce link shop.thefader.com. You can also find related articles to the magazine and even magazine articles on their online website thefader.com which leads to more coverage and ways to lead people to buy. Subscriptions of the magazine are also distributed through their online store at shop.thefader.com. You can see print issues of the magazine distributed in other online stores such as magazinecafestore.com and other online eCommerce websites where magazine readers frequent. You can also find different issues at local retailers, coffee shops, and library's. The Fader has even allowed customers to now download issues as they have set precedent with their 100th issue and they have found much success with this. Their 100th issue was downloaded digitally 1 million times in the first week and was,"the biggest growth we've ever had in our history" as stated by co-founder Jon Cohen. I would implement the digital downloading of Rap caviar by first establishing and creating a website for eCommerce products that would include purchase of individual issues, bundles, subscriptions, and merchandise.

Distribution Research- Billboard Magazine

Digital magazine distribution is the wave of the future and Billboard Magazine is the face of this. Billboard Magazine utilizes a multitude of options to access and purchase their magazine digitally. you can purchase their magazine on a number of eCommerce websites ranging from Magazines.com to their own personal eCommerce website shop.billboard.com. These distribution websites are huge because they attract a large range of audience that is actively wanting to purchase a magazine. You can also see distribution of their magazine issues at newsstands, book stores, and chain retailers such as Walmart. Across all their digital media websites they rake in an online readership of 1.2 million monthly views. They circulate 17,000 magazines per week and their demand and status is only growing. They have established a huge online readership due to their renowned Top 100 and Top 200 sing charts that are the standard for the entire music industry. Therefore, they have remained relevant and have gained massive online appeal to see what tracks are the hottest out right now and leading more and more customers to their magazine. I would incorporate this method of using eCommerce distribution by starting and publishing my product through an eCommerce website.  Once that grows and gains some appeal and sales I would hopefully be able to transition into getting Rap Caviar sold in coffee shops, bookstores, and large retailers the same way Billboard magazines are.

Distribution Research- Traditional Distribution

Magazines have been a staple of culture since the turning of the 20th century. The ways in which they have been distributed has changed with the introduction of digital media and its rapid growth. Magazine's traditionally would be distributed through a distribution company as a door-to-door sale. They would be done physically through mail and received at your house with a physical copy of your magazine that you either bought or subscribed too. Many times they were often distributed to vendors or stores also that sold them. But times have changed and digital media is now the king. Magazine companies and distribution companies have had to revolutionize with the times and figure out new ways to get readers to buy their magazines and with this has come numerous ways now that distributors can sell you that same magazine that you used to receive in the mail. For example, magazines are now being offered on eCommerce websites and are digitally distributed through their home website. These eCommerce websites are just one new way that distribution is being done differently today. A common process of the past and of today is "bagging" your magazine with relevant tittles and at locations and events that hold your type of audience. For example, Rap Caviar could pair with a contract magazine company and be distributed at events that would target our target audience such as, the Grammy's, Billboard Music Awards, or even at the Academy Awards. This new age of distribution has opened up to a multitude of ways for people to distribute whether it be self-distribution of through a digital distribution company the options are endless.

Marketing Plan

While researching the ways different print magazines market and promote their issues I have found a multitude of different promotion possibilities. Due to my magazine audience and genre I am deciding to promote my magazine mainly through social media. Rap Caviar's target audience is young and is heavily involved in the internet and staying connected through social media through sites like Instagram and Twitter. I plan to make posts informing about the magazine weather it be a photo from a photo shoot, tittle of an article, or a sneak peak at next issue's cover to help generate views and hype around the magazine.

In order to market to my mass audience the rest of my marketing will also be online as well. I plan to create a banner ad promoting Rap Caviar on frequently visited sites that our readers would frequent such as Spotify, Footlocker, or even Dick's Sporting Goods web sites. These banner ads would be on sites that already attract a similar style audience in order to attract the most readers possible to the magazine.

I also plan on creating a free newsletter along with a website that audiences can view and learn more about Rap Caviar's focus within the rap/hip-hop community. The newsletter would be free and give notifications to those who sign up on different aspects of Rap Caviar whether it be a new issue being released or just some general music industry news. The website would include exclusive articles, videos, and links exclusive to our online issue to bring more viewers to not only the print version but our online issue as well.