Uses and Gratification Theory

Uses and Gratification Theory

Information

Magazines provide a range of things for the reader, things such as entertainment, information, things about the society in general. A Magazines purpose is to inform its readers of what's going in society, whether that’s gossip or news, magazines also provide advice in certain areas

Music magazines will usually mention up coming events and how the audience can get ready, this is done purely to inform them e.g. if the Grammy's where to come up then a magazine would make a big deal out of it. People read magazines when waning to find something out, for self education, this is what magazines provide, information about celebrities or events or places. However magazines are trying their best to keep their audience loyal as people can now go online for information about Celebs and events, magazines do this by providing interviews that they cant find online and exclusive things that can not be found online and they will mention this at the front cover of the magazine

Personal identity

People find comfort in reading about other celebs, if there is an article about a celeb dressing out of fashion this will make the audience feel like they can relates to them it also shows that celebs are not as perfect as they make out to be and people can connect with this. People who listen to certain music are effected by it, e.g. if they listen to rock music then they are going to wan to look like them as they are inspired by them, so they will wear dark clothing and die their hair a certain color just to look like they belong to this genre of music, this is done so that they have a sense of belonging.  

  

Integration and social interaction 

People tend to relate to an artists they look up to, there are fans all over the world who feel close to their artist as they see them as a role models. Fans have real life companionships with celebs, they feel like they can be their friends, some people even refer to celebs as their friends they fell that they can connect with them. Fans have a certain bond with their favorite celebs, e.g. directioners which is what one direction fans call themselves feel like they have a bond with the group members. The crazy fans are the kind that claim they know everything there is to know about certain artists, and claim they have all their products or albums, people like this find comfort in telling others they know more or they have more,  it makes them seem higher then the other person.

Entertainment 

Magazines provide entertainment to their audience, depending on who their audience is they will aim the magazine at certain people. Magazines also provide what is called gossip which is entertaining to some people, magazines will usually say some stuff about an artists that will catch their attentions, most of the time what magazines write about celebs will be incorrect but people tend to read them any way just for the fun of it. Some people read magazines purely for their viewing pleasure, as magazines include many images of celebs, people find comfort or pleasure in this. Magazines provide security for readers, if they feel they can relate to the artist then they fell they can connect with them giving them security which I what keeps them coming for more.