Research: Analysis of Langauge Register in New Music Magazines

Most new music magazines display appropriate manipulation of language register in order to appease their audience, for example, the music magazine Kerrang writes with an informal style (low register) to engage their target audience which tends to be teenagers/young adults. However other magazines such as The Wire utilize a high register when writing their articles as their target audience tends to be adults. When writing articles for my magazine I will use a medium register as the genre I've chosen (Alternative, Indie) is typically listened to by a young adult audience. An example of a magazine that also uses a medium register is The Fader, as they have a target audience that is generally young adult/late teens.

Language register can be manipulated appropriately to suit a target audience by using specific language methods. These primarily include Lexis and Grammar. For example a text with low register usually uses a lexis comprised of slang to engage a younger audience. On the other hand a text with a high register would use a lexis consisting of many polysyllabic words and jargon. This is evident as magazines such as Kerrang use slang fairly frequently but The Wire doesn't, and uses jargon instead. Language register can further be manipulated by use of grammar. Texts with a high register use lots of complex sentences and use standard english grammar, however texts with low formality tend to use grammar more typically seen in conversation.  For my magazine I will use a mixture of slang, jargon and standard english grammar in order to achieve a medium register for my text.