Language Register

Magazines use different types of language depending on the age group,

gender or genre they are targeting as they have to appeal to their target
audience. This creates a variation in the formality of their language in the
magazine. The audience affects the language register greatly as it has to
appeal to them or they lose their target audience.
For example, Q magazine is aimed at an older age group that still have an
interest in modern music. The formality of the magazine is higher because
of this. Less slang words are used and articles sound more sophisticated
to appeal to this specific audience.
Billboard, however, is aimed at a slightly younger age group and can
afford to therefore be less informal as that does appeal to a younger
target audience. If this magazine was too formal it would lose readers as
the younger audience may not understand some of the intellectual words
used in magazines such as Q; they might also find it slightly mundane.
Therefore the language register of Billboard is relaxed and uses more
slang or taboo type words to accommodate its specific audience.
As my magazine is aimed at 16-25 year olds, my language register will be
similar to what is used in Billboard.