Niche And Mainstream Audiences - Definition

There are two different types of audiences in the category of A2 media; Niche and Mainstream. A Niche audience being one that is particularly small, unpopular and only known to a small range of people, for example 'Indie-rock' music. A Mainstream audience is one that is known to a wide range of people, for example X-factor (aired on ITV) is very popular in the media therefore a lot of people know about it and watch it, especially people who are aiming to get somewhere in the music industry or purely enjoy watching it because it's on. The X-factor is easily available as it's on at 8pm, which is when kids get home from school and adults get home from work - a perfect time for them to switch on the TV and watch the programme. 

Niche audiences tend to watch/read texts that are interesting to them in particular, 'Indie-rock' music is something that very few people listen to, purely because it is not in the charts, not discussed often and not as popular nowadays. Audiences who listen to Indie-rock music tend to be people that are more individual in their tastes and opinions, usually teenagers or young adults who are discovering who they are will be the main audience. Noah and the whale are a band who's music is not appealing to everyone, they have only had one song in the charts and people may have heard of them due to that one song. Furthermore, the mode of address for the band would be informal, as the things they sing about and represent are aimed more towards people who are young, free, in love, reckless and enjoy indie-rock styled music and more.

There is the question that has been brought up about whether or not you have to be a passive or active audience to watch/read Niche texts. This all comes down to whether you are actually interested in the text, or just watching it as a past time. For example audiences who take the preferred reading would watch/read/listen to texts and easily take it in without questioning it. However oppositional audiences would not take it in because they question it.

Mainstream audiences would be involved in the texts for entertainment or social integration, some may feel they need to watch mainstream texts because it makes it easier to be involved in conversations with friends, family and any type of social life. Because the show is aired on ITV, it is available to a wide range of people browsing TV to fill time or to be entertained.