Audiences
Media Studies: Eduqas GCSE, topic 5.4.4
Superheroes - Audiences
The 'Superheroes' music video was streamed directly into UK classrooms on 9 September 2020, as schools reopened after Covid closures.
Primary audience & first release
- The primary audience of the video is UK school pupils.
- This makes the primary audience:
- Young people
- School-aged children
- Generation Alpha
Stormzy’s message to pupils
- Before the video aired, Stormzy sent a message:
- Welcomed pupils back to school
- Told them they would be the first to see the video
- The key message was: “Despite your skin colour, background or religion… you are a superhero.”
- This encouraged confidence, self-belief, and ambition.
Target audience
- The primary targets were:
- Black British males and females
- Generation Alpha (younger than usual Stormzy fans)
- They were chosen because:
- The video focuses on children and young teens.
- It is animated, appealing to a younger demographic.
- Stormzy’s typical demographic is millennials and grime fans.
- Superheroes deliberately shift to younger audiences to inspire them.
Secondary & wider audiences
- Other audiences include older Gen Z audiences.
- They reacted strongly to the Keisha White - “Someday” sample.
- They recognised it as the Tracy Beaker theme tune (CBBC).
- Example reaction: “Man is singing Tracy Beaker riddims on his album?? Give that man a Grammy.”
Test yourself on Audiences
When was the Superheroes music video first streamed to its primary audience?
Who was the primary audience for the first release of Superheroes?