The Final Double Page Article.

The Finished Contents Pages.

The Final Music Magazine Front Cover

Question Seven

Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression in it from it to the full project?

Looking back at the images from my school magazine task I almost feel embarrassed, and I can definitely see a noticeable difference between it and my completed product now.

In my initial task, I was learning to use InDesign for the first time and was still unsure about how to correctly use all of its functions. I also did not use Photo shop or any programs to edit photographs; I didn’t create very effective images either. Whereas now I know how to use these programs and how to take effective photographs.  I also have taken a lot of time to research and view real magazines for my final product, to ensure that I could follow typical media conventions. In doing this I learned how to make my magazine look far more realistic. I achieved this in ways such as branding it, improving the layout and using better imaging.

In the preliminary task my front cover has the background of the main image from it. The masthead does not give the idea of a real brand and there are no subsidiary images. These are all extreme flaws in the layout and design. The font and colouring also make it appear unconventional and messy.

My preliminary contents page was also extremely amateur looking.  The gaps in page references make it appear unrealistic, and as though there is little content in the magazine. Again, the colour scheme is also unconventional.

I do however see why this preliminary task was necessary. It allowed me to practice using these computer programs as well as letting me identify what I was doing wrong. At some points during designing the pages I knew that I wanted it to look different, but at that point was still unsure about how to achieve it.

I now feel that I have learnt how to successfully design pages of a genre specific magazine product. By practicing and learning how to use the given programs, I have identified how to use them appropriately and create conventional layouts.  I have also learnt that though typical conventions need to be conformed to, I can still express my own creativity by capturing unique images and mixing and matching different learned conventions to create designs that are different to other magazines, whilst still looking realistic.

Question Six

QUESTION SIX

 What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing your product ?

-Firstly I learnt about cameras for the photography element of this project. I used a Fujifilm 14 megapixel camera and a tripod to balance it when taking my images. I made sure to use a white wall background and kept the room in good lighting in order to create bright, clear images.


 -I used the computer programs Adobe InDesign and Photoshop to construct my pages. I found using InDesign much easier after some practice. I had used it to produce my preliminary task, however at that point I was still finding it a little challenging. I enjoyed testing different features as I became more confident; noticing what did and didn’t work. I used Photoshop to remove the background from my main image. I learnt how to remove it and how to insert onto my front page. 

   

- I also used the website Photo bucket to edit my photos. I learnt that I could create some really eye catching effects, such as flames (as used in my contents pages) and stars (as used in my article.) I enjoyed using the effects to make my photos stand out more. 

-I used the website “survey monkey” to conduct some market research on my product. I learnt how to construct my own online survey through this.



 -I also have obviously used websites such as blogger,Slideshare and Prezi to present my work. Through these I learned how to upload my work to the internet, how to add photos and insert mini-presentations to my blog. I found that it enabled me to create explanations of my product in a more unique way.

Question Five

How did you attract/address your target audience?

How did you attract from jessica_m12

Question Four- Who would the target audience for your product be?

I had a clear idea of who my target audience would as soon I began planning the task.  I aimed my product at a target audience of young alternative music listeners from the ages of 16-25. From secondary market research on readers of Kerrang! And other rock magazines, I could create some assumptions about my target market. For example, the fact that they would be regularly attending gigs and purchasing music.  I also found it to be more likely due to this research that they would be primarily male with around a reader ratio of 60% male and 40% female.

I also thought about the kinds of things they would be interested in. Hence why I featured information about “Download Festival” as a cover line, knowing that this age group are more likely to be festival goers. I’ve also used photographs which I feel appeal to my target audience as well as informal language.

As a result, my product would most likely feature advertisements for clothing brands which suit this audience as well as gadgets and gigs. I have also thought about the clothing and brands that my target audience would be interested in. From my own observation at gigs I know that band merchandise is regularly worn by them, as well as skinny jeans. My target audience are more focused on bright statement clothing such as neon or ripped jeans or alternatively dark clothing. Brands such as:

Criminal Damage, Converse, Vans and shops such as Blue Banana would be probable advertisers within my product as a result of my target audience.

Question Three- What kind of media institution might distribute your product and why?

What kind of media institution might distribute your product and why?

A media institution is an organisation that deals with the production, marketing, distribution and regulation of media products.

I narrowed this decision down to three key media institutions;

Bauer Media                      

IPC Media

Future PLC

As can be seen on my blog, I have already done research into Bauer Media, an extremely successful institution. However, I decided that in order to make a balanced decision I would also research other institutions so that I could make the best choice.

FUTURE PLC:

The UK’s leading distributor of music production and music software magazines. Holding titles such as:

·         Computer Music

·         Future Music

·         Guitar Techniques

·         Guitarist

·         Rhythm

·         Total Guitar

The magazines such as Total Guitar and Guitar techniques have become long lasting, well established under Future’s guidance. Though these magazines are extremely successful, it does seem that Future PLC have a pure focus on the production of music and skills involved, as opposed to magazine’s designed more for listeners of music. Due to this I feel that my product would not suit their current list of brands.

IPC MEDIA:

IPC media distribute successful magazines such as:

-NME

-Woman’s Own

-Woman&Home

-Amateur Photographer

-Ideal Home

IPC have a focus on distributing lifestyle magazines, and deliver a range of different titles. The main brands that they deal with are women’s lifestyle brands. They only distribute one music magazine: NME. The fact that they do not distribute any other music magazines seems to be a disadvantage- they have no experience with dealing with rock music magazines, whereas the competing distributors of Bauer and Future PLC do.

BAUER

Has music brands such as:

-Kerrang!

-Planet Rock

-Q magazine

-4music

Bauer has ownership of numerous recognised brands and is Europe’s most successful privately owned media institution. It also seems that Bauer has more experience with multi-platform brands. I feel that as my product is newly emerging, it would definitely have to become a multi-platform brand in order to keep up to date with competitors who have well established extensions to their magazines.  Bauer also has magazines similar to my own genre, so I feel that it would have experience in handling my product.  For these reasons, I feel that Bauer media would be the most appropriate choice.

Question Two- How does the media product represent a particular social group?

How does the media product represent a particular social group?

My chosen genre is aimed at a primarily younger age group who have an interest in rock/metal/alternative music.  In magazines such as Kerrang! And Rock Sound, this social group is represented as fun loving, but also ambitious. “The magazines’ psychographic is defined as ‘people who aspire to be respected among other people and people who wish to have a high paid job.” Advertisements of band merchandise, music, concerts and gadgets feature to target a youth audience, e.g. teens often have a slightly higher disposable income to spend on their social lives or materialistic items.

-The listeners of my chosen genre (rock music) are often stereotyped as being part of social groups such as:

-Goths

-Emo’s                          

-“Scene”

Kerrang! Has itself been accused as targeting itself at particular social groups with too much of a specific focus. For example it has often been accused at focusing too much toward an “emo” group which left listeners of nu-metal/metalcore or classic rock disappointed.

I did not want to focus my product at one specific social group, just the wider audience of rock and alternative listeners, aimed at an age group between 16-25.

I feel that I successfully represented this social group successfully. Costume, photography, mode of address and language has all been used in a way that represents this group.

In my front cover images, my models wear band t-shirts, hoodies and skinny jeans. This is a casual look but not an over emphasised look which is maybe too focus specific. They display a fun and carefree attitude by the way in which they are positioned, and their carefree attitude is represented by them destroying the cd’s.

My contents pages have a consistent informal mode of address reflecting its aim at a younger group. Even the editor’s note remains light-hearted and friendly, creating a greater sense of interactivity and relationship between the readers and producers.

My double page article is mostly more serious in content. However, there are still aspects of a fun loving attitude between the more serious comments.  For example, the band talk about how they created their own success in a mature manner, but later on they joke about how their album was inspired. The fun attitude is also presented through one of my photographs which features on this double page spread. The photo shows one of the band members aiming to hit the other with a guitar. These kinds of outrageous and comical photos are often found in magazines of the same genre. It reflects the humour of an audience who want to see their favourite artists having fun and not taking themselves too seriously.

 

Evaluation Question One, Part Two

Music magazine cover completedfinal, a photo by jessicamannmediaAS on Flickr.

Please click on the images and follow the links. I have created images using flickr which annotate specific parts of my product in an additional visual response to question one. 

Evaluation Question - Part One

In what ways does your media product use, develop or 

challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

My media product “Live Rock!” uses conventions of real media products by conforming to reliable layout designs, eye catching titles and photographs, and conventional colour schemes.

My product is a rock music magazine, focused towards a rock/metal and alternative market. In order to create my magazine I studied conventions from well-established rock magazines such as Kerrang! , Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Rocksound. I found that they were aimed at a younger age group, attracted readers with more outrageous stories and used an informal mode of address. The main colour schemes used were red, black, white and yellow, and covers/features are often cluttered with lots of content. This creates a loud, in your face image which draws potential buyers in. The codes and conventions of this genre of magazine is very different to a publication such as Q magazine, which a clean cut image.

I have used these forms and conventions in my own product as you can see:
My masthead is bold, bright and stands out. I have chosen the name “Live Rock” as it has connotations of a double meaning. It firstly sounds like a lifestyle, which many avid music lovers consider their chosen genre to be- more than just the music but the lifestyle that comes with it. In this case, examples could include wearing band merchandise, going to gigs on a regular basis and discussing/ reading additional information about their favourite artists.  This idea of the lifestyle has proven important to readers of real magazines as market research displays that readers of this genre attend gigs and buy merchandise on an extremely regular basis. Secondly, my masthead could also be interpreted as “Live Rock”, in a sense of Live rock music, which is something of a primary focus for my chosen genre.

My imaging also conforms to conventions of real magazines. My front cover image features a young male band, dressed in casual clothing. I chose to use props to create a more unique image. Like many rock magazines, I wanted to imply the idea of a rebellious and outspoken nature. I positioned my models to look as though they had vandalised CD-ROM disks. The main one, held forward, reads “ORIGINALITY IS DEAD.” I felt that the bold statement would capture attention. My other models destroy the CD’s – one is being burned and the other broken and being bitten. This also hints at humour and gives an immature impression. Outrageous behaviours and bold statements are largely used in this genre.

I also aimed to fill my pages with a large amount of content. I feel that I created my own images and designs in a way that put my own mark on my product whilst sticking to regular conventions. For example, I stated in my mission statement that my magazine would also encourage musicians and so I created cover lines such as “The Drummers guide! Master sections of Slipknot and BFMV!”

I chose to use a double page spread for my contents piece, as my product is a monthly publication. So this idea was taken from Q which always feature bold double page spreads. However, I altered my spread to conform to the image of a rock magazine by featuring large rock styled images and genre based editorials. I used conventions for my contents pages such as:

-Branding

-Editor’s note

-Subscription offers

Adding the editor’s note and branding also supports convergence culture. My branding features my product’s web address showing that it is part of a multimedia platform. My editor’s note also shows interactivity and a relationship between the producers and the readers. The note also encourages reader to use the website. I have tried to challenge conventions in a minor way by mixing conventions from different music magazines and working them together in one single design. Page references such as "posters" and "win!" entice the reader and I have tried to create a selection of interesting references.  The largest photo, I edited in order for it to make it look more eye catching. The flames surrounding the band has connotations of Hell, and this rebellious dark image is popular in the rock music scene. As the rest of my page was fairly bright, I felt that this would help establish the genre. I also used my own concert photography to present real images of bands under the "gig reviews" reference, this also created realism. The subscription offer signs readers up for a limited time, hopefully encouraging them to continue to be loyal when the offer ends. The "posters" page is also a particularly popular feature in music magazines. Teenagers specifically are known to collect posters of their favourite artists. The "special features" section displays references that are exciting, new and specific to this month's issue , highlighting the best content to the reader. I have circled each page reference number in bold red, making it clear for the reader to see.

My double page spread (article) uses the following conventions that can be found in almost all magazines.

-Bold Title

-Oversized starting letter

-large pull quote

-large, clear main image of the band

I also again reinforced my brand by displaying the web address, and also added my own extra features as opposed to presenting the article alone. I found that in magazines where artists spoke about new albums, the album would be promoted in additional ways rather than solely within the article itself. I added the release date information and created an image of the album myself using photobucket to advertise it to the reader. I also created a “track guide” to give a quick review to fans, recommending the best songs loved by “Live Rock!”

The overall way in which the article is written remains mostly friendly. I wanted to give the impression that communication between “Live Rock!”and the artist is relaxed and comfortable. I felt that this may make the reader think are reading more trustworthy information. Whilst the article remains light hearted in tone, the fact that I have chosen an article which isn’t an interview still allows an informative view on the band and their music.

Finished Double Page Article

Contents pages almost finished

As you can see, I have completely changed the layout of my contents pages. My previous draft looked plain and empty. I've now rearranged it, so that the main image is on the first page, looking like more of a feature. The first page now has a neat layout, with a bold image covering the top half. The bottom half contains an editor's note and a few page references but does not 

look too cluttered. I have inserted a picture of a female artist after realising that the images are predominantly male focused, to display a  more equal gender representation.

On the second page, I have now placed the gig reviews at the top half and other page references at the bottom. I have added more content to my "gig reviews" section ,  including a subheading "plus backstage acces!" and descriptions under each gig review. I have also added a background colour to make the section more visually appealing , as opposed to plain white. I have also added a subscription offer, as I've observed they are a regular feature in magazine contents pages. The subscription persuades readers to sign up to receive the magazine for a certain amount of time, and this encourages readers to become loyal. This will hopefully help the music industry as readers who sign up will regularly get the magazine, which will inform them on which music to purchase and which concerts to go to. 
The other references on the bottom half of the page will hopefully interest the readers.The feedback page reinforces a sense of interactivity and references such as "musician's tips" and "on tour with...Alice Cooper" will appeal to readers of this genre.

Article Drafting

Cover Drafting Process

Here I have posted a few of my InDesign drafts to show how my cover has transformed. As you can see a lot have changes have been made in the process.

Above you can see one of my basic early drafts. The masthead still remains as the initial full title "Live N' Let Rock!" and the cover lines are all missing.

Here I have changed my masthead to the shorter, catchier "Live Rock!" I have changed this due to the results of my market research, I agreed with the results, where the majority preferred this shorted title. I've added coverlines, and a layout plan for a banner at the bottom of the page, as well as a barcode. However the coverlines are only on the left hand side and changes were needed regarding the main cover line and it's font/layout. I've also added a subsidiary image of a festival in the additional space the shorter masthead has created.

Here my front cover is almost complete, the bottom banner has been slightly improved and at this point only a few changes needed to be made.

Front Cover, nearly completed

CONTENTS PAGES so far..

Here is one my first drafts of the production of my contents pages. As you can see it is incomplete, but I am using a double page spread which I hope to fill with content as it is a monthly magazine. There is also a lot of white space which I hope to fill and make the over all design look a little eye catching to the reader.

How I will use my market research...

I will use my market research to improve the designing of my magazine, now that I am more aware of what my target audience want.
After seeing the results, I have decided to change my masthead to the shorter title "Live Rock!" I feel that this will in fact be a more appropriate title as it is catchier, and suggests the idea of live rock music as well as living a rock lifestyle.


I will take the responses on board by designing the cover to meet my audience half way- not too cluttered and not too simple.
I am glad that the audience chose the colours which they did, as after studying popular conventions, I am aware that these work well.
I will feature the content that my audience chose as well I can- if it does not feature on the front cover,I will try and feature it elsewhere in the contents and article.
I was previously intending to use only one subsidiary image, so I am also pleased that this option won the majority of votes in the survey. I hope to find a suitable subsidiary image that reinforces the genre of a magazine. The image I'm thinking of using is a photograph of a festival which will hopefully interest my readers who I know have an interest in live music.

Results from my primary market research

My survey showed the following results:

17 people felt that the masthead should be short , catchy, and bold.
Only 3 felt that it should not.

4 chose the masthead "Live N' Let Rock!"
3 chose "SoundBase"
10 chose "Live Rock!"
2 chose "Let Rock!"
0 chose sound base.
1 chose BackStage.

The majority of participants felt that a combination of all 8 content options should be included in the magazine.

8 people felt that the cover should be sleek and simple.
12 people felt that a cluttered cover is more appropriate for a rock music magazine.

5 preferred only one main image on the front cover.
9 preferred a main image with one subsidiary image.
6 preferred more than one subsidiary image.

People suggested numerous different cover lines which would interest them:
"exclusive interview with (popular artist)"
"gig reviews inside"
"competitions"
"posters"
"100 greatest rock tracks"

7 people chose colour combinations of black,white& red.
Many others chose black/red/yellow,    or black/white/blue.

The questions about contents pages was fairly evenly split, 11 people chose a detailed version with lots of references, whilst 9 chose a more simple overview.

12 people chose an age group of 16-30.
3 chose 15-24.
2 chose 15-35
2 chose 16-40
1 chose 35+

Secondary Market Research

In addition to my primary research I have decided to do some secondary market research by looking at statistics of already established rock music magazines. In doing this, I hope to gain a better idea of what readers of this genre will expect from a rock magazine.

Reader Stats for alternative/rock music Magazines:
Readership :345,000

Kerrang! Readers purchase over six albums per month on average. Readers have a gender ratio of 45.3% female and 54.7% female. 56.1% of readers are in the 15-24 age group. Their readers are 5.5 times more likely to go to gigs.

Rock Sound stats:

Total brand audience is 585,000. Their target audience are 15-24 year olds. Their readers in total spend more than £210 million on music and gigs.

Metal Hammer reader profile:

Metal Hammer has an 85% male readership. They spend on average £112 each month on music, tickets and merchandise. Readers spend at least 3 hours reading each issue.

How this will help me:

From this information I can interpret that other magazines are also aiming their product at a youth audience. By studying other alternative music magazines I can see how they do this. For example I have noticed that they tend to use a friendly and informal mode of address. It also seems that the readers in this genre are prepared to spend a lot of money on music and gigs from their favourite artists. In order to appeal to them I need to make sure I feature tour dates and gig reviews in my own product.

As you can see below, I have created an online survey in order to get some feedback on how to design my magazine. I have also specifically asked people whom I know have interest in rock music to complete it. I hope that by doing this, I will gain a more valid type of feedback which will be more relevant to my chosen genre. Once I have gained enough response, I hope to analyse the feedback and put it into good use when designing.

Primary Market Research

Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey , the world's leading questionnaire tool.

Planning Process

Drafting

This is my latest magazine draft, I am generally happy with the layout but I now intend to change the masthead and add a subsidiary image. I obviously also need to add extra cover lines and make the main cover line bold and more easily readable. I am also in the process of creating a banner at the bottom of the page, to which I will add more content.