MEDIA MUSIC MAGAZINE

EVALUATION

By Emily Bagridge

In what ways does your media product use, develop or

challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

My magazine carries the typical

conventions of a music magazine as

I have used three contrasting

colours as my colour scheme. In my

opinion these colours are

associated with the genre of rock as

the colour red connotes energy,

power and passion where as black

connotes, darkness and a sense of

mystery. And lastly the colour of

white connotes a sense of purity

and trust, leading readers to believe

that the product is trustworthy and

reliable. When creating my

magazine I based it on the similar

conventions that the rock magazine

Kerrang uses. Following the similar

layouts they have and eroded fonts

they regularly use.

Front cover codes and

conventions

Contents page codes and

conventions

Double page spread codes and

conventions

How does your media product represent particular social

groups?The particular social group I was attempting to aim my magazine at is any young person, no matter what

class as it is reasonably cheap to purchase at the price of just £2.50, from the ages of 14-18. My magazine

represents the particular social group firstly by the styling of the model used as the front cover image. The

young female dressed in gothic clothing will instantly appeal to the “rock” audience as they could recognise

their own style in the model, whether in terms of her hair colour or hair style, or her dark clothing. In doing

this, it will make the magazine sell more to the specific target audience.

The main colours used on my front cover are: red, black and white. I felt that these colours are bold and

stand out, in order to attract readers. These three colours are also commonly used on other already existing

rock magazines so must be colours that fit the genre and appeal to the audience of rock magazines.

I also used my masthead font in order to appeal to particular social groups as I ensured that the font used

was eroded so that it fit in with the edgy rock genre I was attempting to portray.

Furthermore the hectic layout of my contents page was done in order to appeal to the young audience. I felt

it necessary to have my contents page crowded as it was commonly used in other rock magazines, fitting in

with the genre and as a result appealing to the target audience. The messy look is appropriate for a young

audience as they are care free and wild. On my contents page I also introduced another colour to my house

style, of a pale yellow. I felt that this colour stood out boldly against my black background and was slightly

more interesting that just a plain white background. I ensured that the page was mostly filled with images that

were appropriate to the rock genre, I purposely did this so that my young audience did not lose interest in

reading/purchasing the magazine as if there was too much writing it could overwhelm or bore the audience.

The double page spread for my magazine needed to link in with the house style, so I had my background

black, writing white and image borders red. I feel that this worked well and made the writing stand out from

the dark background. I also wanted the band I was interviewing to be able to intrigue readers, and perhaps

appeal sexually to female readers and be idolised or inspiration by male readers. The four members of the

band wore the appropriate clothing of other rock bands tops such as Metallica and iron maiden. By doing

this, the readers will be able to make a connection with the young band as they have similar music interests

to the reader.

What kind of media institution might distribute your media

product and why?The media institutions that would possibly be interested in distributing my Rock music magazine “addict”

would be either Bauer media group or IPC media.

However as I was inspired most by bauer media groups publication of the magazine “Kerrang” I believe my own

magazine would be best suited to them. Bauer has over 100 years in experience and is more than capable in publishing

music related products. The institution owns half of box television which supplies viewers with several popular music

channels, such as: kiss, smash hits, magic, heat, Kerrang etc. The group also establish their products in various ways,

for example with Kerrang , it originated as a rock music magazine but as the years continued Bauer adapted the brand

into a website ,radio station, music channel and various over musical events such as Kerrang tour, and the Kerrang

awards. The company also is the publisher of another top selling British music magazine “Q”. Q magazine appeals to a

variety of different people who have a passion in music as it supplies a great range and variety of artists inside every

issue. The Q brand has also been adapted over time into radio, music channels and musical events.

As I mentioned previously the media institution of IPC media could be another company to consider distributing my

magazine. IPC publishes one of the top selling music magazines NME. However after having researched further into

the institute I felt that they were not as experienced in regards to the music industry in comparison to Bauer media

group. IPC’s magazine products were mostly aimed at more of a niche audience, for example: amateur photographer,

cycling weekly and nuts magazine. As a result to this, Bauer media group would be a better institution to distribute my

rock magazine.

Who would be the audience for your media product?

After having carried out a series of initial research in my primary planning and

research stage, I adapted my rock music magazine’s audience based on the

information I received. Having been interested in this specific genre of music

between the age of 13-16 I feel that I could personally contribute to what and

where I researched. One of the magazines I regularly bought at this age was the

rock magazine “KERRANG”, the magazine always appeared to fulfil the readers

with fun and up to date information on bands or new releases. As I enjoyed reading

Kerrang, I decided it would be useful to research into the magazine in order to

observe the aspects they use to attract their younger teen audience into reading

the magazine.

I also researched into three magazines that are aimed at various audiences in

respect to their age, after having done so I still felt that I would like to create a

magazine aimed for a younger readership as I could relate to it a lot better. When

creating the front cover I insured that I kept to similar conventions that Kerrang!

Use in their magazine issues. However before the creating of my magazine I

carried out initial primary research in the format of a questionnaire which I handed

out to 15 students between the ages of 14-18. In doing so I gathered information

on pricing that they were willing to pay, and more specific research into the various

music genres.

How did you attract/address your audience?

To attract my audience I ensured that I followed strict codes and conventions in order to

attract the right audience. To begin with I picked my colour scheme, as my main front cover

image had black and red in, I thought it appropriate to have the house scheme of black red

and white. After having researched various rock magazines, these colours appeared to fit

the constant colour schemes used by the majority of magazine editors. For example, NME,

Kerrang and rolling stones magazines frequently use these three colours.

In the photography process, I ensured that my model was female so that the teen male

readers were attracted to her, so therefore more obliged to purchase the magazine, and

also so that female readers can be inspired by the “artist” in respects to her fashion or

music. When positioning my image, I had the mid – long shot of the female model going

down the right hand side of the page so that her figure could be seen clearly, and other

information can go around her. For my magazines masthead I wanted to stick to a similar

styling of font to the one Kerrang magazine uses. To do this I went onto the website

www.dafont.com and downloaded the eroded font “FAR CRY”. Next I began filling the

blank spaces with cover stories with both a caption and images. I ensured that the images

were appropriate to the genre and stood out and appealed to the young readership. After

having done the questionnaire I discovered that most people in my target audience for my

magazine would pay £3 for a magazine issue. This was the price I decided to have above

my bar code.

What have you learnt about technologies from the process

of constructing the product?

In regards to the construction of my music magazine, I have learnt to use various technologies with the help of

the mac computers in order to create the outcome I have done for my music magazine. One of the programmes

that were new to me was the use of adobe Photoshop. Although I have briefly attempted to use this programme

previously, I never completely understood the ins and outs of how to use it to the best of its capability. Having

also used this for my primarily task I felt that I was slightly more confident in using it when I began creating my

front cover as I had practiced with the programme for at least 2 months when creating my college magazine. For

my primarily task I used a range of editing tools on my main image, such as the polygonal lasso tool which

allowed me to cut my model away from the background. I also cut around the models head and neck and created

it is a new layer so that I could have my masthead underneath the girls head. This process I had never used

before so it took some practice to get it to an appropriate standard.

However on my music magazine I simply tweaked my image slightly by brightening the contrast and

brightness so that my model was much bolder against the white background. When searching for the

fonts on Photoshop, I couldn’t find one that fit the genre of my magazine so downloaded one online.

However for my strapline I used a font called chalk duster which was slightly eroded, fitting in with my

genre. Another editing process I used was on my main cover story going across my front cover. I did this

by lowering the opacity of the font so that it had a faint outline of grey.

Another programme that was completely new to me was the use of in design. To learn how to use the

programme I listened into a tutorial held by media teacher so that I could learn how to set out an

appropriate contents page and double page spread. In opening the document I changed the settings to

the right amount of columns and sizing away from the page to what I thought appropriate. In using this

programme I learnt a variety of different ways on how to change the layout of the page and set out my

columns in order to fit my design. Overall by having been introduced to the new technologies in order to

create my magazine, I feel that I have made a much more professional looking magazine front cover,

contents page and double page spread.

What have you learnt about technologies from the process

of constructing the product?

AfterBefore

Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel

you have learnt in the progression from it?

Looking back at my preliminary task I feel that I have progressed increasingly in some aspects. My initial research was looking at

a variety of different magazines and annotating their codes and conventions. I then looked into certain aspects of magazine

creations such as image manipulation, as well as step by step process of how to use certain editing tools on the programme

Photoshop. In having carried out this research it allowed me to see the basic codes and conventions as well as an insight into the

technologies used in order to create the magazines to the best of their potential. I also have learnt how to challenge certain codes

and conventions such as the positioning of the image. In my preliminary task I stuck to the typical codes and conventions of a

magazine by having my image centred and cover stories scattered across the page, with very little free space. However with my

music magazine I challenged this by having the image situated at the side of the page, I feel that in doing so I have made my

magazine unique.

Furthermore I do actually prefer my preliminary task front cover as it is packed with appropriate conventions of a magazine such

as various cover stories that fit with the genre/Christmas theme, a large masthead, a centred image, constant colour scheme as

well as puffs to attract readers. In my music magazine however I feel that I am lacking a lot of the things I included in my

preliminary task front cover, this was mostly due to lack of time as I had to make my contents page as well as my double page

spread. However I do think that my music contents page is increasingly better than my preliminary one. This is mostly due to the

fact that I knew how to work the programme of in design a lot better the second time round, and I think this shows in my music

contents page. Also the fact that the page is crammed with both images and writing as well as including an editors letter, fits in

well with the typical conventions of a contents page. Moreover, in regards to my double page spread I thought considering it was

my first attempt at one, the outcome was of a good standard. My favourite feature was the image banner going across the top of

the page, however I would of liked to have had filled the area slightly more if I had more time to do so.

Overall I think I have progressed since my preliminary task as I have increased my skills in using both the programme of

Photoshop and in design, as well as learning more of an understanding in regards to codes and conventions of music magazines

and the various different audiences.

College and music magazine

FRONT COVER

College and music magazine

CONTENTS