Music Magazine Pre Production Planning

Kieran Raza

Title

• I decided to make my magazine an indie music magazine. However although indie music is it’s primary focus, it deals with a range of different genres and artists rather than focusing on just one. I made the title of the magazine, XM. This is a snappy title, that relates to the magazine as “X” can stand for any genre of music. I also thought it would be easy to create a mast head that has impact of bold lettering that stands out large on the page, similar to NME magazine or Q.

Mood Board• Here is a mood board that compiles

photos, covers and double page spreads that have inspired me for my own magazine. My feature will be about one person, so I looked to photo-shoots of solo artists rather than bands. The photographs of Ed Sheeran show a good example of the kind of presentation I intend to achieve in my magazine, as he is a similar artist to my genre of indie music. The double page spreads show the effect I want to use, of keeping the artist separate to put more focus on them. The headlines are presented in bold and basic fonts, and the body copy is presented into columns. I like these front covers, as they present the cover lines around the main cover photo. They act as a frame, and put more focus on the individual artist.

Pre Production SketchesHere is the flat plan I have drawn up, showing my ideas for my front cover, double page spread, contents page and mast head. These designs I have chosen, have been primarily inspired by NME magazine. I intend to produce a similar publication, so used it as my main inspiration.

Five Line Paragraph

• XM is a music magazine with a target audience of 16 to 24 year olds, who are always looking for the next big thing in music. The USP is that, unlike some music magazines it is not defined by a specific genre. It deals with a variety of types of music, rather than narrowing it down to one. The magazine is renowned for giving honest opinions on the quality of music, rather than focusing on appearance or presentation of artists.

List Of Articles• Regulars• Word on the street- letters from readers this week• You’re say!- what you think of the latest releases in music• Charts- this week’s XM chart, showing the countdown of most

talked about musicians on our forum.• Reviews- 50 reviews of the latest album and single releases• Next Hype- music news on up and coming artists in the week• Gig Guide• Playlist- The tracks we love right now.• Posters- This week, free Ed Sheeran and Bastille poster• Hot or not- Our views on what is good and bad right now• Cross word- this week you could win VIP tickets to see The

Killers• Music Profiles- a summary of your favourite artists in one page.

This week, Florence and the Machine• XM news- Everything you need to know this week, in 2 pages!• Preview- a taste of what is to come next week in XM• Final Say- The ponderings of musicians on the back page. This

week, Jake Bugg•

Features

50 masterpieces of 2012- a countdown of the best albums released this year

This Time Next year- Exclusive Interview with Lewis Mokler. How he built up a small fan base so quickly, and where he hopes to be in the future.

Living Live- What is so great about Gigs? and how much work goes into them? We find this out in an exclusive article.

In it to win it- Music producer Sean Jean enlightens us about his views on the music industry today, including his opinion on reality shows such as The X Factor.

The Future- what we predict will be big next year

Battle Of The Bands!- You’d think everyone in the music industry is best of friends! Not always, we go through the most notorious music feuds in history and today!