I completed some research into looking at music magazine publishers in the UK, to find one that would be similar to my magazine.
1) INSTITUTION: IPC MEDIA.
DETAILS: IPC creates content for multiple platforms: print, online, mobile, events, etc. UK's leading consumer magazine publisher. IPC Media has a range of divisions: Connect, Inspire, SouthBank, Advertising & MarketForce. It was formed in 1963.
PUBLICATIONS: More than 60, some include: NME, Women's Weekly, Essentials, Teen Now, and Look.
2) INSTITUTION: Bauer Media Group.
DETAILS: Headquartered in Hamburg, Germany; operates in 16 countries worldwide. Founded in 1875.
PUBLICATIONS: Kerrang!, Q.
3) INSTITUTION: Freeway Press
DETAILS: Based in France. Mainly and best known for Rocksound magazine.
PUBLICATIONS: Rocksound.
4) INSTITUION: Clash Magazine LTD.
DETAILS: Publishes 'Clash' magazine 12 times a year. Independant publisher which has won awards, such as 'Best New Magazine' award at the PPA Magazine awards & also Music Magazine of the Year.
PUBLICATIONS: Clash.
5) INSTITUTION: H. BAUER PUBLISHING LTD.
DETAILS: More than 570 magazines, over 300 digital products, and 50 radio and TV stations.
PUBLICATIONS: Mojo.
A music magazine publisher that I think would best suit my magazine would be Freeway Press, as it publishes Rocksound (Similar to my magazine) and is based in Europe.
Thursday, 28 November 2013
Thursday, 21 November 2013
PHOTOSHOP
PREVIOUS STUDENTS WORK
Looking at previous students work allowed me to gather an idea of what I should focus on and how I should present my own work when I come to produce it.
Firstly, a magazine called 'CORRUPT' looked effective and eye-catching in my opinion as the dominant image covered the masthead slightly, it had cover lines with sub-headings and it also named music artists of the genre the student had chosen. I especially liked how the font was displayed as sparkles, as I thought it was eye-catching and professional. I liked the images as there was a range of black and white and a range of colour, however the student did not specifiy clearly what kind of magazine they had made - for example, they used titles such as 'FASHION' and 'NEWS' which makes me think it was not focused completely around music. In contrast to this, I especially liked how the student had manipulated tweets from the social networking site Twitter to make it look as though people had bought and enjoyed her magazine.
Another magazine I looked at I didn't find very appealing as it was very confusing and unclear. For example, the masthead was not the biggest text on the front cover, so it was confusing to try to work out what the magazine was called. In comparison to 'CORRUPT', where the student had used a smaller text for everything else on the page, like coverlines - I think this works better as it is clearer. The student who created this second magazine also didn't specify clearly what the magazine was based around, the terminology used, such as 'genre' indicated a music magazine, but unlike 'CORRUPT' where the model was holding a guitar on the front cover, there was no specifying what it was based around. As well as this, essential information (particularly the barcode) was extremely oversized and took up more space than necessary.
A magazine that I particularly liked called 'IMAGE' was very similar to 'CORRUPT', except was the opposite in genre. I liked this magazine as it was similar to Q magazine in the way it was layed out - it was clear, had a dominant image, essential information, coverlines, and demonstrated what kind of music magazine it was. The only part I would have improved on was the contents page, as it was very spaced out and bare - unlike the front cover which in my opinion looked professional.
From what I have learned by looking at previous students work, the magazine 'CORRUPT' inspired me most. It looked very professional, had a basic but effective colour scheme - especially with the selective colouring - and the text was clear and well presented. I will take most of my inspiration from simple but effective magazines like this one, as oppose to magazines with too much colouring, almost unreadable fonts, blurry images and a complicated layout.
Firstly, a magazine called 'CORRUPT' looked effective and eye-catching in my opinion as the dominant image covered the masthead slightly, it had cover lines with sub-headings and it also named music artists of the genre the student had chosen. I especially liked how the font was displayed as sparkles, as I thought it was eye-catching and professional. I liked the images as there was a range of black and white and a range of colour, however the student did not specifiy clearly what kind of magazine they had made - for example, they used titles such as 'FASHION' and 'NEWS' which makes me think it was not focused completely around music. In contrast to this, I especially liked how the student had manipulated tweets from the social networking site Twitter to make it look as though people had bought and enjoyed her magazine.
Another magazine I looked at I didn't find very appealing as it was very confusing and unclear. For example, the masthead was not the biggest text on the front cover, so it was confusing to try to work out what the magazine was called. In comparison to 'CORRUPT', where the student had used a smaller text for everything else on the page, like coverlines - I think this works better as it is clearer. The student who created this second magazine also didn't specify clearly what the magazine was based around, the terminology used, such as 'genre' indicated a music magazine, but unlike 'CORRUPT' where the model was holding a guitar on the front cover, there was no specifying what it was based around. As well as this, essential information (particularly the barcode) was extremely oversized and took up more space than necessary.
A magazine that I particularly liked called 'IMAGE' was very similar to 'CORRUPT', except was the opposite in genre. I liked this magazine as it was similar to Q magazine in the way it was layed out - it was clear, had a dominant image, essential information, coverlines, and demonstrated what kind of music magazine it was. The only part I would have improved on was the contents page, as it was very spaced out and bare - unlike the front cover which in my opinion looked professional.
From what I have learned by looking at previous students work, the magazine 'CORRUPT' inspired me most. It looked very professional, had a basic but effective colour scheme - especially with the selective colouring - and the text was clear and well presented. I will take most of my inspiration from simple but effective magazines like this one, as oppose to magazines with too much colouring, almost unreadable fonts, blurry images and a complicated layout.
AS COURSEWORK PROPOSAL TABLE – STAGE 2
IDEA FOR THE BRIEF
My magazine will be a music magazine based around the rock/alternative/post-hardcore genre. It will be aimed at ages 16-30 (reasons listed below) and will highlight interviews with bands, upcoming bands, local bands, festivals, concerts, giveaways, new albums and new singles.
GENRE/SUB GENRE
The genre of my magazine will be based around and focused mainly on alternative/rock/post-hardcore music. here, you can gather an idea of the bands/artists that my magazine would include. I chose this genre as it is the music that influences me most, so it would be more relative for me and I would know what artists etc to include.
TARGET AUDIENCE
My target audience will be roughly ages 16-30, both male and female. I chose the age group based on the genre of my magazine but also the possible explicit language that may be used (due to the genre). Both male and female readers would appeal to my magazine, as long as they were interested in the genre, and the target audience would all have similar characteristics. Those who enjoy attending festivals such as Reading/Leeds, Download, Slam Dunk etc and who enjoy seeing bands live in music venues would take more interest in my magazine than those who don't. I have taken this into consideration, and therefore my magazine will have a lot of information about upcoming festivals, concerts and musicians.
MAJOR CONVENTIONS
I will use major conventions such as a masthead, coverlines, dominant images, essential information, selling points, strap lines and drop caps. As well as these, I will organise possible interviews with musicians into no more than three columns, so that it is easy to read, steadily paced and layed out carefully. I will make sure to give my images captions, to give anchorage to the reader, and make all of my conventions link and be relevant to one another, so that there are no out of place aspects - this would make my magazine look more well presented and realistic.
IMAGES
I don't want to use too many images in my magazine, especially not on the cover or contents page, as I think this would make the magazine seem crowded and unclear. On the front cover, I will have one main image that could work as a background - with text and other information layered on top. On the contents page I will have no more than 4 images, as again, I don't want the magazine to be crowded or confusing. During a double page spread, it is likely that I will have columns of text, with a few images for anchorage. This would include a dominant image, and 2-3 smaller, relevant images. I will be using low key lighting with my photographs to fit the genre; bright lighting would not be suitable or relevant. It is possible that I would use selective colouring on black and white images to reinforce the genre but also make the magazine look more presentable. I can create low key lighting by using a black background rather than a white, and by using a soft box/flash lights for specific lighting/shadows.
POTENTIAL DIFFICULTIES
I think that working with programmes such as Photoshop will make it difficult for me to create my magazine to full potential, as although used to it, it can be tricky and complicated. Similarly, taking photographs of the model may not go well as the model may not be able to find the time to allow me to photograph them or we may not be able to find a time slot where I could photograph her the best possible way - (studios may be closed or in use, etc).
My magazine will be a music magazine based around the rock/alternative/post-hardcore genre. It will be aimed at ages 16-30 (reasons listed below) and will highlight interviews with bands, upcoming bands, local bands, festivals, concerts, giveaways, new albums and new singles.
GENRE/SUB GENRE
The genre of my magazine will be based around and focused mainly on alternative/rock/post-hardcore music. here, you can gather an idea of the bands/artists that my magazine would include. I chose this genre as it is the music that influences me most, so it would be more relative for me and I would know what artists etc to include.
TARGET AUDIENCE
My target audience will be roughly ages 16-30, both male and female. I chose the age group based on the genre of my magazine but also the possible explicit language that may be used (due to the genre). Both male and female readers would appeal to my magazine, as long as they were interested in the genre, and the target audience would all have similar characteristics. Those who enjoy attending festivals such as Reading/Leeds, Download, Slam Dunk etc and who enjoy seeing bands live in music venues would take more interest in my magazine than those who don't. I have taken this into consideration, and therefore my magazine will have a lot of information about upcoming festivals, concerts and musicians.
MAJOR CONVENTIONS
I will use major conventions such as a masthead, coverlines, dominant images, essential information, selling points, strap lines and drop caps. As well as these, I will organise possible interviews with musicians into no more than three columns, so that it is easy to read, steadily paced and layed out carefully. I will make sure to give my images captions, to give anchorage to the reader, and make all of my conventions link and be relevant to one another, so that there are no out of place aspects - this would make my magazine look more well presented and realistic.
IMAGES
I don't want to use too many images in my magazine, especially not on the cover or contents page, as I think this would make the magazine seem crowded and unclear. On the front cover, I will have one main image that could work as a background - with text and other information layered on top. On the contents page I will have no more than 4 images, as again, I don't want the magazine to be crowded or confusing. During a double page spread, it is likely that I will have columns of text, with a few images for anchorage. This would include a dominant image, and 2-3 smaller, relevant images. I will be using low key lighting with my photographs to fit the genre; bright lighting would not be suitable or relevant. It is possible that I would use selective colouring on black and white images to reinforce the genre but also make the magazine look more presentable. I can create low key lighting by using a black background rather than a white, and by using a soft box/flash lights for specific lighting/shadows.
POTENTIAL DIFFICULTIES
I think that working with programmes such as Photoshop will make it difficult for me to create my magazine to full potential, as although used to it, it can be tricky and complicated. Similarly, taking photographs of the model may not go well as the model may not be able to find the time to allow me to photograph them or we may not be able to find a time slot where I could photograph her the best possible way - (studios may be closed or in use, etc).
Friday, 15 November 2013
AS COURSEWORK PROPOSAL TABLE – STAGE 1
TYPE OF MAGAZINE
The magazine that I plan to create will be a music magazine based around the hardcore/pop punk/alternative/rock genre.
NAME OF MAGAZINE
I have not decided upon a title yet, however I aim for it to be something relative to the genre of music.
AUDIENCE
My magazine will be for anybody who listens to the style of music, male or female.
AUDIENCE (ATTITUDES & INTERESTS)
The magazine will include aspects such as tour dates, giveaways, interviews with bands. So the audience would be people who go to concerts and very much enjoy music.
OUTLET
The magazine would be available in supermarkets, news agencies and online.
NECESSARY INFORMATION
This would include the date of the weekly issue, the issue number, the bar code, etc
SELLING POINT
As a selling point, my magazine may include giveaways and competitions - the ability to win tickets to concerts, or even free CD's etc.
THEME
The theme of the magazine will be an interview with a new artist.
IMAGES FRONT COVER
The dominant image on the cover will be centre placed and reflective of the genre - it may include a microphone, relevant colour scheme etc.
IMAGES INSIDE
Images inside will not be as important as the main image on the cover, however they would still be relevant to the article and I would not use so many that it would take away attention from the text (Maximum of 4)
The magazine that I plan to create will be a music magazine based around the hardcore/pop punk/alternative/rock genre.
NAME OF MAGAZINE
I have not decided upon a title yet, however I aim for it to be something relative to the genre of music.
AUDIENCE
My magazine will be for anybody who listens to the style of music, male or female.
AUDIENCE (ATTITUDES & INTERESTS)
The magazine will include aspects such as tour dates, giveaways, interviews with bands. So the audience would be people who go to concerts and very much enjoy music.
OUTLET
The magazine would be available in supermarkets, news agencies and online.
NECESSARY INFORMATION
This would include the date of the weekly issue, the issue number, the bar code, etc
SELLING POINT
As a selling point, my magazine may include giveaways and competitions - the ability to win tickets to concerts, or even free CD's etc.
THEME
The theme of the magazine will be an interview with a new artist.
IMAGES FRONT COVER
The dominant image on the cover will be centre placed and reflective of the genre - it may include a microphone, relevant colour scheme etc.
IMAGES INSIDE
Images inside will not be as important as the main image on the cover, however they would still be relevant to the article and I would not use so many that it would take away attention from the text (Maximum of 4)
Thursday, 14 November 2013
DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD DECONSTRUCTION 1
This double page spread from NME magazine focuses on the band 'White Lies'. Firstly, it demonstrates that this band would fit the typical genre of NME magazine as an 'indie' band thoroughly due to the colours used - especially in the image itself. The dark purple underlining of the article title against the dirty white background reflects the common colours in this magazine - low key, dark and almost dull. NME magazine does not use bright colours often, as this simply would not reflect the focused genre of the magazine. The composition of this dominant image has the three band members in low key lighting, with specific spotlights ('limited colour palette'). The spotlights create shadow in the image and may be used to reflect how this particular band are currently in the spotlight of their genre - for example they may have released a new song, album etc which is causing them to gain attention and popularity. The image has a caption which is used to give anchorage to the audience - in this case, the names of the band members.
The article title, which is a pull quote from the interview, is highlighted to engage the reader. "We Want Kings Of Leon's Career" pulls the audience in as they may be intrigued to read more about this less known band, who are aiming high. In addition to this, the title would also grab the attention of Kings of Leon fans, which due to the genre of the magazine, would be high. To reinforce this even further, this is the boldest part of the double page spread, capitalised and underlined.
Below the article title, we see the strap-line, which adds information to the title. There are only two other aspects of the article highlighted in purple, these being the name of the band and the interviewers name; this is used to aid the audience with an understanding of what the article will include. In this case, the almost comical strap line explains "Their Mission" and "Their Message", this fun way of explaining what the band are up to would draw the audience in rather than a typical and boring explanation.
A drop cap is used at the beginning of the interview to demonstrate to the reader where the text begins. I think this drop cap specifically engages the reader more than others, as usually the drop cap would be a letter, in this case it is the number 4, as the article starts differently with a time as oppose to the band name or typical opening lexis. Before discussing Kings of Leon and their career, the interviewer states a little about the bands songs and previous album, which would further engage fans of the band to read on. The density of the text is kept to two columns on this page, to give the reader an introduction but to not say too much straight away. Similarly, the pace of the text flows and is easy to read, and the register is aimed at the audience and is compatible with the age group - informal yet informative, with comical aspects and an easy pace.
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