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

Since the start of my coursework I believe that I have learnt allot about many technologies such as: blogs, SLR digital cameras, photo editing software and much more. I have also learnt allot of methods to produce the style of front cover, contents page and double page spread. I have learnt allot about the software used that creates a professional finish that I have used in my magazine. There are certain ways of creating a front cover that attracts an audience to buy the product. I leant about these and applied them to my product to give the most professional look. When researching music magazines I learnt allot from popular similar genre magazines. This information was used when creating my product.

I planned the magazine by designing flat plans for my front cover, contents page and double page spread.

My preliminary task was to create a York college magazine for distribution to college students and faculty. I used Adobe Photoshop to create the front cover of the magazine. From this task i learnt the basics of Photoshop that helped me greatly when creating my music magazine. This software is used all over the world and for many media industries.

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

How did you attract/address your audience?

I attracted my audience towards my magazine by using these following techniques:

For my front cover I used a picture of a rock artist holding his back towards the camera whilst playing the guitar. The mystery of this mysterious artist attracts the reader’s attention and creates the need to learn more information and thus buying my magazine. I found that many of the major music magazines in the UK use this technique. This is a good technique of attracting an audience because humans natural instinct is to be nosey and find out what things are. I also did this by giving the front cover a dark mysterious look and added sell lines that attract the audience towards my product with the opportunities the sell lines give.

The name Acoustic magazine is a good way of attracting an audience. Because it’s called acoustic this means that it involves either Acoustic guitars or that type of sound. That is what distinguishes my magazine as a particular style. An Acoustic guitar is something that a certain genre of artists use. This is the genre that my magazine publishes and therefore the title for my magazine is a clever way of attracting a certain audience.

What have you learnt about technologies form the process of constructing this product?

Through my media coursework I have learnt to use a blog. We used Google’s blogger in our coursework for uploading our work. I learnt how to upload images from Photoshop and the internet onto my blog.

I have also learnt how to edit and manipulate images to my specification by using digital affects and the Photoshop tools such as color  manipulation for my front cover. I also used stroke for my masthead to help it stand out on the cover. I have also found out how to change the levels of images to make certain details stand out that give the image a greater presence In my magazine.

We learnt how to position models and use settings to create certain atmospheres. I also found out how to create layers so that the text was on top of images and shapes. This was great when I was creating my magazine as it made it look much more professional..

Digital format of surveys to make it easier to manufacture several copies. This is useful for market research. I also found out how to use the data to create graphs and charts. I used pie charts on my blog.

I learnt how to use a digital camera to take photos manually. I used different light settings and focus to gain the affect I wanted. This combined with Photoshop made my photos come out great.

Could you have completed your magazine without using any technology?

What could you have done without?

I could have done without survey software or websites such as Survey monkey because I could have hand written questionnaires or done a face to face structured  interview which may have been  more time consuming but I believe the answers would be more reliable. With survey monkey the answers may not be reliable as people would not answer correctly because they feel it is a burden on them.

For my research instead of using search engines I could have physically looked at magazines and analyzed them with a written report. To put this onto my blog I would have to scan them in.

I could have done without pictures from the internet. Instead of getting my images for my research from the internet I could have scanned images from music magazines. This would have been more time consuming.

 What couldn’t you have worked without?

It was necessary for me to use photographs firstly to get the effect I wanted and so I was able to manipulate them easily and to avoid and copyright issues. Also hand draw images would’ve been very time consuming to produce and of very poor quality.

Identify which of the major UK publishing companies you would like to distribute your magazine. Why would you choose this publisher?

In what way did your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products

Who would be the audience for your media product?

The target audience for my magazine would be between 15 and 20 years old. This is due this age group having the teenage rebellion kind of attitude amongst them. This is expressed in some types of music that my magazine will do articles on. Older generations are not interested in crazy fonts and a messy layout. They would rather read a plain article with conventional black text in boring fonts and easy to read layout. Therefore the 15-20  age group will be the main target for acoustic magazine. 

My target audience would have to be aimed at people who are interested in Rock/Indie/Alternative music. This is the genres of music that my magazine will cover and therefore this is the music taste of Acoustic magazines readers.

The photography in my magazine is action packed. The double page spread features two live photos that show the reader what the artists are like on stage. There are also posed photographs of artists but instead of being in a studio in front of a blank white screen, It’s in other locations that convey the image that the artists are going for. 

If the audience of Acoustic magazine where to have a social label it would be ‘Indie’. This label would insinuate that the person listens to a certain type of music and dresses in a certain way.

What magazines do you like?

Most said gaming. Gaming is a growing industry and gaming magazines feature new releases just like music magazines for albums, artists, singles. This could benefit my magazine because i could advertise new games which would increase revenue. Fashion was said quite allot in my results. This is stereotypically what magazines girls buy. Considering half the people who answered my survey were women this result isn't surprising.

What is your sex?

I had an even spread of gender for my questionnaire. This is good because it will be an even sample size of genders and will make my answers more reliable and have no common factors in the other questions.

What age range are you?

The majority are teenagers due to asking my friends on Facebook. This influenced the questions, What are your hobbies and music taste. No one was in the age group 0-10 due to the fact that none of my Facebook friends are under 10 years old.

What are your hobbies?

The majority of my particpants enjoyed music and television which are modern influences and relate to my magazine theme. The question 'What age range are you?' influenced the results of this question.

Do you buy music magazines?

The majority of people to answer the questionnaire said yes this may have been because the majority are of a teenage age which many music magazines are aimed at as a target audience.

If yes how regularly?

Most said monthly, this is most likely to be because most music magazines are released monthly. A few people said daily because there are so many music magazines available to purchase.

What type of music do you like?

Most said Rock or alternative which is good becuase that is what my magazine features. Not many people said that they like classical music. This is because the people who I asked where of a similar age of 17 years old. Classical music is generally listened to by the older generations.

Here is a link to my survey monkey questionnaire

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/6MLYSHW

Acoustic Magazine Pitch

Acoustic magazine is a brand new music magazine aimed at young teenagers to young adults who are interested in the latest, greatest and upcoming indie/alternative bands and other similar genres.

Acoustic magazine covers a mix of different style of bands and artists from wich we forecast to be popular in the near future of the music industry and those who are busting the charts wide open to number one.

The magazine will include interviews of artists and will hold reviews of recent albums and singles which have been released to show what is worth buying or looking into. the magazine will also discuss upcoming gigs and events in the United kingdom for those who are looking to see live performances. We will also include a collum that we will ask the public what they thought about about gigs and events and the latest chart toppers as we feel that getting the opinion of our readers is important.

The magazine will feature a section called 'The Lift'. This is a section about the current charts and why our experts think that the outcome is what it is.

The magazine will have a clear and simple layout with the colour scheme only being black white and one other colour. This attracts people towards our product because of the ergonomic way that our music magazine has been created. We believe that once you buy Acoustic Magazine, it will become the only magazine for you. It will also include sell lines that will intrest our audience into reading more thus buying the magazine. These sell lines will include special features in the magazine and free posters and music merchandise. 

Double page spread flat plan 3

Double page spread flat plan 2

Double page spread Flat plan 1

Contents style sheets 1 and 2

Style sheet

Double page spread

Contents Page

Music magazine Front cover

NME Front cover

Colour scheme
As its a christmas special Nme have used a grey background for simon cowells studio shot. Grey is assosiated with christmas as it gets dark early and the winter sky has a grey tone. With sparkles all over the front cover this represents the snow and the connotation of a white christmas. Simon Cowell is dressed in black which adds to the darkness of him and makes the statement 'the grinch speaks' more apparent. The mastead (NME) is in red which represented with christmas. As the background is grey this makes the picture stand out more and draws all the attention to Simon Cowell.
Photography
NME have used the fact that Simon Cowell is known to be a harsh, bossy and scary man with his facial expression. Buy doing this it connotes to the reader that he is not a nice man. This is also the case with him looking into the camera, It has the effect like he is looking into the eyes of the reader.
Font
All the fonts are in the colour of typical Christmas colours. The masthead NME has a snowy effect on top of it. This is a good way of getting out the fact that it is a Christmas special. 'The Grinch speaks' is in capital letters to make it stand out.
Writing style
'The Grinch speaks' is pointing out the fact that simon cowell is not a very popular man and has been known to have a lot of hatred in and out of the media business. 'NME goes head to head with Simon Cowell gives the impression to the reader that the interview asks some tricky questions and that it is worth reading for the confrontation between NME magazine and Simon. The sell line 'Massive Christmas double special' is in capitals to show the importance of this statement. Its like they want to reader to buy the magazine and believe that NME are being in the Christmas spirit with the double issue.

Text/picture ratio
The large picture of Simon Cowell takes up most of the cover. Simon Cowell is well known for having his artists get the top spot in the Christmas charts. In the bottom left corner of the cover is where NME have put 6 pictures of the free posters inside the issue. This attracts the audience who have posters on there bedroom walls.

Photography
The main image is of the band Avenged sevenfold, Avenged sevenfold are a heavy metal rock band. The image is ‘promoting the worlds most dangerous band’. They are holding wepons to show there anger. The front man is looking straight into the camera lens like its inviting the reader for a fight. The sunglasses shows mystery like the band Slipknot who are famed for bieng scary.

Writing style

The bold wrighting of AVENGED SEVENFOLD in capital letters shows importance and shouting. the quote ‘the most dangerous band in the world’ creates intrest especially with young people as its interisting and older generations would class it as vulgar.

Colour

The colour scheme Yellow,black,red represents anger and danger. This is exciting and goes well with the quote ‘the worlds most dangerous band’. It creates the readers need to know more.
Fonts
The fonts are Bold and of a large size. This shows that the band are large, powerful and not to be messed with! The yellow font corrasponds to the bands yellow skin that means that they different to most people and are of a non human nature. This aspect shows anger in them and intises the reader to learn more. 

Text/picture ratio

The main image is of main artice band avenge sevengfold. Kerrang have always had a text filled front cover. Its a good technique to use as it shows that there is allot in the magazine and the reader is getting more for there money that a cleaner looking front cover like for example the Rolling stones. There is two more inages on the bottom of the front cover that are sell lines with free posters so that the readers can put them on there walls. This is clever as it gives the reader more than just a magazine. They get 'free' merchandise with it aswell.

Rolling stones

Colour scheme
The cover uses the classic white background and red 'Rolling stones' title that is so famously incorporated with the rolling stones magazine. This colour scheme helps readers find exactly what there looking for when put up against other magazines in the shops. The colour of Turning heartbreak into gold is written in gold. This uses the colour of the text to correspond to the quote.


Photography
The photo covers the whole page and is a studio shot of the band Maroon 5. The picture is symmetrical with the lead singer at the front and the two long haired members looking at the camera at the same level. The two at the back are also at the same level. The angle of the shot allows the two members of the band at the back of the photograph to look taller and therefore give the impression that they are powerful. The band is looking at the camera as though they are staring into the audiences eyes. This connection with the audience is creating the instinct to want to know more about the band. The facial expression that the band has indicates that they are serious and that they have given out some serious information the the Rolling stones magazine.


Font
The fonts of the masthead Rolling stone is in Red but with a White background to make it stand out. MAROON 5 is in capital letters to attract the attention of the reader. Kanye west VS, 50 Cent is also in capital letters.This matchup of two huge artists attracts the reader’s attention and creates the curiosity to want to know more. Maroon 5 is also in white text that corrasponds to the background of the studio shot. 'Turning heatbreak into gold' is at an angle that makes the statement more eye catching.


Writing style
The cover line 'Turning heartbreak into gold' relates to the front cover band Maroon 5 and it brings up the assumption that there will be a article in the magazine about how they have become so succesful and tells a story about it.
The sell line at the top of the cover says Iraq: how Bush's chronies swindled billions. This statement says that there will be a political analysis of Bush's Iraq and gives important information to the western society that was run by George Bush. This sell line is good because it makes the music magazine appeal to a larger audience.


Text/picture ratio
The front cover is mainly an image. The text doesn't say much about the magazine. The text overlaps the image at the bottom but the masthead is hidden away behind the image. This is relying on people knowing the style of the rolling stones magazine because the mashead is hard to read. There is not much additional information about what is in the magazine. This relys on the popularity of Maroon 5 to sell the magazine. With additional information about artists included in the magazine this can make the magazine stand out more in the shops because when looking for a music magazine your eyes catch bands and artists of your personal taste.

NME contents page analysis

Photography
The main image is of the band Oasis. It shows them live on stage at the BBCs proms. This image shows Noel gallager and co playing a song with Guitars trumpets and other unconventional instruments. Because Oasis are such a big band its no suprise that they have such a big article.
Text/picture ratio
On the left hand side of the page is the index in bold red. This is sorted by page number. The main article is in the middle with a large picture so that NME can show off and attract the readers attention. On the right is the news. It is an easy layout to find what you are looking for. The band index on the left is clever when readers are trying to find information about there favorite bands.
Font
The font is in big bold writing for the oasis article. This makes the article seem more important. ‘NME this week’ is the masthead for the contents page. This is more interesting than just saying contents page as it gives NME a personal touch to it.
Colour scheme
The text is in Red and black. This is because this is nme’s colour scheme for the whole magazine. They are known for these colours because there Logo is in these colours and they have had these for many years. The yellow text of 'subscribe today' attracts the readers attention to what NME want them to see. They are attracting them to the things that would create the reader to buy more copies.
Writing style
The writing style is easy to understand. This is the case because the target audience is of a younger age than other magazines such as Mojo. There is little complex vocabulary because of this.

Kerrang Double Page spread

Photography
There is 4 images for the double page spread with descriptions. The article is an inside studio interview with the band My chemical romance. The main image is of the frontman Gerrard way. He is in the middle of a song and this is an action shot. The picture looks like it was taken live as it looks as if he is performing in the recording studio.
Writing style
The text is neatly kept to the corner. This is of an article of there new album. The masthead ‘were bieng the best MCR we can be’. This is saying that the new albulm is going to be the best yet therefore the reader should buy the album to hear the best of this globaly succesful band.
Colour scheme
The colour scheme Red,black,white is clever because it fits in with the new hairstyle of the frontman (RED)
The red colour
Fonts
The fonts are bold in capital letters and grainy. This font is great when the article is asscoiated with a band like My chemical romance as the font corrasponds to there music style.
Text/picture ratio
The layout is neat and it has seperate sections for the article and pictures. Its well layed out because it shows tour dates on the right hand side for the interested reader to see the band live. There is more pictures than text in the article as kerrang is aimed at a younger audience and there attention immediately is attracted to the pictures.

Statement of intent

I aim to create a music magazine (Front cover, contents page, Double page spread) that will use and challenge the conventions of existing music magazines. I will research original magazines to find out how they are so popular with certain audiences and what typical conventions are used. I will create a magazine that will aim to sell to a certain audience. This will be done by doing audience research in the selected age group to find out what the public want to see in a music magazine.
Finally I will evaluate what I did wrong and what I did right when looking at my magazine. What I have learnt, how I have attracted my audience and what technologies I needed and could have done without.