Researching Target Audiences of Different Music Magazines

Different magazines have differnt target audiences. They have a certain socail demographics that they are aimed at. These social demographics are determind depending on the look and certain topics that are featured.

 This states how both magazines with the same genre can both differ in their audience. While NME focuses on the new and fresh brands UNCUT features older artists.

I then did my magazine NO.1 chosen audience and social demographic. It showed how mine differed from both NME and UNCUT as my magazine is focused on the other side of the spectrum.

Investigating the Market

Market Research into Types of Magazines Sold at WHS

Name of Magazine	Genre
NME	Rock
Kerrang	Rock
BBC Music Magazine	Classical
Mixmag	Dance
Echoes	Mobo (music of black origin)
Vibe	Hip Hop
Q	Rock
Rock Sound	Rock
Classic FM	Classical

Then I researched the different music magazines in the market and came to the conclusion that my genre would be pop as there is a clear gap in the market and potential customers.

Analysing Front Cover Images

To make my magazine look as professional as possible I looked at other magazines and studied how they portrayed their genre. For example Q magazine features dark colours to portray the image of serious rock music. The images that arise on this and other magazines with this genre tend to have aggressive person who rebels against the rules of society. They seem very intimidating and have a closed personality where they don’t want to conform to the music that is popular during a certain era. Whereas Mixmag has more bright, vivid and stunning colours to represent their image of fun dance music. The images that regularly occur are carefree and let the readers of this magazine aware that the most important past time for its readers are parties and relaxing. I have decided along with my brainstorm that because my chosen genre is pop the colours need to be luminous and vibrant as pop music is happy. My cover star and feature images need to be happy and open. The person needs to come across as friendly so the readers can feel connected to her and be able to relate in some way to her life.

Planning/ Sketching page Layouts

First I had a go at using fireworks and cutting image and placing it on a coloured background.

                                                        This is the original image.

                                                         This is the edited image.

Shooting/ Selecting Images

 I shot various pictures for my magazine NO.1.

This is the image I used for my front cover, but I cut around the image like this:

 I chose this image for the front cover as it shows her as strong. As she is smiling it gives the impression that she is friendly and open. By her giving off this confident image makes the reader think that she is able to deal with her new found "fame."

Contents Page

For my contents page I chose a picture of my cover star with an electric guitar. This is because it gives a suprise element to my target audience, as they may no longer view her as a stereotypical pop star, who only sings. I cut around the picture and added a felt-tip outline. This is because ut adds a child-like feel to my magazine.

Feature Page

I wanted to show my pop star as a singer so I took a picture of my cover star with a microphone to show that she is serious about her career. I edited this picture by cutting out the background, as it was not fitting to the article. I also addded a white dashed outline as it enforces the  childlike image. It also is fitting with my article as I wanted the picture page of my article to look like a scrapbook or photo album (eg. the picture might have been cut out and stuck in.) 

 I chose to use this picture of my cover star within the article as it shows that she is a big star, almost like a celebrity.

I also chose to put a picture of my cover star within the feature as it shows my target audience as "normal."

I chose this picture of my cover star in her bedroom lying on her bed so that it gives a relaxed feel. It also shows her listening to music enforcing the normality. 

I didn't chose these pictures because....

the ipod is not properly used or shown. Also the picture of my cover star holding the ipod did not portray the relaxed feel I wanted as my cover star is sitting up straight giving off an uncomfortable feel.

Planning/ Sketching Images

I sketch the images of both my front cover and feature images. This will give me a good outline into whether I should change somethiing for purposes of the market. It also truly highlights a true brand identity.

 This is my front cover and it shows clearly my target market. This is done through both my use of colour and other artists.

These are my feature images they show that my artist is new and normal. This will invite my audience in and make them feel included.

Researching & Designing Mastheads

I completed a brainstorm of all the words I associated with the word pop.

Then I made a list of potential names from that brainstorm

1)     Insound

2)     Upbeat

3)     Popular

4)     Pop Culture

5)     Vibrant

6)     Distinct

7)     Alive

8)     Movement

9)     NO.1

10)  Platinum

I then looked at differnt brands as it is vital to have an identity.

 

     

These are famous clothing brands (eg.Nike) that have made a name for themselves with just a logo.

I then looked at music magazine UNCUT and focused on its identity and how that reflected the genre.

My chosen name of my magazine is number one. The reason I chose this name is because it is catchy and it stands out. The image that  is generated with a title like number one is that it is the best magazine of it's genre. It is one of a kind. My graphic to include with this title is a microphone on a stand inside a block number one.

I completed NO.1 magazines brand identity and why i believe it is unique, and how it will portray the pop genre.

 

 I then completed the very first draft of my masthead

From that I designed three mastheads

I chose the third masthead as every aspect of it stands out, which is unlike the others which blended in. The colour scheme fits well with my social demographic as I have chosen to focus on girls aged 10- 14. The image of my audience who are stereotypical girly girls made me decide on the final chosen colours.

Exploring/ Values/ Ideologies of Different Music Magazines

I looked at two different genres of music magazines Smash Hits and NME. I studied how the two magazines focus on different ideologies and beliefs.

NME’s Ideology

NME’s values are:

• its interest in the history of music
• its focus on the new technologies and social networking sites (eg. facebook, twitter.)
• it has an alternative image that does not follow the mainstream.
• It has political values
• The quality of music is important it is very serious

• Contradicting image of fun (offering gig tickets)                     
• Has wider interests (movies)
• Business like not inviting corporate (online music store)
• Gives image of independent however belongs to IPC media. 

http://www.nme.com/

On the other hand Smash Hits has very different values and ideas

Smash Hits Ideology

Smash Hits values are:

• Celebrity culture
• Feminism dominance (pink, lip-gloss)
• Plastic “perfect” artists

• Not Political                              
• Image important                            
• Being popular is important (eg. association with chart kiss, the box etc.)
• Fun
• Simple (suggests younger age range than NME)

http://www.smashhits.net/

Preliminary Task (Contents Page)

Our second mock up task was a contents page for our school magazine. Following the colour scheme of our front cover.  



Preliminary Task (Front Cover)

Our first task was to make a mock up front page for a school magazine. I chose to do a school magazine with a special topic.