music magazine evaluation

Media- Music Magazine Evaluation

I based my magazine cover around the generic features of real music magazines in order to promote a recognisable standard of professionalism. I noticed that magazines have stock features; a head mast, a primary image/ subject with a backdrop, captions, offers, and then the more compulsory factors; bar code, issue number, contact details and a date. As well as including the conventional features I also understood how each magazine issue would have its own unique design to it and would only share a select few traits throughout all the issues i.e. head mast font etc. and therefore developed my magazine front cover so it would have a uniqueness befitting the genre of music. The genre that the magazine would explore would be the vast genre rock. My issue would specifically explore the sub-genre indie-rock. In prompt to that I analysed the indie-rock world, including common colour schemes and graphics, and in accordance to that I chose a basic colour scheme that ran throughout the cover in order to uphold a substantial standard of professionalism. This colour scheme includes a regular occurrence of a light brown and black with hints of white. The light brown and black are the two dominant colours where as the white is only used to add a contrasting effect which is important in order to accentuate important information within a front cover.

In order to differentiate between my rock genre magazine with the conventional rock magazines, instead of trying to make it obviously distinct from popular magazine covers I had designed my cover so that it conveyed a significantly more subtle scheme. This, I believe reflects the nature of the indie-rock scene in comparison to the more heavy rock genres as indie rock has always been recognised for its more pleasant sound. However, the layout of my magazine cover was very traditional and did not oppose any substantial traits composed within other rock magazines such as; a large image (regardless if it is engaging or not), lively fonts in various angled positions and images that portray the including contents of the magazine.

One of the initial purposes of a music magazine is to successfully represent its target audience or social group. The social group I aimed at was of course people interested in the indie-rock scene; this is a massive audience, however, in any given music genre, there are stereotypes and coupled with these there are generic traits favoured by the audience. Such as the fashion; the subject wore a fedora styled hat; a shirt, waist-coat, and tie combination, jeans and converses. Although this may not be a main stream fashion style in the indie scene, it is still suitable for the music magazine none-the-less. I also understood that the background is relevant to the image that the magazine is trying to portray and can contribute greatly to the appeal of the magazine. Knowing this, I used a poetic backdrop in order to portray a more inventive and artistic feel, which, I found was a common factor throughout the targeted social group. This backdrop essentially was simply a single tree in favourable weather; bright sunshine, blue skies and white clouds.

What kind of media institute that might distribute my magazine would entirely depend on the contents of it; if it included insightful information on bands that expand beyond its own specific genre, then this could very well be distributed by online corporate companies. On the contrary, if it included miscellaneous information then it’s most profitable distributor would be high street shops. However, because I have designated the price to be £2.00, traditionally speaking, magazines at that price would usually sell in high street shops, unless of course the target audience had the option of ordering monthly instalments.

I had thought carefully as to who my audience would be. I deciphered that the majority of the indie scene were working class, carefree people aged 11- 30, however, the idea that only ages 11- 18 would still buy magazines at these process narrowed down my audience. Therefore, my target audience would be students ranging from secondary school to college; those in secondary school would not have a large budget to pay for luxuries, this justifies the reasonable price of my magazine. Also I previously described my audience as “carefree” which is the reason as to why I chose the backdrop; it portrays a calmer, “carefree” life which is relevant to the indie scene.
Not only must I have needed to know my audience, I had to know how to effectively entice them. I did so by effectively conveying the indie-rock style as I would not want to seem inexperienced and this would in turn insult my targeted audience and have an unproductive effect on my magazine. The colour scheme was familiar to the indie-rock scene with would make it easy for the audience to relate to, the subject image and backdrop conveyed an appropriate reflection of the indie world and the fonts along with the graphics were bold, engaging and respectful to the genre of music.

Throughout the production of this magazine I had learned an essential amount of the technologies that go into the production of any magazine and from that I can understand or estimate the technologies of the higher class magazines. I used Photoshop Elements in this production and came to terms with many useful tools and the effects they could build; airbrushing is a very popular device within the media industry, cropping can capture different angles and therefore manipulate the image the magazine wears. Also, I have learned a substantial amount concerning layout; how it is very important to try and balance the cover and how it is possible to manipulate the eye of the audience, leading their vision to where you wish. By doing so, the producer can keep the audiences eye focussed on one matter of the magazine whilst they can also present glimpses of other relevant or desirable information.

To give myself constructive criticism, I would say that if I were to redo this production I would have one large factor on my magazine cover that would contrast with the entirety of the cover whilst also in some elements relate to it. I would have a self-designed graphic occurring throughout the cover and a possible slogan. In regards to the subject, I believe I would use a more suited one, regarding fashion, composure and the general body shape. By altering these few factors I believe I would be able to build a more competent magazine cover.