Charlotte Thandy Candidate Number: 5295 Centre Number 31030 G321: Final Submission

1. Charlotte Thandy Candidate Number: 5295 Centre Number 31030 G321: Final Submission

2. Initial Research

3. Identifying Conventions I have decided to identify different conventions of three different magazines, I have chosen a general music magazine, and a rock magazine, also I will take a look at an Rnb magazine as I am unsure about the genre of my magazine at this time. By doing this research it will help me think about the genre of my magazine and what conventions I will need to apply on my magazine.

5. Q Magazine The main similarity of all these issues of Q magazine, is the magazines title which is located always in the left corner, this is most likely used to make it recognisable for the readers, throughout the years it has never changed. As you can see Q magazine is a magazine which is a general music magazine, it consists of a variety of genres, this means it will appeal to a variety of readers. The target market is for mature music lovers, as the price is quite expensive for regular music fans. On some of the covers, there is a tagline which states: ‘The Uk’s biggest music magazine’, this makes it sound to the readers that it’s the best in the market, if they want a music magazine, this is the one to get. Another aspect these issues have in common is they all have a unique selling point which is a worldwide artist, this is the first thing most consumers look at before purchasing a magazine, the cover story, it draws them in. By having a different genre artist every month, it attracts a variety of people, for example there is a Britney Spears issue and a Kings of Leon issue, it shifts the genre. I am going to look at an issue in detail and identify the convections of the front cover, in addition a contexts page and double page spread.

6. Q Front Cover My first music magazine I am going to analyze is Q music magazine, this a general music magazine, it has a variety of genres from Madonna to Coldplay, Jay Z to Lady Gaga, it has a comprehensive view of the music. It draws different people with different tastes of music in, for example the content on the sides, it has a range of artists, slash, vampire weekend, jimmy Hendrix, it has a wide target market. The target market is for mature music lovers, probably from their late teens, personally as a music lover I wouldn’t read this kind of magazine, however if there was a artist I really liked on the front cover it would tempt me to purchase it. That is why magazines have unique selling points. On this cover the unique selling point is probably the artist Lady Gaga, the reason for a unique selling point is to draw the customers in. This cover does draw the consumer in, as a fan of this artist, this magazine is would get my attention mainly due to the image, it is in the centre with most of the text pushed behind the image expect for the last two letters. The photo is very provocative, and sexual for a music magazine which makes it a very good unique selling point, it will not only appeal to females, males too. The message on the left ‘world exclusive’ it may make the consumer feel this is the magazine to read as this has a world exclusive which no other magazine has. Also the magazine’s tagline at the top ‘The Uk’s biggest magazine’ also may make the reader feel like this is the magazine to read, the word biggest is a superlative word, it’s a comparison technique telling the readers it’s got the most of the particular quality which is it being big. The aesthetics are really effective on this particular magazine mainly dues to the color scheme which is white, red, black and grey as you can see above. The red is used at a minimum which is effective, as it stands out, for example ‘100’, ‘shocking’ and the actual title. The title obviously needs to stand out and it does on this magazine, the white and red blend together and makes it easy to spot for the reader when its on the sale stands. 100 and shocking engages the reader, as they want to know what is shocking . The background which is grey fits in well with the image as it matches the color of the artist’s hair which is effective. The artists name is a bigger text size than the rest, this is because it is the main story, some people read a magazine just for its cover story, it needs to be bold and clear, on this cover it is serif text. ‘Has risen’ is below the name, this has been used as it shows that this artist is on top at the moment this is suggested by the word risen. They have a list on the bottom left of what artist will be appearing somewhere in the magazine, this is to appeal to different people not just people for want to read the cover story. ‘Who the hell are…. Jedward’ appears at the bottom, this may be to introduce a new artist, it gives the consumer curiosity about it. The circle which reads ‘gorillaz’, album of the year so far, more album reviews’ this is definitely for the real music lovers who read the magazine to find out what new in music. Also on Q magazine the ‘Q’ title is always on the left corner which makes it recognizable, and eye catching in the corner. Finally the barcode is in the right corner, this is essential for my magazine.

7. Issue date, and number. Also websites for the magazine, so that consumers can experience Q in a different way. Q: Contents The title ‘Q’, still located in the left corner, similar to the front cover, keeping with the layout. These are the features that most people reading this would be interested in the most, sections which are unique in this issue, in some of the features a name is highlighted in bold to catch readers attention e.g. the mighty boosh, some people may not necessarily read the sections underneath the title but the bold names will make them read it. This image is of the cover story, it’s still running through the contents as the issue is focusing on it. At the bottom of the image it states the page number, and gives a taste of what is inside. It states the pages of the reviews, the subheading includes alliteration biggest and best. It makes it sound like it is the bet and no other magazine have it this good. The artists are in bold so that readers can identify if any of their favourite artists are there. There is a section about a special which is in this issue, it’s a memorable band for mature music lovers, that is why it will appeal to majority of them. This contents features the pages most consumers would be interested in, they do not include every single page, as it would look cramped and unattractive for consumers, therefore hard to find pages. I have noticed that the language used is very colloquial for example words used are: knackered, loveliest, bizarre. Also they use the phrase ‘we kid you not’. It makes the reader feel very comfortable with reading the magazine as the language is very chatty.

8. Q: Double Page Spread This double page spread from Q magazine surrounds the artist Sharkia, my first aspect which draws in is the main image of her. The image is a long shot and it shows a very naturalistic pose, however the other image which is outlined gives sex appeal to the male audience. The image represents Sharkia as a dedicated working woman, but the other one represents her as a sensual being. The article is neatly boxed which makes clear for the reader, I will have to take this in account for my magazine to make sure that everything is readable. The bottom article in the right corner is in a blue colour which makes it stand out and fits in with the colour scheme. The word danger has a different connotation in this page, the word is used as a positive indicating it’s a good danger, producing music.

10. Kerrang Kerrang magazine is a rock magazine which comes out weekly compared to Q which comes out monthly. It is targeted in opinion to teenager’s sexes, probably 13-19 year olds, youngsters just getting into the music. Compared to Q magazine it hasn’t got any sexual connotations probably due to the target market. The price is indicated on the bar code, which £2.20, this is affordable for the older teens of the target market. On most of the magazines they give out free posters or include a competition on the front, this is used to entice consumers to purchase the magazine. On all of the covers, the layout seems the same. The title is in the same position and most have the additional information at the bottom. A common similarity on the covers is the language use. Already by looking at the covers, you can tell it informal magazine, which will use slang, and colloquial language, for example taboo is used and acronyms. Another language technique they use is the rule of three to spark excitement for the reader, ‘fame, freakouts and fatherhood’ this is also alliteration, it engage the audience. Also ‘sex, drugs, violence...’ it uses an ellipses to show the rest is to be revealed inside, it makes the reader want to open the magazine. I am going to be looking at one of the front covers in detail to identify the convections, also a contents page and double page spread from the magazine.

11. Kerrang: Front Covers 1 It keeps to a main colour scheme which is yellow, white and black. The yellows highlight information to which grabs attention, Hayley and your, this is in a way personal, it’s including the artists name with a personal pronoun to make the reader feel included. The actual line reads Hayley answers your questions, this makes the reader feel like the magazine is involving them, she is personally answering there questions. Also in yellow ‘I have nothing left to prove’ this is an extract from the interview most likely, it leaves off with ellipsis which is used to make the reader want to read more of it, its indicating the rest is too be continued instead which it is. The top yellow bar is a unique selling point, a different one from Q magazine which was the artist. Kerrang uses a competition to entice people to purchase it, even stating how many tickets they are giving away. On magazine number 1 it uses abbreviation ‘comp’ it is used as it fits in with the target market as they use this type of language. As you can see on both magazine 1 and 2 of Kerrang the layout is similar, the title is in same position, and they both have further artists names on the bottom to entice the consumers even more. Number 2 also uses a acronym ‘Wft’ this is also to used as it’s the same language the target audience would use and understand, however it may have been used due to actual words being too explicit for a magazine on sale stands. The title is very bold and fits in with the genre of music which is loud and bold. They use the space very well, it is not too overcrowded but it don’t have too little on the front, 2

13. Vibe Magazine Vibe magazine is a well known urban magazine in America. The main target market from looking at the covers is most likely both male and female 18 to their mid 20s, this is due to the content on the front covers. For example ‘City summer guide’, teenagers would not need a city summer guide, mainly young adults. The first similarity of these cover is that they all have a worldwide superstar on the front cover, this is their unique selling point, every issue the readers will expect a well known artist to be on the cover. On every issue the title is always in one bold colour e.g. yellow, red, blue. Even though the title is always pushed to the back it is still noticeable and bold. Most of them keep to a colour scheme, in which the title colour is used to highlight certain information, this is used to make it stand out from the rest of the text. For example the cover with Eminem on the front highlights his name, then ‘comes clean’ which is in a smaller type. These three words are the words the readers pay attention to, may be due to the alliteration used too. One noticeable difference is that not all of them have a bar code, two of them do not, this means that the price is not indicated on the front cover, leaving the consumer confused whether to purchase the magazine, that is why it is important to put a barcode on my front cover. Another aspect I have noticed about vibe magazine is that the female covers all give out sexual connotations, this is most likely mainly used to entice the audience, for example the male audience, also to stand out from other magazines on sale stands, e.g. if Q magazine and vibe with a very provocative image was on newsstands, the vibe would stand out as its conversional. I will be analysing the front covers in more detail and a contents page to identify the convections.

14. 1 Vibe Front Cover • From all two covers of vibe magazine, instantly I can tell its a hip-hop/Rnb magazine, this is from the artists and the content on the front. Magazine 1 is my personal favourite, this is because of the way the title fades into the background, I think it is very effective, however some individuals may not be able to identify the magazine, as it could be misread ‘vibe’ could be ‘vice’ or ‘vipe’. The size of the text is used very effectively, on the right side the artist’s names are sized bigger than the rest to make them stand out to show consumers what the magazine will feature. The use of a quote on the front cover gives the readers an insight of what they will expect in the interview, it also gives them the page number which indicates there is much more inside. A variety of language techniques are used on these covers, alliteration is used on number 1 ‘sex, screams & scandal’ this is used to make it sound interesting and conversional. On magazine 2 a rhetorical question is used to make the topic sound shocking ‘is that Chris Brown?’ it sounds like something big has happened with him. In the red shapes on magazine 2, it states it is the mega music issue, its highlighting a unique feature of the issue by using alliteration to stress it. The magazine uses quite colloquial language for example, hottest, mega, foxy. This is the language the readers would probably use. Vibe always makes sure the artist is the biggest image as that is what the main focus is, this is most likely the biggest story therefore they are promoting it the most. The representation of magazine one is very sexual, and magazine two is portraying good guy turned bad. The colour and space use is used effectively, on the first magazine it uses tones which blend together, for example white, black and grey with some red to highlight the artists to bring attention to them. Magazine 2 spacing is used successfully, it is not too cramped too confuse readers, but it has enough for the readers to get a insight of what to expect. 2

15. Contents: Vibe First of all the background colour scheme carries on from the front cover, it contrasts really well. The title is at the top in bold letters in white, the white stands out from the rest. The font is emboldened for the subheadings to stand out. There is an outline of V the title of the magazine, its effective as it fades with the background. The image is a medium shot which gives out a overall image of the artist, suggesting sexual connotations. Use of space is used quite effectively, there is not too much text on the contents to overload the readers with information.

16. Vibe: Double Page Spread My first aspect which draws my attention on this double page spread is the artist this is because of the effect they have produced of having an enlarged image of the artist in colour and in the background having continuous images of her, it makes the reader focus on her. The images in the background reflect the sort of artist she is, a fun, RnB singer, the poses she is doing in the images gives the page a fun vibe. The colour scheme of this page works very well, it is in black and white, which makes everything in colour stand out including the artists name which is in blue. The layout of this spread is set out very differently from Q and Kerrang, it has much more text than the others, however the reader will not feel its too much to read as its set out in columns, divided by the image of the artists. The space is used effectively, there is not too much white left out, most of the page is covered too a extent. The language used is quite colloquial however not as much as Kerrang and Q magazine. For example, shortening of words ‘sis’, this would be relevant for the audience as the target audience would used this word. In addition words which can be seen as taboo, for example ‘ass’ and ‘fuck’, however these will not be seen as offensive in this piece of text as the audience would expect this sort of language in this type of magazine. Jargon is used in a sense, for example the word swagger only certain people would understand this language, this is used to communicate to their readers, through their language. Also a superlative word is used: ‘best’ this is used to emphasise how successful the artist is if someone didn't know of them. At the bottom right their is a caption which tells the readers what she is wearing and where it can be found, this would appeal to the women.

17. Planning

18. Who are my target audience? After researching three different magazines with different genres, I have came to a conclusion that I will be doing a indie/rock magazine I have chose this because I can relate to this genre , also my peers can. Now that I know what my genre my magazine will be , I have chose my target audience. The qualities of my target audience are that they obviously enjoy indie, rock or even alternative music . The age range of my target audience will be between the age of 15-21, therefore late teens/young adults, I have chose this particular age range because this is the age when people are socialising with their friends at college/university , going to music events, enjoying themselves and most people who listen to this genre fall in this age range. They are both male and female . When conducting a survey with my target market 6/12of the people I asked said they would prefer to see a new and upcoming artist on a front cover of a magazine than a well known artist, 2/12 said they prefer to see both and 4/12 said a well know artist, this is only a sample of my target market however I now know that my target audience like to know about new and upcoming artists. Throughout my magazine I need to be sure that I relate it to my target market, I could do this by using part their dialect in my magazine, also bringing in their fashion. On my next piece of research I will be analysing in detail the results from my survey which I gave to a sample of my target audience.

19. Target Audience Feedback I carried out a survey on a sample of my target audience to find out what appeals to them on a indie/rock magazine. I surveyed 6 males and 6 females as they are both my target market. Question One: What do you expect on the front cover of an indie/rock magazine? First of all majority of them expects to see a indie/rock band which is very obvious, one individual specifically though t of having a big picture of a band. Large bold titles is another factor which is expected, reviews, latest news stories , in addition one male thought of having the new stories on the left side and two females expect to see free gifts. Most these convections are convections which I have identified on the magazines I have analysed and will try and apply them on my magazine. Question 2: What aspect of a magazine makes you want to purchase the magazine? I asked this question as I wanted to know what convection appeals the most to them to make them by the magazine. A common answer which 10/12 I asked replied free gifts, e.g. In the form of a poster/stickers , also the free gift could be related to the cover story. I think I will include a free gift on my magazine most likely a poster as it will be my unique selling point of the magazine as its very appealing to my target market. The cover story/cover band is also a popular aspect, I need to think carefully about the band I put on my front cover as its the first aspect the consumers look at most likely. Also information on gigs/events was an answer, my target audience are interested in gigs/events, therefore I should include a aspect of it on the cover or contents. Another aspect which one individual stated was if its well written and includes a pun, I will have to think about the language I use in my magazine. Question 3: How much would you pay for this type of magazine? All the females stated a amount between £2 and £3. The male answers were 2/6 £2 to £3. One stated less than £4, another £3.99, they may have stated £3.99 because it a psychological pricing, it makes them seem its cheaper than £4. Also one stated less than £5, and one thought it depends whether its weekly or monthly. I think I will price my magazine at either £2.99 or £3.50 as it will be a monthly magazine, therefore will have a lot of content in the magazine, also at £2.99 this will be a psychological price, making the consumers feel its cheaper than if it was £3.

20. Target Audience Feedback Question 4: What colours attract your attention on a magazine? A common answer was bright/bold colours and attractive , loud ones, e.g. Red was common. Someone stated black and also white. Also colours which go well together, and limited colours, not too many. However one person stated dark colours (black, brown, oranges, reds), I will need to consider these colours also. Question 5: Do you find a front cover more appealing if it has a selection of images or just one image to focus on? Only 5 preferred a just one image, reasons were it looks too clustered with more than one, also its a lot clearer with one, also to having a few images surrounding the large image. By having a selection of images my target audience find it more exciting and appealing, also it gives more variety. Also having a selection allows the consumers to see if their favourite band is there. One individual suggested a selection of images which are blurred or collaged, making the image more intense but still high quality. I will have to think about the number of images I will have on the front cover carefully, having one image makes the readers focus on that image alone , however a selection gives variety. Question 6: What do you expect on a double page spread in an indie/rock magazine? A band interview was a popular answer and images of the band, I will be doing a artist/band interview in my double page spread. Also quotes from the interview was a answer, which is a good convection to put on my magazine as when they flick through the magazine, the quotes will stand out and attract their attention. Answering fan questions in the interview too, this will help them connect with the readers. Some more expectations are information of the band e.g. Facts and the history of them. One aspect which I think is important and I would want in a magazine spread is tour dates, it informs their fans of their tour if they do not know already. Question 7: Do you like to read reviews about CD’s and events? This was a closed question, either yes or no. 3/4 of the people I surveyed replied yes . Now I know they like to read reviews, I will include a review page in my contents , and maybe a CD or event review on my double page spread.

21. Flat Plans I produced simple flat plans for my front cover, contents and double page spreads. I will stick to my flat plan as much as possible, it is here to guide me when producing my front cover, contents and double page spread. Title Image of double page spread Headlines Contents title Photograph of Paramore Barcode

22. Double Page Spread Flat Plan

23. My Double Page Spread The double page spread of my magazine will be in the similar style to the one I analysed for Kerrang Magazine. It will have a selection of images on the page of the band, because my target audience find having more images gives variety and is more exciting. This spread has a small article, I think having a small article will be better for my magazine as if a magazine has too much text on the page, the readers may be put off by the amount of text. I want to focus on the images as people glance at the visual images first. I also will include tour dates on the side or a review of the bands album, as my target market seemed keen on the idea. Also to help reach out to my target audience I will include a box with social networking sites which will help the readers connect with the magazine. This is also a way of informing the readers, as my magazine will to entertain/inform. The article will be entertain the readers.

24. Mood Board This mood board is my inspiration for my photographs which of my feature artist. Its inspired by artist/actress Taylor Momsen. The outfits she is wearing will inspire my photo shoot and also she will inspire my article.

25. Selection of Photos

26. The Photo Shoot My photo shoot for my main artist did not go to plan. First of all my model had changed from my initial model however this worked out in the end for the better, then the concept of the photo shoot which was in the bathroom did not work because of various lighting. But because of the weather which had occurred we moved the photo shoot outside to work with the weather which was snow and it became a success. We took various photographs outside and then a few indoor photos.

27. Additional Images As I am creating a music magazine I needed other images not just of my main artist. I needed some for my contents page especially, so it showcases other artists. Therefore I took some additional photographs in music settings. This image is used in the contents page to portray a band called you me at six. I cropped the image and then added a filter.

29. Image Manipulation This image above, I attempted to do recreate for my double page spread. To make it work I made sure my model wore the correct clothing and done a similar pose. I knew that I was going to cut around the legs, so I did not focus on the setting too much. My photograph (unedited) The is the image after it was manipulated in photoshop . I obviously used the lasso tool to cut the legs out, then I change the lighting and added a filter to get the full effect.

30. Alternative Fronts When I was creating my front cover for my magazine. I had a variety of ideas for the front cover before I came to an conclusion about the final design. 2 1 This was a early design when I was making the front cover. The reason why it did not go further was because of my target market. I asked for my target markets opinion and a number of them agreed that it looked more like a fashion magazine rather than a music magazine. This design was not chose because I didn't think it stood out as much as the other design which is now the front cover. The other design gives a edge to the magazine and shows the artists personality. Also I asked someone from my target market and they preferred the other design.