Evaluation

The brief was to create a front page, contents and double page spread of a new music magazine including my own images. In order to do this I researched the conventions of a music magazine and what each aspect included. I looked at various magazines from different genres, I looked into how they portrayed the music genre throughout the front page, contents and double page spread and how the institution delivered this to the audience they where targeting. I researched into the conventions of magazines and found that all magazines used, images, text, adverts that all fit with the genre of the magazine. I analysed all of the 3 pages from various magazines such as NME, Kerrang, and Q so that I knew exactly what I wanted to create. I made a plan including ideas and how I would portray a specific audience, I also drew up drafts ( posted on blog 13/12 at 6:03) and created computer drafts to make sure I could make it the best I could.

I decided that my magazine would be targeted at people from the age of 17 onwards as the genre for my magazine was rock/acoustic and the magazine was going to have a strong influence from artists from the past. I needed to make sure the front cover represented the social group I was targeting my magazine at in order for them to choose this magazine out of all the others available. Also I needed to make sure my front cover used all the conventions that a real magazine does so therefore I included a barcode, issue number and price. I took a lot of photos for my magazine, I got a friend to dress in an old red chequered shirt in order to look like a recording artists from the sort of genre I was looking for. I used mise en scene as I took the pictures in my garage where I used iconography such as a record player, microphone, water bottles, coffee mug and cigarettes to set the scene I wanted it to look like their own recording studio as the artist in my magazine had finally "made it" after years of recording their own music, these iconic signs also had connotations to a "rock star" I took the shots from various angles so that I had various images to choose from. The final image I used for the front cover was a medium shot. I used a long shot in my contents page as I wanted to capture the background. And I used two mediums shots and one close up on my double page spread so that it was more direct at the audience.

My music magazine uses conventions of a real media product as every thing that is visual needs to attract the right audience in order for the magazine to attract the target audience. My front cover includes a strong main focus point being the image, I think my picture works with the genre of my magazine which is rock/acoustic with a strong influence from rock artists from the past. The picture is a medium shot that takes up the whole of the page I think this looks better than super imposing it. The picture I have taken looks professional as I have used a professional camera to take it, also the picture is bold and striking this works with the ideology of the magazine as it then attracts the right audience. Real main stream magazines use conventions in order for their magazine to sell If my magazine was a real media product I needed to do the same therefore The "artist" (model) I have specifically used is holding a guitar although this is not necessary for a music magazine it was for mine as my main cover line is "INSIDE THE STUDIO" this was the Anchorage for the picture as then the audience knew that this artist was in the studio. Another convention would be a strong name for the magazine The name of my magazine is "VINYL RECORDS" I chose this certain name as it would tell the audience exactly what magazine it is straight away. I also chose it as its catchy and a play on words as although people would think it means that the artists featured in the magazine would be from the days when vinyl’s where around, it also allows the audience to know that the magazine would still feature new upcoming fame around that genre.

It is important that a magazine front cover would catch the consumers attention straight away as this is the first thing they see. In order to do that I included selling lines such as "free posters" as this make the audience believe there getting a lot for their money. I also included "your top 100 classics" this makes the audience believe that the magazine is directed exactly at them and feel as if they are included. The slogan that I used "great music great sounds" is simple and would be featured on every front cover as this begins to create familiarity for the audience.
I wanted my magazine to look like it had a big influence from the vinyl years and artist that where around in the 70s,80s and still followed what they where doing, as on my front cover it says that it features certain bands that are not new upcoming fame in order to do this I used colours such as brown and sepia which gave it an authentic look which again would create a certain ideology attracting my target audience. To create a wider audience I included a new upcoming artist as the main feature as my magazine still included new music.
My contents page fits with the front cover, in order for the magazine to be successful the colour scheme needs to be carried through the whole of the magazine, therefore I stuck with the same sort of colours, the contents page also needs to be attractive and include what is in the magazine so that the audience carry on reading
I put the text down the left hand side in a column to make it easy for the reader, the text is the same as the front cover in order to carry out the same theme.
I also added "plus" have the chance to win Harriet's new single" this makes reader go into the magazine as surely they would want to win something. I also added "send us your view and win the white stripes album" again making them get involved an in order for them to buy the next weeks magazine. I included the posters at the bottom of the page these are the posters that are in the magazine this lures the reader inside the magazine.
My double page spread is of "Harriet Cressey" the artist that is featured on the front cover of the magazine, my double page spread again uses conventions of a real music magazine, the artist is featured across two pages. To start of the article I used a quote " I'm having the best time of my life" which is in a larger text than the rest of the text. The typography looks handwritten as this makes it more intimate as if the artist had written it herself. The pull quote is direct and draws the reader in. In the interview I have asked questions that the reader would want to know as sometimes this is the only way they are going to find out.
Through the interview I use quotes in bold, a lot of magazines use this technique so that the reader can pick out the bits they want to read and also makes them as if the artist is talking personally to them, I included pictures where Harriet was performing but also ones that where to look like they'd be taken during the interview this was so the reader felt closer to the artist.

The kind of media institution that would distribute my magazine would be one that was mainstream as this music is becoming increasingly popular, I looked into various companies that distribute magazines and found that companies such as, Q, rock sound and NME would be similar to the institution that would sell mine as although various music genres are included and artists from the present and the past, they still seem to base their magazine look around the rock genre. Also these magazines have a similar target audience so therefore would be the kind of institute to distribute my magazine. I also looked at the institution IPC as this a wide successful institution, I think they would also be a likely company to distribute my magazine, as my magazine features new artist therefore a company like IPC would be able to get the artists in my magazine recognised therefore people would buy the magazine. My music magazine institution would have to be successful by advertising and making themselves known in order to sell the magazine.
While making my music magazine I have learnt a lot about media products, I have come to realise that every specific detail is important for the distribution of the magazine, every thing from the colours to the text and layout are important. I have learnt that everything visual has to fit with the genre and entertain the right audience. I know have more knowledge and experience to creating a media product, also while using photo shop to create this I am know confident with this programme and would no longer struggle to create anything else in this programme. From completing the preliminary task to know creating four pages of a music magazine I have learnt a lot in the progression of the work, as looking back at my college magazine I feel the main task is a whole lot more successful as I have done a lot more research so I knew exactly what I wanted to create and what needed to be included. This time I had thought about every aspect making it look professional.

After creating my magazine I did a short questionnaire asking people their opinions, the results I got back were positive and showed that the magazine would attract the audience I’ll intended on, I asked people to tell me what audience my magazine would attract and most people said teenagers, most people thought it looked professional, all the questioned I asked the answers came out positive. On the whole I believe my music magazine is successful!