Main Task- Final cover.

I have applied the changes according to my feedback yet still kept my cover similar to the idea I had in mind. By applying red to the background on the text at the top it makes it stand out more and helps the theme flow through easier. Also by rounding the edge's of the boxes and making some darker it gives more depth and a more easy going edge to my magazine which was one of  my original aims.

Main Task- Cover Draft 1.

This is my final front cover. I found it quite difficult to get it all together and look professional but I overcame this by having quite a organised formal layout. I decided to use quite a relaxed font and change it for each section so it was clear which part was the masthead and it seperated it from everything else. By having quite a large section without text in the middle it makes the image a lot easier to focus on and this is what my research for my Preliminary task said was necessary. The only thing I would consider changing is dressing my model in red clothing so the colour scheme is more fluent throughout but due to the weather this was not possible.

Feedback:

'The red stands out too much against the background'

'I feel that the name should be spread across the top of the magazine rather than in a box to the left. The sell lines should be scattered around the front page and not clumped together in one box. The photo is a really good however though it may of suited the double page spread more and I love the name, tag line, the font style, the background behind the writing looks cool and makes the writing stand out a lot more.'

This feedback is very helpful because it shows me what people think of my front cover. I did try the masthead across the top but I personally did not like this as it looked quite messy and whilst making my cover I was looking at current magazine's and I liked the idea of layers. If the sell lines were not in the box on the bottom they would of looked messy in my eyes and the red needed to be that bright to show against the background. I also decided to use quite a complex idea for my front cover because the normal close up's are quite often used on the front and this is my USP. I also looked at the Slash interview in the Observer and really liked the idea of having a studio shot for my double page spread.

'Nice use of the title and the font, it mixes well with the whole theme for the front cover of the magazine. I like the way the whole front is a big picture, captures your eyes and with the several positions of the person creates depth and a nice twist. Good use of the small notes about what you can see in the magazine, precise and you know what you are going to read about. Yet the colours you use for the top banner with the artists needs to be another colour, or the banner another colour as reading it is fairly hard. And the red font for the 'Inside' part doesnt follow the theme for the rest of the front cover, looks just placed there with little thought. Also maybe have the white boxes slightly darker. Apart from that, i like the way it is set out and you get a good feel for what you may read; few minor changes and thats it'

This feedback has been the most useful for me as I can now see clearly exactly what needs to be changed. I will play around with the colours and layout of boxes slightly and try to improve the bits that need to be done. I may also have a rounded edge to the boxes so it doesn't look as harsh though I am not sure yet. I will also have to consider getting rid of the red text and changing it to black because the red looking out of place has been mentioned more than once and even though this was in my research, it may need to be changed. Additionally, I need to add a price to the cover as I have not yet done this.

Main Task- Front Cover Design.

Here is my front cover design. I had initially designed it on paper and then transferred the design on to Publisher. I have decided to use quite a organised layout with a simple colour scheme. The only problem I may have is the text showing up on the dark background therefor when I have added the image I will need to find a way around this. I may use a normal white box and make it slightly transparent as I saw this is a magazine recently and thought it was really effective.

Main Task- Final image.

I decided to not use all of the images. I did a practise before hand and found that it looked quite messy and they didn't all fit together so I chose these 4. There were some problems whilst editing such as white lines appearing around the model once I had pasted her into the orginial image but I managed to luckily hide them quite well. Because I have done quite a complicated cover, I will most likely use a close up image for the double page spread. I will be taking the images for my contents page and double page spread soon.

Main Task- Photography before editing.

I decided to use a train station underground tunnel for my images. I will crop them all into the first one in the order they are now in so it gives a layered feel and makes it seem as though there are several of her in one location. I have only included the guitar in 3 images because I thought too many might ruin the image and it would of also been harder to get a range of images and positions into one.

Main Task- Double page spread research and analysis.

The Observer – Slash interview.

For this double page spread The Observer have decided to have the image and a pull quote on one side and the interview on the other, though the interview isn’t questions but more facts or statements and comments from Slash. This is quite effective because there is more image than text yet it still looks even, this not only means there is less to read but it will attract people more because image’s are what a person prefers when reading a magazine. They have kept the sophisticated layout with a simple straight line separating the text and image which makes it look quite professional yet the image gives it a more light hearted edge. Though the artist is wearing sunglasses, the angle of the camera is straight forward and you feel from his quite intense facial expression that he is looking at you which is effective because it feels like he is connecting with you. They have shown his relation with music by having him holding a guitar. This double page spread has helped me with my research because it has given me an idea of how to layout the magazine and use less text and have it more image related. The interview shows many sides to Slade, he talks about things that aren’t music related such as where he grew up, phobia’s and interests such as cooking shows which will interest greatly the fans that are reading the interview. He says his greatest achievement is staying alive in the music industry for this long which shows he has a real passion about music.

OK!- Mcfly interview.

The Mcfly interview has a very interesting layout, because there are 4 of them they have decided to use more image than text and tried to incorporate all the members of the band into the spread, they have done this well and still managed to make it look professional and sophisticated. The colour scheme of black, white and red is really effective because it makes it stand out and gives a feeling of power which goes with the interview about their new album release and one of the members saying ‘Until we achieve world domination, we won’t be happy’. The interview itself is laid out very well and the clear structure on each page works well, they have also used a slightly transparent background behind the text so the image still shows which I think looks very good. Their interview does have quite a few music related questions but a lot of them are about the band’s personality traits and things they have done which will interest the readers because Mcfly’s target audience are teens-young adults and this is their type of interest. The pull quote is positioned well because it breaks up the page and fills a space, once again it is not related to music but it makes you want to read the article which is good. The article makes Mcfly seem quite relaxed and easy going which is a good promotion for them because it attracts people to them more. The interview is very clear question and answer which I think gives the article a good structure.

Main Task- Questionnaire results.

1)      Would you be interested in purchasing a specific Indie/Acoustic music magazine?

Yes         11
No          3


2)      What name would draw you to the magazine?
Some answers: 
Acoustic Music Magazine.
Simple and abbreviated.
Unplugged.
Music Mania.
Vindie.
Acoustic.

3)      What colour scheme would you like to see used through out?

 Blue and Green          1
Red and Orange         1
Black, Red, White      7
Black and White         1
Any bright colours       4

Other Suggestions: Pastel green & Grey.

 4)      How much would you be willing to pay?

Under £1.50          5
£1.50                    2
£1.99                    3
£2.50                    1
Above £2.50         3


5)      How often would you want the magazine to be published?

Once a week                 1
Once every 2 weeks      4
Once a month                9
Every 2 months              0

6)      What type of articles would you rather read?
 All chose:
Purely music and film with a informal, light hearted ‘jokey’ edge

7)      In which setting would you rather see the model?

Beach                   2
‘Busking’              5
Close up               2
Random setting     4

Other: In a woods.
          On a stage
          Train station.
          Medium shot.

8)      Would you be interested in competitions and offers being featured?

Yes       12
No        2

9)      What type of articles grab your attention?
 Some answers:
Band interviews.
Upcoming artists.
Tour/Festival reviews.
Focus on unsigned acts.
Problem pages/letters.
Whitty with lots of images.
Music download list.


10)   What would you expect to see in the magazine?
(tick as many as applicable)

The majority of people chose the following: 
Gig/Tour dates.
Reviews.
Interviews.
Articles written by journalists on their views.
Articles written by readers on their views.


11) Which artist's would you like to see feature's on?
 Frank Turner.
Arctic Monkeys.
Kooks.
Mumford and Sons.
Katy B.
Belle & Sebastian.
Jenny Lewis.
The Midnight Beast.
The wombats.
Blur.

12)   Would you like the magazine to be glossy or non glossy?

Glossy:            9
Non glossy:     5

13) How many pages would you like the magazine to have?

Up to 40       1
Up to 60       5
Up to 80       7
Up to 100     0
100+             1

14)   Could you give 2/3 key words you’d expect to see featured on a music magazine:
New, Indie, Exciting, Original, New release, Tour dates, Gigs, Must-see, Charts.


From my results I have found many useful things and I will use a number of them. I have decided to put the words Acoustic and Unplugged and put these together, this was an idea I orginially had but having it in my results has confirmed it. I will use a black, white and red colour scheme. My magazine will cost exactly £150 and be sold once a month. This is good because it is 80 pages long so there will be a lot of content. My top image results were 'Busking' and in a random setting so I will most likely use a train station and have one positioned in a 'busking' way. On the cover I will have around 4 artist's mentioned and it will have an Inside section so readers know what is included. I will do a larger feature on 2 of the artists on my contents page. I will be using the words 'New', 'Orginial' and 'Charts' on my front cover aswell.

Main Task- Image idea's and research.

I orginally had the idea of having my model in the woods or at a train station and positioning the camera in one place. I would then take several images of her in different positions in the camera view and then crop it all into one. I still am considering this idea though whilst looking at a friends photography work I came across quite an interesting idea with the same concept. He had put himself on to a three seat sofa and done the same idea as the woods one. Whilst this is not related to music I thought it looked really effective so I have decided to take a lot of test shots with my model in several different locations to see which one looks most effective. My main issue with these types of photo's is that they appear to look better when they are landscape so this is an issue I will have to try resolve.

Here is a copy of my friend's photography:

This is the type of thing I want to do but in a different location and incorporate a guitar in it so it looks more music related:

Credits to Adam Jackson for allowing me to use his amazing photography.

Main Task - Action Plan

What I plan to call the magazine: Acoustic Unplugged

I have chosen this name because my magazine is an acoustic magazine and I do not like the single word on it’s own therefore I will include another word. I thought Unplugged would be an appropriate word.

Ideas for the front cover image (remember that this is what makes or breaks the magazine sales) :  Model in woods? Or in a place but several poses taken then merged into one (guitar on close up looking into camera then several positions cropped in to it below). Could be used for double page spread. Could do a close up?

What do I need to do to achieve this?

1.  Use a friend as a model.                                         
2.  Practise on photoshop
3. Use a public location (woods or beach)                    
4. Consider what clothes
5.  Find a camera with good quality.                             
6. Think up poses

Ideas for the main cover line and other sell lines( and tag line):

EXCLUSIVE Brooke Jones tells us about what her lyrics really mean! (include pull quote)

Tagline: Passion strikes back.

Ideas for the contents page:

Have it quite sophisticated and clear. Have one side listing and the other with boxes – half picture half quote. Very similar to preliminary task mock up.

What do I need to do to achieve this?

4. Decide who will be featured in the boxes     
5. Decide what will be included in magazines
6.  Think of a number of pages to have 
7.  Make a mock up and consider several different designs
8.  Look into typeface’s to use                                                               

Ideas for the double page spread – type of feature.

Have an interview with one image enlarged on one side and a pullquote and on the other side have simply text (question and answer). Quite informal.

What do I need to do to achieve this?

9.  Think of questions - list them.
10. Consider the style of image
11.  Think of the layout style (slightly discussed above)
12. Consider colours - decide when I've had feedback.

Main Task - Typeface idea's.

I have divided the fonts into two titles. This is because my main feature will be on Brooke Jones and the one's labeled this are most suited to be assigned to her interview whilst I feel the one's called Acoustic Unplugged should be the Mast head because they are bolder, clearer and easier to read and they suit the magazine more.

Main Task - Reader Profile Moodboard.

Main Task - Analysis of contents page. (Previous Students)

Amplified.

The layout of this contents page is very organised and sophisticated. The colour scheme helps this quite a bit because it’s quite simple and calm and the use of grey and white helps this. The guitar being a blue/black compliments this very well. The difference of size on the word win draws you in because it is not only eye catching but it draws people in because they know they are getting a decent free gift for nothing. The music artist profiles are quite rock based with artists such as Kasabian featuring. The whole contents page is written quite informally and uses a lot of colloquial language, this helps with the idea of it being quite relaxing and laid back. The editorial section is quite effective because it gives you an insight into the people the write the magazine and it’s also placed it a good way and manages to break the page up. There isn’t a clear target audience age range but you can tell that the reader profile is aimed more towards late teenagers because younger teens are less likely to be able to afford guitars and to go to gigs. Also the sophisticated layout shows the age it is aimed at clearer.

Underground.

The layout of this contents page is quite cluttered and messy and the feature on Tastes Like Bacon in the centre should be on the double page spread or front cover instead of breaking up the contents page, it is also not very relevant. This seems to be consistent through the page because they also have Alesha Dixon’s image on the page, though the article is meant to be about her band and the quote is also from her. This gives the idea that the magazine is quite unorganised. The range of pictures and poses are quite effective because it does show a range and shows that the magazine is quite varied. The colour scheme gives clear connotations of a rock theme and it all goes together well. Whilst the logo gives the idea of the magazine being ‘different’ and individual it looks quite messy and cluttered. There isn’t a very clear target audience age range with this magazine though it does talk about Open Mic Nights and you don’t really expect any young teenagers to be there.

Main Task - Music Magazine Questionnaire

Music Magazine Questionnaire.

(Delete the answer you do not wish to choose for example if your answer to question 1 is yes, delete No.)

1)      Would you be interested in purchasing a specific Indie/Acoustic music magazine?

Yes

No

2)      What name would draw you to the magazine?

3)      What colour scheme would you like to see used through out?

Blue and Green

Red and Orange

Black, Red, White

Black and White

Any bright colours

Other  Suggestions:

4)      How much would you be willing to pay?

Under £1.50

£1.50

£1.99

£2.50

Above £2.50

5)      How often would you want the magazine to be published?

 

Once a week

Once every 2 weeks

Once a month

Every 2 months

6)      What type of articles would you rather read?

Formal articles to do with non music related topics as well as music:

Purely music and film with a informal, light hearted ‘jokey’ edge:

7)      In which setting would you rather see the model?

Beach

Party

‘Busking’

Close up

Random setting

Other:

8)      Would you be interested in competitions and offers being featured?

Yes

No

9)      What type of articles grab your attention?

10)   What would you expect to see in the magazine?

(tick as many as applicable)

Gig/Tour dates.

Reviews.

Interviews.

Promotions.

Articles written by journalists on their views.

Articles written by readers on their views.

Gossip.

Horoscopes

Other:



11) Which artist's would you like to see feature's on?

12)   Would you like the magazine to be glossy or non glossy?

Glossy:

Non glossy:

13) How many pages would you like the magazine to have?

Up to 40
Up to 60
Up to 80
Up to 100
100+


14)   Could you give 2/3 key words you’d expect to see featured on a music magazine:

Main Task - Idea's.

• Model with guitar. Beach setting, Party setting?, Busking. OR similar to Jenny Lewis UTR cover, close up image?
• Quite relaxed colour scheme: Red's, Black and White, Blue's ? Quite feminine.
• Round edge bubble style typeface or swirled depeding on image.
• Range of articles, mostly on music but maybe add some light hearted jokey one's.
• Not too much text on the cover, quite simple and organised so main focus is image.
• Wearing clothes related to my reader profile.

Things to find out in my questionnaire:

• Name suggestions.
• Definite colour scheme.
• Pricing.
• Style of writing/Article's. - Light hearted or serious
• How often they will be published... (Also use magazine case studies to determine)
• Model setting.

Current interesting Music Magazine names:

• Big Cheese
• Kerrang!
• Mojo
• NME (New Musical Express)
• OffBeat
• Q
• Under The Radar
• Wired

Some of these are quite interesting like New Musical Express being shortened to NME is a good idea, OffBeat and Under The Radar are also quite interesting. Big Cheese and Mojo are also quite successful magazine's and this helps by showing that you can be inventive and have a slightly more odd name.

Type of artists:

Main task - Reader profile idea's.

Gender: Mixed, mostly woman.
Age: 16 - 25.
Music Genre: Indie/Acoustic.
Type's of artist's: Kate Nash, Arctic Monkeys, Paolo Nutini, Mumford & Sons, Kings of Leon, The Kings Blues, Ellie Goulding. Quite mainstream but specific genre.
Clothes: Topshop, Camden, Boohoo.com, Zara, Charity shops. Knitwear.
Values and beliefs: Relationships/people, No specific religious views, Karma, Treating people the same etc.
Likes: Gigs, Parties, The beach, Hanging out with friends at the cinema or watching films, Shopping, Magazine's, Books, Art/Photography, Some form of sport, Cooking.
Dislikes: Heavy music (Screamo, Heavy metal etc.), Cold weather, Being on your own, Being unorganised, Not having money, Lying, People that are judgemental or pretend to be something else.
Personality: Funny, Happy, Confident, Loud, Complex minded/thoughts, Not demanding (easy going and light hearted), Determined, Competitive, Range of interests, Organised, No specific humour, Faithful.

Main task - Looking into magazine development and front cover's.

Kerrang.

§  Published weekly since 1981.

§  Focus: Heavy Metal/ Rock

§  Owned by Emap

§  Reader profile: 15/24. 60% Male – 40% Female.

§  80 A4 pages.

§  £1.99

§  Standard layout.

§  Includes free posters.

§  All pages are black and red text.

§  Use’s teenage colloquialism.

§  Editorial content dictates taste of target audience

§  Diary – upcoming gigs.

§  Other retailers promotion.

§  Metal/Goth- Clothing/Jewellery manufacturing.

§  Initially started as a one-time supplement in the Sounds newspaper, which focuses on the genre New Wave of British Heavy Metal and the rise of other hard rock acts

§  Quite mainstream artists included.

Then:

Now:

Analysis of cover:

Having the title in front of the image, in a large contrasting font makes it clear. They have a relatively consistent colour scheme of yellow, white and blue though it perhaps changes too much throughout the front cover. The image has direct eye contact which makes it more effective. The body copy ‘lostprophets’ may be quite bold and clear but the pull quote about this is not and makes it seem relatively pointless in comparison. Even though there isn’t much text it somehow looks too cluttered in my opinion and like there is not a very organised layout, this could suggest that the magazine is quite laid back and informal.



Nme.

History:

By the early 1970s NME had lost ground to the Melody Maker as its coverage of music had failed to keep pace with the development of rock music. Alan Smith was made editor and was given a short period of time by IPC to turn things around quickly or face closure.
The paper's first issue was published on 7 March 1952 after the Musical Express and Accordion Weekly was bought by London music promoter and relaunched as the New Musical Express.


 

New Musical Express:

§  published weekly since 1952

§  Non permanent ink.

§  Cassettes of Indie music 1985 onwards.

§  Melody maker/Sounds-similar template.

§  Merger between melody maker and NME in 2000.

NME:

§  Reader profile- 65% male.

§  Average age: 23.

§  NME reader regularly downloads music.

§  NME sponsored tours.

§  £1.95

§  Free CD’s.

§  Slang terminology. Emo etc.

§  Independent bands. (Niche)

§  Masthead promotes virgin digital.

§  Relationships between retailers and content mutually beneficial.

§  Ads reflect demographic and lifestyle profile.

 New Music Express:

NME then:

NME now:

Analysis of cover:

The title is bold and clear which makes it stand out and catch your eye, the consistent bright red colour scheme also helps this. Even though NME is a music based magazine, here they have incorporated comedy in to their magazine giving it a more varied feel, though they appear to have still tried to keep the music theme by giving one of the models a guitar. This image shows that NME is quite a laid back magazine and isn't too intense, it also makes you feel that the content will be light hearted and comical therefore drawing you in. The image is quite bright and also draws you in. by having a pull quote using a different typeface, this makes it seem more related to the quote. They also have the main body copy larger than the title which is also good because it makes your attention more pulled towards it.