Contents Analysis #1

Analysis of NME Contents Page

As I am going to be producing a contents page as well as a cover, I will also analyse three existing contents pages to ensure my knowledge of them and what conventions are common within the chosen genre is great enough for me to be able to confidently produce my own contents page without having to research closer to the time. Due to the fact that the 'Arctic Monkeys' are a band which is more popular with males rather than females, as is the magazine itself, the primary target audience is white males. The white male on the cover represents these white males, a necessary factor to include whence producing my own magazine, it must represent the target audience to an extent in order to attract the correct specified audience. Though, it i not solely targeted towards this gender, but also a secondary target audience of females, and I will explain the reasons for this and how through my analysis. They will also be 17-30, as this is the range of ages which are more likely to attend performances, as this is the most common age group you will find at any concert, there will be very little people who are older or younger, depending on the genre of music.  This age means that they will also be interested in new music, as indie is a relatively new genre, rather than classical music which appeals to an older audience demographic. Their social grade is B-E, as it is not considered to be 'classy' enough for the likes of and A grade social audience demographic, but rather appeals to this audience because it is . 

The headline consists of the masthead from the cover of the magazine and the lexis 'contents'. The masthead is easily recognisable wherever in the UK you are, putting it on the map as the iconic masthead from the most popular indie magazine. The lexis 'contents' is in a white font on a black background/box, which shows how it is simplistic and extremely easy to read for the audience, but also effective. It is not overcomplicated, as they want it to appeal to males, and stereotypically, males are not attracted by over complicated features. Rather than selecting a fancy font which attracts females, the simplest font appeals to the male audience, as stereotypically, they do not appreciate feminine features. 'Contents' is in capitals, to shout out to the reader and attract attention, ensuring that the audience know almost instantly what the purpose of the page is. It also represents the primary target audience slightly, as capital letters are commonly associated with males rather than females, as they are seen to be masculine, rough, and edging more so towards the rebellious side of life. As the males interested in this genre do not want to be 'mainstream' and follow the crowd, a lot of them tend to be relatively rebellious either to make a statement, or because they enjoy it. This therefore appeals to them and represents the readers in the way in which they aspire to be viewed as and represented. Most of the white letters are joined up slightly, making the headline less spaced out than most are, obtaining a certain unique quality. 

Personally, I feel as though the imagery says a lot about this magazine. A white male in a medium long shot who looks as though he is second class, even if a bit rough, is in the feature article of the magazine. This supports Marxist (1984) theory that white second class males are in control of society and only make themselves appear to be great, and portray anyone other than this with a pessimistic view, even if only slightly. The buff arms of the male show the reader that he works out and takes care of himself, attracting the females who see this magazine. They also connote how this is the stereotypical ideology concerning males views towards themselves; they wish to be like this, and think that if they buy the magazine, they can get an insight to how. People who are considered to be 'indie' are stereotyped to be 'weedy' and not work out, which is likely to be where this image has stemmed from. Another aspect of which females stereotypically find attractive is the mise-en-scene: the guitar. This is seen to be an object which, if held in the right way, is 'sexy', and so, this is appealing to females. Automatically, the audience can tell that  this is a gig, assisting the readers by making the subject obvious, and they can presume that the article will be about either an interview or a review. As gigs as usually during the night, this portrays the stereotype that people who are considered to be indie themselves enjoy coming out when it is dark, having their fun during late hours. The imagery works well with the colour palette of the writing; a lot of black is present in the imagery, and so the editors have decided not to incorporate colour which would clash with this image, but stick to it and have mostly black text. One more image is present in this contents page, the image to attempt to sell a subscription to the people who purchased the magazine. It is of a previous magazine cover, which gives them a further insight to what they will be buying into in a persuasive manner. As I mentioned, the imagery represents the target audience, the reasoning for using a white male and a white female (the female's picture is of a smaller sizing).

Typographically, the font and colour palette is successful in attracting and representing the specific target audience chosen to pitch this particular magazine at. It is not 'fancy' or 'bubbly' as the majority of magazines would delve into if the primary target audience was females, rather the text is blocky and uses a lot of caps to shout out different sections to the reader. Through both choice of lexis and typography, 'Subscribe today and save' stands out to the reader who is stereotyped to take any opportunity to save money in this economical crisis. It is in yellow to ensure the readers see it above other features, this works especially well as the majority of text on the contents page is in black. The page numbers have been separated from the lexis through the red colour to ensure they do not blend together. The black and white is not as elegant as it could be for females, but is blocky and capitalized for the males audience.

In terms of layout, immediately the mast head can be see due to this, as it has been placed directly at the top of the page to ensure the audience see the feature. It also informs them straight away what the page is about: 'Contents', and it is mandatory for the magazine to make sure they understand what each page is about, otherwise the magazine is likely to become unsuccessful. Under the mast head is the main image, the first aspect of the text which draws the audience in, and so it is vital that this is placed in such a way that the features surrounding will be seen next. It also connotes that the image represents the  masthead and target audience, or what they aspire to be. The index is located to the left of the image, where it does not particularly stand out, but is easy to read due to the colour palette and changes of colour with different aspects. If the index was located on the right, the reader would not look forward to turning the page and feel reluctant to purchase the magazine, as indexes are often seen as boring and are unlikely to be read. The actual contents text has been placed down the right hand side, and separates each subject of the magazine to make it easier on the reader to find what they want to read; it is down the side of the page as it is next to the image and the reader looks forward to turning the page and getting started on reading the magazine. As the image shows what the feature article is about, there is a description directly below it to ensure that the audience, especially if they are not aware of who the band are, knows that the particular article and picture are related. This is allowed a larger description as it is what the issue is based around. There is only one red block on the page to make the white text within it really stand out against the white background and black text surrounding. Another block which stands out is the subscription section with a black background to it and yellow text which catches the eye due to the fact that they want their readers to subscribe. The image in the subscription box is not placed near the main image, as it breaks the text up. Underneath the mast head is the date, to ensure this is not confused with the lexis below.

In conclusion, I feel as though this particular contents page is quite busy, and do not find it to be a suitable page to use as a style model for my own contents. There is a lot going on concerning writing, whereas I would rather include a few more pictures to show the audience about the articles, rather than talk about what will be inside too much. I also would not want to incorporate an index within my cover as I do not see it as a necessary feature, it is not something that a lot of people read as it is considered to be quite boring. Though I would like to take the idea of placing the feature article description below the main image, and using imagery that is similar to this.

Cover Analysis #3

Analysis of PASTE cover

Another Indie magazine of which is not particularly dominant, yet popular, is Paste. I really enjoy this cover, which is my reasoning for choosing it to be my third cover analysis of this genre. Again, this was not a magazine I had heard of before finding it on the internet. It is not as simplistic as the previous cover, but far more than NME. The target audience is & primarily female age 16-26, as the magazine is youthful and contains conventions of which appeal to this particular audience. They would be stereotypically intelligent too, as multiple books are present on the cover, a feature of which would attract this audience. This cover targets people of white origin, as the male used in a positive way is white. Females tend to listen to this particular band more than males, hence the primary target of females. Though, I feel as though a lot of males in this crowd would look up to the front man, and so, the secondary target audience is males of the same age and origin. Again, the social grade is B-E. The feature represent the target audience in a positive way, of which they are pleased with and feel as though  the magazine represents them correctly; therefore the features are able to attract the correct audience demographic.

Against generic conventions, the masthead is not 1/8 of the page, but it is still obvious that it reads as 'PASTE' when half is covered by other magazines, which means that the audience is able to see it easily without hassle, regardless of the fact that it is not solely in the 1/8. The masthead resembles both a dip dye jumper and dip dyed hair, due to the dark to light gradient, both relating to Indie fashion, reflecting the fashion choices and appearance of the people who enjoy this genre. Through this, a large number of the audience will see themselves in the magazine and what they desire, and so they will purchase it. It also mimics a sunset, as it is dark towards the top and curves around, acting as the sun and rolling with the theme of the sun going down in the background. This is a connotation that when the sun goes down, people of whom are considered to be Indie come out. It is a common stereotype that they are nighthawks, having their fun during the evening and night. As Indie is associated with vintage fashion and old typewriters, the font of the masthead looks as though it has been typed with a typewriter, appealing to the stereotype surrounding the Indie scene. Something that surprised me and is not particularly common concerning this group of people, is the backwards 'E' on Paste. Usually, this is a device used to attract the young, particularly young teenagers, as there is a common misconception that they believe it is 'cool'. Though, this magazine, in my opinion, does this successfully, as it is sophisticated rather than tacky. Often with magazines that use the masthead to head the magazine like so, they will overlap the picture so it anchors the title, allowing attention to be focused on the subject of the magazine, as the magazine itself must already be quite well known to use this technique.

In terms of typography, the colour palette is suitable considering the genre. The main cover line is a warm shade of yellow, portraying the typical colour associated with the sun and summer, rolling with the theme. It is also a colour of positivity, igniting optimism within the viewers and encouraging them to listen the happy music. The font is, again, slightly vintage, portraying and representing the stereotype that people who are Indie are also interested in vintage clothing. There is a certain aspect of the text which looks as though i,t could have been written by a typewriter, an object often featured in 'Indie' photographs. The white and black text stands out in the way that it shows up well on the light background, and even though the lexis 'Death Cab' is a similar colour to the background and runs with the colour palette itself, it still manages to stand out due to the low opacity black lining which fades out.

The image chosen is a long shot and exceptionally busy, and I personally have not seen one so crowded on a magazine. There is a lot to look at, but they each connote different things of which are relevant to the magazine itself. The leaves and colour palette, (warm oranges, browns and yellows) connote the weather and season: autumn. This is often a season of which is associated with Indie, as different genres take on different seasons. Spring: Country, summer: Hip Hop, autumn: Indie, winter: Metal. Each season has a different tone and mood,and music to go with it, perfectly portrayed through this image. The front man of the band which is being featured appears to be intelligent with miss-en-scene, for instance, his glasses and the books surrounding him. This represents the target audience as intelligent and differentiating from the mainstream audience, which pleases them as a lot of indies are spiteful towards mainstream music, fashion, and anything that goes in that direction. His hair is also smart, though the target audience are commonly known to have hair that is different to this, though that is his personality shining through and attracts fans of the band. His posture brings me back to Mulvey's 'The Male Gaze'; both hands are in his pockets pointing towards his crotch, connoting sexualisation of the male. Though 'The Male Gaze' focuses on females being placed in the media for the pleasure of men, this theory has been reversed in this case. The male model has been used to please females, going against Mulvey's theory that it is solely females who are targeted. Though this is not as extreme as a vast majority of females on covers, it still embeds the theory reversed into its reasoning. Curtains as miss-en-scene suggest that it is the beginning of a show, an entirely appropriate prop concerning his career. It also invites the reader into the magazine, an important aspect every magazine must include; if they do not invite their readers in, their readers will not feel welcome and will not purchase the magazine. Contrasting to the previous magazine analysis, the subject of the article gazes directly into the camera to ensure when the readers see the magazine, direct eye contact is made, forming a relationship between the reader and magazine.

Typical concerning layout, the main image of the male has nothing interfering with the face. This ensures that the readers know exactly who it is, and that the model can easily be viewed, rather than the face being covered by writing. An unusual aspect, I found, is the barcode horizontally placed on the left of the magazine, as magazines commonly have this feature located to the right. Text lines the side of his arm, again not interfering with the model too much, giving a certain feel of three dimension, even though it is not 3d. I noticed that the lexis 'Death Cab' draws the eye of the viewer towards the male models crotch, which goes against Mulvey's theory that women are the ones who are sexualised and put in the eye of the media for the viewing pleasure of men, and in this case it appears to be the opposite, as the front man is the one who is being sexualised. This placement of cover line could also connote that men look up to his success.

In conclusion, I feel as though this magazine cover would be a brilliant style model for my own magazine. As I think that this cover and the previous cover contained features which would both be more than suitable to adapt and incorporate into my cover, I will use both of these as style models, and take specific aspects that are successful in appealing and representing my specifically chosen target audience. I would like to use a warm colour palette such as this, and attract intellectual beings.

Death Cab for Cutie- You Are A Tourist

THE INDIE BAND FEATURED ON THE COVER

Cover Analysis #2

Analysis of UNDER THE RADAR Cover

The second magazine I have chosen to analyse is 'Under the Radar'. I had not heard of this particular magazine before beginning my research, which means that is not one of the dominant Indie magazines on the market. Personally, I love the simplicity of which this magazine has been produced with, rather than the busy cover of NME. This Indie magazine is pitched primarily at white females, as there is a white female on the cover, who are 14-26 (social grade B-E) The elements of media language/genre conventions used have been based around attracting and representing the particular target audience chosen, which can bee seen once directly viewing it.

In my opinion, the masthead has an aesthetically pleasing professional appearance. It is, like the NME masthead, located in the sweet spot, in the top left to ensure it can be seen by the audience when it is on crowded shelves. The capital letters used connote excitement in a professional manner, though the imagery calms the overall appearance.
Though it is in capital letters, which is sometimes seen to be something of which is used in a stereotypical way towards men, this particular masthead looks as though the opacity is low, and is just a  bit lighter than the background, creating a soft, feminine impression. Each word of the masthead is on a separate line, this is to assist it into fitting in the sweet spot; it also has more of a professional appearance to it than it would it anchored her head, or if she was in front of it. This would mean that it would not be entirely visible to the viewers, which would lead to less people purchasing the magazine as it is not a dominant genre and therefore is not well known to a large number of people. The fact that the first letter of each word lines up with each other length ways hints at an abbreviation, and there is a stereotype that the youth culture like to use a lot of abbreviations due to an apparent 'laziness' and text talk. The masthead is not quite in the top 1/8 of the magazine, which is a generic convention of the majority of magazines; though returning readers will easily be able to recognise the masthead of which is iconic to this particular magazine. The title does stand out, though not as much as the cover line, suggesting that the story is more important in enticing readers than the magazine name itself.

In terms of graphology, the imagery is successful in portraying the genre of music and representing the target audience. The logo relates to the denotation of what the masthead says, and fills a potentially empty and unwanted gap between the masthead and the main image. The main image, a medium close up in profile, denotes a beautiful young female looking to the left, almost as though she is gazing upon the masthead, persuading the readers that they should purchase the magazine because the star vehicle used stares at it in wonder. It is simplistically beautiful. There is no need for a crowded image or an image which has an unnecessary amount going on within it, as this magazine shows the beauty of Indie music without making a fuss. though this image is not particularly revealing, I can easily relate it to, in a certain way, Laura Mulvey's theory 'The Male Gaze' (1975) that women are sexualised for the pleasure of men. In this case, I noticed that the model is sleeveless, baring her shoulder, which is seen as a somewhat sensual aspect of the body. You cannot see the rest of her body, but you can only just see the cleavage, connoting that the producers are attempting to tease the males into purchasing the magazine. Concerning lighting, the photograph looks almost as though natural lighting has been used, though I doubt it has not, as photographers tend to use artificial lighting to ensure they get exactly what they want, and artificial lighting is sometimes less harsh on the skin. The lighting is summery, warm and welcoming. Naturally, the summery vibes assist the audience in feeling good, therefore they will consider purchasing the product; they will also be drawn in by the friendly-feel of the cheerful lighting. The unusual aspect of this picture is that the model is not looking at the camera, therefore direct eye contact is not met between the audience and the picture, something of which is a generic convention of magazines because it succeeds in making the magazine feel personal to the reader. Though, it does look as though she is gazing upon something greater, which could potentially draw the target audience in as they feel obliged to gain knowledge of what it is that she is gazing upon. No other image is used, which suggests to me that multiple images on the cover of an Indie magazine is not entirely necessary.

Reflecting and representing the target audience in a stereotypical fashion, the typography has been create using a font that is considered to be particularly 'girly' and feminine, attracting predominantly females, and perhaps also stereotypical homosexual males, and deters males. This contradicts my earlier statement of Mulvey's theory being present within this text; if males do not wish to purchase this magazine, then they will not be drawn in by sexualisation of women. Though, this could be because it makes females see her as an attractive and youthful woman, therefore believe that by purchasing this magazine, they will learn the secrets to her successful beauty and could become beautiful themselves. Anyway, the feminine font is used only for the cover lines and the tag line, due to magazines requiring a mixture of different fonts to ensure some sections are more dominant than others, and so it does not look like a section of writing. The reasoning for it being used on the cover lines, rather than the likes of the text underneath the cover lines is because the cover lines are larger and must stand out more, and they also need to attract the target audience. The header also uses this font, as it is above a relatively standard font, and so must appear different to the masthead, as this is the icon of the magazine. The font used reminds me of 'Wilderness Festival', which is Indie and represents the crowd correctly; this tells me that the producers might be attempting to associate the magazine with this festival and style so it is apparent to the customer, and it will draw in the correct target audience.

The colour palette successfully reflects the target audience in an optimistic way. The browns colouring of the font and slightly on the hair is a common colour connected with the likes of people who are involved in Indie music, as it is not bright or bold, but is calm and collected in a fun sense. The feature cover line/headline is brown, and stands out against the rest of the text and the grey background as it is the most important article in the magazine. They greys and creams are, as well as the brown, neutral colours, which connote a lifestyle which is fun in a sort of country-like way.

In terms of layout, I find it odd how there is no anchorage on the cover, though I do understand because as I stated before, the magazine is simplistic, and this is a feature which is present in bust magazines. The main cover line is directly to the left of the models face, connoting that she approves of it and welcomes it into the magazine. The audience then believe that it is desirable enough to read and purchase the magazine. The barcode, placing itself in a location of which is generic, is horizontal in the bottom right hand corner. This ensures a smooth process whence purchasing the magazine. Another generic convention found within this particular cover is the masthead located in the sweet spot (top left) of the cover; this makes sure that even on a crowded shelf, the magazine can be seen and apparent to the readers that it is there. There are a considerable amount of gaps in comparison to popular magazines, but this is, again, due to the simplistic layout and theme circling 'Under the Radar'. The header is situated where a header should be, at the top of the page. This particular header has names of bands across it, conveying to the audience clearly that it is a music magazine.

In conclusion, I feel as though this magazine is much better than the previous to use as a style model. I would rather the simplistic layout which is clear to the readers and assists them in understanding the product, rather than being bombarded with a busy page. This analysis has taught me to ensure the lighting is warm and friendly, and that the font should reflect the specific gender and age group of my target audience. Overall, this magazine is successful in using generic conventions in a minimalistic fashion.

Cover Analysis #1

Analysis of NME Cover

I have decided to analyse an Indie magazine, as this is a genre I am interested in and particularly enjoy, which means that I will be focused on the production of the magazine itself, rather than being uninterested and finding difficulty in ensuring its completion. NME is the most dominant Indie magazine on the market, I decided to analyse the conventions it uses to ensure I gain knowledge of how it attracts the target audience. This is not a mainstream genre, and so there is a lack of magazines which focus on it. Because this is an Indie magazine, it fits the genre of what I wish to create. NME is an Indie magazine pitched primarily at white males aged 17-30 years (social grade B-E). The moment I looked at the cover it was apparent that all elements of media language/genre conventions were geared around representing and attracting this particular group.

In terms of denotation, the masthead reflects the personality of the specific target audience chosen. The typography is styled to cater their needs, adopting a masculine appearance which makes the audience feel as though they are masculine. This especially works due to the gender of the target audience: males who like to think that they are tough. It is also red, which is a colour that represents youth culture because red connotes; sex, violence and trouble which links to the theories of Hall (1904) and Hedbridge (1989) who both claim youths are trouble makers. It has a white and black outline to ensure it stands out against whatever colour background is chosen to be used for each issue. The masthead reads NME in capital letters, which is seen as exciting and daring. Each of these stylistic choices connote that the target audience is male, as stereotypically the younger generation are attracted to abbreviations, as they feel as though they are cool, casual and represent them. If the title does not stand out, the specific audience chosen will not be attracted to the magazine. This means that it is mandatory to ensure the masthead stand out as it is, effectively, the brand name for the magazine and conveys the magazine as a whole. Customers feel as though it needs to represent them to appeal to them, and returning customers need to be able to see the same name. When creating my own masthead, I must ensure that it represents my own target audience to attract them and cater to their needs. The positioning of the masthead must follow the generic convention of covering the top 1/8 of the cover or the 'sweet spot' on the top left to ensure it will definitely not be covered by other magazines on a crowded shelf.

In terms of denotation of the imagery, there are three different images on the cover, common concerning NME and most magazines. Two of these images are minor images, and the other a central image, which take up a vast majority of the cover space. The other is a medium close up. The main image is a medium long shot, as is the smaller image of the band.  Usually, the central image is a Mid Shot, though this particular image is not, as there are multiple people in the space. This is a Medium Long Shot of a well-known band which will not only draw in the specific target audience required, but also an entire fan base. This is a good choice of star vehicles, as the band is the same genre as the magazine: Indie. This particular choice connotes the target audience, as they are young men, as this age group is generally stereotyped to be trouble, representing “youth as trouble” (Hedbridge, 1889) and youths as; reckless, law breaking, drug taking, thrill seekers (Hall, 1904). The frontman has an appearance of which makes him look as though he is on drugs, again supporting Hall's theory. Each of the members of the band look outgoing and pretentious, as their postures and positioning differs with each of them. All of these look ostentatious, and encourage behavior in the youth of which is considered to be 'fun', for instance, the male on the right who is jumping looks as though he is an extrovert who is not afraid to  have fun and is used to it. Two of the members of the band use direct address in consideration of eye contact, which makes the cover personal to the audience and they will feel more inclined to purchase the magazine. Clearly, the other images denote that the people in them are in bands. One is singing into a microphone with his mouth open, capturing the action and showing that he is musically talented. The other is a typical band picture, which is incredibly common. It is four males lined up together taken at a canted angle, and the lead singer slightly in front of the other members. Their heads are in slightly different directions as not to be plain, but all are looking towards the camera very seriously to make the image personal to the audience with a direct address. Due to this type of imagery solely connoting darker music it is not associated with other genres or the likes of television programs, radio shows, plays etc.

In terms of typography, the colour palette consists of yellow, red and white; this sticks to the generic convention of having but three colours to ensure the colours do not crash and the readers are not confused by a horrific amount of colours, as they would not know where to look. The specific colours used draws the audiences attention to different areas. All of the cover lines have been written with white text in blue boxes. Blue is a boyish colour, which can be related to the connotation of childhood, and roll with the theme of 'fun', as the males will relate their own childhood to this fun magazine and purchase the magazine. The cover lines are in capitals, which attracts the reader with professionalism and excitement, as capital letters connote importance over lowercase letters, and give the areas they have been used on a sense of shock and exhilaration. The more important cover lines are in bold, to make them stand out to the audience more than the less important lexis. The text of the feature article is the only text of which is yellow, with the exception of '1929-2008', connoting importance. It is also larger than the rest of the text excluding the masthead, which allows it to stand out and reach the audience far more quickly than any of the other text. Each font used is relatively standard and regular. Nothing is 'fancy' or 'metal', and there is not much change to what the reader itself would use if they wrote something on a document. This is familiar to the target audience, and does not introduce any risky fonts of which they might not like. There is nothing special about the four different fonts used, and they are quite similar to each other.

Effectively, the center of the magazine is the main image, and the writing is located around this, not interfering with the faces, but anchoring parts of the image. The masthead is in the 'sweet spot' (top left) only in the top 1/8th of the page to ensure it is seen amongst other magazines. The cover lines run down the left and right side of the page, and the feature cover line overlaps the torsos of the band, and is around the centre of the page width ways to stand out against the rest of the text.

To conclude, this magazine cover would be good to base my own magazine on, though I do feel as though it is not exactly what I am looking for, as I want something with a warmer tone. Before I decide, I will analyse two more covers. Through this analysis, I have learnt that in order to attract the specific target audience I have chosen, I must include a colour scheme of which does not consist of more than four colours, a main image and cover line that represents my chosen genre and the target audience, and a masthead that covers 1/8 of the cover.

Introduction to Analysis

Analysis of Existing Magazines

Before beginning the creation of my own music magazine, I intend to analyse three existing covers, contents pages, and feature articles from the genre of Indie that I could potentially use as my style model. The reasoning for doing so it to familiarise myself with common conventions featured on the magazine itself, and also to gain a better understanding  of how to attract and represent my primary and secondary target audiences through media language. In order to create a magazine cover that will be successful, it is almost mandatory to understand the genre conventions, supporting Bentley's theory (1997) that the creative process is the; “Making of the new by rearranging the old.”

How do Music Magazines Indicate Genre?

 Indication of Genre in Music Magazines

There is an incredible differentiation with each and every genre of music magazine I have come across. Magazines which focus on the likes of 'Mainstream' music have the tendency to have a bright, bold colour palette. For instance, 'Vibe' and 'Billboard' contrast to 'Kerrang!' and 'NME', as they have gone for pictures with a rather high contrast level, and have used pinks, blues, yellows etc, all of which are bright and considered to be optimistic colours. 'Kerrang!' has used a lot of black, yellow, and red; these are a lot more dull than the other magazines, reinforcing the stereotype that the people who listen to the type of music of which is the centre of 'Kerrang!', are dark and depressive.

This classical magazine cover denotes a woman holding a violin. Though this is not the connotation, even magazines of which are thought to be consumed by professionals and sophisticated people have hidden meanings. The violin looks as though it is being held like a baby, which is associated with great importance and delicacy. This is a connotation that the violin is precious and important in the music industry, and is probably worth more than an average house. It is a classical instrument, so sticking to the genre attracts the correct target audience. The model looks beautiful and is wearing a classy dress which is often seen in this particular genre, though it is showing skin which relates to Mulvey's 'The Male Gaze' (1975), how even in sophistication, women are placed in the media to ensure pleasure to the male. Even though this is supposed to be a solemn magazine, especially considering the 'BBC' logo is located by the sweet spot, there are still sexual connotations. 

Typography:

Lexis: 

The masks on the men suggest a mysterious aspect to their personalities. They are masking themselves and this hints at a rebellious phase that encourages the audience. The fact that they are considered to be 'scary', instantly tells the audience that the magazine is not mainstream, they knows that it is of the heavier region, rock and metal. The colour palette is dark and dull, consisting of colours 

Graphology:

Colour palette- dark and dull. Representation of the stereotype of people who listen to the music. 

rebel 

Typography-

Masthead- cracked like a mirror

Font is capitalised

Colour palette- 

Lexis-

Grapholgy:

Sexualised position- Male gaze.

Colour palette- pinks, blue water. Yellow and pink font, and white. Feminine. 

Might not be intelligent- use body to attract attention.

Typography- exclamation marks

Lexis-

Ibiza associated with clubbing.

Comparison of Target Audience

Different Target Audience's in Magazines

This post is a comparison on two genres at different ends of the spectrum concerning genre. I wanted to compare music magazines of which were entirely different, as that way I am able to gain greater knowledge of what conventions to use in my magazine, and what the target audience should be.





Target:
Gender- male, secondary female
age- 16-30
Social- B-E
ethnic origin- white

Target:
Black people, though some might read if like music.
Straight
Male
Lower middle and working class- not posh font, bold and rapish.

Potentially druggys- 'Steroids invade hip-hop' could also mean people who work out

Generic Conventions of Magazines

  

   

Generic Conventions of Magazines

MASTHEAD: This is the title of the magazine. It is commonly red, as this signifies importance, passion, danger, and many other emotions, and so can be adapted to fit most genres. Usually, this is located at the top of the magazine to ensure the audience is able to see what is practically the 'brand name' of the magazine, as a lot of the time the rest of the magazine is covered up as newsagents and shops pile them together.

MAIN IMAGE: This is usually a mid shot of one specific person, but can vary depending on the magazine. It portrays the feature of the magazine and can attract various different fan bases depending on who or what is on the cover. A large amount of the time, the main image anchors the masthead, and is in direct address to the reader. 

COVERLINE: This is usually a few words of which convey to the reader what the magazine consists of, and uses exaggeration to get the reader excited. These are the main text on the cover, advertising different articles to entice the reader.

ANCHORAGE: Pinning down an image with text (usually a cover line). For example, 'Spring Looks' on the Vogue cover above uses this across the breast of the star to sexualise her. Though this is not always what it is used for. No text whatsoever covers the face on the image.

COLOUR SCHEME: This way, there is not a colour clash that will deter any potential buyers. It also targets a specific audience more, for example, a magazine directed towards teenage females will usually include the colours pink, white, and yellow, whereas a magazine targeted towards males of this age would not.

TEASERS: This is text which excites and teases the audience, which encourages them to purchase the magazine, as they know that if they do, they will find the answers they seek. This is common in soap magazines, for example 'Who killed Derek?', often asking a question.

ISSUE NO: This is used to ensure the reader knows which issue the magazine is, or what season. This is especially handy if they are a collector. This is located near the masthead to ensure it is easy to see.

DATE: Tells the reader the date the magazine was released. Located near the masthead, usually to the right, the audience is able to easily find it.

BARCODE: To scan for the price, as it is the same price in each store. This is always located on the front of the magazine, as the back is usually taken up by advertising.

Music Magazines: Genre Identifiers

Using a Music Magazine

Uses and gratification theory states that we use the media for a specific purpose.

• Identify ourselves
• Entertain/escape
• Inform/educate
• Social interaction

These outcomes apply using various different methods of the media. Through television programmes, music, websites, etc. Personally, I use songs to identity myself, as I listen to music which suits my personality and feelings. An example of a song that I listen to when I wish to identify myself and escape the world, is Forget and Not Slow Down by Relient K. The songs also calms me down, so I listen to it to give myself comfort when my emotions are not particularly positive.  

I use the television programme 'South Park' for entertainment, as I enjoy the content of the programme and a lot of my friends do too, which is how it also links into social interaction. I talk to certain friends about the show, and we recite quotations whilst immitating the characters voices.  Facebook is a website a vast majority of this generation use. It is addictive, and I use it for socialisation, as I feel the need to keep in contact with my friends outside of school. It also assists me in finding information about other people that I might need to know.

Genres of Music

Indie

Indie, a popular genre with people who enjoy an alternative to mainstream music, is extremely diverse and has various different sub-genres, such as indie-pop, indie-rock, lo-fi, and many more. 

The genre name is an adaption of 'independent', which was originally used to describe low-budget record labels, then became associated with the music they produced and used interchangeably with alternative rock.

A lot of bands in this generation choose to be a part of this genre, as it is now a big industry. Though it is not mainstream, a lot of people still love the music. The genre of music itself has also influenced fashion and the media in positive ways, introducing alternatives.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/series/a-history-of-indie-music?INTCMP=SRCH

Rock

Originally titled 'rock and roll', this       Though it is not the mainstream egnre on the market, it is still prominent within the music industry, closely following behind. A lot of people of this generation do not wish to be 'mainstream,' and so, they opt for genres such as this and indie.  This genre has been adapted to form other genres stemmed from rock. 

Jazz

http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2010/may/23/jamie-cullum-best-jazz-musicians

Rap

Though this genre is not the

A mainstream genre today
Vast majority are black concerning ethnic origin.

Classical

Classical music is sophisticated and often associated with intelligent people, as it is in depth and consists of a lot of meaning, unlike most of the mainstream songs of today. The common instruments present within this genre are pianos and violins, as most of it is soft and inspiring. This is a genre which is most popular with the elderly, attracting less and less of the youth each year. This is due to the fact that this was the mainstream genre when they were youthful, and they are not used to the new music which is on the scene currently, and is likely to be too exciting for them to get into.

A lot of classical music is produced through orchestras, where many people can enjoy themselves out of the house by traveling to see them perform on stage. This is a bit of excitement in the lives of the elderly.

http://www.digitaldreamdoor.com/pages/best-classic-comp.html




Country

Country music is a genre of which is strongly associated with citizens of alabama, as it originated from the rural regions of South America in the 1920s. Usually, it is based on acoustic instruments, rather than electric as it gives the songs more of a rural feel to them, rather than city.

Acoustic
Stereotype- unintelligent and drink a lot.
Bajos and ukeleles.
Fields
Scabby clothes
farmers

Music Magazines History, Genre and Audience

My Music Usage in the Last Month

Through my MacBook

YouTube

Grooveshark
Spotify

Personal iPod

Docking station

Singing in the shower

Mum singing

Television: music on programmes

Singing in my room

Radio

Singing everywhere in the house

Car CD player

CD player

CD in DVD player

Radio on the internet

iTunes user

Music in the art rooms

Callumn blasting music randomly in lessons

Concert

Music I have paid for:

Nirvana album (iTunes)

Forget and Not Slow Down- album by Relient K (iTunes)

Coldplay- album Parachutes (HMV)

Whoa oh oh oh- Ascetic Junkies on iTunes £0.79

Chroma album and The Ransom EP by Cartel

Album by Thirty Seconds to Mars –from ASDA

How do you use music to define yourself?

Nirvana- An old rock band who have gone down in history, their music is amazing and inspirational. The fact that the frontman killed himself makes it even more appealing for some sadistic reason.

Coldplay- Seemingly ‘uncool’ to mainstream  teenagers, which makes them different and unique. This, as a contrast to the mainstream scene, making them appealing.

Relient K- Their music is calming and really good for relaxation.

Who is uncool?

Justin Bieber- He has an unlikable persona and his music is unappealing, attracting predominantly twelve year olds. 

One Direction- Like Justin Bieber, but a group of them. I don’t consider them to be as bad, but still dislike their music.

Era	Technology	Audience
1. Cavemen	Singing, clapping, hitting things	Other cavemen
2. Civilistaion	Musical instruments built	Small groups
3. Composers	Collection of instruments	Larger audiences
4. Recorded wax cylinders	Phonographic equipment	Family/friends
5. Record (vinyl)	Record player	Family/friends
6.Radio (1930s)	Radio broadcast. Radio owned.	People near the Transmitter
7. Sheet music	Musical instruments	Musical people
8. Tape/ Cassette (1940s) (mix tapes for romance)	Tape players (better quality)	Recording Studio/Homes
9. CD	CD Walkman	Best quality ever. BUT rebuy all your music
10. Minidisc (1990s)	Half digital. Half analogue.	No one bought them. Audience refused.
11. Internet/MP3 2000s	Need: PC, internet access, palyer, headphones.	The world. All the music that has ever been made. Headphones: you listen on your own.

The pre-digital age (pre 2000)

Radio One

Top of the Pops

NME/Sounds/Melody Maker

Your Friends

The record company was a gatekeeper choosing what bands we listened to.

Music magazines come in various different genres, as different people have different tastes in music, and so will wish to purchase different magazines. This is the reasoning for niche magazines and mainstream magazines. People consume music magazines for differing reasons. In context with Bloomer and Katz theory, people consume them for three reasons only: entertainment, information and socialisation. A lot of people want to expand their knowledge of bands and artists, and they turn to specific genres of magazines to do so. These introduce them to various different artists in the world. Another reason for consuming music magazines is if they want to find a review for a specific album that has either just come out or is about to, and if the review is good, it is likely that they will buy the album. This supports both the magazine and band, as people will buy the magazine to see the review on the album, and the album will increase in sales, as will the magazine.

The target audience for magazine also differs, depending on the magazine. If it has an artist such as Justin Bieber, then it is going to be targeted towards young girls, possibly from the ages of eight to sixteen, whereas a magazine like Kerrang is targeted towards males aged fourteen to twenty six. The general target audience for music magazines is white heterosexual males from the ages of twelve to twenty five.

Magazines can affect bands concerning both success and failure. Good reviews make the audience curious to see what unknown bands are like, therefore they will research into them on youtube, promoting the band to the audience. If the review is bad, then people will automatically dislike the band, especially if the review is in a magazine they regularly purchase, resulting in negative opinions of the band. A lot of artists have posted videos online when they were not famous, and have become famous practically overnight, because people love their music. Music magazines are expensive, and people can just get the same and more on the internet these days for free than in one magazine, as the websites providing the information get money from advertisements.

Evaluation for Preliminary Task

Evaluation

Using both theorists and analysis to influence my product, I was swiftly able to produce my college magazine cover and contents page with knowledge on common conventions and rules that apply to the majority of magazines. Although, I do feel as though there are certain aspects of features and common conventions which could be changed and corrected. As Bentley (1997) stated, the creative process is 'The making of the new through rearranging of the old'. Keeping his theory in mind, I applied this knowledge to the production to complete my preliminary task. The predominant method of applying Bentley's theory was to gather information on common conventions of magazines, allowing an advantaged understanding of how to ensure the cover and contents pages contained great aesthetic appeal. Analysing two contrasting college magazines and fashion contents pages helped me considerably. The Bodmin College magazine is not professional, does not fit its purpose nor is it popular with the target audience, as the survey they completed states int he results. This meant that I had to adapt my concepts and make sure my magazine did not turn out like this. Contrasting to the magazine, I analysed the magazine 'College', which stuck to common conventions, but also attempted to be original. In the same way, I attempted to do this; my magazine resembles a fashion magazine, such as Elle or Cosmopolitan, rather than a regular college magazine. Though, I do feel as though this might not be particularly suitable for males, something of which must be thought about during the process of producing my music magazine. I followed certain common conventions which apply to almost every magazine, such as a medium close up image covering the whole magazine cover, a masthead which is almost 1/8 of the page, though should be smaller, and the typography not interfering with the face of the model. With the contents page, I have also used common conventions. For example, the lexis 'Contents' stands out more than the subheadings, which are in a column. I also used multiple images which are bunched together, but could put the reference page number by these images to ensure better understanding of the location of articles. 

'Influence' is, primarily, aimed at students of Bodmin College from the age of 11 to 19. Though, I felt as though it should be more so directed toward the sixth formers (16-19), as not one of the sixth formers who took my survey actually read the magazine, and I knew that I have the ability to create something they would be interested in and want to read. I also wanted to direct it towards them because the younger students look up to them as role models, and so, if the sixth formers read it, the likelihood of the whole school reading it is high. I ensured the topics were that of which would interest them, such as 'GCSE Results' and 'Winter D of E', an activity an abundance of students partake in. This also is suggestive towards the students, telling them that being healthy is 'cool' like the magazine. Topics predominantly aimed towards students in higher education are present on the cover of the magazine, such as 'Explosive Discovery' and 'Bodmin Blessed', but also appeal to younger students who aspire to be like the sixth formers, and their parents who wish to know more about what the sixth form is like. The secondary target audience is the parents/guardians of the primary target audience, the students. Through the magazine, I am able to convey to them the achievements of the students at Bodmin College, the events happening, and what their children could potentially get involved in. Stanley Hall (1904) in 'The Storm and Stress Model' states that 'the common mood in teenagers is depressive' and 'criminal activity would increase at the ages of 12 and 24'. Contradictory to this theory, my magazine will represent the youth in an optimistic, positive manner. As they have continued with education, enrolling in higher education, they are intelligent beings and are less likely to have this behaviour. It also recognises these achievements, praising the students rather than the opposite, or encouraging bad behaviour amongst them. My magazine conveys to their parents/guardians how youth can be represented in a positive light, rather than the common stereotype that the youth are negative and trouble making. Both my cover and contents page stick to this ideology, and I have successfully portrayed the youth in an optimistic fashion.

In terms of graphological aspects, overall I feel as though it is successful. Though, certain features of the cover could be improved to create a more professional aesthetic appeal and conform to common conventions which are generally successful. I did not want the imagery to have an artificial feel, so I edited the photograph to ensure it was minimalistic, and looked natural. I also used natural lighting so the diegesis is successful in verisimilitude, and that really shows. Because the sun was not out on the day I did my photography, the colouring of the photographs are quite cold. Ideologically, they should be warm and welcoming; perhaps I could have edited them a little bit more to make the target audience feel accepted and invited in. The imagery looks as though it should be something present on the cover of a fashion magazine, which is not suitable concerning the target audience; it needs to appeal to males as well as females. Though the young boys might be attracted to the model on the cover, as she is beautiful and older than them. This links to Laura Mulvey's theory 'The Male Gaze'. Mulvey says that women are placed in the media to pleasure men, and though the purpose of my cover is not solely to please males, I did want them to be attracted to the model. Personally, I feel as though I could have added more imagery on the cover of events that had happened, to show the audience, rather than telling them, what has been going on in the college, or what will happen. Though I did use multiple images on the contents page, including the arts award symbol. This shows the readers that the school is serious about arts award, and really want the students to achieve this. I used only images of students within the contents, but I could have included teachers for the parents/guardians, to portray the teaching in a positive way, and give them an insight on how their students are being taught. The images I did choose to use are positive in representing youth. In terms of Marxism, middle class white heterosexual males are in control of the media. This means that they usually portray anything different from this negatively. For example, women are sexualised, homosexuals are unaccepted, disabled people's (in relation to Jordanova's 1989 theory) representation is 'a lack of mobility, physical impairments, needing others, helplessness, dependency, unattractiveness and asexuality.' In each and every one of the shots, there is a smile, with the exception of one. This medium close up links to the article 'Depression rising in the youth', relating back to Stanley Hall's theory that a common mood in teenagers is depression. This is not necessarily a negative representation in this case, but more so something of which is obviously attempting to convey this to the parents/guardians and ensure they are aware of how their children might be depressed, therefore will help the potential illness.

Typographically, the cover font has a professional appearance, especially because the writing is in capitals, a feature common in almost any magazine. A negative attribute of the font, is the fact that the white words do not show up particularly well, nor does the black in places. Though the font for the contents page is unprofessional and does not reflect the target audience. This is an aspect of which I need to improve on whence producing my final cover and contents pages. The masthead appears to be modern, youthful and is much more appealing than the current Bodmin College magazine. I ensured that the masthead stood out by turning the font colour black, as it is against a white background, and these shades contrast with each other. And so, the masthead is one of the first things you see when looking at the magazine. It also makes it easier to read for students who might have dyslexia of difficulty reading. The colour palette of the typography consists of three colours: black, white and turquoise. Three/four colours being used is a common convention, as it is successful to limit the colour palette, rather than widening it to the point that they clash for an unsightly appearance, not able to attract the target audience. Only two different fonts have been used on the front cover, usually there are more fonts than this, though not an overabundance, to vary the magazine more. Only two fonts are used within the contents page as well, though the fonts of the headings have been stretched out to fit the space and highlight more important articles. This does not look at all professional, they should be all the same size, with perhaps the exception of the important subheadings, which should be the same size as each other. In terms of the colour palette on the contents page, it is all black, which I dislike. This would not be appealing to the target audience, as it does not contain, as a common convention, a variety of different colours (to an extent).

The magazine cover layout is successful, with room for improvement; the contents page is not a success, and I could improve this a lot. I should have paid more attention to the analysis of Vogue's contents, which contained different sections. If I had included subheadings and divided the stories into specific areas, such as 'news’ 'fashion' 'academics', the audience would have been able to locate certain stories that they were interested in, whereas the contents is difficult to read. As a common convention of magazines, I erased the masthead to fit around Kitty's head, as the title is usually well known and looks professional if some is missing. This is located directly at the top of the cover, as is the 'contents' title on the contents page, which is common in a vast majority of magazines. The reasoning for this is because when magazines are stacked on shelves, if it is not at the front, you can only see the top 1/8 of the magazine, and the producers want the audience to be able to see and find knowledge of their magazine. The cover looks organised, purposely to ensure the parents are attracted to the cover as well as the students. Parents are stereotypically organised, neat, and tidy, wanting their children to take this characteristic up as their own. To improve the features and layout, I feel as though I could have included a few more common conventions of magazines, though I do like simplicity. Necessary conventions would be the date/season or issue number, which tells both students and parents when the magazine was released to ensure punctuality of the students. I should have added a tag line, date and issue number/season. This would have given an overall more professional appearance, including more common conventions which generally attract the target audience chosen, and appealed to the correct audience. I ensured that the text was placed around the head, not interfering with the face of the model, because if so, often the image looks like the background. There is an order of the text: subheading, description of article, subheading, description of article, subheading, description of article. This portrays the magazine as organised, something of which would strongly attract the secondary target audience of parents/guardians, as they would like to see how the school is able to produce an organised magazine, which portrays how the school as a whole is organised itself.

Though my cover and contents page are successful in giving the reader the information needed to understand the structure of the magazine, it could have been improved by following common conventions. I need to ensure general aspects of my final magazine are better than my preliminary task so that it will be a lot more successful. Regardless of this, I feel as though I have produced and newer and improved version of the current Bodmin College magazine. therefore is more successful. A large amount of improvements could still be made.