Audience Research (using qualitative methods such as focus groups)Specific information that I have gathered and developed from

my questionnaire research, making more detail preferences due to asking people that fit my target audience, I am going to

summarise my findings so they will affect my final designs. I am looking at focusing on a female audience between the age

of 16 and 20 who are interested in the pop/dance, partly electric music scene.

Stereotypes with this Audience This stereotype of pop/dance is normally associated with women anyway, I found this out before my questionnaire by analysing front covers. Interests consist of extreme fashion, and inspiration from catwalk rather than high

street. Perhaps quite eccentric personalities, and clothing/music choices. The girls on the covers or the girls mentioned during my questionnaire reflect who my reader may admire (Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, Katy Perry and Ke$ha). There music is in your face, makes a statement along with their

costume decisions, dominating females in the pop star world. This is why I want the theme throughout my music magazine to be quite exaggerated

and enjoy a busy musical related lifestyle. May be songs about men, emotion, experiences but with a funky twist due to lyric or music

background, which is perfect for the type of reader I aim to interest. The magazine would provide a pop/dance genre through the artists, gig information, events, interviews, latest news and what is in vogue.

I asked females in my media group questions to give me extra defined knowledge on what kind of thing I want my magazine to offer. I asked 4 questions about the front cover, 4 about the contents page and a further 4 about an ideal double

page spread.

1. What images would you like on the front cover? One striking image on the front cover of a quirky, powerful female of similar age or slightly older to themselves. Perhaps portraying minor sexualisation, but definitely expressing individuality. An image with inspiration from my artists mentioned before.

2. What would you like to see on the front cover? Sell lines that interest the reader, quite busy but not with cheap connotations. Recent gossip, interview quotes or style/fashion stories.

3. What colours would be appropriate? Quite quirky, bright and colourful themes that are used throughout. Maybe as a reflection of the genre, the reader, and the type of artist. Bright blues, purples and reds.

4. What language would be appropriate? The language on the front cover should not be too formal, with relation to my elder teen reader. The pop/dance scene is quite laid back anyway and I want my language to be reflected in this.

1. What type of images on the contents page and how many? Maybe one main image or a few smaller images is what my focus group said. Normally, most magazines have a dominating image and the contents have a few.

2. What would you want to be inside the magazine? Inside the magazine, most people said they wanted gig guides, an interview, fashion connoted tips that link with the genre, current gossip, and news on the music scene that will all be categorised with numbers on my contents page.

3. How much images and text would you expect? On the contents page, there should be lots of mini images included, perhaps an image of the editor, or the person who is being featured, or maybe images of instruments or costumes that relate to my magazine theme.

4. What type of language should be used? The language should mould to fit the overall purpose, to entertain the reader and relate to the theme. More informal than formal to interest my target audience.

1. What images should be included on the double page spread? The images should be a visual reflection of the artists persona as this will be where the interview is placed. Quite quirky attitudes and sexualised pop photographs of my chosen person. Even if they’re smaller, they still need to dominant and give insight to the interviewee. A range of image types, to alter the layout and to make it look cooler and fuller, always showing their faces and sometimes their bodies.

2. What would you prefer the article to be about? All members of my focus group said they would like to read an interview with the person featured on the front cover, to give insight into their lifestyle and a relation to them as people. A woman perhaps in the target audience age group all older telling interesting facts or experiences that link to their music, their life, their costume/fashion choices – all things that my preferred reader would be interested in.

3. How would you expect the language to be? The language should be another connotation to what the reader is like as a person, analysing the lifestyle or background information of the girl on the front, quotations and atmosphere will give extra information making the article more professional and attractive for my double page spread. Quite direct language, but with modern, cool and young twists. Perhaps slang or funny terms remembering my target audience throughout.

4. Would you prefer more image or text or mixed? My results showed that most of my readers would like a double page spread with mixed text and images, so both included, similar percentage of the pages. Too much text will bore the reader but not enough will be inappropriate for the age group. The images need to be fun and enhance my pop theme through location and outfit choices. Using approx. 3 or 4 images, smaller, maybe one larger. But all the way through, quite direct and understandable text with mild humour.