Evaluation of My Music Magazine

By Cain Mackenzie-Yapa

In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenging forms and conventions of

real media products?

Key ingredients that a music magazine will commonly use include; A banner - this is used on the front of the magazine cover. The masthead is the title at the top of the front cover that identifies the magazine – all magazine have a masthead. A banner is a headline that goes across the full width of the page. Brand identity is used to make the magazine easily distinguishable from any other magazine that is out there. On the front of magazines, the uses of cover lines are greatly used - cover lines summarizes the most exciting features and articles which are inside of the magazine. A lure is often used on the front cover of music magazines- Lure’s are a small section of a story that is printed on the front cover. Music magazines often use ‘features’, these are often longer than a normal article and are more in depth for example, this could be something like an interview. For every article, a headline is used - this is the main heading with the biggest font which relates to the main story. Music magazines use straplines; a strapline is a smaller headline that appears over the main headline. In the magazine, a byline is often used; this is the name of the journalist who has written the article or feature. Music magazines often use captions under an image to anchor the image. An editorial is a comment by the editor. The editorial is placed near the front of the magazine. Graphics are often used in music magazines; graphics are the use of word symbols, words and images. Magazines often have and use a certain ‘house style’ – A house style is a rule for the magazine on spelling, punctuation and abbreviation. Each page in a magazine has a layout; this is the design of the page. Music magazines often vary on the mode of address, as there are various different genres of music.

The front cover of a magazine has to include and usually includes having a masthead; the masthead most often placed at the top of the page. The masthead is a logo of the magazine that is recognized by the audience by the easily distinguishable brand image. 3/4 fonts are often used on the front cover of the magazine to have a variety of different fonts and to make it more appealing and interesting. Cover lines (also known as tag lines) are the main text on the cover; they advertise the articles that are in the magazine to entice the reader. On the front cover, the colour scheme is picked wisely so it is appealing to the eye and makes people want to buy the magazine. The magazine will have the date of the magazine when it was published and will normally include the web address of the magazine – the magazine will usually have the barcode at that location as well. Straplines are usually placed at the bottom of the page, this is often the case to highlight stars in the magazine or other stories of which are in the magazine. Features are mostly always used – the feature article cover line is always bigger than the rest and dominates the page. A single picture is most often used on the front cover of a magazine, the picture is often a close up (head and shoulders shot) or a medium shot and in music magazines, a group shot is most often used. There is also a possibility that the magazine can have a slogan and so, the slogan is often placed under the header.

Contents Page

The contents page of a magazine has to include, and usually includes a banner at the top. This banner is used to show the importance of this page – which is to inform the reader of the contents of this magazine. The date is often put on the contents page somewhere near the top or bottom of the magazine as it is then out of the way. Larger subheadings are used to focus the readers to inform them of what features are in the magazine and where they can find them. A brief summary of content is also used; this gives extra information before you read the actual article and gives you a sneak preview. An editor’s note is also placed on the contents page, this adds an extra insight into the magazine – the language is often chatty and is most often informal.

Double Page Spread

A double page spread in a magazine has to include and will usually include having a basic layout. The double page spreads that are in magazines have a certain column width and positioning which is used to have order. Throughout the whole double page the use of font and type size must be maintained to keep the magazine looking professional. The use of space has to be used evenly and used well and not wasted. The colours, which are used on the double page, have to compliment the picture(s). The use of pictures must to be related to the context of the article. Page numbers are shown on the bottom of each page – if on the left page, the number is shown on the bottom left; if on the right page, the number is shown on the bottom right.

Masthead

Main image – Group shot

Strapline

Coverlines

Barcode region

Graphics

Banner

Featured stories

Subheading

Heading

Magazine’s logo

Secondary image

Main Pictures

Page number indicated on photo

Editors Note

Date

Graphics

Graphics

Caption

Quote

Logo of Band

Main text body

Page number

Graphics

Image

EXCLUSIVE! In my music magazine, I do not think that I have any conventions which are too different compared to other music magazines that are out there however, I do believe that my music magazine, ‘Sound’, pushes the boundaries compared to other magazines out there. This is because my magazine is produced and is a product that is aimed at a mass market audience which are interested in a specific type of genre of music – alternative rock. On the front of the magazine it says the word, “exclusive”, as something is exclusive in my magazine this means that the gossip about Date Night is only available in this magazine.

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

In the music magazine that I have recently created, I have represented both teenagers and rock music fans. I have done this to these two social groups by saying there is a chance to win tickets to a music festival – this is aimed at music fans and teenagers, as this is the sort of things teenagers and music fans get up to. The main subject in the first issue of ‘Sound’ is the band, Date Night. Date Night is a typical rockband, their face’s are placed everywhere in this issue of the magazine to try get the readers attention to them – this is the use of celebrity endorsement. The language which I have used in my magazine is quite informal however gets the information across in a ‘chatty’ way - I believe that the use of language like this suggests that this is for an elderly aged teenager, aged around 16-18. You should get the impression that this magazine is for both genders as this magazine is a magazine about rockbands to get information on new hot topics. This magazine is aimed at working class to middle class people.   

On the CoverI used this image on the front cover of my magazine as I think it shows power and unity. I believe that this picture was the best picture to use on the front cover of my magazine as it was taken in portrait and so got the full body of the band and also the surrounds (worn brick wall). The picture has been manipulated by skin blemish being taken out as well as a colour correction.

On the Contents PageI used this image on the contents page of my music magazine as it is a similar picture to the one on the front cover, however is been take in landscape and has been take close to the band members. This shows their facial expression and emotion. This picture, again, has been manipulated by skin blemish being taken out as well as a colour correction. The eyes of the member in the center of the photo’s eyes have been edited to make them appear much brighter and bluer than they actually are.

On the Contents PageThis image is also used on the contents page of my magazine. The picture was taken landscape and showed their full body and extra surroundings. The picture has been manipulated by skin blemish being taken out as well as a colour correction.

On the Contents Page This image is used on my contents page as an extra image which was not at all related to the featured band. This is an album of which I created. I believe that the photograph works well as a album cover as the figure is placed off of the center and has been photo manipulated by darkening the figure and making him look as if he is a silhouette and I have also added various dots in the sky which are stars.

On the Double Page SpreadI used this image on my double page spread. I used this image to fill the whole of the right page to give the reader a full sense of what the band is like. This picture shows power because the band member closer to us is larger than everyone behind. On the top left of the photo the sun is leaking in which I believe give a good effect. This picture has been manipulated by skin blemish being taken out as well as a colour correction.

What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and

why?

  The publisher, ‘Freeway Press Inc.’ sells a similar magazine that is released every month called ‘Rock Sound’. Any music magazine distributer will want to publish and sell my magazine as it offers individuality and a new style magazine into the magazine industry – this is simplicity with a sense of style to it. There may also be a possibility of my magazine being distributed by ‘Future Plc Publishing’ – This distributor is know for publishing underground music however, will be an advantage to them and will allow them to expand their business as many people will wish to buy ‘Sound’.   

Who would be the audience for your media product

As stated previously in my treatment sheet, I am going to be, “targeting an audience of both male and female and are aged around 16-18 year or around that age group.” The audience which I would like to attract is a specific group of teenagers that listen to bands such as “You Me at Six, Bring Me the Horizon, etc.”

How did you attract/address your audience?

To make Sound an attractive magazine to my target audience, I referred back to my audience questionnaire – this showed me what the potential audience wanted in the magazine. To convince the audience to look in my magazine I used celebrity endorsement by using pictures and showing names on the front of my magazine. Lots of people said that they were interested in gossip, reviews, free items and competitions, so I included all of these features in my magazine to make it the best it could possibly be to the audience. The audience also said they would like vibrant colours to be included into my magazine, so I tried my best to stick to my ‘style’ and try to add vibrancy into my magazine without it being too vibrant as I find that quite off-putting. The language that is used in my magazine is often chatty and is most often informal however gets the message across pretty well.

Celebrity endorsement

My Front Cover I believe that the front cover of the magazine I have created is very attractive to my target audience; this is because of the way it is presented. Everything that is placed on my magazine is used and placed for a specific reason. The masthead is in that particular font, is bold and is that font size to stand out and get people’s attention of this magazine. The strapline is used to get the reader’s attention more by the audience seeing what they could have a possible chance of winning in this issue if they bought it. The coverlines, which I have used on the front cover, are short and snappy - I think that is good as then the cover page is not crammed. The banner is used on the front cover of this magazine to get the reader’s attention as it has the name of a famous rockband’s name on it. At the bottom right of the magazine it shows the barcode region where it also shows the price and the website – this shows that the magazine has already expanded their audience by being online.