Research and Planning: Props list

The props I need for my magazine cover are:

• Les Paul guitar, which I will supply myself as I own one.

• SG guitar, which I will supply myself as i own one.

• Acoustic Guitar, which I will supply myself as i own one.

 

• Microphone, which I will supply myself as i won one.

Research and Planning: Questionnaire Results

These are the results I gathered from my questionnaire that i produced to get a better idea of what my magazine should have featured in it and what it should look like.

Research and Planning: Questionnaire

 

 This is one of my 10 questionnaires that I asked people to fill out to find what features would suit my magazine the best.

Research & Planning - Double Page Spread Analysis

NME Double Page Spread

Genre:

     This double page spread emphasises the genre of alternative music with its use of a querky, yet bold font for the main heading which really catches the reader's eye as it takes up most of the double page spread.  Once again the colour scheme of red, white and black is stuck to by using red to highlight certain parts of text and also in Lilly Allen's clothing. 

Representation:

     The Mid-shot and pose of Lilly Allen gives off Lilly's attitude to maybe the the press, which links well to the newspaper-cutting font style or even the readers, indicating her laid-back  lifestyle and letting us know how she doesn't care what people think.  The use of the white background on this spread brings all of the attention to Lilly and the text yet it still has an almost 3D feel to it as the headline is placed slightly infront of Lilly, linking the two together.

Audience:

     The audience that is attracted to this magazine is anyone interested in Lilly Allen and/or her music,anyone who is interested in Alternative music and musicians.

Media Language:

     This double page spread uses a mid-shot of Lilly Allen and when this is combined with her pose, the colour scheme of black, white and red and a large, bold headline like the one featured,  it gives off a strong, independant feel with maybe even a hint of mischeviousness.



Research & Planning - Magazine Contents Page Analysis

Genre:
This magazine emphasises its genre of alternative rock/metal with its use of bold, masculine fonts and strong colour scheme. The contents page's use of columns for both the area of contents and its "Band Index" adds organisation to the page but also makes it look bold.
Target Audience:
The target audience for this magazine is most likely: males, due to its masculine fonts and colour schemes, students due to its use of newer bands that are associated more with teenagers and anyone who is interested in the top alternative rock/metal artists or even musicians.
Layout:
The layout of the magazine is simple, yet bold as the use of columns gives both organisation and structure to the page.  The simple colour scheme of black, white and red works well with the page as the black and white contrast well with the red, allowing the producers to almost highlight key areas with the red.  The font sizes on the contents page differ with the importance of that certain article or factor of the magazine (e.g. the headings on the contents column are larger than that on the "PLUS" section, causing readers' eyes to concentrate more on the contents).
Representation:
The images shown are two photographs from the same concert. However, these have been out together and almost look like one photograph.  The image is shown as underneath the article about them which links the two together well and making the two seem like one large column and also adds a third dimension to the contents page.  The images are also used to show readers the type of articles and music to expect throughout the magazine.
Media Language:
The magazine contents page uses mid-long shots of the band playing.  Also the picture was taken during the actual concert and not in a studio, so the lighting is that of the concert, giving readers a better view on the concert. The fonts and colours throughout the magazine give off a confident vibe which is backed up with the use of structure and organisation.
 

Research and Planning: My First Podcast

This is my first podcast which will show you what I have done so far.

Research & Planning - Categorising my audience

Age:
The age of my audience is roughly between 15 and 21 years old because  this is the age in which people begin to get jobs and therefor are able to afford to buy magazines on a regular basis, also, it is the age range in which music appeals most to.
Gender:
The gender of my audience would most likely be male.  This is because, I feel this specific genre of magazine appeals mostly to males, therefore they are more likely to buy it every week.
Occupation:
My audience would probably be full-time students due to the fact that they are between 15 and 21 so would probably have a part-time job but still spend a lot of their time at school, college or university.
Class:
The class of my target audience would probably be working - middle class.
Interests:
My target audience's interests would need to be linked with music, gigs, downloads and music technology (e.g. effects pedals, amplifiers e.c.t.
Outlook for Future:
My target audience would probably be interested in moving on to university or already in university.
How am i going to reach them?:
I will use a combination of: Bold, masculine fonts with a strong colour scheme,  gig guides and reviews and information about the latest music tech.

Research and Planning: Masthead

Research and Planning: Music Magazine Analysis

                 NME Magazine Cover                                                                 Kerrang Magazine Cover

Genre

     Both magazines emphasize their genre of alternative rock/metal with their bold mastheads and strict three colour scheme of white, black and red.  The photographs of My Chemical Romance's Gerard Way, right, and Biffy Clyro, left. are brought forward over the masthead to add a three dimensional view  to the cover.  Another factor that shows the magazines genre is the use of the artists and their stories such as: the use of "LostProphets", Funeral For A Friend" and "Paramore" under the main focus of the magazine, "Biffy Clyro" on the Kerrang magazine cover and stories on "Vampire Weekend", "Gorillaz" and "Suede" surround the bold story and image of Gerard Way on the NME magazine cover.  Also the use of headers and footers on both covers to advertise quick stories on other bands featured in the magazines.

Representation

     On the NME magazine cover, the full-length shot of Gerard Way shows him in a natural looking pose, as if he's walking. However, his clothing and hair gives him an almost "outlaw"  look that sticks to the colour scheme of the magazine as he is dressed in black and white, linking him to the rest of the cover, yet he is separated from the background of the photograph and placed infront of the footer and the masthead, sandwiching the entire cover together by placing all of the text between the main attraction, Gerard Way, and the background of the photograph.

     The Kerrang magazine cover however, is slightly different.  The medium close up of the bad "Biffy Clyro" and the large Biffy Clyro logo indicate their significance in that issue of Kerrang.  The white logo and white hoodie in which lead singer Simon Neil is wearing links the two together and also ties the band in well with the covers colour scheme as the other two memebers are wearing black.  The band comes across as a band with attitude, yet insight due to both their facial expressions and their attire.  Another factor to consider is how Simon Neil is placed infront of the masthead, yet the other two members are placed behind the masthead which, just like the NME cover, compresses the cover between the three characters; which when looked at with the other images in the foreground, add layers and a third dimension to the cover.

Audience

     The audiences for both magazines are people interested in alternative rock/metal or even musician. You can tell this by the selection of bands on the covers.

Media Language

     The Kerrang magazine cover uses all medium close ups and the NME magazine uses a full length shot with a colour scheme of red, white and black.  Their fonts are bold yet simple and stick with their loud and confident feel with a variety of sizes depending of the significance of the stories featured in the magazine.  The clothes used in the magazines are used to show the bands attitudes and also to fit in with the colour scheme linking the entire cover together 



Research and Planning: Story Board

This is a story board that we created with our own photographs.  I feel it represents a divide between gender and the use of certain shots imply power.