Priliminary task

The first thing we were set up to do was the priliminary task; this was so we could get to grips with the software that we could possibly use.

My magazine: Questionnaire and results.

For my coursework task I have been asked to create a music magazine consisting of a front cover, a contents page and a double page spread. However, the magazine must be able to meet the specification needed to be able to attract my chosen target audience.


So I felt before I could find a genre of a magazine, I required the opinions of teenagers of my age. I asked teenagers with ages ranging from 16-18 asking what their favourite genre of music was. I found that the vast majority of them preferred indie music to pop, and only a minority said that rap music was their favourite. So I fashioned a graph to ensure that my findings could be converted in a simpler way.
Above are my findings.
After discovering this information, I decided that indie music was the genre that I wanted to specialise in, and believed that teenagers of 16-18 would be more engaged with this.

Questionnaire.

Gender
[ ] Male
[ ] Female

Age
[ ] under 15
[ ] 16-18
[ ] 18-20
[ ] 21+

What sort of music do you prefer?
[ ] Indie
[ ] Pop
[ ] Rock
[ ] Classical
[ ] Rap
[ ] RnB
[ ] Grunge
[ ] Other: Please Specify___________________

What do you prefer?
[ ] Bands
[ ] Solo singers
[ ] Dj's

Have you ever bought a music magazine?
[ ] Yes
[ ] No

Who would you rather see in a music magazine?
[ ] Beyonce
[ ] Arctic Monkeys
[ ] RATM
[ ] The Saturdays
[ ] Mozart

What do you look for in a music magazine?
[ ] Articles about musical instruments
[ ] Interviews with artists
[ ] Articles on brand new music
[ ] Quizzes and competitions

Discovering my target audience

In order to attract my target audience appropriately I needed to research the genre of music in respects to mode of address and how to 'hail' my subject audience in. The first thing I did was research popular indie bands in culture at the moment. First I found the band 'Black Kids', first I looked at the picture observing what clothes were worn, and the colours used. I found that they had lots of bright primary colours used in pictures, each of them had separate colours for the members of the bands to signify their own identity. The members of the bands had logo t-shirts on and head phones in the specific colour. They are looking at the camera with a sense of confusion and madness. This symbolises to me, how indies establish themselves as themselves to be free-willed and wild.
I researched some more bands, for example, Kra Ra riot and motel motel. When looking at their pictures I saw that many of them were just of them playing their guitars and focusing on the music, not just them as people. Indies are passionate about music and their image, they believe that the music does the talking, and so I believe that for my magazine I am going to focus on the music more than the people in the bands, however at the same time attempting to show off the classic 'indie image'.
In order to find the indie image that they are known for, I got inspiration from the bands websites. For instance, on the Black Kids website I found that they were selling logo t-shirts on the website and that they were promoting the sunglasses brand 'Ray Ban'.

Indie music bands are commonly found in university campuses, or where they first started out. I found many bands, such as Kings of Leon and Black kids started out in universities. This gave me the idea of maybe having a story based in universities in Britain. 'The Uni Tour', where we could show new and up and coming acts. This could ensure that I would be using the right mode of address to hail my audience in. They could empathise with the people used in the magazine, because they are real people wanting to have a shot in the music business, just like them, for instance.

I felt that Indies would want to be in touch with the music they were listening to. On the website of the band Black Kids I found a poll going on what the next album should be called. This gave me an idea of including it in my magazine front cover; I feel it could hail in he audience appropriately by showing them how they can control the charts and have an impact, it would attract the personalities of my chosen target audience.

Another way of hailing in my chosen target audience could be with band's tips tricks. For instance I could have an article shown on the cover 'how to find the perfect drummer' or to include a chord sheet for a song.

Existing magazines: Institutions and audiences.

I wanted to find out about existing magazines in more depth in order to find out how they work and how they encourage readership.

Q magazine:
Q magazine was first published in 1986 by both Mark Ellen and David Epworth; it set itself apart from many other magazines with higher standards of photography and printing. Originally it was called cue, as cueing for a record but was quickly removed not to be mistaken for a 'Snooker' magazine.
Q's publishers are currently Beuer media group and is edited by 'Paul Rees' former editor of Kerrang! They strive in appealing to people who want new music up to date because when the magazine first started up, they believed that there was not much direction in that area.
Q magazine is a monthly magazine selling at £3.90 and in June 2007 they managed a massive circulation of 130, 179. Q also have a history of charitable events they have held; 'War or Want' was named their official charity in 2006 to support the anti war campaign.


Smash!hits
Smash! hits is a pop music based magazine based firmly on and was originally published by EMAP metro. The first issue was in 1978, but the magazine was founded in 1977 by the previous editor of New Music Express Nick Logan. This publication was originally monthly but quickly changed to fortnightly after only 3 issues. The main thing about this magazine in it's prime was the 'top 20 song lyrics' noted in the back of the magazine. However in 2006 they were forced into decline and the last ever magazine was issued in February 2006, although Smash! hits have returned to commemorate the death of Micheal Jackson in July of 2009 and an issue based firmly on Take That. This shows the element of trust between the readership and the magazine; they readers know what they want, and even though the circulation of this magazine isn't continued it is still trusted to bring out limited editions on important figures in the music industry.

Beuer magazine group.

Beuer media is a division of the Beuer publishing group, and is Europe's largest privately owned publishing group. It is a worldwide media empire offering over 230 magazines to be distributed across the world. (This includes TV, radio and online) Collectively the Beuer media group employs some 6,400 people and has a 2007 turnover of 1.70 Billion Euros.

Beuer's magazine heritage elongates back to 1953 with the launch of the Angling Times and the Motor Cycle news, both still considerably iconic.

This media empire publishes many magazines such as:

FHM ( this was originally called 'For HIM' magazine) which was bought in 1994.
Closer (A woman's glossy magazine) which was bought in 2002.
Grazia (A womans fashion magazine)was launched in 2005

They also publish: 'Heat', 'Take a Break', 'Yours' and 'Bella'.

Music magazines they publish:Mojo, Q magazine, Kerrang!

Beuer media group would, in my opinion would like to publish my magazine because it would be different. Q magazine and kerrang! come across as heavy, (with the bold fonts and colours) however my magazine would be lighter and mroe feminine. Although, my magazine is not only for women, it would have a lot of articles that would be unisexual. or example I would include features on brand new unsigned acts that tour universities and such. It would encourage people to become more into music itself and to discover themselves.

IPC.
IPC media is the UK's leading magazine and digital publishers selling over 350 million copies each year.
Magazines by IPC:
Country Life
Horse and hound
Rugby world
Decanter
Nuts
Mousebreaker
NME
Chat
Woman
Marie Claire
Ideal Home

Researching current magazines

When looking at current magazine covers I can see what codes and conventions are used and how they 'hail' their target audience.
NME is a well respected music magazine, known for their individuality and bold front covers. Here is a copy of a recent cover with the band 'Gossip' on the cover. The lead singer shown, left, is known throughout popular culture for her outrageous outfits and being her 'own woman'. We see that the magazine is following the code and conventions, with the red banner at the top and the front cover in the top left hand corner. The band is the biggest picture and is even placed over the title, this could maybe show how the band plays an important in this particular issue. This idea could possibly work considerably well with my magazine front cover; symbolising how music is the most important thing and how to address this to my audience.
The colours used in this magazine is red, white and black. These are all very bold colours that equally contrast and compliment each other. They are the stereotypical colours of a music magazine, not for the faint hearted. Because of this it can make the magazine stand out on the shelves and allows NME 'hail' in their audience appropriately.
The writing it shown to be stuck on, this can give the effect of any teenagers room, crammed with stickers of bands, and the 'random' placing. The way the text is sort out, it could be conceived to be just 'put there' however.
The fact that the band is above the title of the magazine could create the sense of how this is about them, not the magazine. It could show how the magazine is merely a distributor of this information and that it's the bands that are important. I believe I could use this technique effectively in my magazine.

Analysing a limited edition magazine

SmashHits! magazine.

This music magazine is firmly based on the genre of music, pop. Pop, comes from the term 'popular culture'; I believe this includes the life styles of rich and famous people as well as music.

This magazine is a one off special since declining. It's a limited edition, with the main feature of 'Micheal Jackson' formally known as 'the king of pop'. Because of the magazine only basing it on one person overall, it could be seen as niche. However, with Micheal Jackson appealing to people of all ages it seems as if it was a good bet to use him. He draws in many people, from the obsessed fanatics to people who love his music, to people who just want to know how he lives. The code and conventions are still visible, however the magazine did not have to include much information to hail to audience in. It, to me as the audience, say here he is, because to me, that's all the magazine needs, as Micheal Jackson can sell himself.

The colours used in the magazine, is once again red, red white and yellow. This is generalised colours that work well with each other. They work for many genres of music, from rock to pop. They are bright, and when bold, contrast well.

The main text 'AAOOOW' is commonly known as Micheal Jackson's signature noise made when performing, 'The music lives forever' text exclaims how his music is classic and will always attract new audiences, from young to old.

The features in the magazine are just as important as the front cover; in order to hail audiences in properly they need to have the right information. With posters, and a feature on 'how to moonwalk' it will hail in many people, from youngsters who want to plaster their rooms with posters, to the old loyal fans who simply want memorabilia.

Analysing existing magazines.

Q Magazine.
This is a recent cover of the magazine 'Q'. The magazine uses all the key codes and conventions so they can 'hail' their audience in appropriately. We are shown the band 'Coldplay' on the front cover of the magazine; they are looking at the camera as to be looking at us, the audience. This is a technique that I could use with my models; when looking at the audience it shows how the band doesn't think they are bigger than anyone else. The fact that they are looking at the camera straight on in a mid-shot gives the impression to the audience that 'Coldplay's' just the same as anyone else, and not superior.
The key colours used in this magazine is red, white black and yellow. These colours can be generalised with rock music frequently, they contrast with eachother and compliment at the same time. They make each word stand out appropriately and uses the right mode of address to pull the audience in, telling them that every word is just as important as the rest.
WORLD EXCLUSIVE is spread across the page. This is another technique I could use to hail my audience in; it tells them that this is the first and only interview that you have or will see in a considerable period of time. It lets the audience feel part of something and lets them into the intimacy of the rocks stars life that know one may of never knew. 'Q' magazine is using their mode of address well. In consequence to using this phrase 'world exclusive' I believe that they want to address the audience by telling them that they see them as an individual, a real person with needs. It could be that they portraying to the audience a sense of belonging; they want to be a friendly face.
The banner at the top of the magazine says 'the essential music guide'. EVERYONE needs this magazine if you are really interested in music and want to know everything before everything else. This links in with how the magazine 'Q' wants to fill the needs of it's readers and wants, once again, to tell them how they are an individual.
'Q' magazine, in my opinion, wants it audience to feel as if they are seeing a birds eye view of famous bands lifestyle. As we see, it shows U2 on tour. We, as readers, can see how they live and almost fantasise about it. The magazine fits in with the celebrity cultures as well as showing the readers what their values are in life. The music, the lyrics, but they also know that deep underneath the people fantasise about the rockstar lifestyle that comes with it.

Social groups.

As my target audience would be the typical stereotype of an Indie boy and girl. However, hence the name, they do not like to be seen as a 'social group'. They wish to be seen as 'individual' and be alone in their views and opinions. After researching the typical Indie girl I came across a website, How to be an Indie Girl. http://www.ehow.com/how_4804322_indie-girl.html
The article seemed to anger many readers and many said that to be individual would be being yourself, not following a checklist.

Although, after reading this article it gave me a broader image of the girl I would like to attract. As a social group, the magazine could represent the Indie point of view. They would be intelligent, enjoy literature and have a passion for music. This magazine would be a corner stone for their lives, it would have a section for their own views, they could write in and express their individual opinion.

Also they must have an interest in current affairs, popular culture, and following on from Q magazine the magazine would have previous history helping with charities. This I believe could almost represent the 'Indie Culture' in a nutshell, the fashion, the music and current affairs, this in turn is the correct mode of address to hail in my target audience.

Typical Indie Girl.

The age range that I would like to attract would primarily be ages 16-24. I have chosen this age, because it's not overly young, it's mainly the age where the rebellion would begin and a teenager would find who they want to be and stick with it. Any younger, and possibly the age would be stereotypically fickle and flaky. The age of 24 is just before the child in adults would settle down a bit more, any older and they would not be completely interested in the reckless rock and roll culture.
Generally interested in fashion; but likes to put her own twist on things.
Shops in Topshop, Urban Outfitters, vintage and charity shops.
Likes to have an original take on music, so will listen to anything from classical to rock. However their main interest would be bands not many people have heard of that involve guitars and lyrics that represent their views.

Typical Indie Boy.

The boys would be the same age of 16-24 for the same apparent reasom, however the age may be a little long, possibly ending at 25 instead. This is because it is commonly known that the maturity is a lot slower for men and there will always a prominant child.
They would be interested in fahsion, shop at Topman, River Island and Zara for men. Their styple will be different to everyone elses walking down the street. The clothes would be tight, and they would wear 'bulky' shoes such as 'Vans' or 'Converse'.

Both boy and girls will be interested in Literature, politics and have their own view about the world and would be trying to find their place. They would have a high interlect and love standing out from the crowd. However much they would not like to admit it, they would go out of their way so as not to conform to everyone else.
They would hang out at Borders bookshop, Librarys and Starbucks with their nose in their books or laptops. They don't want to look as if they are posers so they try and potray themselves as interlects interested in more things than their style.