Evaluation

In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?


In creating my urban music magazine Volume which focuses mainly on the genre of R&B in the UK.I had to consider several things that would affect the suitability of the product for my target audience just like a real media product would. In my research I discovered that the magazine front over is the most important part of the magazine, this is because the front cover projects an image for the magazine and conveys to the audience what the magazine is about.

On my front cover the central image is of the feature artist for that issue. I knew that the top of the page is very important, as this is where the title of the magazine title/logo is placed and this has to be carefully considered to ensure the magazine attracts the attention of my target audience also so that it can be remembered. I choose to stick to this typical layout to ensure that I could establish a good readership for my magazine before doing something drastic on the front cover. I thought a change in layout could be published as a special edition issue as most successful music magazines do such as Mixmag and Kerrang.

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

In my magazine I aimed to represent the culture of R &B and how the genre attracts a diverse crowd through the many sub-genres that develop from it. Some have smooth and soulful vocals accompanied by a piano or guitar. Some have hip-hop production and feature more dance tracks. Others are a part of the growing Neo Soul movement and songs that are reminiscent of spoken word poetry. I aimed for my magazine to be credited for giving the target audience what they wanted which is R&B but also to attract an audience who are interested in some of the sub-genres .Volume is a magazine that I believe sheds a positive light as my feature article focuses on the successes of my feature artist .This is a good way to give my readership a sense of belonging the magazine is reassuring that all of the things that is looked for in a magazine .The glamorous image and lifestyle being portrayed to them makes them they feel as though they can achieve this as well. In my magazine I thought carefully about the image of my feature artist, as she is portrayed as being quite glamorous this was to create a trend and Volume that my target audience will aspire to be like.


What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?


I think that IPC media would be the most appropriate media institution to distribute my magazine. IPC is a diverse institution which publishes a range of magazines for a wide range of audiences. Using IPC as my distributor is appropriate as they are well known for publishing well established fashion magazines such as Marie Claire and Look magazine, with audiences made up of predominately females which is the audience my magazine focuses on. IPC also distributes NME magazine which is a popular music magazine and has had great success in the UK market .The publishing company distributes over 80 magazines and their creativity, innovation, talent and commitment drives their market-leading position in UK consumer publishing. This is why I believe that choosing them as my magazine’s publisher would be a good idea ,as their experience and knowledge of fashion and music in the magazine sector would be useful as it would guarantee the success of my magazine to the consumer .

Who would be the audience for your media product?

My audience for magazine is for teenagers from the age of 13-18 who have a strong interest in R&B music and urban culture. As the magazine has elements of fashion and beauty tips, it is obvious that it would appeal more to a female audience. This I think is a good thing as there is certainly a gap in the market for an urban music magazine that is aimed at the female audience. However it still appeals to the male audience with its sexy portrayal of women. The magazine would be distributed in cities as it is evident that people living the country side would have no interest in a magazine based on urban culture.

I have used a large image close up as the central image which is typically used in music magazines, this type of shot is used to emphasise the main star on the cover. The image portrays the main star ‘DE-Andra’, as being a “diva” a typical personality of an R&B artist. I have used a bold font with a house style of pink and black .The effect of using music magazine using pink to portray a female star, not only with the font her name but what she is wearing, this way the reader is intrigued straight away and is interested in reading the article.

How did you attract/address your audience?

In my magazine I have advertised something free for my target audience, making the magazine more persuasive to buy, an element frequently used in magazines. I have detailed the free download on the front page on the top strip; this is used to entice the reader as the idea of something being ‘Free; often attracts the audience. As this is a music magazine I thought it was appropriate to do a completion about winning tickets to a festival, as these competitions in magazines are a chance for the reader to get more interactive with the magazine which is what I wanted my Volume to be able to provide.

What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

In the process of creating and constructing my magazine I have developed several skills, a skill that I has been particularly useful in process of creating my media product is using Blogger. I have learnt how to post my planning and research work on the blog that I had set up .I have used my blog as a key resource in the creating and editing process of my magazine ,as all my decisions regarding the product have been posted on my blog to show the progression in my work. I have also used blogger to create a poll to find out which title block for my magazine would be most appropriate, as I used the students in the college this meant the results that were obtained influenced my decision on what title block I would use for my magazine as the age group of the college students is the age group of my target audience.
My skills on Adobe have also improved vastly, before I started to create my magazine I could barely open Photoshop or illustrator now I know how to use both of the programs appropriately .

In Photoshop I have learned how to edit photographs to make them suitable for my magazine for example I have learned how to crop images and using the magic wand tool, I have learned how to make an unwanted background disappear. This skill was very useful as the image on my front cover had a lot going on in the background by cropping the image and getting rid of some of the background it enabled me to detract the attention of the surroundings on the picture and make the main focus the artist who was featuring in my magazine.

Adobe illustrator is the program which I used to set up my magazine. I used four print documents which I used to create my front cover, contents page and feature article. I have to edit these pages to ensure they were suitable for me to create my magazine. I transformed three of the print documents from the setting portrait into landscape, this was so that I could split the pages in half using the line tool and use them for the double page spreads for my contents page and feature article.


Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

In the progression from my preliminary task to the final magazine I feel I have learnt a lot. I have a better understanding of the construction of images and how the layout conventions affect the meaning of the magazine. My preliminary task was very basic, the cover is very plain with only a basic use of colour and text. The arrangements of the anchorage and puffs are disorganised and there is no clear house style .Also the central image is not very striking and lacks audience appeal.
However, In the process of creating my finished media product Volume magazine all the skills I have gained since creating my preliminary task have helped me successfully create a suitable front cover. I carefully planned how I would construct the pages of my magazine by creating drafts. The images are placed appropriately on the pages to accompany the text on both the feature article and the contents page.

The image I have used on the front cover of my magazine is very striking and to enhance the importance of the artist the image covers part of the title block. The image is very successful in captivating the essence of the anchorage ‘The Diva De-Andra’, as diva’s are often fussed over and made number one priority the front cover .My magazine is constructed well, as I have a clear house style of Black and pink, the information on the pages are well organised and structured well, for example the layout of my contents page is structured well into sections, this is so the reader can easily find the page they are looking for.

Final -VOLUME Double page spread ( Feature article)

Final -VOLUME contents page

Final -VOLUME front cover

Magzine front cover and contente page drafts

First draft of contents page.

First draft of front cover

Images taken for magazine

Feature article for my magazine

De-Andra‘s music career is at it’s peak .The rising star of the 21st century seems primed to be amongst the most successful artists of 2010. Soaring to the top of the charts with her incredible ‘so smooth’ this winter, De-Andra ‘s music career has been on a steady path, with a tremendous impact on the charts .


The talented and beautiful De-Andra’s music remains an exhilarating mix of various styles that we have come to expect from her. In a revealing interview she sat down with Volume to discuss her new album and her signature sound.


After meeting up for lunch, with our lovely columnist Laura Brentwood at a beautiful hotel in London .We found out how she manages to keep her name out of the gossip pages and her beauty secrets, including a surprising item that she always carries around with her. One thing that shouldn't be surprising, however, is how down to earth this diva is, which is one of the many reasons, why we love her.


L: Was singing always something you planned on turning into your career?


D: To be honest, as a teenager singing was always more a pastime rather than a serious career choice for me. I never really believed I was good enough.


L: What would you say is one of your biggest achievements?


D: I think definitely winning a Grammy last year, considering only being in the game for a year to have one such an honourable award was truly amazing.


L: I must say your new look is amazing, do you have a personal stylist?


D: I do have for concerts but other than it’s all me. I do my own make up and buy my own clothes it’s not that hard MAC does some wonderful make-up which is so easy to put on.



L: Would you say fame has changed you as a person?


D: (laughs) Fame has changed me in some ways, in the sense that there are certain places I don’t go anymore (laughs) I can’t just go to my local MC Donald’s without being bombarded by fans, it’s really touching and quite funny because I sometimes forget I am a celebrity.


L: OK, on a scale to 1-10 how much of a diva would you say you are?


D:oh no I would hate to be thought of as a diva (laughs) I would say 2 he only time I’m in diva mode is if the show is poorly organised and I have to end up sitting backstage ,I get slightly agitated with the hair and make-up stylists.

L: A question we are all dying to know ,what is the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you on stage?


D: oh gosh (puts head in hands) it had to me the time I tripped on a lead for my Mic at a club in London. The audience didn't seem to care but I found it so hard trying to free my foot from the wire, it was so embarrassing,


L: when is your next single due to be released?


D: Well my album has already been launched, but the next single should be on radio by April hopefully.


L: Is this following the same style of your previous singles that were quite edgy for the genre?


D: Yeah, the whole album is very edgy. I have been inspired by so many other genres that It should be in a genre of its own (laughs)


L: What is your favourite song on your album?


D:I actually can’t think of one in particular however, I have had a lot of fun making the video for so smooth. The director had me in stitches, and we ended up having to literally 50 takes for one shot


L: Has there been any artists that have influenced you in the process of this new album?


D: I have always admired Rhianna as she has been the most successful in having a fresher take on her songs. I think she definitely set the standards for other R&B artists.


L:Do you think that your target audience being predominately to a British audience is a disadvantage to your music sales?


D: I wouldn't say disadvantage ,but it definitely has an impact BUT I am all for the UK ,I think that is the problem we have .Many of our R&B artists go to the states and try to appeal to that market and forget about the audience that should be secured right here in the UK.


L: What I find amazing is how you manage to stay out of Negative media


D: It’s simply really I just don’t talk .Except to magazines like this that are interested on my music and not my personal life.


L: So you wouldn't be willing to tell our readers one of your crazy obsessions?


D:(laughs) That’s not really personal ,I have to carry my own toilet paper with me. I know it sounds weird but I can only use a particular brand or I won’t be able to go.(laughs)


L: What advice would you give to young artists aspiring to be where you are now?


D: The best advice I could give to them is do not trying, never give up till you reach your goal. As long as you’re dedicated and have good demos there’s no reason you couldn't’t be in my position, in fact give me a run for my money.


L: One last question for you De-Andra do you think you have what it takes to make an impact on R&B in the UK?


D: I would like to think so; music has always been a passion of mine knowing that I am touching people’s lives would be amazing. All of my songs are written to make a difference to people and with that I’m hoping I will be able to keep R&B alive.

Magazine drafts and page layout

Contents page Layout

This simply demonstrates the structure my magazine will follow.

Front cover page layout

This is the basic plan for the lyaout of the front cover of my magzine.I cretaed this to make it easier for me to oragnise how the images and information on the page.

First draft (front cover )

Task 10-Analysing a Magazine article

The language of the article is generally quite formal, quotes made by Cheryl Cole ‘’contact lenses are a good touch’ the language is not complex but it is very easy to understand. This suggests that the article is targeted audience is people who are also able to read at a good standard due to the wide range of vocabulary as well being able to read simple sentences .The artist featured in this article is Cheryl Cole she belongs to the pop genre ironically, but she is used as a tool to get the attention of Q’s audience which is predominately males.

The text is an interview and is structured in paragraphs, information is provided regarding the artist before the question asked is revealed. The response Cheryl Cole gives is reported using speech marks frequently throughout the text. There is bold letter C that initiates the change of topic in the article. The article is set out this way to appeal to the some what intellectually male audience.

There is a double paged spread to present this article, but the page on the right is taken up by an image of Cheryl Cole. The page on the left however consists of the article mainly but there is an image to accompany the article towards the bottom right hand corner of the page. There is also a highlighted quote which suggests that is the main topic of the article. The magazine clearly values providing facts about the artists from both the primary source which is them and the information provided form the artist herself Cheryl Cole.

The tone of the magazine is one of an informed intelligent fan, it is apparent that journalist is fully aware of the history of Cheryl Cole and the background information that is significant for the reader to know to ensure they comprehend the points Cheryl makes in her interview. For example the mention of how the band she originated form was formed on the show ‘pop stars the rivals’ this information would be significant for the readership to know so they can understand why she feels different now in comparison to how she used to feel.

Cheryl Cole is presented as being this fierce edgy woman and to some extent a ‘rock chick’ in the two images that accompany this article. The anchorage at the bottom of the page says ‘’I don’t know what I look like any more. Do you know what I mean?’’This caption gives meaning to the images as it suggests that the Cheryl Cole is in the pictures is in fact not the real her, and she is unsure of her identity and who she has become.

The style of the article follows the house style of the magazine. This is proven as the colour scheme is consistent white, black and red is used on the double page spread which corresponds to the style of the front cover. The dark and edgy images also follow the same style as the image we see on the front cover and contents page.

Task 9-Analysing a contents page

Q uses several images on the two page spread contents page. On the left hand page there is a picture in the top left hand corner of a man on a guitar, this gives the reader insight into how they are significant to the magazine. Taking up most of the space towards the right hand side is a picture of Cheryl and to the bottom right of the page is a man who looks as if he is sinking towards the ground. On the right hand side of the page there is a lot going on as the page is taken up mostly by images.


The image of Cheryl Cole again fits in with this dark, gothic edgy look she is trying to portray. The ripped leggings and black costume highlights this. The image is also in black and white this is very effective in creating a very sinister mysterious feel to the image. Also her pose redolent to one of a gladiator or warrior, which conveys the message she is representative of the power of Rock music.
The image of the man who is topless is very interesting it represents the extremity of music. The man looks as if he is trying to drown himself but the absence of the water is what makes it so bizarre as you are not certain of what the message he is trying to convey.
There is also an image of a man playing a guitar at a gig which accompanies the short text, which is a Q review, the image is useful as the readers recognise the artist and can use this to find the page they’re looking for the other images do the same thing the man in the suit and the woman with the feather hat both are tools to direct the reader straight to a particular page. All the images that have been photographed specifically for the magazine all follow Q’s house style of red, white and black.

The target audience for NME is Men 17-30, and is closely associated with punk rock. As the magazine front cover and contents page is dominated by a prestigious woman in the music business, which is suggestive that this is used to attract the readership who this image would appeal to.

There are 10 images used in total but many of them are used to demonstrate what is expected on the forthcoming pages in the magazine and acts as to get the reader interested in what the magazine has to offer. There are three colours that are used are red, black as this is Q’S house style. The front cover is made up of these colours as they all have connotations to Rock music. The contents page corresponds with Q’s front cover and supports the magazines style.
The information regarding what is on the page is presented as a list where the page number is stated with a brief description of what there is on that specific page.

There also pictures of the important pages or pictures that you would find on the page so the readership is able to identify the image with that particular page in the magazine, this is useful if they are having trouble finding it. As the list of the pages is very basic in the way it is set out, it makes it accessible for the reader as they exactly what page to find what they’re looking for on.
The contents page is split into two sections; on the left hand side of the page it displays all the features in the issue and on the right hand side of the page it has all the regular pages that are usually in the issue. This makes it easier for the readership to access what they are looking for.

Task 8-Choosing a title block

1.
2.
3.


The results of the poll I created influenced my decision to use title block 3 as my official title block for my magazine.

Preliminary task

Preliminary Task-Mid shots of College students

Task 7-Analysing Questionnaire results

The results show that 50 % of people prefer to see new or current artists on the front cover of a magazine.This is important to take into consideration to ensure I appeal to my target audience.

These results below show the various features that attract people to magazines ,looking at the percentages it is clear that the :feature stories,freebies are the two most popular features with music reviews and cover mounted Cd's also shown a great interest in .These results will contribute in making these features essential when creating my own magazine.

There is a higher percentage of people that are willing to pay up to £2 for a magazine as there is only a 10% difference between the amount of people who are willing to pay up to £3 a negotiable price would be £2.50.

The results of the questionnaire show that a readership prefer fortnightly magazines ,with this conclusion, I have decided to make my magazine fortnightly to appeal to the vast majority of the readership.

Analysing these results has added to my research and assisted the process of me creating a new UK R&B magazine.The Questionnaire has given me a clear understanding of what features my readership will enjoy seeing in my magazine,with these findings I have decided to create a fortnightly magazine ,with a new artist on the front cover as well as advertisements of freebies and music reviews.

Task 6- Proposal and Questionnaire for magazine

Proposal for Magazine

I have decided to create a magazine, based on the music genre R&B. This magazine will be targeted at college students aged between 16-18.The magazine will be unisex this will ensure that it is successful and broaden the audience ,I have chosen to do a music magazine as I think that there is a gap in the market for a new music magazine aimed at that particular age group.





Questionnaire

These questions are aimed to find out what you look for in a music magazine.

1. How often would you like a magazine to come out?

Weekly O Fortnightly O Monthly O

2. How much would you be willing to pay for a magazine of the Music Genre R&B?

Up to £1 O Up to £2 O Up to £3 O Up to £4 O More than £4 O


3. Select the two things that attract you most to a magazine?


Freebies: posters O CDs O A celebrity on the front cover O



Feature stories O Promotions (special offer prices on CDS) O Interviews O

Album reviews O Competitions O

4. Who would you prefer to see on the front cover of the magazine as a central image?


A new artist/s O A well established artist/s O A celebrity irrelevant to music O

5. Do the feature articles attract you more if they are about well known (established) artists?

Yes O No O
6. What do you find the advertisement of merchandise pages useful in magazines?

Yes O No O

7. What would you prefer of the magazine to focus on?


International music and artists O UK music and artists O Both O

8. Are you interested in pre-ordering the magazine in order to receive a membership?

Yes O No O

9. Do you think it is vital that a magazine includes promotions etc to ensure you are up to date with the approaching concerts and gigs?

Yes O No O

10. Do you have any suggestions for the name of my contemporary R&B magazine?

Task 5-Analysing title blocks

MOJO which means 'talent' appeals to an adult audience or people of a mature age.There target audience is males 24-44 who are interested in all types of music as that is what Mojo specialises in.

.The title itself relates to the 70's when people started to express themselves and free themselves .This period also saw the emergence of new art forms and led to a more liberal society .The title alone has several connotations ,this adds to the appeal for the readership

.The Black and white colour theme and the font is very simple ,this is effective as it is symbolic to the readership as they enjoy the magazines simple nature,which allows them to comprehend the information provided very easily.

.The title has a dark shadowing effect,which is behind the letters .This gives the magazine an element of time, (MOJO focuses on a genres that are enjoyed more in the evening ).

The title is an example of onomatopoeia, as kerrang! refers to the sound made when playing a power chord on a guitar. The magazine is targeted mainly at the core audience aged 15-44 who have an interest in the music genre Rock. Readership data shows that the magazine attracts mainly male readers.


· The title is written in uppercase the bold writing is used to enhance the distortion of noise created by a guitar.Kerrang! speaks volumes and is successful in attracting readers attention.

· It is black with white lines this create a broken glass effect which symbolises the destruction and chaotic nature of rock music.

· There is an exclamation mark following the Title this gives the impression the title is a bold statement,it is presented in this way to ensure you remember it.

Vibe is music and entertainment magazine the publication predominantly features R&B and hip-hop music artists, actors and other entertainers. The magazine is targeted is predominantly young, urban followers of hip-hop culture, from 15-24.


· The Title is written in capital letters,this creates a bold and loud impression.Almost giving the magazine a voice. This symbolises the 'noise' made by the musicians which is featured in the magazine.

· The use of the colour red is very versatile and has several different connotations,it is usually used to symbolises danger or passion.As VIBE has used this colour it suggests they were allowing the magazine to be open to interpretation.

· The writing is not close together there is a noticeable space between the characters ,as the font is quite big and chunky it almost gives it a 3-D effect which makes the title stand out to the reader.


NME is a popular music magazine in the United Kingdom,“NME” is in short form for “New Musical Express”. This short form is used as it is catchy for the audience to remember. The target audience for NME is Men 17-30,it was particularly associated with gonzo journalism, then became closely associated with punk rock.

.The lettering is all in capital letters and the font size is very big,this is to ensure the title is bold and makes a statement for the magazine.(it is going o be remembered)

. The use of the colour red is quite bold and a hints at danger,which can be seen as the featured music being the cause of the danger,which is a good marketing technique as his often intrigues readership in finding out where the 'danger' lies.

. The outline of the letters which is white is used to show that the title has a 3-D effect and there is also a shadow effect which enhances the boldness of the title it looks as if it is coming out of the page .

• The black background creates the boldness of the title ,the dark colour is effective in creating a stark contrast to the bright red ,it is used to enhance the importance of the title.

Task 4-Analysis of Magazine covers

From the front cover you can tell that the magazine is a well established music magazine, where this particular issue is focusing on Rock music. As there is not a lot of information on the front cover it suggests the magazine has an established readership and does not need to over exaggerate the front cover to attract the attention of their readership.

The Target Audience for Q is mostly Males, 24-44, but it is also aimed at woman too, readership is for people of a mature age due to the fact the features are in- more depth opposed to other music magazines.

The Central image has is a inter -textual reference to the film sin city the way in which Cheryl is presented (The bright red lipstick is in stark contrast to the dark brown hair) Cheryl Cole has a dark edgy look about her; the smudged eye liner is a way in which this message is conveyed.Cheryl's facial expression is to some extent seductive the idea of her licking the prop comes across as a way to lure the predominant male audience.
The close up of Cheryl Cole on the front cover is particulary effective,the shot captivates the message she is trying to deliver that she is not the normal Cheryl you see. She is also used as a tool to make the front cover different she is not somebody you would usually see on the front cover of this magazine and she does not specialise in the genre focused on ‘Rock’ .However this is a good technique to demonstrate to the readership the versatility of the magazine.

The anchorage text says ‘CHERYL COLE ROCKS’ this is a reference to her being featured on the issue that is focusing on the genre of music ‘Rock’ so this is a clever way that the editor has informed the reader. Cheryl Cole gives the message that she is unstoppable, her facial expression conveys this also the use of rain water falling onto her it makes it seem as though nothing can get it her way .This is symbolic of the recklessness of Rock music.

The Buzz words ‘More’ ‘best’ entices the reader to see what else the magazine has to offer .As the magazine has an extensive review section, featuring: new releases (music), reissues (music), music compilations, film and live concert reviews, as well as radio and television reviews. The words add to the reader’s suspense of what to expect.

The title block on this magazine is big and bold. It stands out on the magazine cover this suggests that the content of the magazine is music. And the use of the colour red demonstrates power and hints at danger. This tells suggests that the magazine is rather prestigious and will be appreciated by an audience of a more mature age.

Q uses a star rating system from one to five stars; indeed, the rating an album receives in Q is often added to print and television advertising for the album in the UK and Ireland. It also compiles a list of approximately eight albums, which it classes as the best new acts .On the cover the puffs reveals that there is an article about the new music talent 'The best 10 new acts' this successful in attracting the readership.
Also the ‘2010 preview’ is also very successful in attracting the attention of the target audience as much of the magazine is devoted to interviews with popular musical artists. So this preview gets the readership excited about having exclusive knowledge of what other people will find out later.The slogan is a strategy to attract readers. It is stated to be the biggest magazine in the UK which makes the reader want to know why it is so popular .This is a good way to attract new readers to the magazine.

The harsh colours used on the cover: red, white and black creates a very dark and dangerous atmosphere; this is a very good way in attracting the attention of the target audience. It is really in your face, the stark contrast in colours almost has a deadly feel about it.As the lighting in the image is quite dull ,it enhances this dangerous eerie atmosphere the magzaine has created.
As the image creates such a huge impact for the audience all the fonts are very simple and vary in size. There is not any exaggerated letters as the editor’s aimed to not detract anything away from the central image that draws the reader in.

The magazine is well known for compiling lists. It has created many, ranging from "The 100 Greatest albums" to the "100 Greatest '100 Greatest' Lists". In the puffs it says ‘The 10 best new acts’ this reveals that there is an article about the new music talent. As it has this legacy already the slogan, the central image and the puffs are the only strategies they use to get the attention of the readership.