DPS draft

Contents page draft

I understand that Mixmag doesn't necessarily categorise as an alternative music magazine however I find the signature style of their contents pages very effective and striking. This is mainly due to the manner in which the images are laid out and their initial notoriety, I also admire aspects such as the minimalistic style of the sub categories and sub lines. Plus the quirky fonts that have been used - I feel as though I have been influenced by the use of the black background and am considering using it within my contents page. 

Initial edited photos

I edited a mixture of the photos I took from my photo shoot, I feel that these are probably the strongest and would look great on my contents page or double page spread. Although unfortunately I don't feel that any of the photos would be suitable for my front cover as my model is only making eye contact in several of the images - it is conventional for the artist to look directly at the camera as it connects them to the reader and looks as though they are addressing the audience. I will probably have to do another shoot in order to gather images that would be more effective in the form of a front cover. I used a variety of techniques in photoshop to create each end result, such as black and white effect, experimenting with curves, vibrance, contrast etc. I even enhanced the blonde in her hair by increasing the yellow tone in black and white as seen below.

Front cover draft

This cover of Mojo magazine has inspired the way I want my front cover to be laid out - I like the slightly unconventional off center design and the intense close up shot. Also the cover lines are fairly limited, this gives the front cover a simplistic vibe whilst not overcrowding the cover or drawing attention away from the image.

Questionnaire results and analysis

1) What gender are you?
I aimed to include a varied group of both males and females in my questionnaire because I want my music magazine to appeal to both sexes, therefore it is crucial that I research what each gender typically expects within a successful music magazine.

2) How old are you?
As you can see from the bar chart, the age range with the highest frequency is 16 - 19: roughly
the age bracket that I fall in to. I have decided to mainly carry out my survey using people who are of a similar age due to being able to understand and relate to them more than any other demographic. Plus my magazine will be aimed at adolescents, as well as adults who I have made sure to include in my questionnaire.

3) How often would you say you read music
magazines?
These results signify that people do buy music magazines, although for the majority it is a very occasional purchase rather than a regular investment. This could possibly be because people nowadays are more likely to discover new music online or through friends.





4) If you were to read a music magazine what genre
would be your choice?
This pie chart represents that the majority of the people I asked would prefer a dance/electronic music themed magazine. This is generally a popular genre and tends to be mainly featured in the charts, along with pop. However I feel that I wouldn't have the ability to create a successful and conventional dance magazine as I am not a fan of the genre therefore not that knowledgable of it.
Indie/alternative is still popular whereas classic and
other clearly weren't areas of interest for my subjects.

5) What is the most you would be willing to spend on a music magazine?
£5 or more was too expensive according to my questionnaire results - also in my opinion it was highly unreasonable. £1 - £2 appears to be the modal result, followed by less than £1 and £3 - £4. I find that less than £1 is too cheap and doesn't fit in with how I want my magazine to be marketed or the overall reputation I would want my magazine to have. I think that somewhere between £2 and £3 would be the most appropriate.

6) Which colour scheme would appeal the most to you?
The most popular choice of colour scheme was dark colours with one bright colour,
this is conventional and in fact often seen in NME and Q magazine with the bright colour usually  being red. It is likely that this will be my chosen colour scheme that I will use consistently  throughout my front cover, DPS and contents. Other popular choices were neutral and pastel colours which I may incorporate as well. However I have no interest in using neon or nautical colours
as I feel that they don't fit in with my genre anyway.


7) How many cover lines do you think
would be suitable on the front cover of a
 music magazine?
I feel that between 4 - 6 and 7 - 10 cover lines is the most suitable as it resembles a music magazine realistically and the people that I asked in my questionnaire agree. It is an effective way of sparking up interest and attracting a reader, although the image should still demand attention instead of being covered with large amounts of text.


8) How many images do you think should be
used in a double page spread?
I think that the amount of images displayed on a double page spread partly relates to the topic of the featured article - for example an interview with a particular artist would typically have fewer images than perhaps a review or competition column. The survey suggests that people mostly expect around 2 or 3 images in a DPS.



9) What ratio of text to image would you prefer on a double page spread?
My questionnaire clearly presents that the majority of people would prefer an equal amount of text and images. Therefore I will ensure that I take up an even amount of space with both text and pictures.






10) What would you prefer to be the main subject
of a double page spread?
The most common featured main article within
any magazine, not just necessarily music magazines tends to be an interview focusing on a successful artist so naturally that was the most popular answer. Plus I think due to it being a magazine revolving around music most readers will want to discover more about their favourite artists, an intimate and in depth look in to their life that reveals information about the person/lifestyle.

Questionnaire

1) What gender are you?
Male -
Female -

2) How old are you?
11 - 15 -
16 - 19 -
20 - 25 -
26 - 40 -
40 + -

3) How often would you say you read music magazines?
Once a week -
Once a fortnight -
Once a month -
Once or twice a year -
Never -

4) If you were to read a music magazine what genre would be your choice?
Dance/electronic -
Pop -
R&B -
Hip hop/rap -
Indie/alternative -
Rock/metal -
Classical -
Other -

5) What is the most you would be willing to spend on a music magazine?
Less than £1 -
£1 - £2 -
£3 - £4 -
£5 or more -

6) What colour scheme would appeal the most to you?
Bright, neon colours -
Light, pastel colours -
Dark colours, with one bright colour -
Nautical colours -
Neutral colours -

7) How many cover lines do you think would be suitable on the front cover of a music magazine?
1 - 3 -
4 - 6 -
7 - 10 -
10 or more -

8) How many images do you think should be included in a double page spread?
Only 1 -
Several -
4 - 6 -
More -

9) What ratio of text to image would you prefer on a double page spread?
Mainly text -
An equal amount of text and image -
Mainly images -

10) What would you prefer to be the main subject of the double page spread?
Interview with the featured artist -
Gossip -
A review -
Competition/giveaway -
Other -

The results provided by the people who have answered my questionnaire will be very useful and give me an idea of how to attract a particular audience. Having a solid knowledge of what is appealing and the most popular among the people who carried out my survey should enable me to get an impression of how to sell the most music magazines as possible.

Photo shoot contact sheet

I feel that my photo shoot was successful, I experimented by using a hairdryer for several of the images to create the effortless, windswept look that is conventional within magazine front covers - especially in fashion. This adds to the glossy and glamorous style I find aspirational and aim to recreate with elements of the front cover, contents page and double page spread. I also used bright, fluorescent lighting to cast prominent shadows against the background - this gives the photograph an increased boldness and I think these images in particular would effectively suit my contents page and double page spread. I think varied images (in terms of shot type, composition, angle, editing etc) would present the artist in a different light whilst being interesting and appealing to the target audience, therefore I seek to include this in my DPS especially. I chose my model to have her hair and makeup styled in a natural way as it reflects the laid back feel of the genre. I chose a feminine, indie looking outfit for half of the shoot, with gold jewellery to add a touch of sophistication. Then for the other half I chose a very contrasting dress code, she is wearing my Topshop leather jacket which I thought looked edgy and gives the impression that she is rebellious. This challenges typical gender representations as usually you would see women wearing lots of makeup with an elaborate hair style and revealing clothes in a magazine. Also she is not sexualised in a single photo due to posing in a way that is not suggestive and comes naturally to her, plus I haven't chosen clothing that objectifies her or her body.

Moodboard 2

I created another mood board hoping that it would help to influence the design of my front cover, contents page and double page spread. I have chosen front covers that I feel are successful and captivating. They all seem to have a simular appearance, the variety of colour scheme is significantly lacking although I have a very specific idea of how I want my magazine to look. Among these magazine front covers the most striking colour would definitely be red, which seems to mainly be used in the magazine logo to create a memorable and consistent brand identity. I find the combination of a black and white image and a flamboyant logo to be highly dramatic and am considering using the same approach with the design of my front cover and possibly my double page spread. Ever cover I have examined in this mood board convey a glossy and sophisticated style. I noticed that in several front covers the subjects hair has been swept out using a fan, giving an increased air of glamour which would be well suited to the objective of my photo shoot.

Moodboard 1

I designed a mood board that would inspire me in regards to the production and development of my photo shoot, I also included logos/album covers of alternative artists that I found interesting. I think this is a beneficial measure to take as it provides an approach to the themes of shapes, fonts and colours typically used to attract a specific audience. The mood board is a notion of the type of bands and singers I would include within my magazine, for example, in the pug on my front cover. I especially admire the photo of Lana Del Rey in the top middle section - the contrast of natural lighting and dark shadows illustrate a relaxed mood that coincides with the overall atmosphere I would like my magazine to give. This is exaggerated by a fairly natural makeup look and windswept hair, similar to how I want to style my subject for my photo shoot.

NME double page spread analysis

The predominant photograph in NME's double page spread is presented in a way that occupies at least 2/3 of the entire article, implying that the appearance of the image is highly significant to the reader. The severe and vivid spot lights have connotations of fame and glamour yet when incorporated with this image portray a sense of seriousness regarding the bands career, overall it comes across as glossy and professional and this highlights the process of NME's branding/marketing. White Lies have been captured with the use of a loosely framed medium shot which illustrates to the audience that they are independent individuals however work as a team at the same time, each members space asserts their personal authority whilst the fact that the shot is eye level connects them to the reader. I am finding this to be fairly stereotypical for an alternative music magazine. The use of the colour purple in this double page spread adds a splash of brightness whilst suggesting connotations of wealth and royalty. The double page spread is highly simplistic yet effective, they have only used one image and a two column layout with a limited amount of text, many of the DPS's I have studied feature a large amount of text that is separated in to several columns and divided with sub headings. However this particular article doesn't require these techniques to sustain the readers interest as it is already effortless to read. The main theme of the White Lies interview is their progression within the music industry, made immediately evident through the title which references another popular alternative band - Kings of Leon. Also there are semantic fields in the language that underline this theme considerably, with ambitious noun phrases such as 'stadium success' and 'biggest band in the world'.

Q double page spread analysis

 The popular Q magazine tends to lean mainly towards the rock genre however in this double page spread it focuses on 'London dance-poppers', the Crystal fighters. Following briefly skimming both pages it is apparent that Q frequently uses humour and comical phrases in order to entertain the reader, insinuating that their target audience aren't necessarily sombre or serious. Even the headline - 'Basque in the glory' appears to be a play on words, the dynamic verb 'bask' has been replaced with 'basque'. In the top right hand image Q have even joked 'the lack of air con down there was taking it's toll', obviously commenting on the bands lack of clothing, this humorous approach is continued throughout the article as well If the double page spread was aimed specifically at teenagers slang and colloquialism would have been incorporated within the text, depicting that the targeted demographic is probably between 16 - 30. The colours in the rave photographs are highly juxtaposing yet Q have chosen to maintain their iconic red and black colour scheme rather than coordinating with the shades in the pictures. Most of the images have been captured with a medium eye level shot which makes you feel as though you are almost part of the audience when you look at them, creating an intimate and more personal atmosphere that underlines a connection between the reader and artist.

Classic pop double page spread analysis

The first aspect of Classic Pop's double page spread is the striking use of the colour red - it has a vivid and almost sentimental feel which conforms to obvious themes within the magazine. Red is a prominent colour not just in the double page spread but also the front cover and contents page, giving the magazine a sense of consistency and continuity that is present in each issue. It is also branded in a way that gives Classic Pop a solid identity that is memorable and easily recognisable to the reader. I find the layout of this double page spread particularly interesting, mainly due to the fact that it concentrates on several varied artists rather than just one. I like how they have highlighted a selection of bands and singers: it's as though they want to promote and encourage their success whilst suggesting appealing artists to the reader. It gives the impression that Classic Pop takes interest in benefiting both reader and musician. Each subject has roughly an equal amount of text although the space taken up by each image is varied - possibly as some have an increased appeal, such as the bottom right hand photo therefore require more attention. The sepia tone once again relates to the sentimental atmosphere, she is looking directly in to the camera and it looks as though she is addressing and compelling the reader. They have chosen not to censor swear words which suggests it is more suitable for adults - the register is still formal however the use of inappropriate language in fact succeeds in humanising the artists. I find the 'influences' section effective because it is an immediate indicator of whether or not the band will attract the reader depending on their personal music preferences.

DJ double page spread analysis

I feel as though this particular double page spread challenges the stereotypical appearance of a dance music magazine, it is very plain in terms of colour variety and even the limited use of photographs. The image that has been selected has been created with high key contrasting lighting that casts prominent shadows over the subjects face, then it has been mirrored over the opposite page. This gives the double page spread a surreal and mysterious look which is exaggerated when combined with the unusual font stating 'Pure Logic'. The design once again sets itself apart from other double page spreads belonging to the dance genre because of the text being split in to 4 columns, although there is an equal division between the proportions of text and image. The text is broken up frequently through paragraphing and subheadings in order to keep the reader interested as there is a large amount. For this magazine the mode of address is fairly flexible when it comes to the demographic and psychographic of the target audience due to a formal register and tone within the language. Since it is basically an account of Daniel Avery's career and achievements, the targeted reader would be anyone who takes a significant interest in the reader, the article also informs potential new fans. DJ magazine uses positive and uplifting language to entice the reader into pursuing the article - 'singing his praises' followed by 'soon everyone else will be too...', Daniel Avery is empowered and idolised.

Mixmag double page spread analysis

It is clear at first glance that this double page spread belongs to a dance/techno music magazine due to the presence of a professional DJ set in the image. This also conforms to the conventional themes of technology that are existent within the contents page and front cover. The low angle shot displays the Martinez Brothers as powerful and successful which challenges stereotypes of young people/teenagers who can be sometimes be portrayed as lazy and demotivated, their DJ equipment dominates the shot highlighting its significance to the reader. Mixmag have clearly decided to use colloquial and informal language (for example 'gonna' instead of going to') in order to engage with a young audience - it is an indicator of the targeted demographic and addresses them successfully. The pairs cooperation and teamwork is emphasized through the repetition of the word 'brothers' and they are referred to as the 'Bronx duo'. The appearance of the double page spread depicts a summery vibe with a cool blue background and sunglasses which have connotations of hot weather. All together this exaggerates the feeling of a party atmosphere and immediately reminds the reader of festivals, a popular Summer tradition most likely with a sense of familiarity judging by the target group.

Country people contents analysis

The colours, layout and font make up a highly neutral and unpretentious contents page. Country People have chosen to display actual copies of various pages rather than enticing the reader with a bold teaser image, which suggests once again that their audience are dedicated and interested without the aid of persuasion. This is also evident in Country People's front cover. The sub sections contemplate only country music - the magazine lacks a range of topics such as fashion, technology etc that other genres of music magazine have to offer. Although they seem to provide regular reviews of assorted formats, this reinforces the idea of a serious target audience. Unlike many other magazines Country People have used barely any literary techniques to compel their readers - no alliteration, rhyme, humour etc. At one point their use of the ellipsis is fairly striking: 'went on to produce... write... make movies... he did it all.' In this case it has been used in order to exaggerate Jack Clements achievements and portray him as an aspirational character. To conclude the appearance of this particular contents page is honestly dull yet it has an air of clear sophistication due to it's moderate and relaxed nature.

Mixmag contents analysis

The top right hand image displaying a woman's chest and face appears to be set in a night club and dominates the contents page. Aspects of the photograph are depicted as provocative and I get the impression that the woman has been purposely slightly sexualised. This reveals Mixmag's consumers as a large percentage of males, sexualisation of woman within the magazine will most likely appeal to a male audience. This is combined with several euphemisms, sub line 'Wet dream: This must be underwater love' emphasises the readers attraction and interest. There seems to be a striking section highlighting fashion, this is conventional as dance/electronic genre magazines frequently promote the nightlife side of the lifestyle, also indicating that Mixmag is aimed equally at both genres. I think overall the contents page reinforces the stereotypical representations of young people mainly due to the fact that it is targeted at young adults so has to have a level of relatability. The idea that adolescents go out and spend a lot of time partying is definitely suggested throughout the layout.

Terrorizer contents analysis

Terrorizer is a music magazine which concentrates on the heavy metal genre, this is clear through it's very extreme nature. The contents page demonstrates a simplistic layout, few images and lack of variety regarding the colour scheme. I suppose this could represent the very specific and non mainstream target audience that Terrorizer aims to impress. The models drastic costume and makeup comes across as gothic and intense which contributes to the dark atmosphere effectively created in the contents page. The target group could view this magazine as an expressive outlet, therefore meaning the photographs are appealing and maybe relatable depending on the reader. Every element of the contents illustrates a vague and blunt tone, for example page 88 is advertised with 'Bloodstock. Come to papa.' It's seems as though not much effort has been made to attract the reader to specific articles, this works as it enhances the rock and roll vibe. Even details like the day the issue was published have been left out, also the issue number is boldly stated with a hashtag instead of actual words. The sub categories and sub lines include lexical sets that suggest themes of darkness - such as 'fear', 'dark', 'fright', 'devil' and 'dissected'.

DJ contents analysis

Initially the most noticeable element of DJ magazine's contents page is the variety of colours used, it is usually more typical for the combinations to match rather than clash. Although in this case the particular shades used create a modern tone which reflects a very current genre. This chaotic mixture could exhibit the wild lifestyle that the magazine seems to promote, several examples include images 038, 094 and 096.  It is conventional for electronic/dance music magazines to emphasise the nightlife angle as it is a big part of what the genre is based on, plus it creates opportunities regarding prizes etc that entice the reader. DJ magazine covers a wide range of upcoming music events that will successfully appeal to the reader as they want to be informed. Another conspicuous theme would be technology - the contents even include a 'tech' section, implying that the magazine is definitely targeted at a young and on trend group. Pictures of apple products increase the overall disorganisation of the page as well. Short and spaced out sub categories are fitting considering the teenage target audience, they are worded in a catchy manner and often include alliteration and plosives, such as 'Down and dirty' and 'The perfect pitch'. This provides a memorable gratification.

Classic pop contents analysis

The contents page as well as the front cover of Classic Pop focuses on creating feelings of nostalgia within the reader, this is a consistent theme in each issue and is achieved through the use of colours, photos and fonts used. In this edition the range of fonts present a retro appearance, in particular the bold style used in 'Contents' which looks like it would have been popular several decades ago. Also the prominent sepia tones seen in the top right hand image of David Bowie demonstrate a flashback type atmosphere. The contents page is a visually effective continuation of a sentimental and evocative ambience. In contrast, Classic Pop's twitter and Facebook pages are advertised besides the sub categories and sub lines, encouraging fans to interact with the magazine through various forms of social networking media. This in a way could be considered as convergent media. Bowie's red jacket coordinates with the music magazine's logo, indicating that his article is featured and therefore significant. As a reader you are automatically drawn to that page due to the way it has been shown on the contents page. The sub categories seem to be tightly crowded and consist of very small writing, because Classic Pop is aimed at an older audience this is acceptable and ceases from taking away its appeal, possibly unlike a teenage audience who demand shorter, punchier sub lines.

Country people cover analysis

This cover of Country People conveys an image of simplicity due to it's limited cover/tag lines and lack of pugs, freebies and prizes. It's as though its appeal is almost effortless because they are targeting such a specific audience that the magazine sells itself. Country People even identifies locations that conform to themes of the country music genre - 'From Austin to Nashville and beyond'. This addresses their audience directly yet welcomes and unites country music fans from all over the world. The clothes, poses and overall appearance of the two men on the cover emulate the type of person Country People would aim to sell their product to, they give the impression of your typical red blooded, Southern American male. They have chosen white, American models as other ethnicities may not present the same 'cowboy' look.  The car in the background of this medium shot provides another appealing and relatable aspect for the target group. The way the pose conveys confidence and masculinity, also they appear to be around 30 - 40 years old which signifies the intended age demographic. Their age definitely emphasises the stereotype the magazine denotes. The small amount of language used creates a level of sophistication, 'Authenticity in country music', this is a music magazine produced for dedicated and serious fans.

Kerrang cover analysis

Although Kerrang revolves around a similar genre to Q it appears to be aimed at a younger, teenage audience. This is evident because of several factors - firstly the magazine cover is marketed to come across as rebellious and chaotic, therefore appealing to your stereotypical teenager. Paramore's Hayley Williams poses with what would be considered inappropriate body language which exaggerates the magazines shocking and outrageous image. Plus it is apparent that Kerrang is classed in the punk rock hybrid genre ('Pop-punk's brightest young rebels') rather than just rock. We know this because of the reputations of some of the artists that are featured, such as My Chemical Romance, Panic! at the Disco and Paramore. The image looks slightly desaturated and the cover maintains a persistent colour scheme consisting of different shades of brown, white and grey, this conforms to themes of darkness that can be perceived in the punk genre. One cover line asks rhetorically: 'What's your favourite rock star got to hide?', involving and maintaing the audiences concentration. The masthead looks as though it is supposed to be made up of smashed glass - vocally, 'Kerrang' almost creates a crashing sound. This use of onomatopoeia is effective as it has connotations of  aggressiveness that match themes of rebellion in the genre. Iconic signs are shown in the bottom left hand corner in order to establish that the magazine includes free posters, underlining the obvious appeal to teenagers as they tend to have a lot of posters in their bedroom.

Q cover analysis

Q magazine have chosen the Arctic Monkeys to be the main focus of this recent cover mainly because they appeal to Q's target audience through being categorised under the rock/alternative genre. The composition (tight framing, dominant position of the band members) convey the Arctic Monkeys as professional  and serious artists whilst promoting their new image. The band have also recently released a new album, this combined with being branded in a very different way sparks up increased interest, publicity and popularity from a wide audience. The pug advertises a 17 page special on The Manic Street Preachers - the tag line states '25 years of triumph and tragedy', this alliterative phrase seems to depict an exciting, roller coaster ride type article. This is conventional of music magazines as readers expect an intimate insight in to the lives and experiences of their favourite artists, usually through interviews. The pug uses colours that juxtapose with the overall appearance of the cover thus directing and then persuading the audiences view. The language used presents a formal register, Q provides detailed, precise wording and avoids colloquialism, this suggests that their target demographic are generally sophisticated and intelligent. 'Beards, booze and baking cakes for Muse' is a cover line that somehow manages to successfully incorporate rhyme, plosives and alliteration, these symbolic signs are catchy and definitely capture the audiences attention.

Mixmag cover analysis