(ADDED RESEARCH) Existing Reader Profile

             

This is an example of an existing reader profile by NME, they have researched very deeply into their audience who read their magazine to find key stats and the things that interest the readers so that they are able to include this is their magazine for more readers to start engaging with NME. This is what I want to do with my own magazine, therefore the researching into my audience is very important.

(ADDED RESEARCH) Double Page Spread Inspiration

The double page spreads above are all very colourful and represent different genres of music yet have their similarities and differences. I have posted these on my blog for inspiration and to look back on when it comes to the creation of my own magazines double page spread.

(ADDED RESEARCH) Contents Page Inspirations

These are my inspirations for the contents page part of my media products. These will help me to grasp ideas and help with what content is needed to be included to make my contents page the best it can be. I will be able to look back at these when it comes to the creation of my own.

(ADDED RESEARCH) Cover Inspirations

These magazines are very inspirational as they all include popular artists and are all eye-catching due to colours used and the fonts used for the headlines.  I want to be able to do this to my own audience and attract them straight away to engage them and make them want to read my magazine. Im posting these on my blog for inspiration and to look back on when it comes to the construction of my own magazine front cover.

(ADDED RESEARCH) Music Magazine Vocabulary

Masthead title piece   

The magazine's title. Usually displayed in the top left corner.

Price                          

Magazine cost.

Date                         

Weekly:usually from Saturday to Friday. Monthly: a month ahead.

Issue Number            

A tally of magazines.

Barcode                    

Read electronically and decoded into usable information.

Teaser                       

One word/phrase acts as an attention grabber.

Headline  

A phrase that may summarise the main point on the main feature. In large print, different style, bold colours in order to catch the attention of the reader.

Subtitle                      

Smaller headline that may summarise the feature. 

Smaller Feature         

Features included in the magazine.

Images Size               

CU to med CU. Ranges from the main image to x amount featuring one main image and smaller images. Helps make the page look more interesting. It can add understanding of a story and/or entice someone to read the magazine.

Font                        

Style and size of a type face.

Colour                     

Specific/stylistic/thematic types.

Graphics                  

Graphical shapes to highlight feature(s)

Offers/adverts blurb Banner     

Style shape featuring free products/promotions.  

Sell Lines              

Small text that sells the title.

Left Third              

The left side of the magazine that holds  headlines.

Splash                    

Graphics that resemble words.

Credit                   

Credit given to the people that have worked on the magazine ( such as the photographer )

Teller                     

A short box of information about the subject.

Skyline                  

Headline above master headline.

Flash                     

Graphics that resemble words.

Anchorage             

Putting captions on photos to explain the image.

Colour Scheme       

Colours presented in the magazine.

Images                    

Photos taken that are inserted into the magazine.

(ADDED RESEARCH) LIIAR ANALYSIS

Double Page Spread - The double page spread is from Kerrang. Kerrang is a rock/heavy metal based magazine. Once again the black, white and red colour scheme has been used but this time the red is a bit of a darker shade this could connote as the rebel, mischievous ideology we get from rock and heavy metal bands. The artist is also in black and white clothing to fit with the colour scheme. The artist is placed on the right hand side of this double page spread and the showing of his tattoos on his arms also relate to the genre of music as they are seen as a typical bad boy thing. The artist commonly dominates one side of the page on all double page spreads and therefore this is what I want to do on my own product. The headline is a pull quote from the interview and is in different font sizes and colours, this is wacky and crazy, which may connote the type of genre the reader will be reading about however, the actual question dictates the crazy and mental genre by asking him if he ever has casual friday nights and he goes on to say absolutely! this shows the reader and fans the other side to the genre rather than the typical stereotypes. More information is then below offering you what you will be reading about if you read the interview highlighting in the dark red, the most important parts to it.  The headline and subheading is on a black background to make it contrast even more against the grey background. The article begins with a bold letter 'D'  another popular convention of articles and also starting with the name of the interviewee. The article behind with a paragraph about the artist and his latest news before starting an answer and question with the artist. The questions are in capital letters but still small black font contrasts against a white background almost like they are highlighted, this allows the questions to stand out against the answers and be clear and understanding for the reader. In the top left hand corner is a black box, which almost looks like a pull down tab of an online site, this actually then goes onto promote the magazine website telling the reader that they can get the latest news online too. Around the edge of the double page spread is what looks to be like the lightbulbs of the mirrors you find backstage for artists, which we see in films, this could connote as the genre being quite diva like when it comes to concerts but also be seen as the article being a bit of a performance for the artist, after all it is publicising the band he is in.

Contents Page - The contents page is from Q magazine and is the issue of November 2013 this is instantly seen as it is situated within the bold red strip at the top of the issue allowing you to see the institutes logo that would also be on the front cover as well as the date. I like on this how the cover story overlaps the 'contents' text and then we are told my a bold circle that it is the covert story article, this stands out at you instantly as it looks to be a normal picture like the others but then his head almost looks 3D. The way he is looking may not be intentional but it takes you to the page number of the article this popular artist features in. There is also two other images of bands, which will have articles within the magazine, a common theme when researching contents pages is that there is three images and never many more unless you're doing a kids pop magazine like Top of the Pops. These three articles related to the pictures are around the pictures and within the white background. Where as the rest of the articles are situated in neat columns at the bottom and within a really light cream colour sort of giving it an indie/rock old look effect, which I feel Q magazine aim for. Once again the colour scheme is black, red and white. The page numbers are in black, with read subheadings and black font underneath telling you a little bit about the article that is on that page, which is another common convention of music magazines this entices the reader and I want to include this in my own contents page. The contents page does not include every single article of the magazine, just pulls out the ones they think will be most popular for their audience. On the left hand side of the page is a review section where Q magazine where the review, live performances, new albums, reissues and films, this shows a variety of platforms the magazine covers and does not only apply to music one again aiming at a wider audience, but all these are stories that will be in their readers interests as they will of done research into their reader profile. They use different fonts to advertise the review section to the normal regular content, breaking the continuity convention however, this is something I want to challenge in my own work too. They also use an image above the review heading of an extra article with an image from the actual live performance this could be a good way to entice the readers and the fans of that specific band if they missed out on the performance or tour.

Front Cover - Lady Gaga dominates the front cover of the issue, which is a common convention of the institute Billboard Magazine. The contrast of her black outfit and bright pink hair on the background colour of grey, allows her to stand out and attract the readers. Her bright pink wacky hair in the bow shape, shows her identity and ideology of her singing and how she can act when on stage and for the media. Lady Gaga is seen as an extreme artist due to the things she wears and how she acts, therefore the choice of the black, white, grey and pink colour scheme could be to show that she can be sophisticated, especially because she is dressed smartly but the connotations of her pulling her shirt and showing flesh could be the sexy side of her, which attract the male fan base. The placing of her name, so that she is recognised, is to the right of her and does not need to be in huge bold writing due to her popularity already. Therefore it is quite simple yet effective. The institutes name 'Billboard is across the top of the page, which is a common convention and all music magazines tend to place them at the top either with the artist on top of the name or behind depending on how popular and recognisable the magazine or artist are, which on my magazine I want to place my artist in front so that it shows how popular and recognisable my magazine is yet still having the headline very big. The subheadings are situated at both sides and the front cover is quite crammed with articles in different coloured fonts, which shows the magazine is busy and full of exclusive information of the readers favourite artists. Billboard magazine has a slogan of 'The music, The money and The Market Share', which I need to take into consideration with my own magazine, whether I want to use a slogan or not. The barcode is placed in the bottom left hand corner, this is the common placing of barcodes on most magazines. The subheadings along both sides of the magazine relate to different genres of music within the magazine allowing for a wider audience, where as POP magazines are specific to that genre and the artists they have articles about. Pricing, date and website are all placed above the barcode as this is common convention of magazines too. 

(ADDED RESEARCH) LIIAR ANAYLYSIS

Double Page Spread -  The headline is a pull quote from the interview with Justin Bieber, this grabs the readers attention straight away as it is larger than the rest of the text and in huge black and red font placed more to the left rather than being centered or placed to the right. The pull quote is about the article so that the readers goes on to read but also leaves space on the full right handside for the pop star himself, attracting the female audience of the magazine and possibly allowing them to pull it out the magazine and use as a poster, which I feel is a good use and could possible attract the female audience a lot more. However, situated in the bottom right hand corner of the article is an arrow shape letting the reader know they can turn over for a poster of bieber. I feel having this influences the reader to buy the magazine. Once again the use of the red, black and white is the runing colour scheme of the article. The subheading underneath the pull quote/headline is a rhetorical question and is saying that has good boy Justin gone a little bit bad, this could relate to the fact girls love a bit of a bad bay and there attract the females to Justin more and make them want to read why he has become a little bit bad. The article its self is placed on the left of the double page spread and is a question and answer interview, which for the younger target audience of around 14-18 is a lot more interesting and quicker for them to read and find exclusive information of their favourite pop-star. The use of the tag line along the bottom promotes Justin Bieber rather than the magazine its self. it contains Bieber's website, single and also promotes the fact his new single will be on Radio One and on the specific day. This is the institution allowing the artist further promotion on other media platforms. The article uses humour by adding into the article Biebers dressing room demands. As we are a nosey society, we want to know these kind of things and these interest and intrigue us, including exclusives and backstage material just like this will attract your target audience even more. Justin Bieber is known for his good boy looks where as POP magazine here have given him a more edgy rock look going against his popstar conventions, this is seen through the use of a chain necklace, a chain bracelet and the way he is sat on the chair. He has been given clothes that match the colour scheme, which I want to do with my own model as it shows you have thought about the continuity not when just editing but when taking the pictures.

Contents Page - The contents page for mixmag shows the common convention of having the column of articles on the left handside. The date is placed above the 'contents' headline, which would commonly be on the front of the issue too but mixmag are  more known for placing it on the contents page instead. The use of the black, white and red seems to be a common running theme of most music magazines as they are block colours that stand out against one another. The magazine has also shown the issue front cover on the contents page this is usually for the fact they are reinforcing continuity or letting you know you can subscribe or look at the magazine online, which I feel is a cool feature to use in my own magazine. The magazine has four sections to it 'VIP', 'TUNES', 'CLUB COUNTRY' and 'regulars' with one 'plus' feature. The fact that it has all these sections could be for a wider target audience but also shows utility of the magazine and how they can cover a lot of what their target audience want to read about, especially feature such as 'fashion' as most of their audience will be into what they wear and what other people are wearing for style ideas and gaining an identity. There is also a subheading of 'Inbox' which, when I first see this I instantly think of Facebook, which is a popular online social media site, this could be questions and answers page for the magazine where you can inbox asking your questions through facebook as it was the most popular social media site in 2008. Adding sections like this to my magazine will help me to not purely promote music but also other interests of my target audience. The page numbers are situated to the left of the bold writing and clear enough for us to go straight to the page if you'd like to. The headings of the categories are in red, whilst the rest is in a black and a bit smaller font, which I want to use in my own magazine and it helps the articles to stand out and entice the reader. The contents page uses three images of what looks to be a model and then two artists at the bottom, again the use of a model half naked, will entice their male audience in, whilst girls will relate to the model or want to know why she is relevant to the music magazine. Using the theme of sex against music are a common running theme as these are what teenagers are wanting to see and it interests them. The use of the big and swirly numbers on the images really makes them stand out and helps the reader to understand clearly what page all three articles are on, with a tiny bit of writing underneath to either let you know who the article is about or what it is about. Using mainly bright colours in images is a typical of a pop magazine where as this indie/rock magazine they use a bright one for the model but then even the images are red and black, these show continuity of the colour scheme. The institution, Mixmag, have placed their website at the bottom right of the page whilst placing the date and issue number at the bottom left. These are common conventions of a magazine therefor I will be using these in my own magazine. However the use of the picture of him and his girlfriend could cause jealousy towards the younger bracket of the target audience. Using more than one image on a double page spread kind of breaks the conventions as it should be situated to one artist only as they dominate the page, which I want to do with my own  magazine.

Front Page - The front cover instantly shows you who the main feature will be, with the name of the artist in a bright pink font that looks as if it is hand written. This is common from the pop genre, which the magazine aims at as a main genre, as it looks like grafitti and pop and RnB Hip Hop tend to be more edgy before connoting a mischievous and devious look to contrast against some of their music. The use of the heading above her name 'everybody's glad for...' questions the reader as they then question what everyone is so glad about and if theyre glad about it before the heading underneath asks the question the reader is thinking 'so what's so bloody good?' this involves the reader and gets them thinking, which I would like to feature on my own magazine as it shows audience involvement. The header used varies its colours and instead of being a straight line across the top it is in a zig-zag pattern, this attracts your eyes as it look almost disjointed, you then read it and wonder what songs they will be. The use of the word download shows how the digital side of the media is evolving as its no longer the 40 songs you must buy on CD, so using downloads and relating my own media text to online sites such as iTunes will help me to target a wider audience and show that the magazine is up to date. You instantly see the logo of the institution that is publishing the magazine, this magazine is Q magazine, one of the most popular music magazines, especially in the US. There slogan underneath the huge Q is 'discover great music' this is shown on every single issue of Q and is a way of making the magazine recognisable to its familiar and intended audience. The use of the subheadings allow the reader to understand other stories they will find within the magazine as Lana Del Ray may not be their favourtie singer yet their favourite artist has an article and looks good to read, this will engage the reader and also gain a wider audience for the magazine. The yellow pull out almost looks like a sticker on the magazine, this stands out due to the colour used and is typical of the genre of this magazine, sometimes it will be what you can win but in this article it is purely more information on '26 festivals to blow your mind' this shows the institution have done their research into their audience and a big chunk of their audience must attend events like these, therefore using this and making it stand out to entice the reader to buy the magazine. The artist herself is placed centre of the magazine, which is a common convention of this magazine, this allows the audience to view her first and wonder what it is to do with mainly aiming at her fans, the use of the tiara and blood on her head show a difference between the two as she is being portrayed as a princess of pop maybe, whilst showing her wild side with blood on her head, this also relates back to the headline of 'so whats so bloody good' the blood can be connoted as bad and good. The institution have places the barcode in the bottom right hand corner of the magazine, which is a common convention of music magazines.