Evaluation Question 7 - Image

Evaluation Question 6 - Image

Evaluation Question 5 - Image

Evaluation Question 4 - Image

Evaluation Question 3 - Image

Evaluation Question 2 - Image

Evaluation Question 1 - Vlog / Image

Final Double Page Spread

Here is my final double page spread for my music magazine.

Final Contents Page

Here is my final contents page for my music magazine.

Final Front Cover

Here is my final front cover for my music magazine.

Double Page Spread Layout

Page 1

Page 2

These pictures show an initial idea of how I would like my double page spread to be laid out, with the generic conventions of a double page spread featured, such as images of the artist featured, page numbers, pull quotes etc. This may change as I look at more magazine spreads, and also depending on how the pictures look in the spread.

Contents Page Layout

Here is a screenshot of the contents page layout that I'm thinking of using, which I think will work with advertising other artists and articles featured in the magazine through both image and text, with the images displayed on the left-hand side and text on the right. The use of a main image at the head of the contents page is also going to help further promote that article.

Front Cover Layout

Here is a general layout of how I would like my magazine front cover to look, with the generic conventions that would be placed on the cover, such as main coverlines, the masthead, the puffs and things like the barcode, price/date etc.

Full Analysis of a Music Magazine Cover

Structure/Layout

Rolling Stone magazine always holds a similar structure on their covers, where the main coverlines will be on one side of the cover with about three other coverlines on the opposite side of the cover, separated by graphic features of bold lines. This layout is very similar to the layout of the Q magazine that I have re-made, insinuating that some music magazines follow similar layouts. The fonts for the main coverline are obviously a lot larger, as to attract attention to the main feature of the magazine, there is also a black and blue colour scheme to the cover which is incorporated in the fonts, segregating pieces of text such as ‘She Kissed A Girl” and “Katy Perry” being in blue and white to stand out from the cover. The cover follows a generic structure for a magazine, with the masthead, main coverlines, barcode, date, seal of approval etc, the one thing that is different on this magazine is the fact that a coverline goes over the hair of the main image, and while it is a general rule not have text over the main image’s face, the coverline over her hair it isn’t so distracting.

Representation

On the cover of this magazine, Katy Perry is the main feature. The shot type is a medium long shot to show more of Perry’s outfit, which also links with the overall colour scheme of the cover with her blue top, light blue belt and pale pink shorts. This outfit is very reminiscent of summer attire; however this magazine is an October issue so perhaps Perry was in this outfit to show her playful and retro-kitsch style of that time. She is using a parasol as a prop which again adds to her kitsch look. Perry is giving the camera a direct mode of address, and she isn’t smiling, instead she could look slightly suggestive to the audience, especially considering that with her outfit there is a tiny bit of cleavage showing, suggesting that while she looks innocent she could actually be slightly promiscuous. Her make-up is very light and her hair isn’t overtly done, her look is very simply but she still looks nice while keeping her individual style.  

Branding

Rolling Stone differs its colour scheme depending on the person on the cover, so the one thing that stays the same is their recognisable logo and the font styles that they use. For this cover, they have gone for an unconventional look for Rolling Stone, as they are usually considered as a rock magazine though they do feature other genres as well, as this cover shows. The cover, while featuring mainly light blues which are associated with males, the tone that they are in makes it seem quite feminine and they compliment the pale pink gradient on the background as well as Perry’s outfit and shows that Rolling Stone can be different and they do branch out to different music genres. As is expected on a magazine cover, the masthead of the magazine is placed behind the main image where necessary, which means that the viewer/consumer will see the main image first rather than the brand of magazine. Some could say that the magazine ‘name-drops’ a lot on the cover to both show the range of interests they cover from music (Amy Winehouse, Jeff Buckley), films (Robert Downey Jr.) and sport (Skatopia).  

Language Features

To fit with the pop genre being portrayed through Katy Perry being on the cover, the language used is quite light and playful, but still relating to the subjects on the cover. For example, a caption of “Pop’s Sexiest New Talent” is used to describe Perry which could attract readers to buy the magazine if they feel that they are buying something new, fresh and promising. They also use positive and emphasised adjectives to entice readers such as ‘triumphant’ but in the same way use negative adjectives to heighten the drama in a story they are featuring with ‘tragic’ and ‘anarchy’. The main coverline uses a question of “So how far will Katy Perry really go?” which intrigues the reader and makes them think about the answer which would be written in the magazine, therefore encouraging them to buy it.

Target Audience

Due to Katy Perry being on the cover, and the colours being very light and playful, I would say that the target audience for this issue of Rolling Stone would be both male and females, aged between 16-25 whereas other issues could be more for older audiences too. The fact that Perry is very youthful accounts to the young target audience – males will be interested in her and females would be interested in the type of music she produces.

Double Page Magazine Spread Analysis

Here is my analysis of a double page spread from Kerrang! magazine.

Contents Page Analysis

Here is my analysis from a contents page, found in NME magazine.

Analysis of Music Magazine Questionnaire Results

Possible Front Cover Images

Here are the two images that I'll be experimenting with for my magazine cover. There were a variation of shots, however, these fulfil the criteria from my photoshoot plan. I think that the second photograph will be most effective for the magazine cover as there is space to fit coverlines and the masthead on the cover, whereas with the other close up photograph it would be difficult to place the text.



Photoshoot Plans

As my magazine is of the indie/acoustic genre, I looked at magazines such as NME to see how they portrayed female artists, as the model on the front of my cover will be female. I noticed that when they have female or solo artists on their cover, it will usually be a close up shot of their face, so they are the main focus of the cover. In the Florence and the Machine cover of NME that I looked at, she was wearing little make-up, and a plain white top so her face and hair was the main focus of the cover. I’d like to do something like this so other elements on the cover aren’t so distracting and the viewers focus on the artist. I’ve noticed that most indie artists use nature in their music videos, photo-shoots, album covers, etc, with the male indie bands using woodlands quite a lot and female indie artists using single flowers. This was shown in Katy Perry’s Billboard cover, even though she is more of a pop artist, however by using flowers it adds femininity to the frame.

Therefore on my cover my female artist will be wearing little make-up, and the hair-styling will be very simple. The model will be giving the audience a direct mode of address on the cover but in the contents and double-page spread images they will most likely be a variation of photographs, some will have direct modes of address whereas others will not. I’d like to incorporate nature into the shot, which can link to the genre of indie and also perhaps the artist that I make up. For the shoot I’m going to try a close up of the artists face and also a medium shot which could include an instrument (like an acoustic guitar) in the frame to relate to the title of the magazine ‘Strum’ and the genre that it portrays. If I’m using nature as a focus point then I will most likely use natural lighting in the shot. I will see how the photograph looks with the model looking at the camera and also not looking at the camera, to decide whether the direct mode of address works or not. The magazine should have quite a casual feel to it, therefore the photoshoot shouldn’t be too structured, I’d like the image to look natural and comfortable at the end of it rather than a fully posed image. In the close up photograph, body language won’t be too much of an issue as the artist’s face will be the only thing the viewer sees, however in the medium shot the top half of their body will have to be composed naturally to give across that carefree attitude.

Possible Masthead Title and Fonts