1. Jaymish Limbani.
Evaluation Of Music Magazine.
For AS Media Studies’ coursework, I chose to design and create a music magazine
with a genre of Hip-hop and R’n’B. The magazine is targeted to males and
females, this is because the genre is popular with both genders and finally I have
chosen to target the magazine to young adults aged 16-25.

2.  I think my media product uses some of the conventions of real media products , this is because I used
magazines that are well known in my genre of hip-hop and R’n’B and created some of my magazine
around these magazines, one of the magazines I used was ‘VIBE’. The reason I chose to use this
magazine is because this is an extremely successful and well-known professional magazine.
As shown in the screenshots beside, I have used and slightly
developed a convention of having the masthead towards the top of
the magazine and have the featured artist directly underneath it.
On the other hand, I have challenged a typical convention by placing
the main image beneath the masthead, whereas in the screenshot
on the right shows the artist on the layer above the masthead.
Another convention I believe I have used and again slightly developed is the
position of the main image. When I took the shot, I ensured that my model was
staring directly into the camera lens, just as in the VIBE and other real music
magazines. I think this is a good idea, because the reader can almost
communicate with the image through the camera lens. Although I have used this
convention, I have slightly developed it, by having the artist sitting now with his
hands linked, rather than having the artist standing up. In my opinion this
creates more of an effect to the readers ‘ eye and tempts them more to find out
what is inside.
Moreover, I also used the same font styles throughout the magazine, this
allowed me to keep a consistency all the way through, also keeping it simple and
easy for the reader.

3. Masthead is laid across the Eyebrow used to inform readers
page, makes massive impact on of artists featured inside.
reader.
Convention of having main image
laid over masthead.
More featured artist
information, more emphasis on
specific aspects of text. Main focus on the central artist
image.
Pull quotes – used to provide
other information useful to
target
audience, fashion, information
about other artists etc. Main colour scheme of
black, yellow and white, allows
the colours to stand out from
each other. Again creates
massive impact.
Magazine website
included, added advertising.
Black background a typical
convention of urban style
Barcode, showing price and other
Head and upper body shot, direct magazines.
information about Vibe.
eye contact with camera
lens, allows reader to
automatically communicate with

4. Masthead is laid across the
page, makes massive impact on
reader. Eyebrow used to inform readers
of artists featured inside.
Main focus on the central artist
image.
Main cover
line, emphasise magazine
More featured artist
to readers.
information, more emphasis on
specific aspects of text.
More featured artist
Pull quotes – used to provide information, more emphasis on
other information useful to specific aspects of text.
target
audience, fashion, information
about other artists etc.
Main colour scheme of
black, light blue and white, all
Black background a typical colours compliment each
convention of urban style other, eye-catching to the
magazines. This is where I reader.
received inspiration from VIBE.
Artist has direct eye contact with
Barcode showing price and issue camera lens, allows reader to
date of magazine. automatically communicate with
magazine. Medium long upper
body shot.

5. • I chose to use the convention of having the artist sharing direct eye contact with the
readers, this is because I feel as if it the most effective way of catching readers’ eyes, as this
tends to be the first thing they look at when taking a glance at the magazine. Furthermore, this
would then attract them to the magazine, then entice them to read further into the
magazine, as the cover lines will invite them to pick the magazine up and continue reading.
• Also, I have researched and found that other magazines such as VIBE have also used this
convention, and then placed cover lines around the artist image. However, I have slightly
challenged the convention, as I have shot the image with the artist sitting down and leaning
slightly forward, whereas in VIBE the artist is standing straight up and they have taken a
medium shot, on the other hand I have used a medium long shot. I thought this would create
added effect on the readers’ first impressions when seeing the magazine.
• Finally, I have used the convention of making the artist wear a cap in a certain way, that the
way it is worn, almost drags the readers eyes down to the cover lines. This is shown in the
examples below.

6.  Throughout my magazine, I have mainly used types of language, music and
clothing that generally relate to the artists of the present R&B and Hip-Hop
genre. The main reason I chose to do this is because it is the main genre of
Relapse magazine and this is an excellent way of attracting the target audience
for the magazine.
 An example of this could be in my front cover image, as the clothes the artist
is wearing, is similar clothing to what the target market generally tend to wear
to the present day, this is what could attract the audience. Also the use of the
cap again, is what is in the current fashion trends of young people aged 16-25.
Moreover, the use of an Asian model, implies that the magazine is targeted
towards all cultures, therefore excluding any stereotypical thoughts from the
readers.
 I would say that Relapse magazine is associated with standard occupational
classification with C1 through to D because the target audience are still quite
young and may not be fully into their career choice, therefore making them
either skilled workers or possibly unqualified.
To conclude, I believe that the mis-en-scene used in throughout the production
of my magazine, really represents the social groups perfectly for the audience.

7.  For the publishing of my magazine I researched mainly into 2 publishers of highly
established magazines. These were Bauer Media and IPC Media. Bauer have
published magazines such as Kerrang and Q, these have a target audience of males
aged 17-55. This is not in my target range, however, these 2 magazines are very
successful and they have sold millions of copies as the years progressed. Bauer is
also known to target both genders, male and female, this would be good for my
magazine as it is aimed at both genders.
 To conclude, the media institution which might publish my magazine would be
Bauer Media. This is because they generally tend to target both genders, this is the
same with my magazine. Furthermore, Relapse magazine is not a kind of magazine
which they currentley tend to publish, this means that if they were to publish my
magazine it would be a benefit for the insititution as the range of the target
audience will increase. Bauer is known to promote media such as Kiss, this in
organization that specifies in the genre of R&B and Hip-Hop, which again is the
same for my magazine, therefore they could also be promoting my magazine along
with it as they are both of the same genre and target audience.

8.  When beginning to produce my music magazine and when I was conducting research, I
chose to aim my magazine at young people between the ages of 16 and 25, these people
would be generally into R&B and Hip-Hop genre of music. The target audience would be of
both genders to prevent me restricting the audience if the magazine was to go worldwide. I
have introduced aspects of the magazine that may attract both genders, therefore I target
them successfully. I have done this by using a male model on the front cover to attract the
female consumers, also, on the inside I have used adverts such as Dr Dre Beats
headphones and JD Sports to attract the male consumers as this is where my target
audience generally tend to shop.
 Relapse magazine aims to provide consumers with the latest chart hits and music updates
as soon as they come out, this sort of thing would attract the target audience as they are
constantly updating music and listening to music, whether it is through headphones or
speakers. Nowadays, young people look for good quality sound as they are always listening
to it on the move, this is where I introduced Dr Dre Beats advert into the magazine, as this
is exactly what they’re looking for, with excellent quality music and they are an amazing
fashion accessory.
 My magazine also provides readers with up to date information about current artists within
the genre of music, this would benefit them as some readers may be into singing
themselves and they can get a feel for what the music industry may be like for them.
Also, the upcoming concerts of famous artists will be shown in the magazine, with every
single detail possible, this would attract the audience even more as they are always looking
to go to concerts to see their favourite artists.

9.  One way I attracted my audience was by the
use of clothing used in my images, I used
clothing that the young age of today generally
wear, such as caps, hoodies etc. This shows the
reader that it is their kind of magazine and
would invite them to read further in.
 Another way I attracted my audience was with
the cover lines used on the front cover, the
language used was just like the language
younger generations tend to use today, this
would again make them realise that they
would enjoy this magazine. Also I used artists
that my target audience listen to on a regular
basis, this again creates the same effect.

10.  When producing the magazine, I used a wide range of products and software to help
me produce this succesfuly. One of the main ones was Adobe InDesign, this is the
software I used to create my entire magazine, when starting the course I was new to
this software and didn’t know how to use it, this when I learnt all the tips and tricks
for the preliminary task, after picking things up in that task, when creating the final
magazine, I became more aware of the things I could use and was easily developing
my skills for this programme.
 When taking the photographs for my music magazine, they had to be uploaded
from the SLR camera to the computer. Obviously, i couldn’t use the images how
they were, this is when Adobe Photoshop came in, I used this software to cut out
the model from the background and place him on another background ready for
use in InDesign for the production of the magazine. Also some images had to be
cropped to A4 size, this was another skill I had picked up along the way.
 I have had previous experience with this software in the past, but the above skill I
had learnt when starting this course, some I picked up myself as the course
progressed, others on the other hand, I learnt from YouTube tutorials online.
 Finally, this entire project was to be uploaded onto an online blog, which was
 Finally, this entire project was to be uploaded onto an online blog, which was
Wordpress, this is a free publishing platform that anyone could use. I have never
Wordpress, this is a free publishing platform that anyone could use. I have never
had blogging experience in the past, so this was very new to me. After using the
had blogging experience in the past, so this was very new to me. After using the
blog, I was able to easily pick things up along the way with very little struggle.
blog, I was able to easily pick things up along the way with very little struggle.
 Also I used social networking sites to communicate with my model to arrange
 Also I used social networking sites to communicate with my model to arrange
times to take photographs and get feedback on what I had done so far. I also used
times to take photographs and get feedback on what I had done so far. I also used
my mobile phone to communicate with my model for other things throughout the
my mobile phone to communicate with my model for other things throughout the
project.
project.

11.  When looking back at the preliminary task I did at the beginning of the
course and looking at it in comparison to my final magazine, I feel as if I
have learnt much more skills as the course progressed and as I was
producing my magazine.
 As you take a look at the comparison between the two, it is clear that I
have used a lot more professional skills and tricks in the final
magazine, this was done through my research of other magazines in my
genre. I feel that my preliminary task lacked quite a lot of content, as I
feel the image is quite poor as are the cover lines on the front cover.
However, I used a lot of colour in the cover lines and other places and
stuck to one font throughout the preliminary task. This was due to the
fact that I was new to InDesign software and was just beginning to
develop my skills.
 Moreover, in the final product you see much more skill and quality used
in the magazine, although taking into consideration that I had a much
longer amount of time to complete this. I have thought about the mis-en-
scene of the cover and placed cover lines around the main image
accordingly, also I am extremely happy with the image I used as it can
easily communicate with the readers eyes, enticing them into the
magazine. Also I have used a limited amount of fonts throughout this
cover and there are only 3 colours used, these 3 colours then become my
house style, which I feel compliments the image, as my model is wearing
similar colours.
 As for the contents page, I feel as if I again thought about the mis-en-
scene and placed the image so that the artist is looking directly at the
main article for the magazine, this invites the reader to go directly to that
particular page as they know it is something ‘exclusive’ to this magazine.
Again the use of colour compliments the image used for the artist and
the page itself stands out to the reader, easily attracting them to read
further and further as the magazine continues to please.