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

2. Front Cover Mast Head
‘RAGA’ uses the general convention of any normal
magazine by being in a vivid clear font and in a large size as
its all in upper case. It uses up just less than half of the left
quarter of the page in white. As the background is
black, the big white writing stands out from the rest of the
page. The majority of magazines emphasize the masthead
through the colour and size, I have followed this
convention. However, the masthead usually takes up 1/5 of
the front cover but I have decided to put it on the size
inside to challenge the stereotype.
Background
The background of my magazine is completely black and I
did this by having a black back drop. I did this as most
Classical/Indian Music Magazines usually have a plain
coloured background which tends to be black.
Main Cover Line
‘Exclusive Cover Story’ is the main cover line as also the
pull quote for my magazine and by doing this it makes it
look like there’s something more and special to this
magazine. Most magazines follow this convention and so
have I.
Header
The header is usually above the masthead along the top of
the page and it’s usually used to frame the picture. I have
made the header in line with the masthead so it didn’t look
out of place, this made magazine look more clean cut and
neat which is the look I was going for and is what most
magazines try and go for.

3. Front Cover Continued
Colours
The colours I used were: White, Red, Black and Yellow as these are the typical colours that are used in other
Classical/ Indian Music Magazines. The Red and Black show that the magazine is full of surprises, the yellow shows
happiness and how the magazine should satisfy all of the customers and the white represents truth and that this
magazine is the truth about the Music Industry and what you see is what you get.
Main Image
The main image of my front cover is a long shot of the artist sitting down and you can see her whole body and the
instrument she is resting on her arms and legs. She is giving very sharp eye contact to the camera which makes
her look very intimidating and from research of focus groups, this immediately draws in the attention of the
audience and catches there eye which implies that the magazine is daring and fun. Most magazines follow this
convention and the main image on magazines is one of the main things that will grab the audiences attention and
will draw them to the magazine that’s why its one of the most important features in a magazine. The outfit she is
wearing an eastern outfit which symbolises the genre of the magazine which is Indian Music; this also stands out
from the background. The instrument she has in her hands i.e. the sitar shows that’s its classical music.
Rule of Thirds
The typical layout for the rule of thirds is having them on the left hand side. However, I have decided to challenge
this representation and do it on the right hand side to ‘not follow the crowd’ as I believe the genre I have chosen
for my music magazine is very unique compared to other music magazines, so I have placed the rule of thirds on
the right hand side to stand out from other magazines that are competing in the same category.
Footer
The footer is usually right at the bottom of the front cover that gives a frame to the magazine similar to a header.
My header was only half the size of what a normal header should be like, so I added in a full footer which gave a
frame to my magazine and the majority of magazines follow this, as did I.

4. Front Cover Continued
The Selling Line/cover lines
I have made sure the selling and cover lines for my magazine are age appropriate and are mature to the target
audience of my magazine. The cover lines are usually all over the place on the front cover of a music magazine.
However, I have put the cover lines on one side if the magazine to make it look more sophisticated.
Language
The language I used in the front cover is very direct and straight to the point briefly letting the customer know
some things about what the music magazine is about what’s included it. It is also sophisticated and most
magazines follow this especially ones that are aimed at an older and mature age group as they want words that
are short and snappy and straight to the point. I have followed this as I believe it is relevant to the audience my
music magazine I aimed at.
Barcodes, Issue Date and Price
The Barcode, Issue Date and Price tend to be placed in the corners of the front cove of a magazine so it doesn’t
take away too much attention from the main image and the main cover line put still can be noticed so customers
can get information on the magazine e.g. the issue date – they won’t buy a magazine from 2 years ago, they will
want the latest release, the price – if the price is too expensive then they wont pay for it and the majority of
customers won’t buy it without looking at the price. This is why having these are extremely important and most
magazines do use this, therefore I have as well.

5. Contents Page
Subscription/Follow Us Box
Most magazines will have a subscription box or/and a follow
us box so consumers that are happy with there purchase can
keep up with any latest news and the latest issues that the
magazine releases and this keeps consumers happy. It is an
important feature that most magazines use so I have used it
too.
Mast Head
The majority of magazines will have a masthead which will be
the name of the page i.e. Contents. This is so consumers
know what page they are on. The type I don’t of font I used
stood out to a lot of people from research that I have done.
Nearly every magazine you will see will have a masthead of
‘Contents’ on there contents page and I have followed this.
Subheadings
Subheadings are used to split the page up in very small
sections as they tell you what you can find in the magazine
and where you can find it via the page number. Magazines
use this convention to keep their contents page organised
and I have tried to emulate this.
Page Numbers
Page numbers are commonly used on a contents page
informing the consumer where they can find information
they want to read about in the magazine. Nearly every
magazine follows this and so have I as its vital for consumers
to know where to find certain things within the magazine.

6. Contents Page Continued
Columns
I have used two columns in my contents page to split up News and Competitions from the News. The magazines I
looked at use columns to split up there subheadings or to separate pieces of information that are not relevant. In
the columns are what the magazines contains and I have followed this convention by using two columns as I
believe columns make the magazine look more organised and professional.
Images
Most contents pages will contain more than one image to help bring out more colours and interest in the
magazine so all the text doesn’t bore the consumers. Quite a few of the magazines I looked at used more than one
image, therefore I have followed this and decided to use three images on my contents page.
Layout
The Layout I have used is quite different compared to most magazines content’s pages but I saw this layout in a
magazine that was similar to the genre I am doing and so I followed the layout as it was quite unusual and unique
like the genre of music magazine.

7. Double Page Spread
Main Image
The main image I have used takes up 2 A4 sides
i.e. both sides of my double page spread. I did this
as I saw it in a few magazines that I had looked at
and for me those magazines stood out to be quite
unique as usually the main image doesn’t take up
the whole of the double page spread. I have
challenged the typical form of a double page
spread as most main images on double page
spreads take up one side of A4 or just less.
Drop Cap
The vast majority of double page spreads at the
start of the main article on the double page
spread have a drop cap to create emphasis about
the article and also just to grab the consumers
attention. I have followed this and done by drop
cap in red as it stands out from the rest of the
article as it’s a very vibrant colours.
Mast Head
All double page spreads have a mast head which
informs the reader about what the double page
spread maybe about. It is usually in big bold
letters and I have this out from looking in other
magazines. The mast head should stand out and
looks dominant compared to the rest of the page.
I have used this in my double page spread.

8. Double Page Spread Continued
Colours
The colours I have chosen I have tried to keep similar to the front cover and contents page as the magazines I
looked at try and follow this as possible. This sticks to the conventions of a real music magazine as it shows house
style by using the same colours through out the content of the magazine.
The colours I also used on the text which is white and beige/yellow are similar colours to what both the artists
clothes in my main image are wearing which I feel ties in very well.
By-Line
Nearly on every magazines double page spread there will be a by-line which will have the names of the people
who have taken the photograph of the main image and who has written the article. This is seen in a lot of
magazines therefore I have followed this convention as it’s what you would see in a professional magazine.
Page Numbers
Page Numbers are used in the bottom corners of the two A4 pages of the double page spread in the vast
majority of magazines I looked at. This informs the reader the current page they are on and if they are on the
correct page that might have been looking for. I feel that this follows a typical convention that the top magazines
in any industry use, this is why I followed this convention and applied it to my own music magazine.