The document summarizes research findings for a proposed music magazine targeting a pop genre audience. Key points include:
- The magazine must be tailored to its target audience in terms of content, style, and price to attract buyers.
- Research of existing magazines found common conventions like striking covers with band images and front page details. Contents pages list articles through images and text in a color-coordinated style.
- Target audience research found the magazine should have a bright, cheerful style with gossip, band info, and competitions/freebies to attract occasional buyers at £1-2 per issue. In-depth audience analysis will ensure giving readers what they want.
1. 10A. SECTION C –STARTING PLANNING by
SUMMARISING RESEARCH FINDINGS
Summary of all Research Findings- preparing for the formal
proposal
Summary of Research done into general information
about music magazines
Summary of research into general information about music magazines.
• The target audience is important in the production and sales of a music
magazine. It has to be researched, considered and catered to in order for
the magazine to sell. The magazine has to appeal to a certain chosen target
audience so this target audience is interested in the magazine and will
purchase it.
• The time the music magazine is produced in will determined what is in the
music magazine, artists who are popular in this genre with that target
audience at that time will appear in the magazine however artists popular
10 years prior to this may not appear as an article as they may no longer be
of interest to the target audience.
• The articles and exclusives have to be featured on things or people relating
to the genre of music that the music magazine is focused on
• Music magazines have to be individual and have their own style in order to
stand out and create a brand for themselves.
• They need to deliver a story, which could contain gossip to interest the
reader and entertain them so they read the article
2. Most significantly the magazines market must be aware of AIDA
A – Attract audience, use of bright colours, image and text
I – Interest, articles and sell lines should entice the audience.
D – Desire, lure the reader by adding competitions, posters or give freebies
A – Act – people to buy your product, motivate them into purchasing, for
example, creating a sense of urgency with a limited-time offer or limited supply.
B. Research into real music magazines (summary of findings)
generic conventions of music magazines
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Front covers must have;
masthead at top
barcode
price
date
striking image (consistent with genre)
Contents pages must have
• word “contents”
• date or issue number
• range of images with page number they relate too
• use columns for text with subheadings
• tile of magazine somewhere on page
• contents clearly links with cover in terms of style colour schemes and genre
The Double Page Spread Article
• very image dominated with image with text surrounding
• Written article has a main heading with a subheading (summarising what
article is going to be about)
3. • The text is written in paragraphs
All 3 parts of the magazine are connected clearly using
• same font choices throughout
• same colour scheme throughout
• magazine title
• Information on front is carried through into contents and then onto article
• Contents of the magazine is consistent with the genre
• Same style of language/formality/attitude throughout
Summary of Research into genre:
My chosen genre is Pop and I found that:
• The colours used in pop are mainly bright and girly
• It’s got a cheerful and cheesy attitude throughout
• The images used are very posed and glamorous
Summary of research into my chosen style model for my magazine which is
Top of the Pops
4. Below are images of my chosen magazine on which I would like to base my
magazine:
Front Cover
6. ARTICLES I WOULD LIKE TO USE AS STYLE MODELS
Types of images found in TOTP magazine;
Posed, fun, happy, cheesy, girly, attractive males and females, romance, pop
stars, positive message and vibe, modern.
7. C. Target audience research
From my target audience research I concluded the following and will
summarize how this will affect the making of my magazine:
1. THE COVER SHOULD BE:
• bright and eye catching
• feature images of top pop stars and bands
• offer freebies such as posters/band merchandise
• include competitions to win gifts
• have gossipy sell-lines as well as pop relating cover-lines
• have a header summarising main contents
• attractive with attractive images/shots etc
2. THE CONTENTS SHOULD INCLUDE:
• Gossip such as…
• band info
• artists info
• lots of variety of pop relating images and info
• be bright with a friendly cheery attitude
• minimum of 50 pages
• gig guides
• interviews with bands
8. 3. THE ARTICLE SHOULD BE:
• informal and chatty
• include questions and answers
• have a main images
• use sub-headings to break up writing
• include quotes from the text in speech marks in larger
font
• be about the music but interesting-possibly with fashion
and information about their lifestyle
4. GENERAL INFO
• None of my potential target audience buys music
magazines regularly, but would consider buying them
occasionally it if the price were right and was more
focused to them. The majority thought between £1.00£2.00 was ok.
• I also have to work on attracting the audience in the first
place. I will analyse my target audience questionnaires
and focus groups in more detail so I can work hard on
giving the audience what they want and therefore attract
them to buy the magazine.