This document is a log book for Jake De Costa's OCR Media Studies AS Level preliminary task on creating a music magazine. It includes details of his research process such as genre research on classic rock magazines, target audience analysis using frameworks by Katz and Morley, and publisher research on the magazine Classic Rock which was his inspiration. The preliminary task allowed Jake to practice Photoshop skills and understand magazine design conventions for his main task of creating his own music magazine.

1. +
OCR Media Studies – AS Level
Unit G321: Foundation Portfolio in
Media
Preliminary Task, Log Book
Name: Jake De Costa
Candidate Number: 6631
Center Name: St. Paul’s Catholic
College
Center Number: 64770
Set Brief - Print
Music Magazine – Production
Preliminary Task Progression, Log
Book

2. +
Preliminary Task Progression– Evidence
Front Cover
Step-by-step
The preliminary task allowed me to test
the Photoshop software, thus helping me
to remember which tools I should use for
the main task.
I was able to download different
fonts to make my magazine
visibly interesting to others.
Social media included, along with a Bar
code. The preliminary task helped me to
understand how to crop images and
make it look professional. .
The strap line I used was to introduce my
magazine as of high standard. The use of the
date was a great touch along with the price, being
suitable for my target audience.

3. +
Preliminary Task Progression– Evidence
Contents Page
Step-by-step
I used the same background in
order to make the magazine
suitable for the front cover.
I completed my first editorial and
have included myself as the
editor of the magazine.
Editorial, what my magazine
signifies and my thoughts of
the magazine as a whole.
Page numbers displayed in
the bottom right hand corner.

4. +
Section 1) – Log
Book

5. +
Music Magazine – Genre research,
publisher and magazine statistics.
 Classic rock
“They’d say “if ya play the record backwards, you can hear evil tings like
grrrr!” and I would think, “Jeez, I didn’t know the devil sounded like that.
I thought he was coherent, like the rest of us.”-Brian Johnson of ACDC
– 2001, Classic Rock.
In September 2010 it published its 150th issue and now has a higher
circulation than the NME.
The total circulation of the magazine reached 56,714 in December 2012
which means the magazine is still relevant in society.
 Kerrang!
Kerrang! is a UK-based the magazine is the UK number one in rock
genre, it has recorded many details of rock artists, about their life and
love for music.
The total circulation recorded was 37,603 in June 2013, suggesting
modern rock is not very relevant in this day of age.
However Kerrang still has relevance in our society due to a whopping
37,603 readers who are still interested in modern rock.

6. + Established Magazine for my Research
Tag line/slogan
The tag line is
perhaps not very
effective as it is not
very visible to the
naked eye.
Cover lines
The cover line has
been spilt either side
of Hendrix, which
brings more focus to
the star appeal.
Star appeal
The star appeal is perhaps
the focus of the magazine,
we as the readers instantly
see the individual, he is what
captivates us to read the
magazine.
Masthead
The masthead is bold
and easily visible and
contrasts perfectly with
the target appeal.
Promotion
A promotion is used to
interest readers to buy their
magazine as they may have
content which interest
another target audience.
Bar code
Its well placed as the
readers will not notice it
rapidly.
Missing conventions
A missing convention is
the use of convergence,
as there is no evidence
of use in this particular
magazine, and so the
audience is unable to
share what they are
reading.

7. + Established Magazine for my Research
Cover lines
The cover line has
been placed in
various locations, this
creates the magazine
to have a variety of
content.
Star appeal
The star appeal is again the
focus of the magazine, we as
instantly see the star and
recognize him as part of the
band 30 seconds to mars, his
pose also interests the reader
to buy the product. The
interesting quote “I could be
your worst enemy” match's the
stars pose, this entices the
reader to find out the story.
Masthead
The masthead is bold and
easily visible with additional
use of white colour which
stands out compared to its
black counterpart.
Promotion
The promotion used is to meet
with Alice in Chains, this is
another method in order to grab
the buyers attention, but also to
potentially buy more than they
wanted.
Bar code
The bar code is easily visible and
does not attract the readers
attention as effectively as the
other features.
Missing conventions
A missing convention is
the use of social media,
this could bring more
publicity to the
magazine, as social
media is a very effective
use of publishing new
products.

8. + Target Audience – Katz, Maslow, Hartley and/or socio-economic
needs
The target audience is particularly for those who have an interest in old
rock as this is what the magazine primarily focus’ on. However Diana
Saco’s theory suggests that female gaze may incite a female to buy the
magazine due to the sex appeal presented by Jimi Hendrix.
Furthermore, the target audience for Classic rock has expanded its
audience towards woman this is obvious due to the star appeal who has
purposely shown off his body, the magazine uses this for an advantage
to draw a larger audience.
What is the USP of this magazine?
From the research completed into this media product, I think the USP of
the magazine Classic rock is the use of star appeal, using Jimi Hendrix a
worldwide international best-seller singer/guitarist has no doubt got to be
the highlight of the magazine. His image is all the audience focus on and
with good reason he has shaped music and he is still known today,
therefore introducing people to buy the product. To top of the use of
Hendrix a highlighted piece of text “Free CD” gives readers more for
what they pay for.

9. + Target Audience – Katz, Maslow, Hartley and/or socio-economic
needs
The target audience for this magazine is for people who have an interest
in modern rock, the opposite of classic rock. David Morley’s theory
suggests that different social groups read a different magazines and
different T.V shows.
Furthermore, the target audience for Kerrang has focused on a particular
target audience and has not steered away from their target audience.
Moreover, by keeping to their target audience Kerrang have continued to
produce magazines appeasing their readers.
What is the USP of this magazine?
From the research completed in this media product, I think the USP of
the magazine Kerrang is also the use of star appeal, using the lead in 30
seconds to Mars from a very successful band has to be the most
important factor of the magazine. His image is all the audience focus on
and with good reason he presents himself to have a lot to tell which
would interest readers, therefore introducing people to buy the product.

10. + Publisher research
Classic rock magazine-My chosen magazine of Inspiration
Classic rock magazine is a magazine primarily focused on
introducing classic rock, music which is perhaps becoming
more uncommon as people are moving generations. These
bands originate mainly from the 1960’s. Artist's who have
appeared/featured on the front cover of the magazine are Jimi
Hendrix, Slash and Axel Rose.
Classic rock’s first magazine was published in May 1998, the
publisher of the magazine is Team Rock. The frequency of the
magazine is published monthly, this is good as it gives the
publisher time to create another magazine which will not
disappoint it’s readers.
The publishers of Classic Rock have had ties with certain
revolutionary bands who have shifted the world of music into
something else, so the magazine has been altered by musical
artists to their likening.