The front cover uses conventions of real music magazines like Q Magazine by including a small masthead in the top left corner. It was inspired by magazines like Q, NME and MixMag but does not take all inspiration from one to cater to a gap in the existing market. Graphics are used in the background of the cover to make it stand out, with decreased opacity so text is still visible. The cover represents the target audience of 19-24 year old males interested in music through its youthful and stylish design.

1. AS Media
Evaluation
Music Magazine Task

2. IN WHAT WAYS DOES YOUR MEDIA PRODUCT
USE, DEVELOP OR CHALLENGE FORMS OR
CONVENTIONS OF REAL MEDIA PRODUCTS?
• My music magazine has been mostly based around and inspired by Q Magazine
especially my front cover. For example the idea to have a small masthead in the top left
corner was emulated from Q, I chose to do this because it stands out and it is easily
identifiable.
• Other inspiration has came from magazines like NME and MixMag. The main reason I
have not taken ALL my inspiration from one magazine is because nearly all of them don’t
direct their product at my target audience, this is because I was catering for a whole that
existed in the music magazine industry.
• You don’t often see graphics in the backgrounds of magazines and as I wanted my
magazine to stand out so I decided to use graphics in my magazine for example in my
from cover I used a graphic but I decreased the opacity so you could see the writing, I
think this was very effective as it would appeal to my target audience as it is youthful and
stylish.
• I have decided not to challenge conventions of real media products other than catering
for a gap in the market and using graphics in my magazine because since the real media
products are successful so therefore going against the conventions could

3. Front Cover...
• Forms and conventions of a front cover are...
Masthead stands
out from most of There is usually one main
the other things on image and sometimes there is
the magazine other littler images. In the
designed to main image the model often
capture the uses direct address to make
audiences the magazine more personal
attention. and appealing.
Callouts are used to I have included some basic
capture the audiences conventions like the
attention to a specific website; the price; the date;
cover line. a barcode and the issue
number
The main cover is usually I have also noticed
the biggest and often in a that magazines
bright stand out colour as usually have a
this is the main thing that competitive tagline,
captures attention. therefore I have
included one.

4. Contents Page...
• Forms and conventions of a contents page...
At the top of
the page
there is the
heading Often split into two sections,
‘contents’ usually, the regulars and issue
and the specials. The layout is usually in
magazine columns. Also I have stuck with
name. the typical conventions of page
numbers on a contents page.
There is a
main image
in the
The front cover of the
majority of
magazine is often
contents
included, usually, to
pages
get people to subscribe
which
to the magazine.
relates to
the main
feature.

5. Double Page Spread...
• The forms and conventions a double page spread are...
There is often a
introduction to
who the artist is Double page
and some quick spreads almost
facts at the always have a large
beginning to image, also the often
inform the use direct address
audience. from the artist.
Quotes are often The double page
taken from an spread text is
interview and put in 2-4
sometimes act as columns in size
a headline. They 11 font. I have
are often used to used a youthful
break up the text font to highlight
and usually the my audience
quotes are quite and the
controversial to personality of
make the the artist.
audience read.

6. How Does Your Media Product
Represent Particular Social Groups?
• My magazine represents my target audience, 19-24 year old males
who aspire to be young musicians and want to keep up-to-date with
the latest musical trends before anyone else. The personality of my
target audience would be Innovators and Esteem Seekers. Although
my magazine may appeal to both males and females I feel it is more
heavily weighted towards males due to the colour scheme, layout
and content.
• To make my magazine appeal and represent them I decided that my
magazine would only use young, new artists also in my article I have
used a chatty, colloquial tone as this is how my target audience
speaks. The artists will often represent my audience as they will be
from there generation, therefore that will represent the way the
audience speaks and also the audience would be able to identify
with them (Blumler and Katz Uses and Gratification Theory)

7. Social Value Groups...

8. Typical Audience
Profile...
• My audience is made up of active consumers of media who have an avid
interest in music, film and the industry in general and they want to get as
much information about it as possible.
• Gender: Male
• Age: 19 - 24
• Work Status: Student
• Common Interests: Social Networking, going to gigs / festivals, shopping,
going out with friends and music.
• Music Genre: Any type but they are mainly interested in new upcoming
artists, they want to know about them before everyone else.
• Radio Station: Jack FM, Radio 1, Radio 1 Extra
• TV Channels: All music channels and E4, Channel 4 mainly.
• Films: Comedy, Action they will see independent films as well as
mainstream.

9. What Kind Of Media Institution Would
Distribute Your Media Product and
Why?
• The two main music magazine distributers are:
• IPC Media (NME & Uncut)
• Bauer Media (Q, Mojo & Kerrang)
• Although my magazine would be the younger version of Q I would
distribute it using IPC Media and Q would be my direct competition
also battling with a successful magazine in the same company would
be difficult. I would also use new media to distribute my magazine for
example iOS Newsstand, iPad versions and web content as my target
audience would be up-to-date, would be able and enjoy using new
media.
• I have chosen not to independently distribute my magazine as I am not
aiming at a niche audience and therefore I believe that a mainstream
distribution company would be more able to distribute my magazine.

10. Who WOuld Be The Audience
For Your Media Product?
• Age Range: 19-24
• Gender: Male (but not exclusively)
• Social Background: Technically a lot of my audience would be in class E but also
if they were in other classes they would have a lot of disposable income as the
would most likely not have families so the could spend the money on themselves.
• Interests & Character Types: Innovators and Esteem Seekers are the ideal
character types. The interests they have would be greatly orientated around
music so may be inspiring musicians. They will enjoy shopping, going to gigs and
going to festival.
• Regionally / Ethnicity: There is no set ethnicity for my magazine audience as it is
aimed at people who want to be like the celebrities and artist that the magazine
features.
• The main purposes of my magazine is to inform to my audience and to keep them
up-to-date with upcoming musicians but my magazine will also entertain my
audience.

11. How Did You Attract /
Address Your Audience?
• I think the main thing that appeals to my audience is the style of the
magazine and how it is laid out. The magazine give a fresh, modern and
young vibe also making it stylish and in fashion. For example the font
size is quite sci-fi and modern looking appealing to my audience.
• I have aimed my magazine at a heavily weighted male audience
therefore I have used masculine colours such as blues, blacks and reds
this is so that they are attracted to the magazine.
• If my magazine were to go into production the magazine would mainly
have artist from the age group of my audience the artist would generally
have the same interests, demographics and beliefs as my audience this is
so that they would be able to relate to them (Blumler and Katz Uses and
Gratifications Theory)
• In addition the content is relevant to my audience as they get the new
up-to-date information on new artists and also the get the chance to read
about how others got into the music industry, ideal for aspiring artists.

12. Analysis Of Front
Cover...
I decided to edit my photo to be
My masthead font is bold and
black and white because t is
interesting and catches your
different and I have only seen this
eye straight away fulfilling its
on the Q magazine before, also as
purpose.
it is different it would capture the
I have included a callout to audiences attention. If more issues
capture attention to a were to be made I would probably
particular cover line, I decided chose to do something quirky
to use two of the same shape with the cover image every time.
to get a shadow effect, this has
been effective as it is unique. Also by using an image with
This also gives a taste and idea direct address attracts the
that the magazine is quirky on audiences attention and make
the inside too. them feel as if the artist is
beckoning them to buy the
This is the main cover line on magazine.
the page, I have put it in a
bright red as it instantly grabs I have included basic
your eye, also I have put it in a conventions of a magazine
handwriting style font for a such as barcode, date, issue
more personal feel. I have also number, price, website and
put more information about header and footer (tagline)
the article on the artist and this has made it look more
used the colour grey so it is professional.
visible.

13. Analysis Of Contents
Page...
To make my magazine
I have included headings
successful I realised that it
for the columns I did this
would have to be different
to make it easier for the
from other magazines out
audience to find what
there so I decided that I would
they are looking for. I
include graphics of every page
have also written it in the
as a house style. On the
same blue as my front
contents I have used 2 pictures
cover so keep a house
and lowered the opacity so
style, this is also why I
that you can see the writing.
used the same font for the
This has been very effective as
ID contents header.
it has made my magazine
more stylish.
To give my
I have also decided to magazine a more
include a basic youthful and unique
convention of a feel I changed the
magazine, advertising a angle of the titles
subscription service by and the space they
putting the front cover are apart so it would
on the contents page. appeal more to my
This has made my audience.
magazine look more
professional.

14. Analysis Of Double
I have put
Page Spread...
danger stripes in
my magazine to
make it funner. It
also gives us an
As for
insight into the
graphics I
personality of
decided to
the artist with
use the pen
out reading the
tool to create
article.
them. By
doing this I
could create
I have noticed an accurate
that most colour
magazine scheme for
articles start his tee. This
off with the has made it
name to the look more
artist and they stylish.
have the first
letter in big,
therefore I
have done this
to make it I decided to use a callout for the tour dates, this is so that it is easy to find and
professional. navigate. Also the colours I have used appeal and would interest my audience.

15. What Have You Learnt About
Technologies From The Process Of
Constructing This Product?
• The main thing I have learnt from constructing these products is how to
manipulate photoshop. When I started this course I didn’t realise how much hard
work, time and effort went into making on page of a magazine. For example the
picture need to have hours of editing done to it and sometimes the results looks
as if it hasn’t been edited also I never notice what type of colours went into
magazines I always thought that they would just use primary colours I never
realised how important the shade of the colour was.
• As there is a lot of competition out in the market ALL magazines are of very high
quality making it easier for people starting out to get an idea of how to make a
magazine and make it look amazing.
• Mostly I used photoshop to create my magazine, at first it was difficult to use but
as long as you get the practice and take criticism you will get amazing results. At
the start of the course I had never used photoshop before, but now I can use the
program and get good results.
• I have also learnt that the quality of equipment you use has a high impact on the
quality of your work you need to use a decent camera and usually lighting helps.

16. Looking Back At Your Preliminary Task,
What Do You Feel You Have Learnt In The
Progression From It To The Full Product?
• These are my final front covers for my preliminary and final task, as you can see that the
improvement is huge. The main reason two way I have improved my work is that; I have been
very careful which colours, fonts and sizes I have used, my school magazine looked quite cheap
and tacky this is because I used primary colours and also I took many of my fonts from Microsoft
word whereas in my music magazine front cover I have stuck to three main colours and have
used the similar fonts from a more sophisticated website called dafont.com; the second
improvement I have made is that I haven’t used a background, this has made a huge difference as
all my writing now stands out and also it looks more attractive and appealing in general. I have
also used a more advanced callout to suit an old audience making the magazine less childish.

17. • When I made my school contents page I was very proud of it as it looked quite
appealing but now looking back at my progression and comparing to my
music contents page there is quite a few things I would change. I believe that
just my using graphic in my music magazine it has made it look better, this is
because it looks more stylish and quite attractive. In addition like with my
front covers the colours I have used in my school contents is very childish
making it look less professional although I do like that I have included more
than one photo in my school magazine contents therefore if I were to do my
music magazine contents again I would probably use more photographs.