The document discusses the process of creating a music magazine. It analyzes conventions used in other magazines and uses that knowledge to create magazine covers. The created magazine is influenced by magazines like SPIN through similarities in layout, typography, and conventions. Feedback is provided on the covers, contents page, double page spread, target audience, and distribution options. Strengths and weaknesses of software used to create the magazine are also discussed.

2. In the process of creating my
magazine I looked at various
different magazine and analysed
each of the typical conventions
of a music magazine. This tasks
shows the analysis of
conventions used:
http://caitlinchandraxx.blogspot.
co.uk/2013/09/conventions-of-
magazine.html
I then used the knowledge I
gained in the generic conventions
task to make a series of my own
covers which contained all of the
conventions:
http://caitlinchandraxx.blogspot.
co.uk/2013/10/codes-and-
conventions-task.html

3. As shown here my
magazine has been
influenced by other
magazines such as ‘SPIN’.
Similarities between both
magazines include the
main headline being in a
seperate colour to the
subheadlines which is a
typical convention of
music magazines. ‘SPIN’
magazine has a very clear
colour scheme shown
through the consistent
sub headlines and their
positions. I feel that my
magazine has
incorporated this also.
In addition to this I can
see the similarities within
the typography used. Both
magazines have got quite
simplistic serif fonts in
bold.

4. Looking at all the magazines which I used for inspiration I
think it becomes quite obvious where my influences came
from. This is due to the similar layouts and typography
used. Cover lines are spread evenly across the page in
‘BLENDER’ and ‘SPIN’ magazine and this is what I have
tried to achieve on my cover. All of the cover lines frame
the cover star and fit around her. Direct address is also
used in all three magazines which would instantly involve
the audience as a connection is created.

5. My contents page has the
theme which has continued
on from my cover which
shows the magazines
consistency.
The importance of the cover
star is highlighted by the use
of red rather than the
magazines theme colour
green. To support the idea
that the cover star is the
most important there is also
the use of the word
‘EXCLUSIVE’.
There wasn’t many contents
pages which influenced me
however I was influenced by
covers mentioned previously
and I tried to change the
conventions of the cover to
fit my contents page for a
noticeably continuous theme
running throughout.
The layout of my contents page
looks similar to the one in
‘SPIN’ magazine. This is the
main thing which I have used as
influence when creating my
own. Everything has a very
organized structure and there
is no sense of chaos.

6. Inital influences for my double page spread
stemmed from the analysis of a Kerrang! Magazine
double page spread:
http://caitlinchandraxx.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/ma
gazine-research-double-page-spread.html
My double page spread however changed drastically
from the idea’s I had originally. The colours featured
on my double page spread are not the same as the
cover and contents page however follow ‘Cobra
Lily’s’ colour scheme on the cover. The use of red
and black on the cover and contents when
mentioning Cobra lily make it consistent right up
until the double page spread.
The picture I have chose to use is not put on exactly
half of the double page spread, which is typically
what is done in music magazines. Instead of doing
this my main picture overlaps and the text is put
into columns on less that half of the page. I feel like
this gives the magazine individuality as it not part of
magazine conventions to do this however I still feel
that it looks effective and was succesful.
I have used a large quote to keep the dps interesting
and I gives an instant idea as to what the interview is
going to be talking about. This is typical convention
which I have used in my work.

7. I feel that my magazine on a whole is very youthful
and that is why I have aimed it at teens in the age
range 15-19. My magazine is also an alternative
pop/rock magazine which features quite strong and
independent artists such as Cobra Lily. I took Miley
Cyrus as inspiration when thinking about the
persona of my cover star. I wanted them to be
individual and to stand out completely. I feel that
Cobra Lily portrays some of the attitude that Miley
Cyrus has. By using artists like this I hoped to
achieve a magazine which contained people who the
audience I am targeting would idolise.
Cobra Lily has been created to look very carefree
and this is what teenagers would be interested in as
they like to look up to people who are independent.
I chose my main cover star to be female as it
challenges the stereotypical idea of females being
dependent on a man. It also goes against the idea
that men are domination as I have featured more
female artists rather than male.

8. The supporting acts I used are styled in a similar carefree and rebellious fashion to that of
my cover star. Although all of the artists I have used are very individual they all have their
similarities which means that they will still appeal to the audience I am targeting. I have
tried to style the artists to be looked at in hope of simulating their looks. They are all very
stylish and could easily be looked at for inspiration.

9. The instituion I think would most likely distribute my media is:
http://www.frontlinedistribution.co.uk

10. When researching other magazine
distributors I came across some such
as Development hell ltd which
publish mix mag. I felt that this was
a little to commercial and
mainstream for my magazine as I
aimed for mine to be slightly more
edgy and different instead of going
for simply pop as my genre.
http://www.developmenthell.co.uk/
I also looked at the Uptown media
group however they publish
magazines such as vibe which are
focused a lot more on RnB, hip hop
and rap music whereas my magazine
is alternative pop/rock. I didn’t think
that this media institution would be
compatibly with the style of
magazine I have created.
http://uptownmagazine.com/
The reason why I
have chosen
Frontline as the
distributor of my
magazine is
because they also
distribute
magazines such as
Q and Kerrang!
Which are both
alternative
magazine alike to
mine.

11. My target audience is going to be both male
and females between the ages of 15-19. I have
realised that my magazine is mainly female
orintated however I still think that there is still
an attraction to a male audience.
I asked females who were interested in
pop/rock what they would expect to find in an
interview of a music magazine of this genre:
http://caitlinchandraxx.blogspot.co.uk/2013/1
2/results-of-questionnaire.html
This helped me define my target audience as
the results showed me exactly what I’d expect
for the demographic of people I am aiming to
reach
Alike to Blender and Spin magazine I have
created my magazine to be for mass market
rather than niche. I think this was the best
idea due to the fact my magazine contains a
range of different artists which would appeal
to a range of people however it has been kept
within the alternative pop genre.

12. Masthead
I chose ‘Connect’ as I felt it was
reflective of the young audience I
am aiming to target. Also when
thinking about different magazine
names I completed word
association task which left me with
the word connect:
http://caitlinchandraxx.blogspot.co.
uk/2013/11/research-into-
magazine-names.html
Colour Scheme
I think that I attracted the audience through the
use of colour in my magazine. The colour
scheme throughout meant that my magazine
has a clear house style which makes my product
a lot more interesting and real.
The colour green is very fresh and young which
kept the magazine very bright and eye opening.
The red was used as the colour for the main star
Cobra Lily and this has connotations of danger
and rebellion which is what I was aiming to
achieve. The colour red also connotes passion
which could show how passionate the artist is
about music, keeping the magazine interesting.
The black is used as the font colour to stay very
bold and to make sure it is easily readable
making it a lot more appealing to an audience.
Main Headline
When thinking of a headline which
would address my audience I came
up with a few however Cobra Lily’s
Links seemed to be the most
appropriate due to the fact it ties in
with the Masthead ‘Connect’. The
word association gives the audience
the idea that they are
linking/connecting with the artist.
There is also alliteration used with
Lily’s and Links.

13. I have also attracted the audience
by the use of enticing headlines on
my cover. By using ‘To Win’ would
entice the audience due to the fact
there is something for them to get
out of the magazine other than
entertainment. ‘Guess Who’s Back?’
Is a simple headline whoever it is a
unanswered question addressing
the audience making them question
the answer.
The use of photo’s of the artists
inside gives the audience an insight
as to what is inside which would
hopefully excite them and attract
them to the magazine.

14. Paint.Net Page Plus Microsoft
Publisher
Good cropping and
editing tools
Useful tools used to
cut out backgrounds
of images
Files don’t need to be
exported as they can
be saved as a JPEG
easily
Shapes and text can
be added easily
A wide range of
effects
Spell check is helpful
Not very complicated Templates can be
created for cover,
contents and dps
It is very simple to
use
Strengths of each programme...

15. Paint.Net Page Plus Microsoft
Publisher
There is not a wide
range of shapes or
text
The text tool
provided isn’t very
useful
No filters or effects
for photographs
Complications with
layers
Some photo’s do not
crop very well
Can’t position text
and images exactly
where you want
When exported as a
JPEG images aren’t of
a very high quality
Not very good quality
images after
exporting
Weaknesses of each programme...

16. Through the creation of my first
task creating a magazine cover I
was able to see which areas I was
good at and which were my weak
point so that I could work on them
to make it better for when I created
my final product.
For example the cropping exercise:
http://caitlinchandraxx.blogspot.co.
uk/2013/09/picture.html
I created a magazine cover for NME
as a remake/remodel task.
http://caitlinchandraxx.blogspot.co.
uk/2013/11/remake-remodel-
task.html
I analysed everything that I did on
the cover and how effective each of
the things I did were.

17. I found blogger very useful as it
always keeps work in order and
organized. Blogger is very simple to
use and makes work easily
accessible. It also allows blog posts
to be edited, uploaded and deleted
at ease making it really efficient.
My blog address:
http://caitlinchandraxx.blogspot.co.
uk/

18. PRELIMINARY TASK FINAL PRODUCT (MAIN
TASK)The preliminary task
lacks use of codes
and conventions
which makes it very
unprofessional. The
masthead takes over
the cover and the
main picture. There
is no main cover line
and not a sufficient
amount of additional
cover lines. It lacks
interest.

19. PRELIMINARY TASK FINAL PRODUCT (MAIN
TASK)
My contents
preliminary task is
very boring and uses
serif fonts
throughout. There is
no running theme
from the cover to the
contents page
making it
inconsistent. It also
contains errors such
as there being only 6
pages in the
magazine. However
my final product has
a clear house style
and it is a lot more
interesting due to the
use of fonts and the
intuitive layout.
Whilst working on
my final product I
made sure there was
no unecessary errors
such as lack of page
numbers.

20. Overall I think that my finished product fulfils the task well. I
have created a music magazine with a pop/rock genre with
influences from various magazines such as blender and spin. I
have used a clear and consistent colour scheme throughout and
covered a lot of the codes and conventions needed for a music
magazine. I have also tried to appeal to my target audience as
best as I could. Looking at my work now I feel that my double
page spread looks to most professional however it still fits in
with my cover and contents page.