There are many existing music magazine names, making it difficult to choose an original name related to one's genre. There are four categories of effective magazine names: acronyms, phrases, symbolic/connotative words, and compound words. The document analyzes examples that fit within each category, such as NME (New Musical Express) as an acronym, Smash Hits as a phrase, Vibe as a symbolic word, and INDIE-structable as a compound word. The author settles on "Social Casualty" as a name that captures their vision of a magazine for those who do not fit into mainstream society.

1. There are so many different names within the music magazine category that it is near on impossible
to create a name that isn’t already out there and that relates to your chosen genre. There are 4
ways you can categorize a successful music magazine name. These are –
• Acronyms (Taking the first letter of words)
• Phrases
• Symbolic/ Conative Words (Words that create meaning)
• Compound Words (Putting words together)
I will be looking at 4 different names and analyzing what category they fit in and why they are
effective magazine names.
NME-This
is NME, this name fits in the category of acronyms. NME actually stands for New Musical
Express. The effective thing about using this as a name for a magazine is it is short and snappy
however it has a longer meaning to it but by shorting it into an acronym it doesn’t take as much
page space and it is catchier than the full title. Additionally if you say the individual words together
it sounds a lot lie ‘enemy’ so by using an acronym for your title it could add dual meaning and
sound to your magazine making it highly effective.

2. Smash Hits-
This is smash hits and this falls into the category of phrases. The good thing about having a
phrase as a a magazine name is that it is exactly what it says on the tin. If you have no
gimmicks within your magazine then people are going to know what to expect. For example
with name such as ‘Smash hits’ or ‘Top of the Pops’ you know what type of magazine you
will get, the genre that it is. There is a down side to having a phrase as a name is that it is a
bit bland, personally I think it is a bit boring.
Vibe-
This is a symbolic/connotative magazine title. This is a meaning for your magazine. It will
reflect what you want your magazine to be. It gives an idea of your genre and what you want
your magazine to reflect. The good thing about this, it can really sum up the idea of your
magazine in one or a few more words. This is effective because it gives your reader as to
what direction you would like your magazine to go.

3. INDIE-structable
This type of name is a compound word. The putting together of two words to make a
magazine title. The good thing about having a compound name as your title is that it is
catchy and remember able. Also you aren’t limited with the names you could have and
you have endless possibilities of different names you could use just by putting 2 separate
words together.
I have given a lot of thought as to what name I would like to give my magazine something
that captures the essence of what I want my magazine to be. My teacher gave us a really
good way to come up with this, this is to play a game where one person says a word such
as ‘indie’ and then another says another word relating to that e.g. ‘unique’ and this is a
way to come up with a thousand names just by playing a game. However there is one
name in which I am really fond. Which is ‘Social Casualty’ Personally I really think that it
sums up what I want my magazine to be about and who I want it to be for. The people
who don’t fit in with society and are different and individual and I think that names sums
all that up in 2 words.