Lauren Barrett presented 3 initial ideas for a new music magazine. The purpose was to get feedback to help develop the ideas further. Ideas included an indie/indie-rock magazine, a live music magazine focused on concerts, and a mixed genre magazine about new music. Peers provided feedback, praising features of each but noting some ideas could be repetitive or appeal to too broad an audience. Based on the feedback, Lauren decided to combine elements of the first two ideas and focus on an indie/indie-rock magazine, seeing the most opportunity in the market.

1. Lauren Barrett
MAIN TASK:
INITIAL IDEAS

2. AIM & PURPOSE
The purpose of this presentation is to display the 3 initial ideas I have for my
new music magazine in an organized and professional way. For the main task, I
will be designing and producing the front cover, contents page and a double-
page spread of a brand new music magazine. By completing this research and
development stage in the form of a presentation, it allows me to show all of my
potential ideas for the design and content of my future magazine in one single
format, keeping it looking smart and professional. I will then use this
presentation as a way of getting my potential ideas out to other people, with the
aim of getting feedback on all of my ideas. This will then help me to develop my
ideas further, as I will choose what my peers liked best, and then use this to
create my final design and idea, avoiding the features of my ideas that weren‟t
well liked, or even taking onboard completely new and different ideas if
someone has a suggestion. It is important to gain feedback from my peers as
these are the people who are likely to fit into the category of my target
audience, so their views and opinions are key for me in order to create an
idealistic magazine that conforms to that which is expected of the genre and
target audience.

3. IDEA ONE
 Genre = indie/indie-rock
 Target Audience = aged 16-40 approx. Magazine will appeal
more to men, but the content will be suitable for both genders.
People who are interested in the genre, musicians, students
(particularly fashion, music or photography students).
 Colour scheme = “vintage” look – de-saturated colours; green,
brown/sepia, white, grey etc.
 Festival feel to it – posed front cover image – all other images
will be very natural – playing instruments, holding hands etc.
 Featured artists – Coldplay, The Script, Ed Sheeran, Alex Clare,
Florence + the Machine, Snow Patrol etc. + BRAND NEW (MADE
UP) ARTISTS.
 Genre-specific language, quite casual, easy to understand, slang
etc. „music talk‟ – articles on instruments
 CD Reviews, competitions (gig tickets, festival packs etc.),
alternative/collectors front covers, posters, music downloads.
 Title across the top of the page with the cover image over-lapping
slightly.

4. IDEA ONE – INSPIRATION/FEATURES
This idea is somewhat influenced by Q magazine – I
want to feature a lot of the same/similar style
content. I really like the idea of a posed photo filling
the entire front page.
I also like the use of
many different
contrasting fonts for
different sections of
the magazine.
This was the magazine responsible for inspiring the
colour scheme for this idea. I really like the use of dull,
pale colours; it appeals to both genders and is more
appropriate for a slightly older audience.

5. IDEA TWO
 Genre/Theme = Indie/indie-rock LIVE music magazine
 Target Audience = aged 16-30approx. The look and
appearance of the magazine will appeal a lot more to a male
audience, but the content will also be appropriate for female
audiences too (will reference to a fashion section in the
contents page). Will be popular more amongst older students
and young adults – those who can afford to go to concerts
and gigs etc.
 Colour scheme = A mixture of black and white elements
(possibly the images) with elements of contrasting, darker
colours (in text) such as red or blue.
 Layout will be simple but stylish – ripped page effect,
resembles a notebook or scrapbook.
 On tour with the band biography/diary; 60 seconds with each
band member
 Posed images – playing instruments, singers, on stage, with
fans etc. Will also feature small headshots – stereotypical
fashion shoot – lots of props, colours, posed etc.
 Fonts – bold, chunky – easy to read, sans serif + contrasting,
thin font for main text (still sans serif), highlight lots of key
words – contrasting sizes.

6. IDEA TWO– INSPIRATION/FEATURES
Other images - I
want to incorporate
the idea of a live
For my main „photoshoot‟, which will audience/music fans
appear alongside the article for my in the audience. E.g.
double-page spread, I want to use a I like the idea of
very posed environment, making it using a silhouette of
look like the band/act is about to an audience crowd
perform a set for a small audience. across the top of the
Similar colour scheme – dark, dull page as a continuous
colours, small bursts of contrasting header.
colours e.g. the red in the jumper.
I like the idea of using a live performance photo for
my front cover, layering it over the title. However, my
images will be posed and planned beforehand.

7. IDEA THREE
 Genre = New music for 2013 – a range of „popular‟ genres (chart music). Who will be big
this year, awards ceremonies, festivals, concerts etc. Similar genre to Top of the Pops
Magazine, but for a slightly older audience.
 Target audience = appeals to both men and women (m- 40%, w- 60%), aged approx. 14-
30. Students/teenagers, „first concert-goers‟, older students/teenagers who spend their
money on concerts, cds etc. Enjoy watching awards shows (music awards shows e.g The
Brits), interested in fashion, gossip etc. People who listen to popular radio stations;
Capital FM, BBC Radio 1 etc.
 Colour scheme = white background, contrasts well with the bright, neon-look colours I will
use in the text and graphics -> BRIGHT PINK, CYAN, YELLOW, BLACK <- quite neutral
colours, but would probably lean more towards a feminine look which is the target
audience for my magazine.
 Main article based on a biography of a new, unheard-of, upcoming artist. Smaller article
on current artists and what they have planned for the new year – albums, tour, TV
programme etc?
 Album/single reviews – pictures of physical CDs.
 Top Singles/albums of the past month + anticipated future releases.
 Other articles may be a feature on upcoming awards, possibly The Brits 2013, review on
some of the nominees, competition to win tickets etc. Top festivals and concerts to go to
this year.
 Double page spread – A „vs‟ page – one page will look at leading men in the music
industry, whilst the other page will look at leading women. Or I may chose to use an
American vs. British music idea in the same way.

8. IDEA THREE
The colour scheme for this idea is really important as this idea has the youngest target
audience. With music magazines aimed at younger audiences, lots of bright colours are used
to attract them, which is why I have chosen to use a range of bright colours in my own design.
However, I think using too many can look messy and unprofessional, and as I want my
magazine to appeal to slightly older people too, I want to use colour in a much more subtle
way like both Billboard and Vibe magazine.

9. WORKING TITLES
TURN IT UP SOUND
TURN IT UP
TURN IT UP
SOUND

10. PEER EVALUATION
Number of Votes: 4
 Idea 1:
 “It‟s very similar to the second idea; as idea 2 could become
quite repetitive, you could combine elements of both the ideas
together.”
 “This idea is more open to a wider audience, there is a lot
more room for variation and originality.”
 “The colour scheme suits the genre of the magazine and your
potential target audience really well.”
 “I like the „hippie‟ vibe you are portraying in this idea, it links in
well with the natural colour scheme.”
 “You should maybe change the age range of the target
audience; either increase one or decrease the other – it is too
broad.”
 “The design will be more suitable if you go more towards the
design of the Clash Magazine –it‟s very neutral and more
appropriate for your idea. Q magazine was more appropriate
for alternative or pop genres of music.”

11. PEER EVALUATION
Number of Votes: 2
 Idea 2:
 “The target audience you have chosen to base your magazine
around is really suitable as these are the types of people who are
really interested in going to concerts and festivals.”
 “Focusing on „live performance review‟ features in the magazine
could become repetitive if it was published on a regular basis –
doing a concert review would be more appropriate for a one-
off/special edition magazine.”
 “You need to look at varying the features in this idea.”
 “Getting the photos required for the design of this idea could be
quite complex to take yourself – it may cost you a lot of time and
money.”
 “The rip effect may be too much for the whole of your magazine – it
would be better to only feature it on the front cover as featuring this
design inside as wells could make the magazine as a whole too
mature for the proposed target audience.”
 “I like the thought you have put into the different photos you want to
feature and the mix of colours – black and white photos will contrast
nicely with coloured photos.”

12. PEER EVALUATION
Number of Votes: 2
 Idea 3:
 “The use of a magazine with mixed genre-specific
features will help to draw in a wider target audience.”
 “It will be more appealing to the target audience.”
 “The suggested colours are bold and eye-catching.”
 “It could possibly appeal more to a younger audience.”
 “Be careful with the front cover as something that is too
busy and colourful may attract a younger audience, you
need to use simpler colours and language style to make
your magazine suitable for more mature audiences.”
 “Aim to make it look more like Vibe and Billboard
magazines, and not like Top Of The Pops, We Love Pop
etc. as they can be too childish and less-professional.”

13. PEER EVALUATION
 TITLE/FONTS:
 2nd „VOLUME‟ title – quite good for the 3rd idea –
simplicity is better.
 3rd „VOLUME‟ title – helps to build the identity of all the
magazines, really eye-catching and unique.
 „MOREMUSIC‟ title – very grungy, acid-wash, the style
looks really good and effective for the indie/indie-rock
genre.
 HitPlay title – more appropriate for the pop/chart music
magazine, really unique and creative.

14. PROPOSED IDEA
 Overall, I think that my 1st idea proved to be the
best among my peers. Although they were torn
mostly between this idea and the 3rd idea, I have
chosen to go with the indie/indie-rock magazine
as I feel that there is more of a gap in the market
and would prove more popular with an older target
audience. The features I proposed for my 1st idea
all proved really popular and effective and to
develop it further I will combine features from my
2nd idea with this as the genres were the same
and would help to make my idea even better.