This document discusses the typical features and content found in music magazines. It explains that music magazines cover a specific music genre and provide entertainment and information to readers. Common content includes interviews with artists, articles on artists' lives and latest music news, posters, and advertisements for music festivals and tours. Expected images are of artists, bands, instruments, studios, and merchandise. General characteristics of music magazines are being genre-specific, featuring one main band, using informal language, having varying costs between £2.50-£5.00, and using thin but glossy paper. Front covers typically have a bold masthead, main image of a famous face surrounded by cover lines, consistent color scheme, and displayed price. These features catch

1. Task 1
Music and magazine research and
planning

2. 1. What is a music magazine?
A music magazine covers music of a specific
genre. The general purpose of a music magazine is
to provide entertainment and information for the
reader. Entertainment would be seen as the
primary source in music magazines as people buy
them to enjoy reading the contents. These
magazines often include adverts, usually relatable
to the specific genre, as a source of persuasion for
the audience. The reader of a music magazine is
usually musicians or music listeners.

3. 2. What content would you expect to
find in a music magazine?
The typical content which people would expect to
find in a music magazine is mainly interviews with
specific artists/bands. This content features in most
music magazines and pulls the audience in. Other
expected content would be articles such as artists
life stories or the latest news in that genre of music.
Music magazines also include many give-aways,
such as posters which people can cu out of the
magazine and use. Another piece of content which
is typically seen in music magazines is
advertisements for things such as music festivals
and tour dates.

4. 3. What images would you expect to
find in a music magazine?
Images are a very big feature in music magazines. Before
even opening the magazine the reader already has an
expectation of what images will be shown. The main
images in music magazines are always artists and bands
which are suitable for that genre. Also, images such as
instruments and studios are expected which show a
‘behind the scenes’ element. Images of merchandise are
also shown throughout music magazines as
advertisements. Conventional band imagery is also used,
this is seen in the Rolling Stones magazine. When
interviews are included as an article, images of the
interview taking place are also expected

5. 4. Identify general characteristics/features that
you would expect to find in all music magazines.
One general characteristic of a music magazine is
that it is usually genre specific as it is trying to
entice one specific target audience. There is also
generally one featured band throughout the
magazine. Another general feature is that the
language is informal. This is so that the audience
feel as if they can relate to the magazine more. The
cost can vary from around £2.50-£5.00, it is never
guaranteed. Also, the paper is usually thin so it is
cheap, however they make it look glossy which
makes the audience feel as fif it is worth more
money.

6. 5. Identify the features/characteristics all
the music magazine front covers have.
The obvious feature all these magazine front
covers share is a bold masthead. The main
images are also always a famous face. Another
feature of these particular magazine front covers
is that the main image is always surrounded by
cover lines. They also all stick to a specific colour
scheme. On the front cover there is also always
a price.

7. 6. Why are these features present on all of
the magazines? Why are they important?
All magazines have a bold masthead as it is the first
thing which the audience see so it needs to be big
and bold to catch their attention. The main image is
a famous face so that the audience can identify that
face with the genre of the magazine. The main
image is always surrounded by cover lines to give
the audience a taste of what will be featured inside
of the magazine. Also, a price is featured on these
magazines front covers to let the audience know
how much it will cost, however this is usually
printed small because it is the least important bit of
information.

8. 7. Take one of the music magazine covers
and say what type of music magazine it is.
Top of the pops is a magazine about the genre pop. The
colour palette is bright ands in your face using colours
such as pink, blue and yellow. This suggests it is a pop
magazine as these colours are happy and are similar to
the upbeat music in the pop genre. The main image of
One Direction on the front also shows it is a pop
magazine as they are the typical pop band for young girls.
The title ‘Top of the Pops’ is also a big indicator as to
what type of magazine this is as it says the genre ‘pop’ in
the title. Also the informal language used shows what
type of magazine it is as pop is quite childish and the text
used is meant to appeal to a younger audience.

9. 8. For the same magazine, say who
you think the target audience is.
For the magazine Top of the Pops the main target
audience are young girls ages 10-13. This is obvious
through the use of colour as pink connotes femininity and
the other bright colours used like yellow are quite
youthful and fun. Also the informal text shows how this
appeals to a younger target audience as it is very childish
and shows how it is not a serious magazine. The band
One Direction who are featured as a main image also
suggest this is aimed to a young audience as they are
typically what people associate with ‘young fan girls’. The
shapes used such as love hearts make this magazine quite
immature and do not reflect that this magazine is suitable
for an older audience.