Evaluation

Evaluation: Media AS coursework ‘Music Magazine’ Raliat Adenuga

In my class I was asked to create a music magazine, which included a front cover, contents page and a double page spread, using at least three original images. We were asked to select a genre out of the genre we researched in our secondary research. From my research I had the choice of Rock, Jazz, Pop, Hip hop and classical. I selected Hip hop and pop because I was more familiar with these genres and I felt I could bring my own knowledge of these genres into my music magazine.

My music magazine uses forms and conventions of real media products. Evidently in my front cover the main convention was a dominant image of an artist, who could be seen as superior on the page, this convention was seen throughout my entire research, in all music magazine front covers. I selected a long shot image of my artist; this image displayed sex appeal. The image showed the artist in a short dress revealing parts of her body such as her thighs and legs. This was a common convention in my research of the genre ‘Hip Hop and pop’. Sex appeal was presented especially in VIBE magazine where artists were under dressed; I felt that this was done to increase sexual desire towards the readers which leaves them wanting more. I wanted to achieve this so I replicated the idea.

The image I used on my front cover was dominant because it allowed my audience to be aware that the image of the main artist was going to be the main attraction of the magazine and also what the main aspect of the magazine was going to be based on in the double page spread.

I placed the artist name ‘Lola Cruz’ boldly in pink to connote her feminine qualities (which contrasted the other colours on the cover); I did this to allow my readers to immediately gain an insight on ‘who’ the magazine will be based on and also it emphasized the information that I wanted my readers to notice first. This was effective as it draws the reader in because of the dominant image and the bold pink text is noticed before any other text. The convention of the artist name being written boldly on the cover; so it is one of the first things we as a reader noticed was present in my Hip hop and pop front cover research

Another similar convention I included were the several artists who are involved in the Hip/Hop and Pop genre. These artists were listed on the right hand side of my front cover page. I did this because if some of my readers weren't familiar with the main artist then they can familiarize the genre of my magazine with the artists listed on the right. This convention was present in VIBE magazine.

I used forms and conventions of real music magazines, on my contents page as I decided to base the page around my artist by only including one picture of her on the page. I achieved this by positioning an image of her in the bottom left hand corner, to sill remind the readers, that my music magazine was based on her; I wanted some focus on her but also some focus on the other featuring text on the page.

In my VIBE magazine research, I noticed that there was normally just one image of the artist the magazine was focusing on, In other words, the artist who had interviews on a double page spread. The image was followed by other texts, which were not written to stand out, and the text was not the main attention. One convention I replicated was including the letter ‘B’ to represent the name of my magazine ‘BOSS’. I noticed on every content page in VIBE magazine there was always a representation of the name ‘VIBE’ using body gestures, body positioning and simply the letter V to represent the name of the magazine.

I challenged the form and convention of the masthead of a real music magazine content page, as they are normally in a set position on the page. I decided to position the word ‘CONTENT’ around the artist so that the word CONTENT is the main focus of the page. This makes it the first place the audience looks. Also so that the readers are familiar with the fact that it is a content page.

I followed a similar convention which was only including one masthead on my double page spread which was obviously the artist name ‘Lola Cruz’ I followed this convention because by doing this the readers can be familiar with who the artist is especially if they do not know the artist. I also made the first letter in my introduction text a bigger font to allow my readers to understand where the interview begins. I also incorporated a quote from the artist in the interview which stood out from the whole page and text. The quote that projected itself was also included in the front cover; I felt that I needed to continue this convention as it was meant to represent what the artist had said in the interview.

Lastly I followed a convention of a real magazine, which was Nicki Minaj (a famous Hip hop singer & rapper) on a double page spread. I noticed that it wasn’t like other double page spreads; the image of Nicki Minaj was in the middle of the page but merely more to one side, I liked this idea because the texts were surrounding her. This is effective as there is still large attention on the artist and also the text.

I have previously selected my target audience who are the ages from 13-34 (males and females), because my personal secondary research showed that the most popular consumers of Hip Hop/ pop magazines were 13-34 year olds.

My media product (music magazine) represents 13-34 through firstly my colour scheme of Black Gold and Grey. These colours can be interpreted in many ways but I have many reasons why they represent my target audience:

All three colours can be seen as unisex, these can appeal to both genders in my target audience as it is a very large market to appeal to.

I have used the colour gold to hence a sense that who ever purchases the magazine are winners.

The image I used was relevant to my target audience that I am trying to aim at. The image shows a young woman who looks modern appeals to the younger audience which they can look up to, but also the older audience may look at her for being a good inspiration for what they may like the younger generation to viewing in the media.

The text throughout my magazine is easy to read, which is beneficial for all ages, and also I have used continuity of the font in my magazine, (In the front cover, contents page and double page spread). The font that was used was ‘Impact’ this font is bold, stands out and was present in VIBE magazine.

I will use a publisher to distribute my music magazine. IPC media will be good for distributing my music magazine because they are one of the leading media institutions in the UK. IPC is a well known publisher; twenty million people in the UK read a magazine published by IPC media. So by using them to publish my music magazine I will understand that they will do a good job. Also because they are big and well known there should be more advertisement options, as it should be easier and cheaper to advertise from such a big media institution.

I attracted and addressed my audience by:

Language – I used a mixture of informal and formal language in my double page spread. I used some informal language in my double page spread, to attract the younger audience. I did this to create a sense that my music magazine is current and also so they can relate to the text and recognise the words. By adding slang it can appoint my younger target audience to be more anticipated to continue reading for the text is understandable, personal and therefore they will feel more comfortable. On the other hand I also used formal language to attract the older target audience. I am familiar that they enjoy the facts when they are reading and language that they can also relate to.

Image – The model for my music magazine represents the genre Hip Hop/ Pop; she is showing wealth which is emphasized by her jewellery and her style of dressing. I believe that her physical appearance is a typical expectation that my target audience, expect to see when they are purchasing a hip hop/ pop magazine. By making my model what my target audience expect to see in a music magazine I believe that they are more likely to purchase my music magazine. I do believe that it was essential to capture an image which best suited my genre because as a younger audience I do believe that the younger target audience are more likely to base their decisions on the visual aspect of my music magazine rather than the text, on the other hand I am aware that the older target audience will be attracted by text so therefore I ensured that my text seemed interesting.

Content – The content of my magazine (especially my front cover) addressed and attracted my target audience. I attracted them by headlines which I felt that my target audience will be interested in; these headlines were place both on the left and right side of the page to ensure they at least get a glimpse of one headline. I also included famous Hip Hop / Pop artists such as ‘Jcole, Rihanna, Beyonce’ and many more to attract my target audience who listen to their music. I believe that if they weren’t familiar with the main artist they could be familiar with the other artist placed on the front cover I believe the bold font that I used will have stuck out from other magazines that my target audience may see on a shelf therefore making my music magazine the first things they notice and will make them want to purchase it.

The masthead – The masthead I used for my front cover was very unique, and independent. It was big and bold so that it attracted the audience instantly but yet also had a microphone replacing the letter ‘O’ in BOSS magazine, which I felt was very creative. This stands out from the shelf, so therefore it catches the eye of my target audience.

Free Gift – I attracted my target audience with the persuasion of a ‘Free album’ The word ‘free’ alone encourages my target audience to want purchase my magazine as they will be receiving something for free. Secondly ‘FREE LATEST ALBUM INSIDE!!’ stands out from the entire magazine as it is in a bold white box which may be the first thing my target audience notices on my front cover, the use of the exclamation marks, makes my target audience more enthusiastic to want to purchase my music magazine as it is almost as it the text is yelling at them.

Questionnaire – I addressed my target audience with my primary research of conducting a questionnaire. This helped me decide what to include in my music magazine, so that the entire magazine was not based entirely on my opinion. After collecting the results I constructed a graph on Microsoft excel to be able to compare my results. I realised the contents of my magazine is important and based on what my target audience would prefer, so by adding up the scores it made my decision making a lot easier; I could then add the content which was most popular. By doing this it was beneficial for me and my target audience that we both gain what my target audience may to see in a music magazine.

From the process of making my music magazine, I have learnt a variety of technology process during the construction of my music magazine. The main thing I have learnt to use was Photoshop Adobe CS4. I learnt a variety of new techniques such as being able to use the ‘Magic Wand tool’ ‘Lasso’ to eliminate the background of my original photographs. I found this helpful especially because my background had so much going on that if I hadn’t learned how to eliminate it, my music magazine would have been very difficult to read. I believe Photoshop was probably the most challenging software to use throughout this process because I was so unfamiliar with it and not the most confident.

I also used other computer programs such as Microsoft Power point, Microsoft word, Microsoft Excel. These programs were generally easy to use, as I had been using them my entire school life.

I also used websites such as Blogger; I used blogger to document my decisions throughout this process. I found blogger hard to cope with at the beginning of creating my school magazine, but now that I am creating my music magazine it was a lot easier.

I also used a photo editing website called Picnik this allowed me to edit the physical appearance of my images, for example making an image brighter. Picnik.com was very easy and swift to use.

Lastly I used LogoYes.com to create ideas for my masthead just recently learnt that there was a website to create logos from one of my class mates. I created the logo of the microphone replacing the Letter ‘O’ in ‘BOSS’. It was very straightforward after many sessions of using this website

Looking back at the preliminary task of constructing my school magazine, it helped me in the progression of creating my music magazine to its best standards in many ways. Firstly I pre prepared my self to fully understand what my target audience wanted; I achieved this by putting my personal opinions aside and going along with what the majority wanted. This is what I did not do in my school magazine to its best ability. I have managed to attract my target audience a lot better with my final product of my music magazine by interacting with its consumers by asking for more feedback and not just ignoring my target audience existence.

 I have mad my products look more authentic by following and using ideas of other and well known magazines, and  I have also used the conventional layouts which was found in most popular magazines that I was trying to gain understanding of it popularity. From my preliminary I have mad sure that I have used a conventional title which was bold and upper case which also caught the eye of my target audience.

Lastly looking back at my preliminary, I always understood how to represent the aim of my magazine with an image. for example my school magazine was representing the idea of education with a young girl in school uniform which connotes something educational,, in addition to this in my music magazine I represented Hip Hop / pop with the outfit of the artist which had similar characteristics to my secondary research which was wealth, and also the layout and text.