Music MagazineEvaluation

By: Khalid Daley

In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products

My music magazine was developed by using the challenge forms and conventions in the production of making my music magazine issue. The way I did this was by researching my audience demograph and the codes & conventions are provided inside a music magazine and extended this subject further my producing ideas for my school magazine. Although I researched the codes and conventions and my audience demograph, I didn’t use every single code and convention in my music magazine issue , but I did most of the ones that are shown below.

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Features

Main Image

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With my magazine, it’s not the same sort of level as the magazine on the right. The genre of my music magazine is more Pop/R&B in which is aimed at a lower aging target audience. The reason for this is that the artist on the front cover of my music magazine is a teen international superstar, so this artist can relate to younger magazine readers as they reveal to their fans the joy of having your dream job, but the tough side of being well-known globally.

Who would be the audience for you media product?The target audience of my magazine would be aimed at young teenagers aged 14/15 and young adults aged 16/17. The reason for this is I wanted my magazine to be more youthful as there are not a lot of music magazines nowadays that are mainly aimed at teenagers and young adults in Britain.

As you can see on the right, it shows the double page spread article of my music magazine ‘Quality’. There is a substantial use of primary colours and secondary colours which shows the youthfulness of my magazine .

With there being an image of an female artist, it may portray that the magazine is targeted at the female audience range, but although the double page spread may be quite feminine its not mainly targeted at the female audience range, but it is also targeted at the male audience range. Why?It’s because its portrayed and represented on different paths, as girls may aspire to be like her while boys may be attracted to her because of her flawless look. MAIN IMAGE CATCHES

THE EYES OF READERSAlso if you see the detailed interview on the left leading near to the right, my originally made artist talks about how fame has been for her at the age of 15, and nobody should give up on their dream, because any dream is possible and since young teenagers aspirations are mainly to become music artists, actors and global superstars it shows that you have to work for you dream career if you want to be successful in it.

I also believe that older teenagers who are the ages of 16/17 would be the right audience for my media product, because my magazine doesn’t just include artists who are young teenagers but it also includes artist that older, sophisticated adults and who are really successful on the music charts (such as Bruno Mars). This I believe is a good target audience for my media product as music is a subject that is mostly dominated by teenagers, older teenagers and young adults.

When deciding whether to do a female or male artist as the main subject of my music magazine, I produced a questionnaire in which twelve individual people filled it in, in which they decided what they’d like to see in my music magazine issue. I took all the questionnaires and tallied them up.

In the questionnaire I included the question “What would you want the main article to be about?” in which it shows the final results on the left.

‘Solo Artist’ and ‘Female Artist’ were the main winners of that question, overall it was the ‘female artist’ answer that won as it was similar to a solo artist except it asks which gender artist would they like to see. There was a variety of answers including male artist and a band.

OVERALL WINNER!

As the overall winner was a ‘female artist’ this is where my target audience was still aimed at teenagers and older teenagers, but mainly aimed at teenage girls as they were likely to read a music magazine as financial they don’t mind spending a few pounds on a music magazine that had a bit of juicy gossip in it.

The target audience of my magazine, we’re teenagers who ‘s loved the music genre of Pop/R&B. My reason for this choice is that Pop and R&B are two different genres of music. Both of them are extremely popular, so by combing the two genres together it gives a mixture of genres inside the magazine as readers can read different articles about different artists from two types of genres.

THE GENRE OF R&B WAS USED IN MY MUSIC MAGAZINE

How does your media product represent particular social groupsSince the genre of my magazine is Pop/R&B, the target audience of my magazine is more aimed at youthful teenagers as they are more likely to buy records and listen to music, which will help boost profits of sales in the music industry.

When looking into the genre of Pop/R&B, it usually shows the artist on the front cover doing something unusual, wearing something unusual or being unusual, and this led to my artist wearing a pacifier (as known as a dummy as you can see on the right) which her name engraved on it. With this being shown on the front cover, young teenagers may look up to this superstar as a role model and may start a trend to have pacifiers with their own name engraved on them. So this is where my magazine (product) would represent my social groups in a particular way, as it will have an effect on them when they read the magazine issue and read the main double page article. The reason why I chose a teenage idol, for the front cover of my magazine was because, now in the 21st Century, teenagers are becoming huge international superstars(e.g. Justin Bieber, Willow Smith, Jaden Smith, Alexis Jordan) and to put these young artist into the category of artists like Mariah Carey and Usher, is a huge achievement. So this is how my original artist relates toteenagers.

When researching through magazines and seeing the different types of genres and styles, I came to term and realised that their wasn’t a lot of magazines that were mainly aimed at teenagers, but more aimed at young adults and adults (who are in the twenties). This is what drove me to do a youth targeted magazine, but I wanted to represent it in a more modern way in which the style of teenagers in society is changing and that is what I wanted to portray in my magazine. Although my magazine my features older artists in the contents page, I still made my originally produced artist Lola Parmar’ standout from the crowd. The reason why I wanted to include older music artist, was because of the social aspect about them. For example, Bruno Mars, he is one of the most talked about artists at the moment because of his smash global hit “Just The Way You Are” in which in the contents page it reveals that he’s nominated for 7 Grammys, in which a Grammy Award is the biggest award in music.

I wanted my magazine to look simple but not too simple, as I was aiming it and teenagers (ages of 14/15) and young adults (with the ages of 16/17). I figured that if it had too much colour, looked too busy in addition being all over the place ,it would be aimed at older children who would be aged 11, 12 and 13.

How did you attract/address your target audience?I attracted my target audience by using different codes & conventions in my music magazine issue and by selecting a different style of colour palettes to use for the front cover, contents page and double page spread article for my music magazine called ‘Quality’.

As I have said in previous slides, I asked 12 individual people to fill out a questionnaire sheet (for the audience research part of the development of my music magazine).

Although the palette colour of ‘Green, Dark Green, Black’ was the winner of that question, I did not use this type of colour palette for my music magazine because I wanted to attract my target audience with bright youthful colours that would standout and seem obvious. So by using colours such as blue, green, purple, gold, yellow and pink it helped attract my target audience from both genders as those type of colour palettes could appeal to both male and female depending on their characteristics.

WINNER!

When researching and looking through music magazine issues, I noticed that a lot of huge celebrities in music industry were mainly included in the magazine issue (depending on the genre) either as a feature on the front cover or a feature in the contents page.

So by doing this, it would attract a wider range of readers who would want to read my magazine because their favourite artist may be features inside the magazine issue

So by attracting my target audience, I used quite a few big name celebrities in the music industry such as Usher, Mariah Carey, Nicole Scherzinger, Chris Brown, Bruno Mars, Black Eyed Peas and etc.

Also when attracting my target audience I wanted to make sure that in my magazine issue there were artists that I originally made.Another thing I noticed when researching and looking through music magazines, was that there were music artists that I had never heard before in the music industry. It made me feel curious of who these music artists were, what they sang, what was their story and who made them international superstars.

This is what I definitely wanted to add in my magazine.Why?The reason, is because with me creating originally made artist in my magazine, that could add publicity to them and also it would create a stir for readers as they will feel intrigued about who these knew artists and what they have to offer in the music industry,

As you can see on the left I created two new music artists. ‘Fiina Dore’ who is mainly featured in the contents page of my magazine and ‘Lola Parmar’ who is the main feature in my magazine issue. The reason I created ‘Lola Parmar’ is because I wanted to create a teen global superstar who could relate and attract the target audience of my magazine to read my magazine issue.

LOLA PARMAR’SSTORYLINE IS THE EXCLUSIVE FEATURE IN ‘Quality’

SHE IS AN ARTIST THAT I ORIGINALLY MADE, AND IS CLASSED AS A GLOBAL TEEN SUPERSTAR (LIKE JUSTIN BIEBER)

KEY ELEMENTS TO ATTRACT MY TARGET AUDEIENCE

Background Research -> (Finding out information related to your music magazine genre and linking it into your music magazine issue). Colour Palette -> (The colour palette is really important as it needs to relate to the target audience, gender and genre of the magazine). Features -> (Features of a music magazine, help’s create excitement as there are other news headlines, interviews and exclusive images that are based on different artists. Codes & Conventions -> (When including all the codes and conventions you have the right elements towards a good music magazine.

What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

The media institution that I believe would distribute my media product is BBC Magazines.

The reason for this is that BBC Magazines is the UK’s fourth largest publisher and it has joint partnerships with India and Australia meaning that they can distribute their magazines overseas.

Also, since my magazine is a Pop/R&B genre, I believe that it its quite similar the BBC’s Magazine “Top Of The Pops”, as it includes a lot of when known celebrities in the contents page and part of the articles in the magazine issue. It is also mainly targeted at young teenagers, as their are a lot of bright luminous colours that wouldn’t really be featured on the front cover of music magazine that would be targeted at adults.

I believe ‘Quality’ magazine would be a big success for BBC Magazines. Reason for this is that the magazine features true stories from well-known celebrities about exclusive news that they are causing a stir in the media spotlight. So by having those artists in the magazine issue, it would boost the advertisement of the BBC Magazines.

My magazine also features interviews and articles on teen celebrities, who can relate to teenagers that are their age and older , on revealing what fame is really like in the music industry.

Those that are highlighted in green on the left, are the main headlines and features of my music magazine. As you can see I have used well known names, in which a lot of people are huge fans of these celebrities such as Usher and Mariah Carey since they have been in the music industry for a long period of time.

Since ‘Lola Parmar’ is portrayed as an international teen superstar. She is the main feature throughout the whole magazine issue, as she is on the front cover, contents page and she has a full double page spread article.

This is something big that BBC Magazines would introduce to their institution (producers) as a big success in the magazine industry. As ‘Quality’ will be a new magazine on the market, next to the BBC’s current magazines “Top Of The Pops” and “Music”.

Also in the magazine their features a sum of competitions that would please readers and my target audience, as readers will have the chance to win signed copies of new albums that are doing successful in the charts, and the chance to go to the biggest awards ceremonies in music.

With so much variation in my magazine, I believe BBC Magazines would definitely distribute my magazine, because it’s creative, original and different and I believe that people would enjoy reading it.

What have you learnt about technology from the process of constructing this product?

I have learnt a lot about technology through the coming process of producing my music magazine, it has been long and it has been quite difficult at times.

When editing the images of my music magazine I used Adobe Photoshop CS5 Extended. Using Photoshop wasn’t really hard, as I had used previously when producing my School Magazine and for other projects also.

I used Photoshop a lot, when producing my music magazine. I mainly used it when editing my main images for my front cover, contents page and double page spread article.Adobe Photoshop

When using Photoshop, I experimented a lot. Mainly trying to make my images look flawless and professional but I realised that it wasn’t going to be as easy as I thought it would be. When taking my images in the Photography Studio, I used a fan for my model’s hair so that it looked wavy (as I found out that photographers use wind fans when taking images of celebrities in photo shoots) and blown back. When editing the images, I noticed that some of the blown hair was out of focus and looked quite invisible. So I used the Magic Eraser Tool to get rid of the background and then I used the Eraser Tool to make my model’s her look wavy and nice for the front cover image. This was quite a long process, as I had to do this to my other images because I had used the wind fan in the photo shoot.

In Photoshop I became aware of the usage, of the Variations Tool. This tool was extremely helpful when editing my images. The reason for this is that, it help add make-up to my model’s face because my model didn’t have make-up on in photo shoot and I wanted her looking amazing for my magazine issue. I clicked the Magnetic Lasso Tool and outlined the parts of my images that I wanted to add or change the colour. This made my images look better and more professional than before.

Although it was difficult as times, I really learnt a lot when using Photoshop as I discovered new tools and new ways of making my images look phenomenal for my music magazine.

On the next slide, it explains how I edited my images to perfection.

Before After

As you can see above it shows one of my images before and after and as you can see there is a huge difference.

1. Since my model’s hair was blowing out of proportion, I had to use the Eraser Tool to get rid it. I also used to the Eraser Tool on other areas of my image, just to make sure that it looked clean and perfect.

2. I used the Cloning Stamp, to get rid of some of model’s spots and blemishes , just to make sure her skin looked flawless. When I finished doing this I brightened the image, so that it didn’t looked dull and grey (like my first image).

3. Since my model’s teeth weren’t originally straight/perfect, I used the Cloning Stamp again to straighten my model’s front teeth. I also used the Variations Tool to whiten my model’s teeth, so that she had a dazzling white smile in the edited and finished image.

4. I also used the Variations Tool again, to add make-up to my model’s face. By outlining her lips and her eyelids and adding some colour, the image looks like my model had make-up on in the first place.

I have learnt a lot about technology through the coming process of producing my music magazine, it has been long and it has been quite difficult at times.

Starting to create my music magazine, it was quite unusual for me to get used to everything, but once I continued using the program , it was easier for me to understand the usage of making my music magazine. To make my music magazine I used Adobe InDesign. Using Adobe InDesign was quite hard, as I had used it when producing my school magazine, but since my music magazine had to be more professional and more targeting at public readers, it had to be more upbeat and it had to look like something that you would by in a NewsAgent store. Adobe InDesign

When using InDesign, I found it quite difficult because it was a lot different from Photoshop and there was a lot more structure when producing my music magazine. There was a lot usage of putting my images and text on Layers. Layers helped separate all my work, so that it was easier for me to get to it, rather than having it all together in one (just in case I needed to delete anything). When producing my music magazine, my ideas changed one after the other, because I discovered new tools on InDesign, which could make my work stand out much more. For example, Bevel and Emboss were a huge help to the front cover and double page spread of my magazine. The reason for this is that, it made my big bold text, have dark shadow in which it made look 3-D.

As you can see , it shows the before and after of the usage of Bevel and Emboss and I’m sure you would agree, it looks a lot more effective.

Also on InDesign, a main thing that I found interesting was the text. There were many different fonts, to choose from but you would always have to be aware for the size of text, so that it didn’t look too big or too small, but just the right size so that readers were able to see it. I believe I have learnt a lot about InDesign and using the creativity of it and the organisation of making it look professional, original and modern.

Although it may have been quite difficult at times, I have seriously learnt loads by using Adobe Photoshop and Adobe InDesign due to the process of my music magazine. It has showed me the different parts for technology aren’t exactly easy.

Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

Looking at the preliminary task, of producing a music magazine, I learnt so much from it. I have learnt the codes and conventions are crucial part towards producing a music magazine, as there are different aspects that help attract the target audience in buying/reading the magazine. There is a different with school magazines, as they don’t have the commercial aspect of selling their product as it would be featured in schools and not shelves of stores, as it can’t be manufactured. The institutions that create their magazine, may also even advertise a product of their own as an advertising outlet which may help the magazine issue sell even more. Also with school magazines, there is not much controversy as there would be for a music magazine. As the main image on the front cover of a music magazine may be portrayed as inappropriate to the public eye, whereas the main image on the front cover of a school magazine would be ok, as it would mainly be seen in schools.

In the process of creating my music magazine, I have realised that I have to portray my magazine like I’m creating a real, professional magazine issue that would go on shelves in stores across the country. When producing my magazine, it had to feature a lot of modern variation in the front cover, contents page and double page spread so that it would appeal to the right target audience and age range. As you see through the slides, I have done a lot of research for my target audience and the age range of my target audience, as the magazine has to look like it appeals to that target audience, otherwise it wouldn’t really sell, compared to other magazines.

The power of technology is used to control and manipulate the music industry, by setting off music trends which would lead to popularity due to the target audience aspiring to be like their favourite music artist. This is what I tried to do in my music magazine, by having my main artist have a pacifier with her name ‘Lola’ engraved on it. Something as modern as this would set off a trend. These can be portrayed and centered in different ways, as a music trend may look good because it pleases its target audience, whereas another music trend may have a bad influence on its target audience.

As you can see, due to the task, I have learnt a lot about the usage of the codes and conventions and the research which helps indentify the specific needs in a magazine issue to help it reach its full potential, so that it can make a profit for the company that produces the product (magazine).