Music Magazine Evaluation

By Umara Bahadar

Magazine Cover

My Music Magazine Cover I chose the colours grey, red, blue and white because I researched existing hip hop magazines in which these colours were used so I did the same

This bright colour shape portrays another article which would be included in the magazine and attracts the audience

Masthead

These are the male hip hop artists who will feature in the magazine

This is the main feature of the magazine in which this is the core part of what may be inside. The colours used are eye-catching and bold in which it is next to the main image

The image is sharp and fits well with the genre of hip hop. The shot is a medium close up of the girl and the clothing as well fits the genre.

These are the female hip hop artists who will feature in the magazine

The date, website, price and barcode are included as it is a convention of a magazine which all magazines include

This is the selling line and links with the magazine name

For the masthead, I chose red as it is eye catching and goes well with the name in which would appeal to the target audience

Male is in white and female is in red to separate and to indicate which one is which as well

This is a lure in which would attract the audience to buy the magazine by using the word ‘Win’ which would encourage the magazine to be bought

These are articles which are included within the magazine which readers may want to read or know about so this would instantly make them find those pages

Magazine Contents

My Music Magazine Contents I decided to add this because it is a connotation of most magazines in which I decided to add this.

Each song name has clear space in which one follows another and so this makes it less cramped

Masthead

I chose a blue background as this was the third colour of my house style so I decided to use this colour on a shape instead of text.

The font is in white in which the background contrasts well with it so it enables the reader to see it

Another clear image was used in which I decided to use a male as the magazine due to the magazine having both male and female artist. The right page number is clearly labelled as well

I use a clear image in which you could see the artist. The page number is also with the picture in which the target audience knows where to find the article on this particular artist.

For the masthead, I chose red as it is eye catching and this also links back to the article being called this as well

The last picture was used in which it was clear with the page number labelled so the target audience can clearly find the page

I decided to label the contents page with different categories in which the writing is in red to separate it from the page numbers and name of articles. The page numbers are in blue whereas the article names are in grey. I have also made the page numbering a bigger font size than than the article names as this will allow the reader to clearly see what page number contains what content.

The “Contents’ is in grey in which this also separates all the other features from it

Double Page Article

My Music Magazine- Double Page Article I chose the same colours from the house style for the article in which grey wasn’t used as I included a image which was black and white. This meant I had to use bright colours to liven the article up to make it look attractive and readable

I decided to use red and white for the text and varied when it was used. I did half of the text in red and half in white as this made the article look colouful and also look presentable

Masthead

I decided to include a image from a music video as this was used in other magazines for similar articles like mine. The shot is clear and can be seen clearly by the audience

The red text informs the audience which artist it is and also three words to describe the artist as well. The red contrasts well with the image

I added music notes to emphasis the theme of the magazine which is music and also albums relate to music notes as well

For the masthead, I chose red as again it is eye catching and also I have used red for the cover page along with the contents page

The double page article has a three way column in which this is the connotation of most magazines

I decided to do the music notes blue as I have to use this to keep a consistent house style in which blue is the third colour I used

I did a introduction of the article to inform the audience what the article is about so they are aware

Each album cover is a reasonable size in which the top 10 numbers are on each album to know what album has what number

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

Firstly, my magazine uses the convention of using a masthead in which the target audience are able to know what the magazine is called. I also used the same colours from hip hop magazines onto my magazine as it was the genre and following this convention enabled me to make a suitable magazine. I also included the date, price and barcode as every magazine tends to have these features in which my magazine would then look more like one. Most magazines have used sharp images for the cover page so I decided to follow this convention and use a sharp image so the target audience could see it properly. A strapline was also used as this again is a convention of a magazine. The title ‘Berzerk’ resembles hip hop in which the target audience would know due the name being a rapper’s song

How does your media product represent particular social

groups?

My magazine is aimed at the younger generation in which both genders who are interested in the genre hip hop would read the magazine. I have included a range of male and female artists part of the hip hop genre in which this could encounter both gender needs. The image also goes well with the genre as the use of clothing fits well into hip hop in which the target audience are able to find the magazine easily. The price of the magazine is £3.99 as the magazine would be released bi-monthly which seems affordable for the target audience.

What kind of media institution might distribute your media

product and why?Spin Media might distribute my magazine as they already

publish one hip hop magazine called Vibe in which has been a success. This means the people who read this existing magazine would buy my magazine as they have the same genre of hip hop. Vibe has a circulation of 301,408 in which I would feel my magazine would benefit from being published with this company as circulation levels are high. Furthermore, there is only one hip hop magazine within the company existing which is released quarterly whereas my magazine would be released monthly.

Who would be the audience for your media product and how would it attract address your audience?

I would feel that my magazine would be suitable for males and females who are aged between 16 to 24 years old as this generation would be interested in the genre hip hop. Also, teenagers between 11-15 may also be interested in this genre as well due to consumer likes changing. First of all, the colours would attract the audience as I have used bold choices in which would get attention easily. Second of all, I have included a range of artists who are male and female in which would appeal to both genders as there is a artist for everyone. I have included a lure which would also attract the audience as winning tickets is an interest most of the target audience would love to enter.

What have you learnt about technologies from the process of

constructing this product?I have learnt how to use the iMac as before creating this

magazine I haven’t used it and so this is a skill I have gained now. Also, I have learnt how to use Photoshop as this was the main software I used to create my magazine in which I had to know the tools available. The preliminary task allowed use to learn how to create certain features for a magazine which later helped us in the music magazine task. I also learnt skills when taking pictures as there are a wide variety of camera shots in which I learnt what they are when creating the magazine. I also had to use Blogger and SlideShare as well in which recorded every task I did within the media lessons.

Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have

learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

I have learnt many skills in which would be needed in the future and also developed an understanding on the production of music magazine. Also, I have learnt why certain features are on a magazine which helped me to include most of them on my magazine knowing what the purpose was. I also have a understanding and a lot of knowledge on Adobe Photoshop especially as the magazine was created mostly on there in which I have learnt many skills. Within the blog, I have learnt how to edit or create new posts along with adding any images etc. Overall, I have developed an understanding of Photoshop, learnt how to upload PowerPoint's on SlideShare, learnt how to use a blog and expanded my knowledge on music magazines in particular.