Friday, 20 January 2012

Audience and institution research

Initial Questionnaire – Demographic and psychographic research


1/ How old are you?

4-9 10-16 17-21


2/ What genre of music interests you?


Pop R&B Rock Other

3/ What appeals to you in a music magazine?( please circle)


Your favourite musician on the front cover Posters inside


Information and tour dates about your favourite musician


Other_________________________



4/ What is your preferred colour scheme for a magazine?


Pink and yellow red and black blue and green

Other__________________________


5/ How many music magazines do you buy in the average month?


0-2 3-6 7-10 More than 10



6/ How much would you pay for a music magazine?


0-£1 £1.50-£2


£250-£3 £3 or more

7/ what’s the most important aspect of a music magazine?


Free stuff Posters


Interviews with musicians Other ____________________



8/ Gender?

Male female




I Gave this questionaire to a group of ten people.From this questionaire i found out that the most popluar music genre for people aged 10-16 was pop music. 7 out of the 10 people answering my questionnaire said that pop music was there favourite genre, with the remainding 3 answering R&B. I also found that people from the age group 10-16 thought a music magazine was more appealing if it had a picture of their favourite musician on the front cover. 3 of the 10 people surveyed also thought that including posters of their favourite musicans inside the magazine would help it appeal to them. I found that 7 out of the 10 people surveyed prefered the colours pink and yellow for a magazines colour scheme, with only 2 people answering red and black and 1 person answering blue and green. I also found from my questionaire that most people from the aged 10-16 catergory only brought between 0-2 music magazines a month and our willing to pay £1.50- £2 for a music magazine. Following my questionaire results, i have decided to make a 'pop'music magazine aimed at 10-16 year olds, the magazine will be mainly aimed at girls. I have decided to consider using colours like pink and yellow for my magazine so it will appeal to the demograohics needs. I will make sure that my pop music magazine appeals to 10-16 year old girls by including a double page spread of an interview with a 'pop' musician as i found that most people thought that this was the most important aspect of a music magazine.




Reasearch into Institutions


Top of the pops magazine-
Cover Price £2.99
Frequency 4 Weekly
Circulation 98,030
Readership 298,000
Boys 15%
Girls 85%
Age range 11-15 years


Publisher of Magazine- BBC
Other magazines they produce?-
Radio times, Girl talk.


We Love Pop Magazine Analysis


Typography- Serif font is used at the bottom of the front cover to introduce the caption of the image ‘the wanted poster special’ the italic effect makes this stand out from the rest of the page and attracts the readers eye. The Italic also makes the text more interesting making it appeal to a teenage audience. Sans serif is used on the majority of the magazine front cover which makes it simple and easy to read for ‘we love pop’s’ target audience. The typography is in all different sizes and is much larger on the cover line, ‘ whoah it’s Cher!’ this makes the text stand out and attracts the reader’s eye.

Layout- The layout follows the route of the eye, the main image is placed in the centre of the page and the smaller pictures and captions mainly to the right of the image, and this makes the image stand out above the text. The layout is busy; containing lots of information but the design is ordered and carefully shaped around the central image.

Language- Language is informal and portrays a ‘friendly’ mode of address which will appeal to a teenage audience. A pull quote is used from one direction saying ‘trust me....I’ve been there’ this links to an ‘agony aunt’ style page which will attract and be popular with a teenage audience. The cover line using the word ‘Woah’ is slang suggesting that ‘ we love pop’ is trying to mimic the way a teenager would talk, the ‘slang’ and improper language used suggests that the magazine is aiming at a younger target audience.

Colour- The colour scheme is a bright yellow mixed with black and white. The colours are kept simple and work effectively because of the contrast. The colour yellow signifies energy and happiness and works well to promote a teenage audience.

Camerawork- The main image is a mid-shot of pop icon ‘Cher Lloyd’ a medium shot is used so that the prop (a camera) and her shocked facial expression can be shown clearly. In smaller images on close up shots are used to show the celebrities face up close. A wide range of images of different celebrities are shown on the front cover to attract the target audience to buy the magazine as they are fans of the celebrity on the front cover.

Mise-en-scene- A camera is used as a prop which is cleverly linked to the caption ‘little miss swagger finally snaps’ The use of the camera pointing forward makes the image seem more personal, as if it is directly addressing the audience of the magazine. The costume is kept simple to pull all attention to the prop. The expression on Cher’s face is shocked and is used to attract the eye to the magazine, the expression also seems friendly and ‘fun ‘making it suitable for a teenage audience.


Typography- The editors is in sans serif in a small standard text size, it is clear to read and is appropriate for the contents page. The masthead is in a bold and large font, with the ‘o’ of love filled in for a unique effect. This type of lettering is also used on the headings of the coverline, to create a house style.

Layout- The layout of the contents page is ordered with a clear design. The images are mainly situated to the right and bottom of the page leaving the left side for an editor’s column. There are slightly more images than text, making the magazine more interesting to look at for a teenage audience.

Language- The language is informal but not childish, suggesting this magazine is aimed at a more mature teenage audience. The pull quote from one direction ‘Id pose naked for about a hundred quid ‘would attract a female teenage target audience. The language used on the contents page is slightly more mature than used on the front cover yet still has an informal mode of address.

Colour- The colour scheme is similar tones to the one used on the ‘we love pop’ front cover, which links there consistent house style, making the magazine recognizable to the target audience. The colours blue and orange are used to signify purity and happiness. The colour scheme is also mainly white to keep the magazine easy to read and look simple.

Camerawork- There are a wide range of images used on the contents page of the magazine, the largest image is a mid-shot of boy band ‘one direction’. A medium shot is used to show the style in which they are dressed and show their laidback poses of the band putting their arms around each other. Close up images are also used at the right side of the page, the close up shots are used to show the expression of the face.

Mise-en-scene- On the contents page not many props are used to connote the pop genre, instead costume is used effectively through mise-en-scene.


Typography- There is very little typography on the double page spread as it is mainly images. This may be to attract a teenage audience as they would rather look at pictures than read. The typography is in bold font so it stands out on the page.


Layout- The layout of this double page spread is quite ordered, with a big poster image of boy band member Harry Styles on the right side of the page. This Double page spread contains more images than text; this may be to attract a teenage target audience.


Language- The language used is informal; this is suggested by the use of words like ‘PHWOAR!’ which is likely to be used by a teenager. The language used mimics the way teenagers speak and would therefore appeal to a teenage target audience.


Colour- The colour scheme is very different to the one on the front cover and contents page and doesn’t link with the house style of the magazine. The colour used is read which connotes love and passion and links to the theme of the page.


Camerawork-The camera work is a midshot of one direction band member harry styles, a midshot is used so the subject can be seen clearly as this image will be used as a poster by teenage fans.

Mise-en-scene- The Setting of the main image is a crowded scene, signifying the popularity of the band member. The costume he is wearing connotes his band member status as his sense of style is essential to the band.

Front Page of Magazine

Friday, 16 December 2011

Planning

Draft Font Styles


Draft Colour Scheme


Draft Layouts



I think this layout for the front cover of my magazine is appropriate to attract the target audience of my magazine, as i have used a simular colour scheme as proved popular in my questionnaire. I have also tried to give the layout of the magazine a slightly cluttered look as this is a technique used by many magazines on the market today to make the magazine look more attractive and appealing to a younger target audience.



My contents page layout is slightly more organised, this is because i want to keep my magazine looking simple and interesting to attract the 10-16 year old target audience. i kept the colour scheme of the front cover and the contents page simular as i wanted to create a 'house style'that the readers of my magazine will recognize.



I intent to have a big image of the model as a musician on the left side on my double spread. My double page spread is going to be an interview with a 'pop' musician, therfore my double page spread will be mainly text and pull quotes to attract the readers eye to the article.


Production plan:
My photos will be taken on the 8th of december and i estimate the photography to take around an hour as i want to take a range of different photos for my front page, contents page and double page spread. I am going to be using a pink guitar as a prop for my model to hold, as i think it connotes the music genre and the colour pink is a feminine colour assosiated with the pop genre. My model is going to be a teenage girl. By using a teenage girl on the front cover i think it will attract the 10-16 year old target audience as they are a simular age and can relate to her. I have chosen to use a pink and black striped dress as the costume for my model as i think the colour pink promotes the innocence and femmininity of my magazine. I am going to be taking these photos using a cannon camera, i aim to get around 10 pictures of my model in different poses so i can see which images to select so that my product is of the highest quality possible.

Friday, 25 November 2011

Pop Analysis- Billboard


Typography- The font on the front cover of ‘Billboard’ is mainly in black, white and yellow on a light pink background. The typography follows the typical conventions of a Pop music magazine. The text is a mix of lower case and capital letters which emphasises important parts of the text and makes it stand out on the page. The masthead ‘Billboard’ is written in a simple black bold font with the middle of some letters containing bright vibrant colours which stand out on the page. This adds more interest to the magazine and makes the masthead look more unique and recognizable. The largest text, other than the masthead, is the kicker 'Katy Perry', this links with the main image and would be eye catching to the target audience.

Layout- The Layout of Billboard is ordered. The strap lines on the page anchor the curves on Katy’s body, making the layout seem fitting. The front cover of Billboard is mainly text ordered to the left of the page. The main image of pop star Katy Perry is in the centre of the page, the front cover follows the rule of thirds signifying the importance of the main image.

Language- On the front cover there is a strapline that draws the audience’s attention. The strap line reads ‘Can Taylor Swift’s Q4 album debut with a million sold?’ this relates to the Pop music genre and attracts a specific fan base. The use of a rhetorical question gets the audience involved and gives a personal mode of address. There is no ‘slang’ or word abbreviation on the front cover which signifies this Billboard has a slightly more mature target audience than other pop magazines.

Colour- The colour theme on the front cover of Billboard is mainly, black, yellow and white typography on a light pink background. The colour pink is a soft colour and symbolises sexuality and purity. Pink is often a symbolic colour of ‘pure love’ this links with the romantic pose Katy Perry is doing with her hands on her heart in the main image. The colours pink and yellow fit in with the typical conventions of a pop magazine.

Mise-en-scene- The flowers on Katy Perry’s dress are used as a prop to signify beauty and love. The costume used is a black floral dress which helps signify the gentle femininity of the magazine. The way Katy Perry is dressed promotes a feeling of innocence and gentleness towards the target audience.
Camerawork- The camera work is a medium shot of pop star Katy Perry. The medium shot shows Katy’s floral costume and shows her posing romantically with her hands on her heart. The shot composition highlights her femininity. The camera work signifies innocence and femininity therefore stating the target audience.

Mode of address- The mode of the address is informal, however no slang is used which signifies Billboard is aged at a slightly more mature audience than other magazines. Rhetorical questions are used on the strap line to make the magazine have a more personal mode of address to appeal to the target audience.


Typography- The font is clear to read and is in black and blue on a white background. There are two different font types on the contents page, one is slightly bigger than the other and is used as a masthead. Bold font is also used to make important font stand out against the bulk of the text. The masthead is ‘CONTENTS’ in significantly larger text than the rest of the typography.

Layout- The layout is very ordered listed text to the left and three equally sized pictures to the right. The ratio of text to image is relatively equal with a main image separating the two.

Language- Language has an informal tone, no slang is used on the contents page, signifying that this magazine is aimed at a more mature target audience. Phrases like ‘ready for lift off’ make the language sound fun and friendly.

Mise-en-scene- In the main centre image singer Hayley Williams is dressed in red and white stripes. The colour of her costume connotes Christmas which links to the strap line ‘Christmas in July’. A candy cane is also as a prop in this image to signify Christmas.

Camerawork- A low angle shot in used to make singer Hayley Williams look more significant. This type of shot was used to signify that she is seen as a role model to her fans and the target audience of ‘Billboard’. On the right side of the page a long shot is used on the middle image. A long shot has been used to show the bands body language and clothing as this is important to signify there music genre. This band are a rock band, this signified by their dark clothing and there ‘hands in pockets ‘pose, which portrays their attitude.

Colour- The colours white, red and blue are used on the contents page. The colour red dominates the page and links to the strap line ‘Christmas in July’ as Christmas is linked with the colour red. The colour blue is also used under the masthead ‘contents page’ and to highlight key text within the typography. The colour blue symbolises youth and links well to the pop genre.

Mode of address- Mode of address is informal this is not only shown by the typography and layout but also the pose in which Haley William stands in the main image. The Typography contains no slag, therefore suggesting a slightly more mature target audience than many other pop magazines-such as top of the pops. The word ‘PLUS’ is used repetitively throughout the typography, suggesting a friendly mode of address.



Typography- The typography is in clear font, mostly in black and pink. The pull quote ‘only I can do it’ is highlighted in pink which makes it stand out from the rest of the page.

Layout- Layout is quite ordered to fit in with the house style of Billboard. The layout is set into columns with pull quotes and images looking more significant than the rest of the text. There is one main image on the front cover of pop icon, Rihanna. The main image stands out as it is significantly larger than the rest of the features and contrasts against the white background.

Language- The Language used is relatively formal, the pull quote ‘only I can do it’ creates some controversy as the artist is boasting that only she can do certain songs. The pull quote is used to grab the reader’s attention.

Colour- The colour scheme of the Billboard double page spread in mainly pink and black. The colour pink signifies femininity, and the colour black signifies a more dark edgy side to the artist.

Mise-en-scene- The ‘Mickey mouse’ ears are used as a prop in this image, which are iconic to Disney and associated with childhood. The use of this prop contrast the use of the ‘military tank’ as Disney is associated with innocence and the military tanks are associated with violence and war. Both props signify that the artist or magazine is not afraid to take risks.

Camerawork-The Camerawork in the main image is a long shot of pop artist, Rihanna. The long shot shows the singer riding a military tank. The tank is in bright pink which is a feminine colour, which contrasts the colours associated with war. The long shot is used to show Rihanna’s costume and choice of prop, which are denoted with the pop genre.

Mode of address- The mode of address of the double page spread is informal and this signifies that the magazine is aimed at a slightly more mature audience than other magazines within the pop genre.

Kerrang Magazine Analysis- Rock Genre


Typography-
The title name of the magazine is in bold capital letters and stands out from the white background. The typography is cracked and looks like ‘smashed glass’ which is stereotypical of their rock star image. The other typography is in sans serif font and is clear to read, signifying that ‘Kerrang’ is aimed at a more mature audience.

Layout- Layout is relatively ordered, the audiences eye is immediately drawn to the big bold letters ‘Kerrang Awards’ which is the cover story of the magazine.

Colour-The colour scheme is mainly black, white and red. The colours black and red could signify danger associated with the bands rock and roll image.

Images- There is one main image and four smaller ones near the bottom of the page. Mise-en-scene is used effectively on the cover of ‘Kerrang’ as guitars and microphones are used as props to signify the rock genre.

VIBE Magazine Analysis- R&B Genre


Typography- Font is in sans serif font and is very straight and sharp; it is also in bold and stands out on the page. The font is clear to read and will appeal to a young adult target audience.

Layout- Layout is relatively ordered and is clearly focused around the centre image. There is only one image, and little text which make the magazine look simple and stylish.

Colour- The background of the magazine is in white and contrasts with the vibrant red and beige typography. The colour red signifies violence which is often stereotyped within the R&B genre.

Images- Image is in black and white so it stands out and contrasts against the vibrant typography. Camerawork is a mid-shot of the popular rapper Akon making a gun gesture with his hand, his actions signify violence stereotyped with the R&B genre. Mise-en-scene is also used to highlight the R&B genre, as in the image the rapper has chains or ‘bling’ around his neck which is stereotypical of rappers.

Mode of address- Mode of address is relatively informal and uses slang such as ‘AIN’T HAVIN’ IT’ which mimics the way in which rappers talk and is a stereotype of the R&B genre.