Music magazine - intial ideas

Moodboard.

This is the mood board that I have created. I made sure that in my mood board I just used images that linked to my music genre (metal). The reason for this is because the purpose of the mood board is to give me different ideas on the colour schemes and images that are incorporated in metal as a whole, such as the skull and the devil horns symbol. From my mood board, all of the colours incorporated into this are mainly black, white red and yellow. This shows me that these colours are main colours in the metal genre. This is then giving me inspiration of different colours used. I have also included a picture of the band ‘Suicide Silence’ who are a part of the metal genre. The reason for this is so that I am able to see their overall style such as their look and the clothes that they wear.



Taking some of the colour connotation ideas from some magazines such as kerrang, I decided to do some other research into appropriate colour schemes.


http://www.color-wheel-pro.com/color-meaning.html


Going through the website, I still decided on the colour red for my font. For my secondary colour, I decided
on the colour yellow. It connotates energy which goes well with the metal theme as lot of energy goes into producing the music and the energy that the band develops on stage.

With regards to my font, I selected some possible ones that I could potentially use. I decided to use Franklin Gothic Heavy, the heavy goes well with the metal. The font is pretty bold and very readable.

I decided to call my magazine 'Iron fist' as the title conatates strength and of course the iron goes with the whole metal theme. I decided on a new name. I decided on calling it 'metal legends', my reason for naming it this is: you only want to hear about the best metal bands, no pop punk etc. Making it clear from the start. I then recieved some feedback from peers and Metal legends doesn't have no real connotation, so I decided to call it 'Revolt. It's short and snappy too.

The genre of magazine that I have chosen to do is Metal and as Kerrang! Is a Rock, Punk and metal magazine it COULD be what I base my magazine on. But I have taken in to account of Metal hammer, this is just basic initial ideas.

A little brief history on Kerrang: it is a Uk music magazine devoted to rock music. Kerrang was named after the onomatopoeic word that comes from the sound made when playing a power chord on an electric guitar showing that this is a Rock/Metal based magazine. Kerrang was initially devoted to the New Wave of British Heavy Metal and the rise of hard rock acts. In the early 2000s, it became the best-selling British music newspaper.

During the 1980s and early 1990s the magazine featured many thrash and glam metal artists on their covers (for example, Mötley Crüe, Slayer, Bon Jovi, Metallica,Poison, and Venom) but were later made to discard them when grunge acts such as Nirvana rose to fame. Kerrang's popularity rose again with the hiring of editor Paul Rees in 2000 when the nu metal genre, featuring bands like Limp Bizkit and Slipknot were becoming more popular. When the emergence of emo and metalcore became apparent, Kerrang began to heavily feature this musical trend. However, this was not welcomed by all readers and many complaints were received about Kerrang's sudden emphasis on emo and metalcore music. Currently, Kerrang features more Rock/Punk artists on its front covers. I'm going to follow this idea for my magazine too.

For the contents, many pages that are featured in kerrang are consistent such as reader's feedback, artist interviews, relating to the Rock/Punk genre of kerrang and their latest news, competitions, live gig/music reviews, posters, Rock band features, album reviews, a gig guide, The K! Quiz, images of Rock related instruments and adverts for different bands merchandise.

Kerrang’s contents page is always packed fall of what’s happening in the magazine.  It is very tidally set out in order for the reader to understand it. When a topic for a number of pages is being shown it is highlighted. This is a good way to keep the reader engage, in order for them not to get confused and draw them away from the magazine. From the contents you can see that the magazine talks about bands and such things as upcoming gigs. But they are about different subjects on each band such as live reviews on fall out boy and feature on Biffy Clyro. In the content on the top left it gives you a sneak insight on what the next kerrang magazine is going to look like and what it is going to be about. This helps the selling of their magazine by allowing the reader to know what that next magazine is going to look Like and they will notice in it the shop rather quickly. This increase the chance of the reader buying the next magazine. All the pictures of the bands tend to be medium close -ups which allows the reader to identify the band easily if that does not work their names are just below in bold clear writing making it easy for the reader to read.  Altogether the magazine is very simple and plain in order too allow the reader to find an article clearly. So this gives me an idea of how to set out my contents page.

From the  research  I have  done  above  it  has  helped  me  to decide what  could  possibly be the content  in  my  magazine making sure that  it all  relates to the rock genre so that my target audience will be attracted. Also I want to include effective conventions to attract my target audience, as well as their general interest in Rock.

Here is a scanned in drawing of my planning for my magazine. It was a rough outline of what I should set my magazine out to have.

I have noticed that all of these Rock genre magazines have short andcatchy names to make them rememorable and easily recognisablewhich I will take into consideration when choosing the name for mymagazine. Also all of these names relate to the genre Rock as theyhave harsh/sharp connotations which is associated with Rock. Forexample Uncut and Revolver have quite vicious connotations relatingto Rock and the Rebellion stereotype of Rock and they also have harsh consonant sounds using  R’s and C’s which I will also take into consideration. Furthermore, as I am basing my magazine on Kerrang! Ineed to bare in mind that using an onomatopoeia may be a good idea asKerrang! uses this as the word Kerrang! is the sound an electric guitarmakes when strummed.

I used the ICT software Microsoft Word to create a diagram of ideas for names.

Music magazine - cover drafts

The first installment for front cover was fairly positive and negative. The first point is the masthead: it's not in the correct place where it should be, it's small too and it needs to be the most noticable thing on the page.
The coverlines are not organised according to rule of the left third either. The main headline takes up too much of the model, it needs to be smaller and moved further down so it's not in obstruction. There needs to be teasing contents as there isn't any. The font doesn't really reflect the genre all that well too. Finally there's no date.

Second: the issue number and price needs to move down. The splash and puff graphics need to be a lot smaller. The headline isn't that very distinctive, you need to use more colours to fully showcase the genre. The photograph is quite poor, the model isn't looking at the front cover to make that connection with the audience. There's finally hardly any coverlines or sellines to entice the audience and drag them in. 'Randy Blythe growls his gut out again needs to be removed as it's too long.'

These are my new and improved draft covers. Upon completion of them, I recieved feedback. "Perhaps decrease the size of the price+place it inside of the barcode, perhaps change the colour of "COAL CHAMBER TO REUNITE?" to yellow to match the "lamb of god" and "black sabbath" headlines"

I responded to the feedback and changed the font. I couldn't include the price in the barcorde, so I placed it near it instead. I then asked for more feedback on this cover. The text 'Coal chamber to reunite' needed to be moved down so it isn't obstructing the model, the free posters needed removing, the masthead needed resizing, I need to use different fonts for article titles and shorten the amount of text used.

My feedback for this draft was quite negative again. I was told to re-do the whole thing again. Look at the conventions like teasing contents, rule of the left third, english language used as anchorage, place a date of which the magazine is issued, the splash needs to be resized too, there needs to be a slogan and finally a completely new front image.



Upon feedback, it was really positive. One particular comment was that the main image was cropped well. Another piece of feedback was "I really like the 'Devil In The Details text as it makes it look quite demonic". The cover lines are organised according to the left third, there is some good sell lines (not brilliant, but better than your drafts) and the masthead is a lot more recognisable, however it may need a re-think as it looks slightly eligible

My final piece of feedback was really positive this time. One person said that it looked really well laid out, that the text is clear to read. However, it is slightly boring. The masthead looks a lot more stronger, which connotates the genre. One piece of criticsm is that could I have edited my model to perhaps reflect more of the genre and could there be a possible skyline?

LIIAR Music magazine - double page spread

Kerrang
Language -  The image that is used is showing a lot of action within it. This is relating to the genre of the magazine which is pop rock. This is because action is generally seen to be within this genre, therefore this image is portraying this. Also in this main image the artist are all young teenagers. This is therefore linking to their target audience of teenagers which is therefore appealing to them even more. The colour scheme that is used in the double page spread are the colours black, white and red. These colours are what is used throughout the whole Kerrang magazine, therefore this is making the magazine blend together. These colours which are used are again very good in the rock/ metal genre as they connote conflict. This is because these colours are very bold and strong colours, therefore it fits in well. Another thing which is good about this colour scheme is that it is eye-catching.

The main heading for this double page spread is called ‘Teen Spirit’. This is very clever as it is again making it appeal to the band as well and their target market, therefore this will mean that this magazine is right for their target market. The heading that is used is in a white font of a bold red background. This is so that it makes it stand out on the page so that people are able to see this text clearly. The font that is used is not the same as the Masthead for Kerrang magazine but it is very similar. This is because they didn’t want to use the exact font as the Masthead because the Masthead is the logo; therefore it has to stand out away from any other text that is used. Because of this, this is why the Heading font is not the exact font but it is not far off. This is so that people of their target market are able to see that this double page spread still fits in with the overall magazine as it all links in with one another.


The layout of the text is structured in 3 columns. This is to make the article look neat and not all over the place. Therefore it will be easier to read. As well as this, if the text was not structured and instead messy, then it will distract and confuse the reader. It will also take away the focus from the main image. This is one of the reasons why kerrang has decided to have the text structured into 3 columns as well as the fact that it is a usual convention that most magazines follow when writing out their double page spread article. The writing is done in a black font, this is making it look formal and making it look like a professional story while also still linking in with the colour scheme that kerrang uses. The background that the writing is on is in white, making the bold fonts stand out. As well as this, there are little hints of red writing on words for the start of a new paragraph. Using the red colour again links in with the colour scheme but the colour red is also recognised as a ‘strong’ colour. Therefore it is linking in with the strong feeling of the genre metal. This is making it appeal more to their target market and so it is acting as a selling technique.


There is also a quote from one of the band members which is highlighted so that it stands out. It says ‘I just love dancing and screaming. ” Eva Spence. This is made very bold as it appeal to teenagers which are Kerrang target market. It will appeal to them because teenagers are known for loving to party, therefore having this quote teenagers will feel as if they can relate to this band member. Therefore they will feel more interested and so will want to read the double page spread even more. This is very clever as it is enticing their target market.


At the bottom left hand corner of the page they have included some extra information about the band that is featured on the double page spread. This is because people who have read the article will obviously be interested in the band, therefore they will also like knowing extra facts about the band as a whole. Kerrang have decided to put this information on a red background. This is so that it stand out on the page and is eye-catching. Therefore it will make teenagers of their target market want to read it, this is therefore a very clever selling technique.

Q magazine


The layout of this double page spread differs from that of ‘Kerrang’ and ‘NME’. This is because the main image that is used is located on the left hand side of the page. This is very unusual because most double page spreads the main image is located on the right hand side of the page. However, the image still does take up half of the page which is the same as what most magazines do. Therefore it is still in some way following the conventions of a double page spread but challenging it at the same time.

The main image of this magazine is very bold and eye-catching. It does this so that it entices the audience onto this page. The image looks very bold by the colours that have been used such as the red and black checked shirt. These colours of red and black are greatly used throughout the metal genre. They are also very bold, block colours, therefore these colours will attract the audience straight the way. Along with the, the artist has jet black hair with dark eye make-up to go with this. This is again to related to the genre of metal as this is a common trend throughout this genre. Therefore this means that it will attract very well to their target market. The main image of the artist also looks like she is a young artist, more than likely a teenager. The reason for Q magazine to use this artist on the front is the fact that she is a young artist, therefore she will seem more appealing to their chosen target marker. This is because the metal and rock genre is mostly aimed at teenagers as teenagers mainly like this kind of music; therefore for Q magazine to also use a teenage artist makes it more appealing to their target market as they will feel a connection to the overall magazine because of this.

The main heading on this page is a quote from the artist. It says ’people think I’m an attention seeker, but I’m just honest’. This quote straight the way entices the reader into wanting to read the magazine. This is because it is a quote that is representing the main article, and the quote is very interesting and it is showing the reader that within the article the artist is going to talk about what makes her honest etc. This is something that the readers will want to know about because more than likely the audience will be a fan of the artist; therefore they will be interested in what she has to say. Therefore, just by the heading itself, it is acting as a selling technique. As well as this, because this heading is the main thing that is enticing the reader into this page, this is why the heading is the biggest thing and the boldest thing on the page. They have made the writing of the heading very different to other magazines. Instead they have made it looks like each letter is different and stuck down on the page, rather than it all flowing. This is to make it look more abstract and bolder on the page. This is so that it stands out to other double pages spreads and is very eye-catching. They have done this very well as it looks like the boldest thing on the page, as well as this having white writing onto a black background again reinforces the boldness of the writing of the heading.


The body width of the text in the columns is all equal. This is because this is the usual way that magazine set out their articles. Therefore this is following a typical magazine convention.

Photos that I have taken

I have  chosen this shot for my double page spread. It's featuring the model holding a guitar which is important so yes I'm using this one.

I decided to not use this one. I was exploring different shots to use for my editor's picture.

Here was another experiment shot of my model holding a guitar. I didn't choose to use this one though as editing it took a lot of time.

Another shot of my model holding the guitar, I decided to not use this one.

I took this as a medium close up for my front cover. I choose to actually use this as he is looking directly at the audience.

I was considering have my editor and main model together for the editor's note but I decided against it as it could just be all about the main model.

I decided to use this medium close up of my model crossing his arms looking serious as it connotes the genre's seriousness and looking superior.

This shot wasn't going to be used at all. It was a test for the lighting.



This was another test for my front cover picture, decided not to use it.

I decided to go for a happy look in the magazine by doing this using the editor as like a welcoming feeling, I didn't use it though as I felt it wasn't really reflecting the genre all that well.

I didn't use this shot. It was just to get an idea of how I could get a successful photograph of the model holding the guitar.

I used this shot as a thumbnail image graphic for my contents page.

Again I did the same for this.

This was my anchorage main image shot for my contents page. I decided to use a completely different shot as opposed to the others so that it's just about one main image and it attracts the audience more by using anchorage.

I decided to use this image for my contents but I would edit out some of the sign so that it doesn't look like a wet floor sign. The reason I chose the wet floor sign is to create a caution effect.

This was another experiment shot when I had the idea of having my editor and my main model together, but I didn't use it.