Further planning images

I have done research into using close up images on the front cover of magazines, and these were the results that I found. Generally the backgrounds of the images are simple, or have been edited out. Therefore I think it is best for me to hold my photoshoot in the photography studio against a black or white background - oppose to my original idea of filming in a rural scene. I think this will help me during the editing stage of the photo and will allow me to alter the background easily later on, to give a more flawless and professional look.

Planning images

On the front cover, I want something really bold that stands out. To challenge the conventions of a magazine of this genre I will experiment using a range of shots including close ups and midshots, using mis en scene to establish a style. I will use a female model to challenge the conventions as they are less commonly seen, and she will be wearing alot of abstract make up. Her hair will be styled and her clothes will be appropriate. She will be in an outside rural scene, so the styled look contrasts with the natural background. Maybe she will have a flower in her hair, and other such props that help to frame the shot. I want it to be bold and eye catching so that the reader is drawn in from a glance at the cover.

The other images will be more recognisable as band related. Props such guitars/keyboads/microphones may be used to help establish this, but still following the eery style. I will use a couple more models to play 'band members' or other artists. Generally the band shots will be longs shots, but I will use a variety of different shots throughout the magazine.

Research and Analysis

I found that the most suitable price tag for my magazine would lie in the £2.00-£2.50 range.

Research and Analysis

I found that there were quite alot of attraction factors that made people want to buy a indie/rock magazine. The most popular were; bands, pictures, articles and news and interviews. Therefore I will try to meet in particular these 4 conventions in the designing of my magazine.

Results and Analysis

From my results I can see that most people within my audience prefer to read magazines on a monthly basis. Therefore my news, articles, interviews, rewiews, gig information etc should be reflecting on the whole month.

Results and Analysis

From my research I have found that most people prefer to read Kerrang, closely followed by NME. Therefore I will look very closely at the conventions of these 2 magazines when designing my magazine. Most people said they favoured these because of the style, front cover, and more favourable bands in Kerrang and NME. This is shown in the chart below.

Therefore I should take great care in designing the style and front cover of my magazine because

this will be one of the main factors that draws in my target audience. I should collect and use Kerrang and NME magazines to inspire me to achieve this.

Research - My intentions

Through my analysing process, I understand the conventions of rock/indie genre magazines to have dark/ suitable colours (red, black, white) on the front cover, along with a large and eyecatching image of a popular band/artist, bold font to emphasize band names, interviews, articles and news on popular/new bands and pictures to a high quality. Text is usually in capital letters, and an appropriate 'slang' type of language is used.

Through my target audience research I have found that magazines of this type appeal to both male and female, of ages 15-18 and I am assuming slightly older as well. I have found that they read these magazines to entertain, relieve boredom and get gossip.

Therefore I plan to meet these conventions by making my magazine packed of exciting articles and news shown on the contents page, the front cover should be fairly busy, emphasizing band names in bold font and show high quality and unusual images. I should make the double page spread interesting to read so that it will entertain my audience.

However, I plan to challenge the conventions by using a close up of one 'band member' and using props and other mise en scene to frame the shot so that it is really eye catching and appealling. They will be a female actress- as this is less commonly found and will allow me to challenge the conventions as much as possible.

Research: Questionnaire

Magazine Questionnaire

Q1) Choose your gender
Female/ Male

Q2) How old are you?


Q3) Are you interested in indie or rock genre magazines?
Yes/ No

Q4) If so, what attracts you to buy magazines?
Bands/ Price/ Colour scheme/ Pictures/
Articles and news/ Gig information/ Interviews/
Other?


Q5) How often do you read magazines approx?
Weekly/ Monthly/ Rarely/ Never

Q6) From the following, which magazine would you prefer to read?
NME/ Q/ Kerrang/ Other

Q7) Why did you choose this?
Style/ Contents/ Front cover/ More favourable bands?

Q8) Why do you read magazines?
To entertain/ Relieve boredom/ To get gossip/ Puzzles/ Free gifts, for example: posters/ Other

Q9) What is the maximum you would pay for a magazine of this style?
Under £2.00 £2.00-£2.50 £3.00-£3.50 More than £4.00

Analysing Music Magazine Front Covers; Q

Q is a british magazine of the indie/rock style. It's front cover is not very busy, but contains a good image of a well known band - Kings of Leon - containing lots of mis en scene which is an attraction factor to readers. It has a couple of sub titles which tells the buyers what is going to be inside, however i think that there could be more. There is bold title which is recognisable and fits in with the colour scheme (red, black, white) which fits perfectly the conventions of the genre. However, there is a title in pink which could be seen as feminine. There is a bar code and price on the cover which is easy to spot and a suitable size. I find the font is slightly inconsistant.

Target: 22/01/10

Finish analysing the 3 front covers.