Taken Photos
This is a print screen of the photos I have taken which MAY be included in my coursework.
House Style Proposal
Magazine House Style Proposal
For my magazine I initially intended to do a magazine based around unsigned acts that were only just beginning to make a name for themselves. This inspired me to slightly expand my idea and focus mainly on bands that have made a name for themselves in the last year or so. This would have been my only inclusion but upon doing my reader research I found that 50% of users preferred having mainstream bands so I decided that I would include a small minority of the magazine being for these slightly more known bands.
The genre of music in which I planned to focus on was mainly emo rock and classic rock in the main genre of rock. This was partially reflected in my research but the vast majority of my reader interviewees preferred rock n’ roll as a sub genre which meant that I decided to include small amounts of rock n’ roll music. Seeing as 25% of my audience preferred emo rock I am still going to include this in a majority along with my initial idea of class rock.
I have intended from the beginning for my magazine to be aimed at teenagers of any age between 13-19 as I feel I understand people between these ages more than if I did a magazine for anyone older or younger. Also I feel that for my chosen subgenres of rock that it would appeal more to teenagers of ages 13-19 as they’re more likely to have the time to listen to mass amounts of music. I know this doesn’t apply to all adults but in the majority teenagers listen to more music so they’d be more likely to buy a magazine about music. The gender isn’t important when it comes to music especially the genres I have chosen. I know this as I know lots of girls who enjoy bands who fall under the subgenres of rock like emo rock and classic rock.
For my front cover I am aiming to mainly focus it on black and white with slithers of yellow. The reason behind this is because my main cover article (Elliot Minor gig at Wulfrun Hall in Wolverhampton) relates to those colours; it is those colours which appear on their debut (and only) album. The masthead I intended to be in the specialised Elliot Minor font (titled Epoxy History) as a sort of dedication to the band. The image on the front will be one of the photos I took from the actual gig. I also have the masthead ‘Up And Coming’ as my main idea but I am subject to change although I think this title fits my idea for a magazine perfectly.
My contents page will hopefully have a white background with a black title. I intend for there to be a blend of images down the left hand side and centre with their relevant page numbers over the pictures. Then on the right hand side, separated from the pictures by a thick navy blue-ish line I intend to have the entire list of contents. This leaves us with a bit of blank space at the bottom under the pictures which is where I aim to have the contact details for letters to the editor and stuff like that which is seen in MOST magazines.
My initial plan for my double spread article has changed as I initially intended to have the support act on one side and the review and then the whole review would continue onto the next page with the main gig review. I discarded this idea when I was told it would look more like two articles than one double spread article. So after this bit of advice I decided to blend the article together with some images from the gig on either side and accompanying them is an overall gig review. Of course it will have separate sections within the text for support and main act but these won’t be AS obvious. I’m also intending to have a box of statistics like crowd size and gig rating.
For my magazine I initially intended to do a magazine based around unsigned acts that were only just beginning to make a name for themselves. This inspired me to slightly expand my idea and focus mainly on bands that have made a name for themselves in the last year or so. This would have been my only inclusion but upon doing my reader research I found that 50% of users preferred having mainstream bands so I decided that I would include a small minority of the magazine being for these slightly more known bands.
The genre of music in which I planned to focus on was mainly emo rock and classic rock in the main genre of rock. This was partially reflected in my research but the vast majority of my reader interviewees preferred rock n’ roll as a sub genre which meant that I decided to include small amounts of rock n’ roll music. Seeing as 25% of my audience preferred emo rock I am still going to include this in a majority along with my initial idea of class rock.
I have intended from the beginning for my magazine to be aimed at teenagers of any age between 13-19 as I feel I understand people between these ages more than if I did a magazine for anyone older or younger. Also I feel that for my chosen subgenres of rock that it would appeal more to teenagers of ages 13-19 as they’re more likely to have the time to listen to mass amounts of music. I know this doesn’t apply to all adults but in the majority teenagers listen to more music so they’d be more likely to buy a magazine about music. The gender isn’t important when it comes to music especially the genres I have chosen. I know this as I know lots of girls who enjoy bands who fall under the subgenres of rock like emo rock and classic rock.
For my front cover I am aiming to mainly focus it on black and white with slithers of yellow. The reason behind this is because my main cover article (Elliot Minor gig at Wulfrun Hall in Wolverhampton) relates to those colours; it is those colours which appear on their debut (and only) album. The masthead I intended to be in the specialised Elliot Minor font (titled Epoxy History) as a sort of dedication to the band. The image on the front will be one of the photos I took from the actual gig. I also have the masthead ‘Up And Coming’ as my main idea but I am subject to change although I think this title fits my idea for a magazine perfectly.
My contents page will hopefully have a white background with a black title. I intend for there to be a blend of images down the left hand side and centre with their relevant page numbers over the pictures. Then on the right hand side, separated from the pictures by a thick navy blue-ish line I intend to have the entire list of contents. This leaves us with a bit of blank space at the bottom under the pictures which is where I aim to have the contact details for letters to the editor and stuff like that which is seen in MOST magazines.
My initial plan for my double spread article has changed as I initially intended to have the support act on one side and the review and then the whole review would continue onto the next page with the main gig review. I discarded this idea when I was told it would look more like two articles than one double spread article. So after this bit of advice I decided to blend the article together with some images from the gig on either side and accompanying them is an overall gig review. Of course it will have separate sections within the text for support and main act but these won’t be AS obvious. I’m also intending to have a box of statistics like crowd size and gig rating.
Questionnaire Findings and Comments
Magazine Inclusion
Mainstream or Newly Found
Preferred Rock Subgenre
Preferred Band
Do you buy music magazines?
If YES which magazine?
If NO why not?
Questionnaire
Music Magazine Questionnaire
1. Would you prefer to hear about mainstream bands or newly founded bands?
□ Mainstream
□Newly Founded
2. Which of the following bands do you enjoy?
□Elliot Minor
□Panic! At the Disco
□My Chemical Romance
□Paramore
□None of the Above
3. What sub genres of rock do you prefer?
□Heavy Rock
□Classic Rock
□Emo Rock
□Rock n’ Roll
□None of the above
4. Do you regularly buy a music magazine?
□Yes
□No
If Yes then which one: ____________________________
If No then why not?
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
5. What, of the following, would you prefer in your magazine?
□Gig Reviews
□Album Reviews
□Album Release Chart
□Inside Information On Band’s Latest Information
□Frequent Updates On Band Statuses
□Upcoming Gigs
1. Would you prefer to hear about mainstream bands or newly founded bands?
□ Mainstream
□Newly Founded
2. Which of the following bands do you enjoy?
□Elliot Minor
□Panic! At the Disco
□My Chemical Romance
□Paramore
□None of the Above
3. What sub genres of rock do you prefer?
□Heavy Rock
□Classic Rock
□Emo Rock
□Rock n’ Roll
□None of the above
4. Do you regularly buy a music magazine?
□Yes
□No
If Yes then which one: ____________________________
If No then why not?
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
5. What, of the following, would you prefer in your magazine?
□Gig Reviews
□Album Reviews
□Album Release Chart
□Inside Information On Band’s Latest Information
□Frequent Updates On Band Statuses
□Upcoming Gigs
Contents Page Analysis
This contents page has been set out on a dark background with light text. The fact that there is one image on either side of the page and equal amounts of text on both the left and right makes the page informally balanced. The numbers lead the reader’s eyes down the page so they take in all the information. The top banner of the page is a smart effect which immediately attracts the reader to look at the page. The top of the banner is the same colour as the background. I think it’s a very smart contents page. I think I’m going to base my contents page more on this idea rather than the Kerrang! contents page.Doublespread Page Analysis
This double spread page from the NME magazine is similar to one of my initial ideas. This was to have a tall(ish) image on one page with the text on the other. This would be so the double spread article (like the one above) would be balanced due to colour as the dark colours from the images (similar to the darkness of my images) would contrast and large expanse of light from the text filled page. This would make the pages more readable to the viewer and would make the picture more visibly appealing.
The reason I have decided not to go with this idea is because of the images I have taken. They are all relatively dark and pixelated so unless I do a lot of drastic improvements on my taken photos then I’ll have to look for an alternative double spread idea.
Also something that I would change is the fact that the main text surrounds the pull quote. I would probably have more than one pull quote so this wouldn’t work plus I think it makes the page seem too formal for a magazine. The title I feel is also too big but this would have meant that there was lots of empty space where even more text would be placed. This would drag out the article and is NOT what I wish to do on my article.
Because my article is a gig review then it would of course have different text and so would probably have a separated box with the score of the gig (like 5 out of 5 or something similar) so the text would probably go around that.
The reason I have decided not to go with this idea is because of the images I have taken. They are all relatively dark and pixelated so unless I do a lot of drastic improvements on my taken photos then I’ll have to look for an alternative double spread idea.
Also something that I would change is the fact that the main text surrounds the pull quote. I would probably have more than one pull quote so this wouldn’t work plus I think it makes the page seem too formal for a magazine. The title I feel is also too big but this would have meant that there was lots of empty space where even more text would be placed. This would drag out the article and is NOT what I wish to do on my article.
Because my article is a gig review then it would of course have different text and so would probably have a separated box with the score of the gig (like 5 out of 5 or something similar) so the text would probably go around that.
Front Cover Essay
With reference to the conventional aspects of the front cover, discuss how Kerrang! magazine targets a particular audience.
Every magazine has a specific audience it aims to target. They do this by using conventional aspects of magazine design such as the Gutenberg Diagram; meaning that in the top left corner (the primary optical area) and in the bottom right corner (the terminal area) is where the most eye catching and appealing information is positioned. Kerrang! magazine, for instance, places the beginning of its masthead in the primary optical area and in the terminal area it has the dateline and barcode as well as the secondary coverline. This is typical in all of Kerrang!’s magazines as they use a certain house style so each issue is similar. This makes it easier for regular readers to find and purchase.
Colour is an important conventional aspect in any sort of design including that of a magazine. This is because when someone goes into a shop it is often colour that causes them to take a double look at a magazine as they glance over the stands. Colour also generally signifies the type of magazine it is. For example, a feminine based gossip magazine would have bright colours such as pinks and purples on its front cover whereas a rock music magazine, such as Kerrang!, would have darker colours such as blacks and reds. The front cover of Kerrang follows a general colour scheme of having black and white on ever issue and varying the other two colours. This issue before me has red and yellow as well as the house styled black and white. The colour is generally used, on Kerrang! magazine, to make the text stand out from the background imagery. The main coverline is in a dark red but so it stands out more the producers of Kerrang! have placed it on a black banner. The same effect has been applied to the explanation except instead of red text on black they’ve used white text on a red banner. The reasoning behind this is that any colour placed on black stands out to the viewer and makes the information much more memorable and so it stands out when on the storage racks.
Every front cover needs an image which will captivate the reader and make them interested in what the magazine has to offer. This is even more important in magazines where they’re packaged up with free gifts. An important aspect of the image on the front cover is the depth of field. This is when your eye is drawn into the image giving it a more realistic look. Kerrang!’s image has the lead singer of the coverlined band further forwards than the two guitarists (only known from personal experience) so it makes the image look more realistic straight away. To add even more depth of field the producers have placed the frontman’s fist (along with his and his band member’s heads) above the masthead and his elbow in front of the main coverline. This draws the reader in as it disrupts the masthead and draws you down to the main coverline which is the main articles in the magazine. Another important aspect of image decision and usage is the actual focus that is in the photograph. The producers of Kerrang! have opted, rather than computer modifying the image, they have predominantly modified the physical aspect of the image. They have done this by placing make up onto the three band members to make it look as if they have been through harsh battles and have become bloody and wounded. The reasoning behind this drastic physical appearance modification is so it fits in with the explanation of the coverline which reads ‘How rock’s biggest misfits conquered the planet’. The bloodiness and wounded appearance backs up the idea that they truly have conquered the planet.
If a front cover was only pictures and no text you’d be clueless as to what information is held within the magazine. Yet at the same time no reader wants all the important information to be on the front cover. This would make the rest of the magazine pointless. Kerrang! are good at putting just enough text on to interesting and intrigue the viewer. At both the top and the bottom are lists of bands that are featured within the magazine. The general amount of bands listed is about 10 meaning that almost every week when the magazine is released there is something in there for every music genre that is related to rock music. The usage of ‘Reading/Leeds’ is significant as the Reading and Leeds music festival is a large concert for most genres of rock music. This being on the left third really interests viewers; especially those that actually went to the festival.
Every magazine has a specific audience it aims to target. They do this by using conventional aspects of magazine design such as the Gutenberg Diagram; meaning that in the top left corner (the primary optical area) and in the bottom right corner (the terminal area) is where the most eye catching and appealing information is positioned. Kerrang! magazine, for instance, places the beginning of its masthead in the primary optical area and in the terminal area it has the dateline and barcode as well as the secondary coverline. This is typical in all of Kerrang!’s magazines as they use a certain house style so each issue is similar. This makes it easier for regular readers to find and purchase.
Colour is an important conventional aspect in any sort of design including that of a magazine. This is because when someone goes into a shop it is often colour that causes them to take a double look at a magazine as they glance over the stands. Colour also generally signifies the type of magazine it is. For example, a feminine based gossip magazine would have bright colours such as pinks and purples on its front cover whereas a rock music magazine, such as Kerrang!, would have darker colours such as blacks and reds. The front cover of Kerrang follows a general colour scheme of having black and white on ever issue and varying the other two colours. This issue before me has red and yellow as well as the house styled black and white. The colour is generally used, on Kerrang! magazine, to make the text stand out from the background imagery. The main coverline is in a dark red but so it stands out more the producers of Kerrang! have placed it on a black banner. The same effect has been applied to the explanation except instead of red text on black they’ve used white text on a red banner. The reasoning behind this is that any colour placed on black stands out to the viewer and makes the information much more memorable and so it stands out when on the storage racks.
Every front cover needs an image which will captivate the reader and make them interested in what the magazine has to offer. This is even more important in magazines where they’re packaged up with free gifts. An important aspect of the image on the front cover is the depth of field. This is when your eye is drawn into the image giving it a more realistic look. Kerrang!’s image has the lead singer of the coverlined band further forwards than the two guitarists (only known from personal experience) so it makes the image look more realistic straight away. To add even more depth of field the producers have placed the frontman’s fist (along with his and his band member’s heads) above the masthead and his elbow in front of the main coverline. This draws the reader in as it disrupts the masthead and draws you down to the main coverline which is the main articles in the magazine. Another important aspect of image decision and usage is the actual focus that is in the photograph. The producers of Kerrang! have opted, rather than computer modifying the image, they have predominantly modified the physical aspect of the image. They have done this by placing make up onto the three band members to make it look as if they have been through harsh battles and have become bloody and wounded. The reasoning behind this drastic physical appearance modification is so it fits in with the explanation of the coverline which reads ‘How rock’s biggest misfits conquered the planet’. The bloodiness and wounded appearance backs up the idea that they truly have conquered the planet.
If a front cover was only pictures and no text you’d be clueless as to what information is held within the magazine. Yet at the same time no reader wants all the important information to be on the front cover. This would make the rest of the magazine pointless. Kerrang! are good at putting just enough text on to interesting and intrigue the viewer. At both the top and the bottom are lists of bands that are featured within the magazine. The general amount of bands listed is about 10 meaning that almost every week when the magazine is released there is something in there for every music genre that is related to rock music. The usage of ‘Reading/Leeds’ is significant as the Reading and Leeds music festival is a large concert for most genres of rock music. This being on the left third really interests viewers; especially those that actually went to the festival.
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