After completing initial research into music magazines I have now decided the sub-genre of the music magazine I am going to do, this is a "guitar tuition" magazine. There are a large number of magazines that are in this sub-genre, of which my magazine will be similar to. These are such titles as total guitar, guitar techniques and guitarist.
Looking at other similar magazines has helped me to find the right target audience for my magazine. There demographic will be that they are most likely male. According to the jicnars scale they will most likely be b1 or c1 so slightly upper class. There psychographic will most likely be aspirers (somebody who wants to better themselves.) and there age range will be between 16-26.
This audience will affect my magazine a lot, specifically because the age range is so wide, this is due to the fact that the magazine is aimed at people learning to play the guitar, and there is no specific age for this as it can be done anytime. The content of the magazine will all be based around guitar playing bands from the past and present, as well as beginner through to expert lessons, this will encourage people of all ages and levels of ability to buy the magazine.
With regards to the actual layout and style of the magazine I aim to produce a very modern spin on existing magazines but still keeping that raw and rough look that comes along with playing the guitar.
I aim to use colloquial, non Standard English (slang) language to help my audience to be able to relate to the magazine.
For the representations in the magazine I plan on using band members or the "cool" older brother type figure within my magazine, to help promote the idea that if you play guitar and learnt certain songs you will be in a band or that "cool" older guy. I plan on using a number of different close up and medium close up shots, maybe at canted angles all to generate the idea of being cool, different and individual. The location for these shoots are going to take place in a number of different areas, this is within the studio, abandoned places covered in graffiti and at gigs.
This is all to help generate the idea that this cool individual living is what is associated with guitar playing.
Monday 26 January 2009
Monday 19 January 2009
music magazines: initial specific research into shared features
during my research into the music magazine industry i have looked at the forms and conventions of music magazines, the publishers of the magazines and institutions. i have so far been able to keep up to date with this research and have recently chosen the type of magazine i wish to produce, this being a guitar magazine, and more specificaly a guitar tuition magazine. i have chosen this as i feel that it will challenge me to do something out of my comfort zone.
looking at tuition magazines i have discoverd a few simmilarities within them, the magazines i have looked at are total guitar, guitar techniques and guitarist.
the simmilarites are endless, the first main point is that all 3 magazines are published by future plc.
in terms of the structure and layout of the mags, they are all the same. the font type for the mast head is very simmilar this being a white serif font. the images used may look different as they are of "different bands" but they are still all the same full body shot photos with the front man holding a guitar. the overall layout is very similar with the screamers, main cell and coverlines all being placed within the same spaces for example The main sell is placed to the left hand side of the cover and is in the same font and colour as the mast head, making it as much of a focal point as this and this is the same on all the magazines,
its almost as if the covers for all are based on the same template and the only difference is the bands within them. so in order to create
the pschographic for all 3 magazines will most certainly be succeders (somebody who wants to better themselves or there life)
given the area of the magazines (guitar tuition) they will all come under special interest groups within the life stage catagorie.
after looking at the 3 magazines i have learnt that there is a specific pattern of design to follow for this type of magazine seeing as all 3 use the same. this has helped me come one step closer to producing a guitar tuition mag to a very high professional standard as i am now aware of the forms and conventions of this type of magazine, and i believe if i stick to the basic rules and patterns of the magazines i have looked at there is not much room for error.
looking at tuition magazines i have discoverd a few simmilarities within them, the magazines i have looked at are total guitar, guitar techniques and guitarist.
the simmilarites are endless, the first main point is that all 3 magazines are published by future plc.
in terms of the structure and layout of the mags, they are all the same. the font type for the mast head is very simmilar this being a white serif font. the images used may look different as they are of "different bands" but they are still all the same full body shot photos with the front man holding a guitar. the overall layout is very similar with the screamers, main cell and coverlines all being placed within the same spaces for example The main sell is placed to the left hand side of the cover and is in the same font and colour as the mast head, making it as much of a focal point as this and this is the same on all the magazines,
its almost as if the covers for all are based on the same template and the only difference is the bands within them. so in order to create
the pschographic for all 3 magazines will most certainly be succeders (somebody who wants to better themselves or there life)
given the area of the magazines (guitar tuition) they will all come under special interest groups within the life stage catagorie.
after looking at the 3 magazines i have learnt that there is a specific pattern of design to follow for this type of magazine seeing as all 3 use the same. this has helped me come one step closer to producing a guitar tuition mag to a very high professional standard as i am now aware of the forms and conventions of this type of magazine, and i believe if i stick to the basic rules and patterns of the magazines i have looked at there is not much room for error.
Tuesday 13 January 2009
Music Magazines – Institution
Whilst researching publishers and what they do, and the consequences of the publishing structure that is used I have come across Adorno.
Adorno suggests that the culture industries generate formulaic, simplistic, emotional products.
these products from the culture industries then create a false need within the audience. These are needs that can be created and then pleased by the capitalist system. This is true of NME the magazine that I have looked at previously, for example NME is a magazine aimed at “cool” teenagers, who would essentially by the magazine to make them look “individual” and “edgy” the magazine itself contains interviews from bands, as well as adverts for new albums. This may generate in the audience the desire to purchase albums by bands within the magazine to keep up the so called “image” that comes along with being “individual”. People therefore continue to work, to earn enough money to buy the albums and merchandise that will allegedly make them happy and keep up there “individuality” and therefore put all of there money back into the hands of the ruling classes
Adorno also argued that culture industries have developed some sort of technological inventions that help to control audiences thought.
According to Adorno music and media can be characterised by standardisation and pseudo individualism.
For example if you take, the kooks, arctic monkeys and the view they are not only generically similar to each other but also to indie bands of the past. Each group may have ‘a unique selling point’ but they are essentially the same.
Adorno suggests that the culture industries generate formulaic, simplistic, emotional products.
these products from the culture industries then create a false need within the audience. These are needs that can be created and then pleased by the capitalist system. This is true of NME the magazine that I have looked at previously, for example NME is a magazine aimed at “cool” teenagers, who would essentially by the magazine to make them look “individual” and “edgy” the magazine itself contains interviews from bands, as well as adverts for new albums. This may generate in the audience the desire to purchase albums by bands within the magazine to keep up the so called “image” that comes along with being “individual”. People therefore continue to work, to earn enough money to buy the albums and merchandise that will allegedly make them happy and keep up there “individuality” and therefore put all of there money back into the hands of the ruling classes
Adorno also argued that culture industries have developed some sort of technological inventions that help to control audiences thought.
According to Adorno music and media can be characterised by standardisation and pseudo individualism.
For example if you take, the kooks, arctic monkeys and the view they are not only generically similar to each other but also to indie bands of the past. Each group may have ‘a unique selling point’ but they are essentially the same.
Tuesday 6 January 2009
Music Magazines: Initial Research – Publisher
to help get more of an idea of what goes into the creation of magazines i have done some background research into publishers and what they do and how they work.
A magazine publisher makes literature or information available for public view.
Traditionally publishing refers to the distribution of printed works, for example books. But due to the growth in technology and the use of the internet publishing has been extended to include e-books, websites and blogs as well as a number of other things.
the concentration of media ownership as a whole refers to a large number if not the majority of media outlets being owned by a small number of conglomerates and corporations, some of which that are owned by more corporations. A good example of this is NME, NME is owned by ipc media along with a large number of other magazines, and then ipc media are then owned by time Warner. This is evidenced by the ownership/ publication of NME. NME as a magazine is seen as a statement of individuality to all of its readers, however this individuality is short lived when you realise that NME is owned by IPC media along with such titles as horse and hound, caravan and nuts. This wide range of magazines aimed at all sorts of audiences raises the argument as to wether NME is just another magazine used to sell a specific audience specific products. This idea is then strengthened if not confirmed when you see that IPC media is owned by time Warner who own a number of record labels. And it makes you wonder as to how much marketing and advertising time Warner place within NME to sell more of there products to maximise profit, which may raise concerns as to the integrity of the brand “NME”.
This is the same with the magazine that I have been looking at “metal hammer” metal hammer as a magazine is owned by future plc, who also own a number of other music magazines of a similar genre as well as a large number of gaming magazines. This suggests that they have a basic interest within these two areas, however more research into future has lead me to find that they are owned by Pearson plc, another horizontally integrated media conglomerate who own such publishers as penguin. Which leads us to the question of whether it is actually about peoples interests or whether it is all about profit, and the evidence shows that it is more aimed at making profit than anything else.
A magazine publisher makes literature or information available for public view.
Traditionally publishing refers to the distribution of printed works, for example books. But due to the growth in technology and the use of the internet publishing has been extended to include e-books, websites and blogs as well as a number of other things.
the concentration of media ownership as a whole refers to a large number if not the majority of media outlets being owned by a small number of conglomerates and corporations, some of which that are owned by more corporations. A good example of this is NME, NME is owned by ipc media along with a large number of other magazines, and then ipc media are then owned by time Warner. This is evidenced by the ownership/ publication of NME. NME as a magazine is seen as a statement of individuality to all of its readers, however this individuality is short lived when you realise that NME is owned by IPC media along with such titles as horse and hound, caravan and nuts. This wide range of magazines aimed at all sorts of audiences raises the argument as to wether NME is just another magazine used to sell a specific audience specific products. This idea is then strengthened if not confirmed when you see that IPC media is owned by time Warner who own a number of record labels. And it makes you wonder as to how much marketing and advertising time Warner place within NME to sell more of there products to maximise profit, which may raise concerns as to the integrity of the brand “NME”.
This is the same with the magazine that I have been looking at “metal hammer” metal hammer as a magazine is owned by future plc, who also own a number of other music magazines of a similar genre as well as a large number of gaming magazines. This suggests that they have a basic interest within these two areas, however more research into future has lead me to find that they are owned by Pearson plc, another horizontally integrated media conglomerate who own such publishers as penguin. Which leads us to the question of whether it is actually about peoples interests or whether it is all about profit, and the evidence shows that it is more aimed at making profit than anything else.
Music Magazines: Initial Research – Forms and Conventions
for my as media studies coursework i have chosen to do 'print' for this i will be researching and then finally designing my own music magazine.
Below I have analysed two different music magazines one called "Metal Hammer" and the other called "total Guitar" i have done this so that i have an idea of what different magazines use to appeal to there target audience and to see what i should include in my final peice to create a realistic interpretation of a magazine
During the lesson I have looked at the:
• Genre of music Audience (demographic and lifestyle)
• Form and Conventions: Cover
• Form and Conventions: Contents Page
• Types of double page spread in magazine
• Form and Conventions: Double page spread
• Publisher
Of "metal hammer" and "total guitar"
The first magazine I looked at was metal hammer. This magazine is aimed at people with a special interest in the subject matter in this case “heavy metal”. Special interest groups are a demographic no matter what there ages. You would probably describe there psychographic as “Radical” – somebody who’s rebellious/ different from mainstream. People in this special interest group could rate anywhere on the jicnars scale.
There are a number of different connotations within the front cover which help it appeal to its target audience when you first look at the cover the thing that catches your eye are the models, in this case it is two men from a band that the readers would recognise. The shot itself is a medium close up of a man stood directly behind the other leaning over the top of him, they are both gritting there teeth and holding there hands out, there is also a bright light and smoke coming from behind them. There costume and make – up is very extreme, including things like blood, white face paint and huge leather studied shoulder pads. Altogether making the look mean, scary and violent like any traditional heavy metal band.
The colour scheme of the cover is a very dull one, all the tones are faded and grey, there is no real colour to the cover other than tones of black white and red, with the red standing out a substantially more than the rest.
The mast head itself is a simple sans serif font but with a twist this being that the “H” and the “R” have been manipulated so that the masthead begins and ends with a point. They have also used a decorative font for the type “metal” and have made it look like it has been stamped into the head mast itself.
The cover itself is very bare apart from a line of band names above the head mast, these are used like a cover line to entice the reader in, they are in red making them stand out from the rest of the magazine.
The main sell is placed at the bottom of the magazine and has been centred and is also the same font size as the mast head, making it a main focal point. The font used is a decorative font, which is very fancy and uses a lot of sharp points and edges. The type itself has a metallic look to it. This is predictable given the theme of the magazine.
The contents page follows the same colour scheme as the cover in that it uses a number of different black and white tones along with red, however the contents page is a lot more over crowded than the bare cover. There are a number of tags, images and text blocks placed around the page. Which look to be random but are actually placed within a vertical grid. The page itself is split into 3 of these grids, the 1st being all the features within the magazine, and is all type. With the headings being in the same decorative font as the main sell from the cover, The 2nd is a selection of images and tags all of band members in aggressive violent poses which feature within the magazine itself, and the 3rd is a section from the editor which is reversed out to make it look separate from the rest of the page.
There are a number of different cover spreads within the magazine itself, these being product reviews and band interviews. Looking At double spreads within metal hammer they all seem to follow a very similar theme to that of the front cover. The colour scheme of the spreads are the same as the cover in that all the tones are faded and grey, there is no real colour to the cover other than tones of black white and red, with the red standing out substantially more than the rest.
All of the spreads follow a very similar layout as well. This is that they have an image covering one of the pages, with a large title in the same decorative font used throughout, and then the interview itself is written in a very basic sans serif font, and is placed in columns underneath the title. they have also included another image somewhere on the interview page.
The second magazine i looked at was "total Guitar". This magazine is also aimed at people with a special interest in the subject matter in this case “learning the guitar”. Special interest groups are a demographic no matter what the audience’s age. There psychographic would be described as “post materialists” (to be something later), because of the nature of special interest groups they can rate anywhere within the jicnars scale.
The magazine is very well designed to create the connotations needed to attract to its target audience. when first looking at the cover the first thing that catches your eye is the masthead, this is due to the sheer size of it, it is also in white helping it to stand out from the rest of the background, this is very good at helping readers to pick out the magazine on a shelf full of others with the main focus being on the main image.
The next thing we notice is then the main image in this case it is of noel Gallagher and Paul Weller two of the most recognised people within the music industry, with these to prestigious people on the cover it helps to raise the reputation of the magazine. The image itself is a medium close up of the two with Paul stood in front of noel holding a guitar. Both models are wearing black because of this it sends our focus to where the colour is, and this is within the guitar and there faces. By bringing emphasis to there face's it means the readers will notice who is on the cover faster which could potentially be the reason why they decide to buy it. The background to the photo is a union jack, this brings to light the British nature of both artists, and helps to connote the idea that the magazine is of a British nature and that that particular issues theme is of British music.
The overall colour scheme of the magazine is very well put together, they have used just a small selection of colours that all work well together, the main colours all being taken from the union jack, and by keeping within this colour scheme they create a very professional attractive cover.
The main sell is placed to the left hand side of the cover and is in the same font and colour as the mast head, making it as much of a focal point as this. The font itself is a serif font, and by usin this style of font combined with the image used creates a very mature look to the cover without over doing it helping it to appeal to both the older more mature adult as well as the adolescent youth of today.
Below I have analysed two different music magazines one called "Metal Hammer" and the other called "total Guitar" i have done this so that i have an idea of what different magazines use to appeal to there target audience and to see what i should include in my final peice to create a realistic interpretation of a magazine
During the lesson I have looked at the:
• Genre of music Audience (demographic and lifestyle)
• Form and Conventions: Cover
• Form and Conventions: Contents Page
• Types of double page spread in magazine
• Form and Conventions: Double page spread
• Publisher
Of "metal hammer" and "total guitar"
The first magazine I looked at was metal hammer. This magazine is aimed at people with a special interest in the subject matter in this case “heavy metal”. Special interest groups are a demographic no matter what there ages. You would probably describe there psychographic as “Radical” – somebody who’s rebellious/ different from mainstream. People in this special interest group could rate anywhere on the jicnars scale.
There are a number of different connotations within the front cover which help it appeal to its target audience when you first look at the cover the thing that catches your eye are the models, in this case it is two men from a band that the readers would recognise. The shot itself is a medium close up of a man stood directly behind the other leaning over the top of him, they are both gritting there teeth and holding there hands out, there is also a bright light and smoke coming from behind them. There costume and make – up is very extreme, including things like blood, white face paint and huge leather studied shoulder pads. Altogether making the look mean, scary and violent like any traditional heavy metal band.
The colour scheme of the cover is a very dull one, all the tones are faded and grey, there is no real colour to the cover other than tones of black white and red, with the red standing out a substantially more than the rest.
The mast head itself is a simple sans serif font but with a twist this being that the “H” and the “R” have been manipulated so that the masthead begins and ends with a point. They have also used a decorative font for the type “metal” and have made it look like it has been stamped into the head mast itself.
The cover itself is very bare apart from a line of band names above the head mast, these are used like a cover line to entice the reader in, they are in red making them stand out from the rest of the magazine.
The main sell is placed at the bottom of the magazine and has been centred and is also the same font size as the mast head, making it a main focal point. The font used is a decorative font, which is very fancy and uses a lot of sharp points and edges. The type itself has a metallic look to it. This is predictable given the theme of the magazine.
The contents page follows the same colour scheme as the cover in that it uses a number of different black and white tones along with red, however the contents page is a lot more over crowded than the bare cover. There are a number of tags, images and text blocks placed around the page. Which look to be random but are actually placed within a vertical grid. The page itself is split into 3 of these grids, the 1st being all the features within the magazine, and is all type. With the headings being in the same decorative font as the main sell from the cover, The 2nd is a selection of images and tags all of band members in aggressive violent poses which feature within the magazine itself, and the 3rd is a section from the editor which is reversed out to make it look separate from the rest of the page.
There are a number of different cover spreads within the magazine itself, these being product reviews and band interviews. Looking At double spreads within metal hammer they all seem to follow a very similar theme to that of the front cover. The colour scheme of the spreads are the same as the cover in that all the tones are faded and grey, there is no real colour to the cover other than tones of black white and red, with the red standing out substantially more than the rest.
All of the spreads follow a very similar layout as well. This is that they have an image covering one of the pages, with a large title in the same decorative font used throughout, and then the interview itself is written in a very basic sans serif font, and is placed in columns underneath the title. they have also included another image somewhere on the interview page.
The second magazine i looked at was "total Guitar". This magazine is also aimed at people with a special interest in the subject matter in this case “learning the guitar”. Special interest groups are a demographic no matter what the audience’s age. There psychographic would be described as “post materialists” (to be something later), because of the nature of special interest groups they can rate anywhere within the jicnars scale.
The magazine is very well designed to create the connotations needed to attract to its target audience. when first looking at the cover the first thing that catches your eye is the masthead, this is due to the sheer size of it, it is also in white helping it to stand out from the rest of the background, this is very good at helping readers to pick out the magazine on a shelf full of others with the main focus being on the main image.
The next thing we notice is then the main image in this case it is of noel Gallagher and Paul Weller two of the most recognised people within the music industry, with these to prestigious people on the cover it helps to raise the reputation of the magazine. The image itself is a medium close up of the two with Paul stood in front of noel holding a guitar. Both models are wearing black because of this it sends our focus to where the colour is, and this is within the guitar and there faces. By bringing emphasis to there face's it means the readers will notice who is on the cover faster which could potentially be the reason why they decide to buy it. The background to the photo is a union jack, this brings to light the British nature of both artists, and helps to connote the idea that the magazine is of a British nature and that that particular issues theme is of British music.
The overall colour scheme of the magazine is very well put together, they have used just a small selection of colours that all work well together, the main colours all being taken from the union jack, and by keeping within this colour scheme they create a very professional attractive cover.
The main sell is placed to the left hand side of the cover and is in the same font and colour as the mast head, making it as much of a focal point as this. The font itself is a serif font, and by usin this style of font combined with the image used creates a very mature look to the cover without over doing it helping it to appeal to both the older more mature adult as well as the adolescent youth of today.
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