Music magazine 2015

Photoshoot 2015

Question 7: Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

Question 6: What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

Question 5: How did you attract/address your audience?

Question 4: Who would be the audience for your media product?

Question 3: What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

I have made a video on GoAnimate answering the following question on the post title.

Question 2: How does your media product represent particular social groups?

Before I have started on my project I knew that I wanted to do a genre that is based on 'indie' music. I have decided on 'indie rock' as there are many bands that I listen to who are indie rock artists, and I usually buy magazines such as Q and NME, which have helped me find out what are included in the typical 'indie rock' magazines.

As I started to do my research on the indie rock genre I found out that fans of the indie rock genre mainly merge from the ages of 16 to 40 year olds on average, both female and male audiences. I have chosen to focus on the teenagers as magazines would tend to want to engage them the most as they are the easiest age group to influence.

Here I have a screenshot a few people who like bands/artists from the indie rock genre.  As you can see, they are mainly teenagers, which shows how magazines would want to focus on teenagers.

From my chosen age group I have decided to use a young female on the cover of my magazine. Having a female on the cover would draw in female audiences as the youth would look up to this female and want to be like her. Males would get engaged as they would see a young good looking girl and would want to listen to her music. I have searched on the internet on websites such as tumblr, google images and facebook to see what is the latest fashion teenagers wear that could be linked to the indie rock genre. Many teenagers that listen to indie rock usually have dark make-up and they wear quite dark clothing. This helped me choose the costume and make-up for my model.

Question 1: In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

Final Music Magazine

I have decided to upload my final front cover, content page and double page spread onto PhotoPeach.

Feedback from the class

Last lesson we had a feedback lesson were our front covers, content pages and double page spreads were on the board and we were told to fill in a sheet of feedback to other people in the classes covers, content pages and double page spreads. Overall, the feedback that I have received from some classmates is very positive. This states that I have a clear understanding of the codes and conventions of a typical indie rock magazine. The target audience my classmates thought the magazine for was correct as this is what I was aiming for. I have looked at the comments of improvement on my magazines and decided to leave the improvements as I thought that the double page spread was a lot like a typical magazines. Other than the critical comments, my classmates have said that I have a clear development of technical skills but they do not elaborate on what are the technical skills that I have used.

Development of double page spread

I have started my double page spread by putting it in an A3 size. Then, I made a line and inserted it in the middle of the page splitting it into two pages. I have evolved from my first design of my double page spread I did and done a different design of my double page spread. I changed the design of it because I looked back to the double page spreads I have analysed and they didn't look the same way I designed it, so I decided to change my idea. I have put the model on the left hand side of the double page spread because I looked at the magazines I analysed, Q, NME and Kerrang!, and their artists/bands were on the left hand side of the double page spread. I put in the artists name 'Cara Young' on the right hand side of the page, as that is where most of the artists/bands name are, just above the main article on the artist. I have put the logo on the top right hand corner as I saw Q magazine do it, but theirs was on the bottom right hand corner. I have also included the numbers of the pages at the bottom of the page, one next to the model and one on the right hand corner. I decided to use this photograph of the model as this one worked the best for the double page spread. I had to make the background white to make it blend in more with the double page spread.

I have included my stand first for the article just under the name of the artist. I have used the same layout as NMEs double page spread of The Vaccines. I tried to make the stand first as appealing to the readers by putting in a rhetorical question. Under the stand first I have typed up my actual article. I have put them into columns as the magazines I analysed mainly used columns on their double page spreads, I inserted a line between them separating the two paragraphs. I made the first letters of the two paragraphs bigger and in a different colour as I saw NME do it, and I thought that it was very effective as to drawing the readers into it and want to read the article about this artist.  

In the big space I left just above the second paragraph, I have inserted a 'band quote' that the artist had said in the article. I have put in this specific quote because I wanted to draw the readers into the article, they may be curious as to why she has said that. Another reason is that she could be reaching out to her youthful fans, she could be their inspiration as to say that 'she doesn't need anyone to make her successful.' 

Development of my content page

 I have started off by adding titles onto my content page and the image of The Vaccines that I will briefly talk about. I have used the NME content page that I analysed as inspiration to create my own content page. I have included a band index that NME uses but I have changed 'band index' to band list. The black box on the bottom will be used for a advert for the readers to subscribe to the magazine. On the right hand side I have divided the content by putting in different titles to make it easier for the reader to find what they want.  

I have included my first content onto my content page under the title 'news'. Beside the names of the artists that I will include in my magazine I have made a shape that says 'on the cover' to make it clear for the reader to find what they saw on the cover, the reason they got the magazine, and read the story. I have put the page numbers on the left hand side of the artists names so that readers can find the specific page. I have put in a brief sentence to tell the readers what the article on their favourite artist/band will be about. 

    I have included the rest of the content, I have included bands names that I haven't mentioned on the cover to make it look like I have not only spoke about the feature stories that were on the cover. Under the 'features' title, I have put information on the front cover story of Cara Young. Underneath the features I have also included a 'plus' section to show other stuff that will be in the magazines which readers may like to read about. 

I have included my brief paragraph on the gig that The Vaccines played at the peel back in December. I have got the inspiration to do this from the NME content page I have analysed. I have also filled in the black rectangle at the bottom page and I have put in an advert for readers to subscribe to the magazine, and offered a deal for it as well. I have also got inspiration for this from NME.

Lastly, I have included a band list on the left hand side. I got the inspiration from NME, as they always include a 'band index' in their magazines.  I have listed as many indie rock bands as I could think of, I have also researched indie rock bands to include online. I added different page numbers on the side, for the readers to find the specific band they want to read about easily. 

Development of my front cover

For my magazine front cover I have included my logo on the top left hand corner. I overlapped the model so that her head was in front of the logo a bit, I simply moved up the layer of the model and put it above the layer of my magazine logo. I have also included the artists name on to my magazine. I have used the same technique I used to layer the model above my logo for the artists name. I added a dropshadow on the font so that it would stand out more on the white background. I have also included the cover story of the magazine just underneath the artists name. I have also added a dropshadow onto the font to make the writing stand out more.

I have added the first feature story inside the magazine. I have made the title of it red to match the genre of my magazine, and I have put a brief story underneath the title in a different font and made it black to stand out.



















I have started to included a shape for one of my feature stories, in my front cover analysis I have noticed that the magazines use shapes on their front covers, to make a certain feature story stand out. I have used two different fonts and colours for this to also match the genre. I have layered the model in front of it to make the model stand out more.


















I have added two more feature stories on the front cover of the magazine as usually magazines include three feature stories as well as the cover story on the front cover. I have also includes an additional feature, including artists that will be inside the magazine but I haven't included a sample of the actual article like I did for the other feature stories. I layered the model a bit over this feature story to clarify that the model is the main feature of this front cover.















Lastly I have included the barcode on the bottom right hand corner of the magazine and included the date of the issue and how much it costs. I have used the same price as NME magazine for my own magazine to make it more professional and realistic.

Edits of photo shoot

I have edited the pictures I have took for music magazine photo and I have uploaded it on PhotoPeach. 

Content page photograph

For my content page I have decided to make a brief article of The Vaccines gig at the Peel in Kingston on the 11th of December 2013. This will not my double page spread story. I will only be using this photograph and it is my own photograph that I have personally taken when I went to this gig.

Photo shoot for music magazine

I have uploaded pictures from my magazine photo shoot on PhotoPeach. 

Second draft of double page spread story

Cara Young

Stand first: 

She has taken over the internet world and is now slowly taking over the real world, but what makes this heavenly-voiced angel so damn good? 

Article:
At the enormously dark studio in Ealing, West London we caught up Cara Young having a photo shoot for her upcoming album. The 19 year old internet sensation  was rocking her dark make-up and a tartan dress whilst breaking the silence with a nicotine fulled cough. "I'm going to need a break now" puffed Cara whilst walking towards us. "These boots are absolutely killing me," she sighs as she sits down ready for her first exclusive interview. Cara Young, only had her YouTube account up for 6 months has already earned herself over 5 million views on all of her videos. "I still don't believe it" she replied "I honestly thought I'd only get about 50 views from my friends and family." Cara's main inspiration to start a singing career was her favourite artist, Lana Del Rey. "I think she [Lana] is an amazing artist. Truly remarkable. It would be an absolute honor to work with her if I ever got the chance." Cara has covered many of her songs on YouTube such as National Anthem and Young and Beautiful. "Her songs gives me inspiration" explains Cara. Cara has also covered many songs by other artists of the likes of Arctic Monkeys, Jake Bugg and The Vaccines. "They are also my favourite band" Cara expresses her thoughts on the Arctic Monkeys. "One day I will be as popular as they are" giggles Cara, but putting the jokes aside, with an angelic voice and a fast growing fan base like hers anything is possible. "My first album is going to be very exciting. I cannot wait for all my fans to hear it, and for others to hear it too and hopefully enjoy my music." Cara inserts her cigarette between her lips. "I've played a few little gigs here and there covering some songs, also singing some songs that I have written myself that unfortunately haven't made it onto my first album." puffs Cara, "but there's always room for the next one!" Ever since Cara has become popular, many people have been asking quite personal questions. "I understand that fans would want to know everything about a certain artist/band when they are new to the scene," explains Cara, "but sometimes it gets too personal. But I can say that I am currently single though, and I do not plan to get a boyfriend anytime soon. I have to focus on my career." Cara Young respectable approach to relationships will be a great influence for her youthful fans. We moved to a little boxed room to carry on our interview after Cara finished off her photo shoot. The white walls were much more calming and intimate than the massive studio full of darkness. "I'm very excited to start my own mini-tour when my album is complete" announced Cara with excitement. "I'll be doing Glastonbury this year as well, on the other stage. I'm also very thrilled about that." Cara has dreamt of being at Glastonbury since the age of 14. "I've always wanted to go and see the acts play and be a part of the audience" chuckled Cara, "but now I'm actually playing at Glastonbury! Madness!" Cara has achieved her success very quickly, considering she hasn't even published her own debut album. "My album will be out in March, hopefully." giggles Cara while sipping her cup full of sprite. "I always get tempted to sing my songs aloud when I am out and about, but I have to stop myself, obviously I'd be one of the only artists that could potentially leak their own album." Snickers Cara, she laughs a little too much and ends up having a laughing fit. Casual. Cara has announced that she will be supporting one of her favourite artists on their tour: Jake Bugg! "He's a great guy" Cara says, "I really enjoy his company. We have the same sense of humour and music taste, obviously." Cara and Jake have been speaking since he has heard her cover of 'Seen It All.' "When he followed me on Twitter I literally screamed" giggles Cara, feeling a little ashamed. "After that we just started talking and really clicked." A lot of people have said that they would be a very cute couple. "People on the internet have been 'shipping' (where you want two certain people to be together in a relationship) but we're just friends." Explained Cara. Shame that those two aren't really together, they would have been the equivalent to Beyonce and Jay-Z, just, an Indie Rock version of them. 

Shot list for content page picture

I have chosen to use a picture from The Vaccines gig for my content page to make a mini article. The photograph will be of the main singer with one of the guitarists playing to each other, so it will be a mid action shot. The angle of my camera will be landscape but I won't be able to use a tripod to take this photograph as there will be too many people. I will have to reach my hand up to take this photograph as  there are people who are taller than me in front of me, and it won't be possible to do it any other way.

Shot list for photo shoot

For my photo shoot I would like the model to do different types of poses. There will only be two different angles I will take the photographs in.

Front cover 
For my front cover I asked the model to do a specific pose. The model will lean forward while holding the guitar in her arms making the guitar point towards the floor. I will hold my camera in a portrait way,   the camera won't be zoomed into the model to have a close-up shot, I will zoom it out a bit to have a long-shot. I will point my camera down at the model as she will be shorter than me because she is leaning over forward.

Double page spread
For my double page spread I will have three photographs that are landscape. For all of these pictures I will use a tripod to keep the camera steady while taking these pictures. My first photograph i will have the model holding the cigarette in her hand while looking away, but she is not looking at her cigarette.  Another photograph will be with her actually having the cigarette in her mouth, this time the model will be looking down at the cigarette. The last photograph will have the model holding the acoustic guitar, but while she is holding the acoustic guitar she will look like she is about to play, she will also have her eyes focused on the guitar. She will have the cigarette in her mouth.