Construction of Masthead For My Music Magazine

For my music magazine I took great care in choosing the masthead, as the masthead is what the reader will look at to identify it as being my music magazine. From looking through my research I knew that it needed to be black as most music magazines had black mastheads. I also wanted it to appeal to my target audience so created my masthead so that it looked elegant with curves and soft, however it had mostly straight edges to show that it isn't a children's magazine but a little more formal. With these characteristics it is able to appeal to both 14-21 year olds, as it holds elegant yet informal shapes. I have also coloured in the counters of the letter, as I liked how Billboard magazine incorporates it's house style colours within the masthead which not many other magazines do, and I wanted my magazine to have fluidity and consistency throughout. To create my final masthead I also used the Clone Stamp Tool to join in the gaps for the 'P' and 'R'.

This is my final design for my masthead:

I decided not to use the below design as a masthead needs to be able to stand out against the rest of the other magazines, and this is too skinny to stand out. However I liked the curved edge to the 'R', but it just didn't look like a music magazine text, it looked too formal and more like newspaper text

For the below image I decided not to use as it looked too much like a children's magazine, as from my research I have found that you needed to use skinny text to appeal to the older end of my target audience. However for this design I liked how some of the text was skinny and some was fat, which would make it appeal to 14 year olds and 21 year olds, so I included this part of the design to my final masthead design.

For the below image I decided not to use it as like the first design it was too skinny, however I did like how it looked formal and strong which I incorporated into my final piece as my music magazine is about inspiration and about the confidence to finally make a decision to choose music so this design held these characteristics, but it just looked too simplistic and lacked imagination.



For the 4th design I decided not to use this design for my masthead as it looked too similar to Vogue or Elle magazine, which I didn't want my music magazine to get confused with. Also for Vogue magazine their target audience is 20-30's and my target audience is for teens-young adults. I also didn't want to use this design as my music magazine is about inspiration, and is stripped back to just music and Vogue and Elle are more fashion based.

For the 5th design I decided not to use this design as it may hold characteristics that I like: skinny and  curvy, however it still resembled a newspaper text so I decided to look for a bolder design with these characteristics

For my 6th design I again decided not to use this design as it held most of the characteristics I likes as it was curvy in places, straight in place, fat and skinny, however unlike my final design for my masthead it didn't have a curvy 'R', which I liked as it looks simple yet elegant, plus while I was thinking of what design I wanted I wanted it to look like someone had wrote it, so that my masthead had a personal quality to it and this is what this design lacked.

The Conventions, the Producer and the Target Audience of My Text

The Conventions, the producer and target audience of my text

Conventions

The conventions for my colour that I am planning to use for my music magazine will be that they keep to my colour palette; red, black, white and blue. I have done this as when I was doing my research of music magazines I found that red, black and white were the three main colours used throughout the music magazine genre that I looked at. I also found that they use this colour palette for their masthead as they mostly always use red, black and white. I have used blue in mine as for the Billboard masthead they have put colours into the counters of the letters (inside the ‘P’ and ‘R’), and I liked how it was simple, yet creative, whilst still being able to keep the colour scheme conventions. I have used these four colours (red, black, blue and white) throughout my music magazine to keep continuity, my house style, to my colour palette and because in real life music magazines they choose 3-4 main colours use it for their masthead then continue these 3-4 throughout the magazine by using it in their fonts and images. For my front cover image I have kept to the conventions as I have found that in doing my research they usually use a medium close, so readers are drawn to the music magazine. Also from doing my survey questions on Survey Monkey I found that 45.5% wouldn’t buy a music magazine if they didn’t recognize the person or people on it so I decided to use for my main sell-line and main image I would simulate a well-known artist to ensure that it appeals to the target audience. For my Contents Page I will use a long shot, as it will pull the reader into the magazine so that they will have to look closer into the magazine to distinguish who are in the images. I will also use another, smaller image for the Contents Page as in NME magazine they are telling the reader to subscribe to the magazine, using an image of another of their magazines. I have chosen to do this as my idea for my magazine isn’t that you are looking for artists/bands specifically but looking for undiscovered artists, which there will always be a market for as I found in doing my research 54.5% would subscribe to a music magazine that was specifically designed to showcase undiscovered artists/bands as it ‘provide people with a different kind of music that they like’ For my Double Page Spread I am planning on using a long shot on the right page of the double page spread as I have found that when doing my research many real life music magazines do this. I also found that when I was doing student analysis that they used one page for text and the other page for a main image, which suggests to the reader that it won’t be too detailer or descriptive, however there will still be enough text to draw the readers in. For my textual elements I will try to keep my text as inspirational as possible, whilst still keeping it simplistic yet an element of complexity as it need to appeal to a wide target audience of 14-21 year olds. For my titles I am planning on using pull quotes as it draws readers into the text as it makes them want out know why the artist/band said that. I also found that they tend to use this in many music magazines to draw readers in like in NME magazine. For my font style I will use a simple style as it will be easier for the audience to read, also it will look/have a similarity to my masthead so it has an element of continuity, makes it look professional and keep into my house style.

 Producer

Future Publishing or Bauer Media Group would probably produce and distribute my magazine to the ‘real world’. I believe they would, as Future Publishing is an institution that I have researched to be ‘specialist publications’ and my magazine isn’t really a typical music magazine you would see. I also thought that Bauer Media Group would be a good institution to publish and distribute my music magazine, as for all it isn’t based in Britain, however it would make my music magazine become internationally liked as it would be bands/artist from different genres of music and countries so as to get a wider audience of readers. For all this is not a typical idea for a music magazine I believe that this would appeal to my specified target audience (14-21 years old) as there is already an existing market/audience out there who are trying to find undiscovered artists. I found this out when I was doing my research when I asked ‘Do you look for undiscovered artists/bands?’ 63.6% of them replied that they did, however found it usually online like Youtube, which made me decide that on my music magazine I needed to have a page/ article, which was where you could find undiscovered bands/artists, whilst still linking it to my magazine. From this I also found that I may need to take my magazine to the internet (a digital addition). will use the internet as my media platform as many of my target audience will usually find undiscovered artists/bands from websites like Youtube, so it would be a good way to get my target audience from that site to mine as they may find undiscovered artists there, but on my digital magazine and website they will find out more about the artist/band and about other artists/bands who they haven’t discovered yet.

Target Audience

My target audience is female 14-21 year olds specifically, however males may also be interested in the idea of a music magazine, which will have the up-and-coming artists, where they will be interviewed and commented on by the magazine and a link where the audience can comment on the article/artist/band. It won’t be like any other magazine as it will be for artists and bands who haven’t made it by competing in a talent show but progressing because of their own determination that will inspire my target audience. This idea of my target audience has also been baked up, as when I did my audience research they said ‘young adults + teenagers who are aspiring musical artists’, and ‘probably younger people, 21 and under maybe’. My target audience characteristic behaviours would be someone who looks for undiscovered artists and possibly someone who is looking for an inspiration to get deeper into music, whether that’s just them wanting to listen to people who got into music without the aid of talent shows or just wanting to listen to non-niche music or wanting to take a career in music. My target audience may like to magazines off the shelf, but may also want to get it digitally, so I will make it so that you can get it off the internet. My target audience would be into socializing, they may like social networking sites like Facebook or Twitter, but may like to just find the bands/artists they like and talk to their friends about it.

Photoshop Planning

Media Production

Photo shoot planning document

What emotional impact do you want your photography do have upon the reader? How?

For my photographs I want the emotional impact to be one of inspiration and admiration. To do this I will have my models looking fierce, strong, however still friendly.

What personnel do you need? Who are you going to photograph?

I will have 2 female models for my music magazine, using different lengths of shots and different clothing so it doesn’t look as though you have used the same image and make it look as though the images have purpose and not rushed.

What props will you need?

I will need to use a chair as a prop for my music magazine photographs, as they will be sitting down to show intimacy, for some of the photos so the audience don’t feel intimidated.

How are you going to emphasise colour?

For my photographs I will ask my models to wear colours, which fit in with my colour scheme, and try to keep away from other colours, as it won’t look as professional. I will also use red, as it will make parts of the model stand out against the rest of the images and text.

Have you briefed your personnel/models?

I have told my model when and where to meet me, how to style their hairs, what make-up to wear, what clothes and shoes to wear and other accessories they may need.

What lighting will you need? Any other equipment?

I will need to use a high/medium key lighting, so you would be able to see the model, and use a light to create a spotlight effect (placing the camera at the correct angle to get the light to be around the model). This will frame the model and help to keep the readers attention on the images and away from the text.  

Where will you shoot? Will you need a backdrop?

I will shoot my photographs in an inside location so I wouldn’t have to deal with weather conditions, also in an indoor location, I could change the lighting to suit my needs.

Make-up? Costume?

For my models I will get them to have little, if any makeup, so that it looks natural. By doing this it will make it more of a magazine of inspiration, rather than a cosmetic/fashion magazine. For my costumes I will get my models to wear colours which go with my colour scheme, so it will stand out against the text, however it will look professional, keep to my house style and have an element of continuity. 

The Recce

the ‘recce’

1.    Are there any potential hazards that could pose a health and safety risk where your photo shoot will take place (trailing cables/traffic/other objects)?

There could be a potential for the models to trip on camera equipment and/or props that are being used.

2.    What will you do to ensure these risks are minimised?

I will keep the camera equipment and props off the floor or out of the way of my models.

3.    Will the time of day/weather affect the outcome of the photos? Have you allowed for this?

Time of day may effect the lighting as I would have to put on a light on to substitute for natural lighting, however I could do the shoot at a time of day where the lighting would look natural and I could have other lighting equipment in case this happens.

4.    Have you considered the background to your photos, particularly if taken outside? How will you ensure you will get the background you want?

For my background I have considered of the possibility of the background ruining my photograph, so I have decided to have a plain background so it, will be easy edit.

5.    Have you considered lighting? What about the ‘problems’ of natural lighting, either outside, or streaming through a window? Will you need to use a flash? Have you considered reflective objects that might spoil the effect?

I have considered the lighting and I may have a problem for natural lighting, however I will arrange my shoot at the time of day the sun is best. I will also have other lighting equipment to substitute for the natural lighting.

6.    Do you need permission to take photos in the place/venue you have in mind?

I didn’t need to ask for permission to take photographs in the place I have in mind.

7.    Do you need to book time in a room (eg the photography studio at Shiney)?

No, as I was using my own facilities.

8.    Are other people/crowds likely to be an issue for you? What have you done to ensure that it will not spoil the effect?

To ensure that there aren’t other people in my shot so as not to spoil the effect, I will inform others of when the shoot was taking place.

9.    Are you reliant on lifts/props/friends’ equipment/models? How have you planned that these things will come together at the appointed time? Plan B?

I will be using my own lighting equipment, props, however I am relying on the model to bring costumes, so that it will fit the model, as it will be their own. For my Plan B I will have my own costumes so that they will be able to change into them if needed.  

10. Finally, have you thought of every eventuality…?

I have thought of lighting, props, models not turning up (have other models ready for the shoot), and if there is something that I haven’t accounted for I will arrange for another shoot, or go and get the thing I need to carry on the shoot.