Theme Ideas for Music Magazine

The Narrative/ Theme of my magazine will be that of reviewing 2008 as a year in music. This is why I have collected music magazines reviewing past years (Q Magazine reviewing 2007). I am doing this because at this moment in time in my design of my music magazine it is January 2009, therefore at the moment it is common in music magazines to review the year gone by in there January edition (first week of January if publicised weekly). In these January issues the connotation is to also look forward to the upcoming year as well as reflection, so my main story (Double page spread) will be to look ahead at a upcoming band who will be “Big” in 2009 (fictionally).

LIIAR of my music magazine.

L-Language:


the layout, font of the text, the text itself, images ( photographs), the process of photograph( black and white to colour), Masthead, puffs, the colour, the size of text and the colour of text.


In Music Magazines there is a lot of colour used on the front page, contents page and on the double page spread. The use of font is also very important as music magazine used very busy photographs as there background images so therefore the text has to be bold and recognisable. The plugs are positioned all over the front cover and contents page seemingly spread randomly although a lot of thought will go into creating a successful front cover of a magazine. The plugs are usually distributed around the central image using bold font and a using a witty choice of words.


I - Institution:


The audience of a young adults, students, and some teenagers. exiting stories as well as light hearted fun stories with mainly music stories although some stories are about modern occurring news articles and popular culture.


I - Ideology:


The message i would like to represent music in the media in a print publication. The genre of modern music which i would like to represent is roughly around Rock, Alternative and Indie music, much like magazines like "Q magazine" and "NME magazine"


A - Audience:


My Selective audience would be a young audience, pretty much the same as Q,NME, Kerrang! or Mojo. The target audience will be young people who are attending secondary school ,college or university or who have just left one of these. The music magazine will also be about in trend modern music ( indie music, indie rock, rock and alternative rock).


R - Representation:

Representation in a music magazine will be re-presenting the target audience in some instances interviews and letters from readers/target audience, talking about the magazine, upcoming events, gigs ect. As well as representing them it will also represent the modern music industry, and the people who work within the industry e.g. Artists ( Music), song writers, band members and managers etc.

Conventions of a modern music Magazine.

The Conventions of a modern music magazine include:

Front Cover

The front cover of any magazine is vital, it is what attracts the customer to your magazine and what determines if the magazine is bought or not. Here are some conventions of modern day music magazine front covers:

• Masthead although usually impeded by the main image on the front cover.


• The main image is usually a picture of the main story, double page spread.


• The front page is usually very busy with very little space without text.


• There is usually a colour scheme with in the magazine demonstrated on the front page.


• Plugs are used on the front page, to entice readers to buy the magazine.


• Under the Masthead there is usually a sub masthead with a sell line.


• The headline is big and bold ( splash) and draws attention to the front page.

Double page spread (main article)

The double page spread is the main article of the magazine and usually the main reason why readers buy that certain music magazine The conventions of a modern music magazines double page spread (main article) are:

• The double page spread conventionally has one full page photo with the article ( usually a written article or interview) on the opposing page.


• There is usually smaller images included in the article/interview.


• The main image is always to do with the band on the next page.


• There is different coloured font to show the reader that is a different and separate font, usually to show questions and answers.


• There is usually a title on the double page spread of the band.

Contents Page(s)
The contents page of a modern music magazine is usually accompanied on the opposite page by some sort of advertisement ( Music/album or a product which would appeal to the selective audience reading the magazine.

• The Contents page is usually split into sections usually include features, this month, every month and reviews.
• These sections are usually split up by using boxes and sub-headings.
• There will also usually be a medium close up of someone in the magazine with there page highlighted or repeated.

Contents of Q Magazine

Q Magazine has a large review section, including: new releases (music), music compilations, film and concert reviews, as well as radio and television reviews. It uses a star rating system from one to five stars, the rating an album receives in Q is often added to print and television advertising for the album in the UK and Ireland. It also compiles a list of approximately eight albums, which it classes as the best new releases of the last three months.
Much of the magazine is devoted to interviews with popular musical artists. Popular culture as well s people In the media spot light from Razorlight to Barrack Obama.
The magazine is well known for compiling lists. It has created many, ranging from "The 100 Greatest albums" to the "100 Greatest '100 Greatest' Lists". The most famous of these is the classic "50 bands to see before you die". Every other month, Q has a special edition. These have been about musical times, genres, or a very important/influential musician. Q often give away free gifts such as books and CD’s.
Every issue of Q has a different message on the spine. Readers then try to work out what the message has to do with the contents of the magazine. This practice — known as the "spine line" — has since become commonplace among British lifestyle magazines, including Q's linked magazines, Empire and the football monthly FourFourTwo.
Usual features include The Q50, wherein the magazine lists the top 50 essential tracks of the month; Questions for money: where if you get the correct answer you win a prize, or if your question or comment is posted in the magazine you receive a cash prize.

Music Magazine

after completing my preliminary task I'm know in the process of producing a music magazine. In the following posts i will be researching, planning and designing a new music magazines'

• Front page


• Contents Page


• Double page spread

Front page Ideas

for the masthead of the Magazine i will call it : WYKE Magazine

My Headline will be : "Get your term off to a BANG ! "

and the sub-title : " Explosive ways to help your education"

The Logo i will use : the "Wyke" logo

The contact details i will use : the contact details of the Sixth form college

Plug Ideas:

• free £5 iTunes Voucher




• Student exchange with African college




• Top ten courserwork tips




• new biulding plans




• ash Biulding success so far




• Bombfire night special




• halloween special




• Halloween Party at Welly!
  

Photo Ideas relevant to story

(took on Bombfire night)

I will need to add a medium close up of a person ( Myself) to the Front page.

Planning Contents page