Research and Planning: Costume and Props List

For my props/.background I will need:
A surrounding with a plain white background.

The costume I will need for my front cover:
Skinny Jeans
Blazer
Buttoned up shirt
Bow Tie/Bowler hat
Heeled Ankle Boots

 I will be taking inspiration these sorts of images to create my own style for my front cover. 

So we can create a masculine/feminine look. I will be able to provide most of the outfit myself i.e. clothes I already own and I may have to buy a few little things like the bow tie or a hat if I cannot find one.
On the inside I want her to wearing a different outfit. So we can create a really laid back feel so I will need:
Vintage Shorts
Band T-Shirt
Converse

I will get inspiration from these sorts of images for the inside of my magazine, so I can create a laid back feel and look indie. 

I will be able to create this outfit using things I already own and may be able to test out a few t-shirts with the outfits and see what works best. 

Research And Planning: Audience Interviews

     These are three audience interviews I did of my target audience.

Research and Planning: Double Page Spread Analysis.

Q Double Page Spread.

Genre: The genre of this double page spread is indie alternative, you can tell this through the band that is featured, Arcade Fire. And also the colours used are associated with the indie alternative scene, i.e. red, black and white.
Target Audience: I would say that this double page spread is gender neutral because the band has many members of both genders although only two are featured. But the colours used are simple and bold which may suggest a more male audience although I think that due to the picture, it doesn't stand out to much as a male magazine. Age of the target audience I would probably say is around late teens (16+)-early/mid twenties rather than a younger audience that may be interested in a pop magazine. The audience interested in this double page spread will obviously be fans of the band or people that get the magazine all the time, but also it could appeal to an audience that is interested in finding out about new bands.
Layout: There is only one picture used on the double page spread and as usually seen in an indie music magazine, a long shot is used. I think that the one picture works well on the far left of the page and immediately catches your eye when you turn the page. I think the use of the bigger letters (i.e. the T behind the text and the O and E that are part of the text) break up the long text, I especially think that the T looks effective placed behind the text, it just breaks up the text I think the bigger O and E also help in breaking it up. I like that all the text is set into columns, and you can't tell on here but the questions are actually in bold so you know what is being asked and it doesn't just blend into the text. I like the big red quote that they have used and the colour red is associated with the indie style so it links to the magazine and also the quote works well it getting the attention of the readers. I also like the heading band along the top of the page because it keeps the heading neat and also advertises the bands name.
Media Language: The picture used of Arcade Fire is a long shot which I think it taken from a slightly low angle due to the jumping and shadows, the use of long shot also links with the indie vibe and shows of the clothes.
Representation: I think that because the people are jumping in the photo, a long shot was the most suitable to use; I also think that the picture creates a kind of pumped up vibe but because of the style of clothes and the plain white background, I think it also seems laid-back.

Research and Planning: Questionnaire and Results.

 

My questionnaire and the results put into pie charts.

Research and Planning: My First Podcast

My first podcast, basically saying what I have already done for my music magazine and all my research. I forgot to include what I need to be doing next which is basically deciding what costume and props I will need for my magazine and then actually working on completing it.

Research and Planning: Music Magazine Drafts.

Researcch and Planning: Music Collage

This is a collage of music artists for my chosen genre.

Research and Planning: Contents Page Analysis

Q Contents Page: Analysis.
Genre: The genre of this magazine is mainly Indie Alternative and you can tell this from the contents because of the band used as the main feature and the photo used, they have a relaxed laid-back style. Also looking at the actual stories and the bands they feature in the magazine then it's obvious which genre it is.
Target Audience: This magazine is obviously aimed more at a male audience because they feature heavily in male bands i.e. The Courteeners, Oasis. Also the colours used are quite masculine, the black, white and red which are just simple and minimalistic, the colours are just basic and bold also suggesting a male audience because there is no 'fuss' to the magazine. Age I would probably say it's aimed more at the later teens and twenties rather than a younger audience for example in a pop magazine. The audience that are interested in this magazine are obviously going to be very interested in music as this magazine is pure music and not much else I would also say they would have an interest in the socialising and gigging side to music as it's got that relaxed feel to it and nothing is too hyped like in a pop magazine.
Layout: For the contents itself they only use a small column on the left and some feature in the box at the bottom but they do not feature every single page in the contents just the main features and things which stand out more and will be what the audience are mainly interested in finding. They also group topics together like the column on the left is for this months features and highlighted in a gold box is the main band feature which looks really effective because it catches the eye. Also they have a review section which has it's own picture in which is again that laid-back style and they have a big picture of the Courteeners which also feature, both shots are longs shots which is used a lot in indie magazines. And they have a small box at the bottom which is for things that are included every month so their audience know where to find the regular things.
Representation: The band that are featured mainly seem to be really relaxed they are not specifically made up for the magazine and have simple t-shirt and skinny jeans on typical to the genre and the hair is just loose and not really made-up so the whole magazine already has a sense on relaxed and laid-back unlike a pop magazine which is very made-up and really bold. Both photo's used seem to be in random locations but the top one seems to be in the hills which has a sense of a local town which could be a reflection of the magazine and who they feature.
Media Language: Both photos are long shots so we can see all of the band in the feature, it's rare that close-up's are used in indie magazine's. The top photo is shot from a slightly lower shot but not to noticeable so the audience can still relate to them on a level but also looking up at them as though they will be upcoming in the charts possibly.

Research and Planning: Target Audience

Target Audience.

• Aged from about 16+ to young adults in their mid-twenties. 
• Gender is a mixture of both but with my magazine I wanted to focus on the female indie artists and appeal more to a female audience because there aren't many out there that do that.
• Occupation, most likely still students in college and university or just starting out in jobs.
• Class, will probably be working class.
• Wealth, my magazine won't really be that expensive so it can appeal to all wealth's and it will focus on local gigs and things that can be done quite cheap. 
• Interests, obviously my magazine the audience will need a keen interest in music but it also appeals to people who like gigging, socialising, nightlife and it has a little bit on fashion only because fashion is heavily influenced by fashion. 
• Outlook for future, probably not settling down until later on and focusing more on their social life, probably going to university and then starting a career.
• How are you going to reach them? I will probably use a female artist on the front so I can appeal to that audience and include things like gig guides and reviews on local bands as well as big name bands. 

Research and Planning: Music Magazine Masthead.

My Music Magazine Masthead.

Research and Planning: Storyboard.

We created a story board by taking our own photos, around the college to create a story. Our's heavily represents gender.

Research and Planning: Music Magazine Analysis

NME Magazine: Florence and the Machine.
The genre of this magazine is indie alternative, you can tell but the artist on the front and the features on the sides.
Florence and the Machine is the featured artist on the front, and she is obviously a big name because they have a huge close-up of her on the front cover but as well, at the top it says that there are 10 covers to collect so it's obviously a popular magazine as it has many artists being featured on it's covers. You can't see what she is wearing, but what does stand out is her bright red hair so again it has that sort of 'individual' style to her and the red seems to be a colour that features a lot in the 'indie alternative' genre. She has quite a calm look on her face which contrasts with the fiery red of her hair.
The target audience for this magazine is probably teens to young adults (15+-mid/late twenties) because of the young current artists on the front and featured in the magazine as well, it also features some people that are in the 'pop' charts and some that aren't so it's obviously for people with a keen interest in music, and again that feeling of being 'alternative' and not listening to the 'norm'.
The shot used for the cover is a close-up of her, which is a lot different to my previous magazine and again not seen too often on covers, it's usually a medium close-up or a mid shot so again the cover definitely catches your eye. This magazine only uses one font mainly (but features a smaller different font) which a simple bold font which definitely makes the text stand out but also lets the masthead get lost in the stories because it is so similar. The font's are just an average size for every magazine, about 12-14pt. And you can't really see the clothes used on this picture, and there are no props either. So this cover is very much just about the artist and catching people's attention with such a big name on the front of the magazine.

Research and Planning: Music Magazine Analysis

Q Magazine: Muse.
The genre of this magazine is Indie Alternative, well I can tell by the band and features on the front of the magazine and the photograph is 'typical rock star' image, i.e. smashing up the guitar so even from that you get the indie vibe.
The band on the front is only represented by one member, and they are wearing the 'typical indie style' i.e. the skinny jeans and the pointed shoes and blazer and along with the guitar which reflects their band the whole style. The front of the magazine does have a sense of anger and aggression which seems almost typical of the style of music. But as well, the cover also seems fun.
The audience for this magazine is probably in the younger range i.e. teens (15+) to young adults (up to mid/late twenties) and I think you can tell due to the fashion on the front and the latest bands featured on the front. Also one of the stories involves the Beetles which may seem like it's aiming for the older range but the younger audience is becoming more interested in the older bands and this idea of the music they listen to being 'individual'.
The front of this magazine has used a long shot for the cover which isn't seen often, which makes the magazine stand out and also because with this genre comes a heavy fashion influence then it shows the clothes off well too. They have used two fonts; for the masthead what looks like a Times New Roman or something like that and the stories are in a simple arial font (I think) and I think these both look well together. The magazine sticks to the three colour rule and has red, white and black which work well together on this magazine. The clothes like I said have that 'typical indie vibe' and they also have a guitar which plays on the stereotypes of 'rock 'n' roll'.