Planning Task Three : Masthead Design

 

I eventually came up with 5 masthead designs, that all reflected the image that I had imagined for my magazine masthead. Although the first O of each doesn't have a treble clef sign replacing it yet, i still liked how the other letters looked. I mainly liked the capital letters and expanded, long designs for all of them. The first and fourth ones are my favourite but very similar. 

1. clear, easy to read, looks neat yet still cool.

2. Wasn't a big fan of this one because it looks like the ODEON sign.

3. Very chic but I want a bolder, thicker title.

4. I love this one - clear and easy to understand and see. 

5. I didn't like this one as its too vampire-like and looks like a film title.

Planning Task One: Magazine Title and Strapline

 

Research Task Nine : Target Audience Research And Analysis

 Interviewing people ages 16-25

Including:

• Gender
• Age
• Favourite genres of music
• Favourite artists
• Do they buy music magazines? If so, which and why? If not, why not?
• Do they visit music magazine websites? If so, which and why? If not, why not?
• Do they go to gigs? If so, which, when and why? If not, why not?
• Where do they find out information about music? (radio, social media, etc)
• If a news music magazine was being published, what would they want to see in it?
• If a new music magazine was being published, what would make them want to buy it and/or visit its website?
• How much would they be prepared to pay for a music magazine?
• Are there any things that would encourage them to buy the first edition of a new music magazine?

My RESEARCH:

Feedback 1: Luxsian Sivakumar

1) Gender: Male 

2) Age: 16

3) Occupation: unemployed

4) Student?: Yes

5) Favourite music genre: R&B, Pop and Indie

6) Favourite artists: Brent Faiyaz, Sza, Doja Cat

7) Do they buy music magazines?:  "I don't buy music magazines as I don't have use for them."

8) Do they visit music magazine websites?: "Only when it concerns concert tickets and new music releases but mainly I use social media."

9) Do they go to gigs?: "There often aren't gigs that are in close areas that I'm particularly interested in going to. I'm sure I would if my fav artists were preforming at a local bar."

10) Where do they find out information about music?: Social media and friends.

11) If a new music magazine was being published, what would they want to see in it?: " News about new albums, releases etc."

12) If a new music magazine was being published, what would make them want to buy it and/or visit its website? : "If it included interesting information about artists and their songs."

13) How much would they be prepared to pay for a music magazine?: Roughly £3.50

14) Are there any things that would encourage them to buy the first edition of a new music magazine?: "Information about cheap tickets and concerts."

Feedback 2:  @acancersdigitaldiary

1) Gender: female 

2) Age: 18

3) Occupation: Next employee

4) Student?: Yes

5) Favorited music genre: Indie

6) Favourite artists: Lana del Rey, Cigarettes after S*x, Johnny Orlando.

7) Do they buy music magazines?:  "No, I'm not interested enough to spend money on music related things."

8) Do they visit music magazine websites?: "Never have thought about it before."

9) Do they go to gigs?: "I've been to a few local ones in university bars."

10) Where do they find out information about music?: Friends and Spotify.

11) If a new music magazine was being published, what would they want to see in it?: " concert information and maybe some aspects of artists fashion?"

12) If a new music magazine was being published, what would make them want to buy it and/or visit its website? : "Concert tickets, fashion, new releases etc."

13) How much would they be prepared to pay for a music magazine?:  £5

14) Are there any things that would encourage them to buy the first edition of a new music magazine?: "Information about concerts."

Feedback 3:  April (@Elijahwoodlover)

1) Gender: Female 

2) Age: 19

3) Occupation: unemployed

4) Student?: Yes

5) Favourite music genre: R&b

6) Favourite artists: Frank Ocean and grimes

7) Do they buy music magazines?:  "I don't."

8) Do they visit music magazine websites?: "No, but I use social media."

9) Do they go to gigs?: "Sometimes with friends if we like the artist."

10) Where do they find out information about music?: Instagram.

11) If a new music magazine was being published, what would they want to see in it?: " info about new albums and releases."

12) If a new music magazine was being published, what would make them want to buy it and/or visit its website? : "Artist beef would be interesting to read about."

13) How much would they be prepared to pay for a music magazine?: £5

14) Are there any things that would encourage them to buy the first edition of a new music magazine?: "Information about concerts and some celeb drama."

Feedback 4:  Grace Doctor

1) Gender: female

2) Age: 16

3) Occupation:  waitress

4) Student?: No.

5) Favourite music genre: Rap and opium.

6) Favourite artists: Future and Travis Scott

7) Do they buy music magazines?:  "No and haven't before."

8) Do they visit music magazine websites?: "I use social media."

9) Do they go to gigs?: "No but i go to concerts monthly, weekly in the summer."

10) Where do they find out information about music?: Instagram and TikTok.

11) If a new music magazine was being published, what would they want to see in it?: " Concerts."

12) If a new music magazine was being published, what would make them want to buy it and/or visit its website? : "New releases and good-looking, fit artists like Boogie with da Hoodie."

13) How much would they be prepared to pay for a music magazine?:  £4

14) Are there any things that would encourage them to buy the first edition of a new music magazine?: "concerts."

Feedback 5: Emmy (@slumpmassigt)

1) Gender: Female

2) Age: 18

3) Occupation: singer

4) Student?: Yes

5) Favourite music genre:  Folk and Bossa Nova

6) Favourite artists: Lana del Rey

7) Do they buy music magazines?:  "I don't rlly need them tbh."

8) Do they visit music magazine websites?: "I just use social media."

9) Do they go to gigs?: "I think i went to a few with friends but not by choice, just at a bar and there is a random band or something playing there.."

10) Where do they find out information about music?: Insta and songkick.

11) If a new music magazine was being published, what would they want to see in it?: " News about artists and bands that I don't see on social media."

12) If a new music magazine was being published, what would make them want to buy it and/or visit its website? : "interesting information about artists I like or that are very underground."

13) How much would they be prepared to pay for a music magazine?:  £3.50

14) Are there any things that would encourage them to buy the first edition of a new music magazine?: "Tickets for live events maybe."

Feedback 6:  Ellis 

1) Gender: Male 

2) Age: 20

3) Occupation: unknown.

4) Student?: No.

5) Favourite music genre:  Alternative, rock and shoegaze.

6) Favourite artists:  Deftones.

7) Do they buy music magazines?:  "I don't need them so no."

8) Do they visit music magazine websites?: " Sometimes for concert tickets and new music releases."

9) Do they go to gigs?: "No."

10) Where do they find out information about music?: Social media and friends.

11) If a new music magazine was being published, what would they want to see in it?: " I wouldn't mind seeing new artists getting some recognition and promotion for their work, especially young artists."

12) If a new music magazine was being published, what would make them want to buy it and/or visit its website? : "Cool info not available on social media ."

13) How much would they be prepared to pay for a music magazine?:  £7

14) Are there any things that would encourage them to buy the first edition of a new music magazine?: "Vinyls, releases and artists info."

Reflection Point : What Have I Learned About Independent Music Magazine Websites?

 Independent music magazine websites often follow extremely similar structures. I noticed that all websites include their front cover of the latest issue in the centre of the top of the home page, this advertises it and creates promotion for the magazine, whilst the magazine does the same about the website. Social media links are included, often at the top, alongside hyperlinks to other parts of the website that are stationed at the top of the page (horizontally) and advertisements for brands, artists and shows etc are commonly on the sides, besides the main writing on the home page. Independent music magazine websites also include the brand logo, I noticed it was mainly in either the top left corner or the top centre of the page when it first pops up. The use of using a logo on the website that mirrors the magazines logo is that it creates brand identity and familiarity with an audience. A search bar can commonly be found below the hyperlinks, that direct readers to a more specific section of the website. Also, news flashes and "exclusive" interviews are labelled and placed on the main page near the top, as they gain attention and make the website look well  informed and eye catching/interesting.

Research Task Eight : Research Into Other Independent Music Magazine Websites

Under The Radar website - Home page analysis.

1. 

2. Lower on the home page:

Magazine 2 - So Young

Research Task Seven : Independent Music Magazine Websites

 

SCREENSHOT 1 : TheWire homepage (upper)

                                             SCREENSHOT 2: TheWire homepage (lower)

Reflection Point : What Have I Learned About Magazine Contents Pages?

 

Magazine contents pages often include various columns that separate certain information from others. These normally include things such as news, fashion , blogs and reviews etc. These columns also include images that anchor to this information and reflect contents included in the magazine. Colours used aren't always similar but commonly, a magazine will have a chosen colour, often the colour of the title of main image and stick to that colour throughout. This colour is then used for font, backgrounds and dominating images etc. Contents pages also seem to use numbers to separate sections and state page numbers, these are in bold and sometimes a different font to the text font.  Most content pages are structured the same and include roughly the same layout.