I asked 10 people, ranging from 14 - 26, the outline ages of my target audience, their thoughts on the magazine. I got the same feedback from each person.
Firstly, they thought the idea was fresh and unique, though were not sure whether they would want to read about all the genres included in the magazine. They did note however that they were open to learning about music they did not normally listen to, and after reading about their favourite ones, thought that they would probably read about the others had they bought the magazine.
Secondly, they thought the front cover was eye catching, because it was unlike any other music magazines. However interestingly, they noted that at a glance they would not first notice that it was a music magazine, even if they did see the picture of the man with the guitar. They said this was because the magazine is so different from others, its almost unexpected.
The interview they felt, although humourous, useful and very interesting/informative, it wasn't representitive of most pop music, and not advertised properly on the front cover and contents page.
Finally, onto the contents page, they felt wasn't effective. They were put off by the clash of the many different fonts, but not the colours as they felt the colours worked well together on the front cover, and so could be matched in the contents page. It was the fonts that were 'too much'.
Monday, 15 March 2010
What have you learnt about technologies?
I have learnt a lot about technologies, following a photoshop course. This was very useful, and helped me complete all three pieces of practical work on photoshop. When I completed my school magazine, I didn't properly know how to use photoshop, and it showed, with my final piece looking unsatisfying, and flat. The main skill I learnt was how to properly organise my work, and how to navigate the layers on photoshop. This was tremendously useful in overcoming minor technical difficulties that would otherwise have been vastly time consuming, and allowing me to work at a much faster pace.
I also learnt about many of the tools that allow you to customise shapes to make original designs, rather than work with pre-made fonts and structures. One of these is the 'liquify' tool. I used this tool to make the eye catching, dynamic looking logo/title, that reads 'music genre'.
Another technological skill I learnt was to do with working with photos. I learnt quick and easy methods of cutting out photos, to make them look clean and to have lost the background, which was very important, as the photo's throughout my magazine needed to be of specific images, so they could then be added with a white outline which would help tie them into the magazine.
I also learnt about many of the tools that allow you to customise shapes to make original designs, rather than work with pre-made fonts and structures. One of these is the 'liquify' tool. I used this tool to make the eye catching, dynamic looking logo/title, that reads 'music genre'.
Another technological skill I learnt was to do with working with photos. I learnt quick and easy methods of cutting out photos, to make them look clean and to have lost the background, which was very important, as the photo's throughout my magazine needed to be of specific images, so they could then be added with a white outline which would help tie them into the magazine.
How does your magazine attract/address your target audience?
I have spoken about how my magazine as a whole attracts the audience, however, not how the front cover does. On a simple level, the front cover uses lots of bright colours, that would attract the eye of potential buyers. Furthermore, there is a catchy tag line: 'All the GENRES - rolled into one'. This sums up the magazine, making its format understandable and therefore accessible. Finally, the picture is of an attractive young man, so would appeal to the female members of my target audience, and the male ones who think he look's good. The title/logo is written in a flashy, modern font, giving connotations of 'modern' and 'clean'. This will help attract a modern audience.
The language in my magazine is not patronising, but easy to understand and accessible. If I was to write an article about 'Jazz' in my magazine that was patronising, it wouldn't work. Firstly, readers who know a lot about jazz don't want to read about things they already know a great deal about. Secondly, readers who want to learn about jazz will not learn that much if it is about 'amateur, beginners' jazz. Therefore, the article would have include complicated information, and in order for outsiders of jazz to access it, would need to be written very carefully. Of course, these points apply to all the genres of music, jazz is just an example.
Another way my music magazine attracts my audience is to have prizes, competitions and in this particular issue, discounts. It is important that my magazine becomes established as a good, well known magazine. So discounts on future buys will be sold on the first 5 issues. The buyers will receive a card to claim these discounts, as though introducing them to a special club. There will be other ways of acquiring one of these 'discount cards', through competitions and such, so readers will want to try and become a 'card holder'.
The language in my magazine is not patronising, but easy to understand and accessible. If I was to write an article about 'Jazz' in my magazine that was patronising, it wouldn't work. Firstly, readers who know a lot about jazz don't want to read about things they already know a great deal about. Secondly, readers who want to learn about jazz will not learn that much if it is about 'amateur, beginners' jazz. Therefore, the article would have include complicated information, and in order for outsiders of jazz to access it, would need to be written very carefully. Of course, these points apply to all the genres of music, jazz is just an example.
Another way my music magazine attracts my audience is to have prizes, competitions and in this particular issue, discounts. It is important that my magazine becomes established as a good, well known magazine. So discounts on future buys will be sold on the first 5 issues. The buyers will receive a card to claim these discounts, as though introducing them to a special club. There will be other ways of acquiring one of these 'discount cards', through competitions and such, so readers will want to try and become a 'card holder'.
What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
My music magazine would be distributed in a number of different types of places. It would be sold in supermarkets, because the audience is young to 20+, so that some potential buyers will be shopping for their food, and buy the magazine with their loose change, as it is quite cheap. Many people go to supermarkets, therefore many potential buyers, so their attention would need to be drawn to the magazine. 'Point of sale's' could be created to put in them, to advertise the magazine when it first starts, to help get the magazine properly established in the minds of potential readers.
Off licences would also be a good place to distribute 'Music Genre' music magazine, as my younger audience often go there.
Another, unique place to sell my magazine would be at gig's and festivals, run by 'Genre' music magazine. This would be a place to increase sales after my magazine has been established properly, but stalls could be run selling the magazines. Therefore, my audience would definitely be at these events, as they would be interested in the music, and so would be a great place to sell the magazine.
Selling the magazine online would also be a good way of selling the magazine. A buyer could pay online for a down-loadable version of the music magazine, via the website, which would be the same only read on the screen. It would be an accessible way of buying the magazine, as most people including my audience would have internet. Furthermore, it is cheaper than selling through the mail, as it cancels out postage and packaging prices, and just the same as mail in the way that it cancels out the hassle of leaving the house to buy.
Off licences would also be a good place to distribute 'Music Genre' music magazine, as my younger audience often go there.
Another, unique place to sell my magazine would be at gig's and festivals, run by 'Genre' music magazine. This would be a place to increase sales after my magazine has been established properly, but stalls could be run selling the magazines. Therefore, my audience would definitely be at these events, as they would be interested in the music, and so would be a great place to sell the magazine.
Selling the magazine online would also be a good way of selling the magazine. A buyer could pay online for a down-loadable version of the music magazine, via the website, which would be the same only read on the screen. It would be an accessible way of buying the magazine, as most people including my audience would have internet. Furthermore, it is cheaper than selling through the mail, as it cancels out postage and packaging prices, and just the same as mail in the way that it cancels out the hassle of leaving the house to buy.
In what ways does your media product use or challenge forms and conventions of real products?
After analysing other modern music magazines, I decided to challenge the conventions of these magazines. However, I did use some of the forms and conventions of other music magazines. The photo on my front cover is of an attractive young man, who is fairly normal looking. This is typical of lots of modern magazines. I also use a catchy tag line, that would be repeated on each magazine. Furthermore, on my contents page, I quite formally list the articles in page order, to make the magazine easy to access. Also, my feature is a standard interview.
The price of my magazine is a fairly typical price - £2.50, as the average price music magazine readers are willing to pay. My magazine uses two colours to tie the magazine together, white and black.
But, as I noted before, my magazine is fairly unconventional. My magazine uses many different colours on the front cover and throughout, as opposed to the usual 3 or 4 main colours used to represent a magazine. The image on the front cover is very small, and does not take up the whole page. However, even though it's small, it is placed in the middle of the page, so is still eye catching and central to the front cover. The title is similar - normally it would be at the top of the front cover, but is slightly lower down, to tie it to the image. Because of the bold contrast of white and black, it is still obviously the title, and still eye catching. Furthermore, on the front cover, there is very little information, as opposed to modern music magazines. However I felt that when too much information was added to the front cover, it eventually looked clattered and crowded. Furthermore, reducing the amount of information on the front cover would make my front cover stand out from conventional ones, as it is different and unique, and therefore would encourage potential buyers to open the magazine and read it.
Most music magazines only cover specific music genres, either one or two music types or music from specific eras. Alternatively, they cover only the mainstream genres; the genres that are the most popular. My magazine covers all the different types of music; all the genres. I have discussed why previously.
The price of my magazine is a fairly typical price - £2.50, as the average price music magazine readers are willing to pay. My magazine uses two colours to tie the magazine together, white and black.
But, as I noted before, my magazine is fairly unconventional. My magazine uses many different colours on the front cover and throughout, as opposed to the usual 3 or 4 main colours used to represent a magazine. The image on the front cover is very small, and does not take up the whole page. However, even though it's small, it is placed in the middle of the page, so is still eye catching and central to the front cover. The title is similar - normally it would be at the top of the front cover, but is slightly lower down, to tie it to the image. Because of the bold contrast of white and black, it is still obviously the title, and still eye catching. Furthermore, on the front cover, there is very little information, as opposed to modern music magazines. However I felt that when too much information was added to the front cover, it eventually looked clattered and crowded. Furthermore, reducing the amount of information on the front cover would make my front cover stand out from conventional ones, as it is different and unique, and therefore would encourage potential buyers to open the magazine and read it.
Most music magazines only cover specific music genres, either one or two music types or music from specific eras. Alternatively, they cover only the mainstream genres; the genres that are the most popular. My magazine covers all the different types of music; all the genres. I have discussed why previously.
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