Market research on Prezi

Annotations of front cover drafts.

Target audience, cost and publishing of my music magazine

Demographics & Psycho graphics:

The target audience for my music magazine will be as follows; aged between 16-30 both males and females. Looking at the S.E.G (socio-economic group) scale, this is based upon the estimated income of people living in the U.K. I feel most comfortable with aiming my magazine at people who fall into the C1, C2, D & E bands they take up 82% of the U.K’s population and most if not all administrative workers, semi-skilled workers or unemployed. Now looking at the VAL scale (value of lives) my target audience will all hopefully come from each category therefore it’s easier to please everybody when creating my magazine rather than focusing on one particular group e.g. groups who are inner-directed (experimentalists and I-am-me’s) then I would therefore have to make the magazine’s house style less consistent and make it more scattered and dispersed.

Pricing/publishing:

Considering the demographics and psycho graphics of my magazine, they’ve helped me to make a decision for the price and publishing of my magazine too. It will be priced at £2.50, and published every month, I’ve chosen to do this because I believe that even if you’re unemployed or on a low income, you can still afford £2.50 each month on a treat, in this case my music magazine! After looking at the prices of other music magazines that are published monthly such as; ‘Q’ and ‘Clash’ they’re priced at around £3.50, therefore I believe there’s a gap in the market for the price range of my magazine.

LIIAR analysis iDJ magazine

The masthead is in the left hand corner and stands out above the red background, also because it’s in blocked letters it stands out above the rest of the writing/ headlines. The background colouring, which is red gives connotations of death, therefore it cleverly assists the main image as it looks like they’re dying. There are 10 cover lines on the front cover, proving that there’s a lot of content within the magazine itself. There’s a sky line along the top running from left to right which immediately becomes eye-catching for the audience. The way in which the bar-code and price are embedded within the awards that the magazine has won is clever, because it’s obvious the reader will look for the price, so will therefore see the awards too. At the bottom, there’s also a banner that promotes the magazine even more, it also suggests that it connotes ‘Bible’ qualities. I like the use of different fonts and their sizes; therefore they’re all individually striking. The house style that ‘iDJ’ has chosen to follow is; red and black. I’ve now noticed that by looking at the two previous music magazines that red is a very popular colour to follow for a house style, this could maybe connote a love and passion for music? Or just simply that it will stand out above any other magazine on a shop shelf. Looking at the layout of the magazine and where certain things are situated has to be taken into consideration when analysing any magazine, considering ‘iDJ’s’ layout it appears that most of the information, including the strap lines (which sum up what’s in the magazine) and synergy are promoted upon the left hand side below the masthead, I believe this is a cunning way to draw the reader in even more because it’s obvious that once they’ve seen the masthead they will want to know what is inside the magazine. Comparing ‘iDJ’ to ‘Mojo’ magazine and also exploring the way in which they both use teasing contents there is quite a varying difference, ‘iDJ’ has 3 teasing headlines which are on the opposing side to the strap lines and above the bar-code, using more than one teasing headline, again is certainly clever because the reader has three reasons to open the magazine up, yet upon ‘Mojo’ magazine, there’s not a single teasing headline! IDJ magazine is its own institution just like ‘Clash’ magazine, I believe they’ve taken their layout style ideas from ‘Mojo’ magazine and ‘NME’ too, I guess because they’re their own manager they can choose what they do and how they do it, and therefore there will be a most definite gap in the market for them. The message and moral issues that this magazine front cover gives off is that just like them, you can be an individual that’s interested in dance music and RnB too. The audience for ‘iDJ’ magazine, is stated in the logo of the magazine ‘DJ’s’, it’s not only aimed at those, but people who are interested in dance music too and of course anyone else who wishes to read it, the S.E.G banding group that the audience are from, is; from C1-E, they’ll probably be mostly students aged between 16-30, who are taking up DJ’ing as a part time job. They will be driven by needs (wanting to earn a living) yet as well they will be inner and outer directed because many students are experimental yet do want to achieve in life. The representation of ‘iDJ’ comes from the denotation ‘DJ’ DJ’s are represented in a positive light from this front cover.

Firstly looking at the layout of the contents page, it appears that the thumbnail images are the most important feature, then the headlines and strap lines which connote each other with the page number used as a caption in this case. The house style has followed on from the front cover (black and red) which just like ‘Clash’ and ‘Mojo’ magazine proves a professional flare and edge to the magazine and it’s institution. A different take upon the music magazine genre that ‘iDJ’ has taken upon itself is that instead of the editorial team and address being featured near the end or on the back page, it’s on the contents therefore it makes it more personal for the reader, almost as if they can interact with the team and see who has written what article before they read it. The way in there’s a section for ‘regulars’ again proves that the readers will be buying the magazine on a regular basis. One thing that’s clear though is the fact that the thumbnail images are all of males, I believe that this could be interpreted in two ways, the first being; sexism and subsequently going against their target audience, or simply a huge coincidence that each feature in the magazine has no need to reach out to a female audience. Upon the contents page the background is white therefore giving their other house style colour to appear upon the captions, outlining the contents ‘masthead’ and when giving information about the editorial team, again this is another devious tactic because the red helps to lure the reader into the subject matter that needs to be focused on.

Looking at the language on ‘iDJ’s’ double page spread it appears that the main word they want to stand out is ‘HEX’, a double entendre

LIIAR analysis Mojo magazine

The first thing that becomes apparent when you look at the front cover of ‘Mojo’ magazine compared to ‘Clash’ is that it’s bursting with headlines, images and colours, to me this makes the cover a lot more appealing than ‘Clash’ I also like the fact that there’s only two main colours (black and red) to set the house style as well. The mast head stands out quite well, but the main head line has more of an appeal to it, which therefore distracts the reader from the mast head. Although I like the way there’s more contents on the front cover compared to Clash magazine, there’s possibly just a little bit too much! The price and bar code  are in the bottom right hand corner and cleverly just blend in to the background, which I believe is a good thing as it doesn’t distract the reader from the rest of the features although it could be bad for the retail of the product. There’s only one thumbnail image upon the front page, again just like Clash magazine, I think this is a purposeful intention of the editor, so it doesn’t divert the readers eyes away from the main featured article. Compared to Clash magazine, there’s an awful lot of teasing comments presented along the bottom, perhaps too much again, but upon the top left corner there’s another convention used, to explain you get a free C.D inside this is called a 'splash'graphic. The main headline does relate to the highlighted image, showing professional qualities. Bauer media group’s the institution behind Mojo magazine and is a well respected institution too, also owning two other music magazines (Q and KERRANG) establishing the fact that these three magazines must follow a similar style and music genre as one another. Ideology: it must be to prove that rock music also has a place in the music World, just like pop, indie, classical e.t.c. The target audience for Mojo magazine, is for those who are interested in rock music and I don’t think it matters how old you are either, because it’s been around since 1993 and looking at some previous issues of Mojo there are a number of older rock bands featured such as; The Who and Pink Floyd compared to The Doors (featured) and Oasis. Finally the way in which the target audience are represented just by the front cover of Mojo is somewhat positive, but there could be a problem with stereotyping, simply because of the ‘rock’ element and how badly fans/supporters of rocks are negatively/badly represented by the press.

The first thing that becomes apparent on the contents page, is that it doesn’t actually say ‘contents’ anywhere, maybe after all it isn’t that professional, or it could be that the target audience subscribe to the magazine so they know what to expect? This is suggested by the caption ‘REGULARS’ connoting regular readers. I like the way the images along the left hand side are a selection of sizes implying that perhaps the larger photos are of more importance than the smaller ones? Also the pictures have captions with them so you can locate them to the listing along the right hand side. The house style has been shadowed onto the contents page giving it that professional flare once again. I find the notes from the editors/team add a rather personal touch to the magazine most definitely if you are a ‘regular’ reader. Once again just like front cover there’s a lot of content upon the contents page which I find rather distracting, but to some this could be quite appealing and entice them even more. Compared to Clash magazine and the fact the editors donated a double page spread to the contents page suggests that Mojo like everything to be compacted into their monthly issue and want to present as much information as they can within the cyclical release.

Looking at the language features used upon this double page spread compared to Clash magazine are as follows: the whole layout of the interview with the feature band, is set out in a similar style to an essay, which isn’t that appealing at first but I like the way it stands out above the back ground because of the white used on the font. I also like the way the word ‘fire’ has been emphasised in red to catch the reader’s attention, unlike in Clash magazine. A similar tactic that both magazines have followed is to highlight the first letter spoken in the interview, which is quite clever and points the reader in the right direction too. Unlike Clash magazine I enjoy the way they’ve done a brief overview of the interview at the top, I guess therefore it can help the reader make the decision if they wish to pursue in reading on.

LIIAR analysis of Clash magazine.

The language us on this music magazine is not just specifically used for this one, but also for every music magazine that’s ever been published. The mast head is very clear and connotes music in general. It also suggests that maybe there could be a clash of music genres within the magazine suggesting that this magazine could be for everyone. The next piece of wording that stands out after the mast head, is the name of the band ‘Arcade fire’ verifying the very fact that the main article/interview will be with them. The main image used on the front cover can be clearly seen even from a distance as well, it doesn’t overpower the mast head and you can easily see who the person is because it relates to the main headline. There is a definite house style used, it appears to be red, blue, white and grey, the use of these four colours makes it eye catching, not to chaotic but with a simplistic edge. The bar code is easily visible but doesn’t overawe the masthead or the main image etc. One thing that’s apparent is the fact there isn’t any thumb nail images on this front cover, therefore the convention ‘anchorage’ has not been used either, could this have been the main intention of the editors of the magazine to make the main article stand out even more than it should? Or is it the fact they just want to keep the reader in suspense? Also there’s not a single teasing comment along the bottom, only an ‘exclusive’ upon the left-hand side, again is this intentional? Upon researching the institution behind Clash magazine, it appears there isn’t one, they’re owned by themselves. I believe this could be the reason why their front cover is totally different to any other you see on the shelves in the shops such as: NME, Q etc. Perhaps Clash noticed a gap in the market and decided to take up an individual style and genre to cover. The message that this front cover gives off is that simple is best, hence no anchorage, and the effortless main image. Also the fact that the magazine is called ‘Clash’ suggests that a mixture of music genres could be incorporated within the magazine too. I believe that the audience this magazine is aimed at could be those who are interested in more alternative styles of music such as: Arcade Fire (featured) and Friendly Fires. These people could quite possibly be students and as the magazine is only released once a month it means they can afford it being from the D and E band of Social Economic Groups after all. The representation of the target audience that this music magazine front cover gives off over all is fairly positive, yet you get the impression that readers may have a bit of a wacky yet laid back outlook on life.

The main thing that you see as the reader of this magazine is the word ‘contents’ and because this stands out the readers aware of what they’ll be reading. Next the use of thumbnail images immediately connotes the contents list, easily informing the reader. The way in which the cover article has been highlighted in yellow helps the reader become aware that where ever the image or other information is upon the contents page, they will easily be able to find it. Again there isn’t an institution behind Clash magazine, that’s why they have their own individual style, just like this contents page. The ideological and representational message that the contents page gives off is that because the contents page is set out over a double page it means there’s a lot of content featured connoting the very fact that the target audience of this music magazine always have a lot to say.

The language features used upon this double page spread interview are as follows; it follows two of the house style colours originally set on the front cover (black and red) therefore this gives the reader a familiarity towards the magazines features. The interview is set out in neat and flowing columns and each new topical sentence has a large capital letter to emphasise this. The way in which the main image has been edited is rather clever, it’s a full body shot of the band so therefore gives the reader a chance to engage in a clearer analysis of the band, the body language they enclose sets off a ‘happy’ and ‘cheerful’ atmosphere for the reader is reading the article and reviewing the image. Looking in the top right hand corner it’s apparent that there’s some kind of fact being shared, this holds similar features to a teasing comment that is usually found upon a magazine front cover. Finally the main double page spread does relate to the featured image on the front cover. I like the approach that’s been taken to make the page numbers and the website to follow the house style too; this proves that just because Clash magazine is an individual institution they still follow a consistent and professional style.

Music genres on Prezi

LIIAR analysis of music magazine brief

My music magazine will need to contain a mast head that stands out and is also dominant, because this will make the audience reach for the magazine on the shelf in the shop it’s sold in. To make the house style consistent and also eye catching I will use 3 main colours, therefore this gives off a professional style and quality that I want to reach. My main image and main headline will have to correspond each other otherwise this will confuse the reader and also would mean that it’s not going to be clearly depicted and interpreted. For the other headlines that I’ll put onto my front cover I will use thumbnail pictures they will also relate one another as well with captions to annotate all of them. The extra points upon my front cover that I will use are competitions and free gifts, I will use a banner and sky lines to emphasise these features and also any other tease features as well. I also like the idea of using a splash graphic, that will promote things such as 'free C.D' and 'only £1' etc. A price and bar code will definitely be needed on the front cover of my music magazine because it will be sold in a specialised shop or online and that’s how my magazine will help to make a profit. Finally the anchorage that I’ll use will be very consistent and fitting to the main image I’ll use just like the house style, the boxes and tease features will all follow a very versatile edgy theme and style. The institution that I would like my magazine to fit into would be the same one that NME magazine which is IPC media, they’re a huge company and therefore I believe that is why my magazine’s style would fit in nicely. The message and other moral issues that I would like my magazine to raise would be that if you’re interested in more alternative and the indie style genre of music then the magazine is probably for you. Also I believe that the moral message my music magazine will give out is that it doesn’t matter if you’re an individual or class yourself as ‘different’ it’s fine this magazine will make you feel accepted. My target audience that for now that I want to focus on will be as follows, between the age of 16-25 and on the demographics S.E.G scale they’ll be from the C2, D and E bands this covers at least half of the UK’s population and therefore this will be great for the sales and production profits of my magazine, looking at the Value Life Style scale and what kind of personalities my readers will entail I want to aim my music magazine at mostly inner directed people as they know what they want out of life and which path to take so the magazine I hope to produce could be for them, but I'd also like to consider people who are inter grated too, because they’re easier to please and provide for as well. The way in which I want my magazine’s readers to be portrayed by others will be positively but also with a powerful edge too, because that’s the kind of stylistic genre I want my magazine to comprise with a unconventional, retro acidity too.

Music magazine brief

Main task: the front page, contents and double page spread of a new music magazine (if done as a group task, each member of the group to produce an individual edition of the magazine, following the same house style).

Re-draft of front cover.

I decided to produce another draft of my front cover after considering the audience feedback.

LIIAR analysis of audience feedback and evaluation:

 Language:

On the front cover of my magazine there isn’t an actual banner headline, and after the audience feedback I believe that there should be one, because this will help to sell the magazine. The main image used as the background, depicts a positive representation of life at Wyke College and as the institution I have made a conscious decision to do this. Upon my front cover there is no need for a byline or a lead either this is because it doesn’t fit in with the style I wanted my magazine to have. Now because I only have one image (used as the background) on my front cover, a caption cannot be used here, but on the other hand it is used on my contents page, when I produce an improved draft of my final front cover I will make sure there is at least one image with a caption underneath. Particular codes that are always used upon any magazine have been placed on mine too, such as the issue number, date and a website therefore the audience will find this acceptable and familiar. My magazine has between 1 and 2 decks per headline; I believe this is acceptable because if there was any more the audience would begin to lose interest in the actual headline. I suppose that the featured competitions featured could be classed as an exclusive to the magazine but not your ‘usual’ exclusive headline, where the language used would give the reader a shock; I could again consider this when producing another draft. As proven from my audience feedback the house style I’ve used is fairly consistent and also eye catching, if I were to produce my magazine as part of a professional institution then I would have to use this house style again, because it’s the magazine’s ‘branded colours’. The layout of both the front cover and draft of my contents page appear to be acceptable, the audience feedback suggests that perhaps the masthead doesn’t stand out enough and blends in along with the other headlines, in contrast though the issue number and date e.t.c do fit in nicely alongside the theme of the front cover. The way in which the logo has been placed on the piece of paper that the student is writing on is quite clever and cunning, because it brands the magazine just nicely. It could be said that a strap line is used on the front cover, where a brief overview of the article is given in just a few words. Also teasing contents are used but not to the high expectation expected by the audience, because it’s been used in the same context as the headlines in the top right corner, again I will consider this effect when re-drafting my final front cover. There are not any thumbnail images used on the front cover either, which from the audience feedback is not a particularly good thing, although they’re used on the contents page, I will consider these when re-drafting the front cover again.

Ideology:

The message I wanted my magazine to give out is that you don’t have to have money to read the magazine (it’s free). Also it’s both informative as well as fun to read too, because of its bold house style as well as the competitions e.t.c. Finally I would like the image to give a positive and entertaining connotation of Wyke.  If I was to produce this magazine even further I would make sure it features more ‘serious’ articles such as an issue from the ‘real world’.

Institution:

The magazine I initially researched that’s similar to mine is the Grimsby Institute; they use double entendres, bold colours, a consistent house style and also a large main image.  There’s also a lot of information on the front cover too as well as the website. I’ve also noticed that the institution doesn’t wish to sell the magazine either, there’s no bar code on the front cover. Finally on the contents page there are thumbnail pictures corresponding the page numbers and information but they’re random so as the audience you don’t know where they belong. Also there’s possibly just a little bit too much information on the contents page and therefore you don’t know where to look, this is where I think my magazine holds a more positive hold against the ‘gx’ magazine and the professional institution behind both this and my magazine could IPC media, they own 100’s of magazines and would be a great way of promoting college magazine, yet on a smaller more realistic scale, the institution behind my magazine right now would be classed as the college’s website.

Audience:

The target audience for my college magazine is for Wyke college students between 15-21, who’re from the E band of the socio-economic grouping system. The bright and brash fonts I used have been made to attract the youthfulness of my target audience as well as the youth and hard working ethic of the student portrayed as the main image.  Considering the ‘VALS’ scale I will be covering each category, I’ve decided on this because students are always changing their wants and needs.

Representation:

I wanted my magazine to represent a positive outlook on college life, depicted again by the image and the specific language genre used. I also want the students and their life to be stereotyped but in the most positive way possible, not just by their peers but non-students too, denoting and also connoting this is the hard working ethic of the student.

Front cover development

First of all I took a medium close up picture of my model, as she didn’t want her face to be in the picture I had to think of an alternative positioning, so I opted to make it look as if she’s working from a book.

I then took a picture of the sign from the main entrance of the college, and used the quick selection tool, as well as the polygonal lasso tool on Photoshop to cut out the word ‘Wyke’.

I then placed the logo upon the piece of paper that my model was writing on and used the blending and smudging tools to make it look more realistic.

Then I added the masthead ‘In the know’ I did this by using the text tool on Photoshop. I then positioned it at the top of the front cover, and changed the colour of it to the most similar purple to the ‘Wyke’ logo that I could find.

I then came up with some fitting headlines and placed them onto the front cover as well, I decided to keep the font the same as the mast head, to keep a consistent house style, but change the colour to green as this is another one of the two colours that Wyke uses as its branded colours.

Finally, in white I placed the other information needed upon my magazine, such as the date, issue number and website. I used the same font but reduced the size as this information is deemed as not as important as the mast head and headlines.

I then ended up producing my final front cover for my magazine.