First Idea of a Double Page Spread

I am aiming to please both genders with my music magazine, both on the front cover and the double page spread which I am creating. On the double page spread however, I believe that my idea will please both genders at ages ranging from teens to adult ages of around 20-30 years old and maybe more. My initial plan of the double page spread is to have a full page of information and other phrases such as buzz words on one side where as the other side of the double spread will involve in with images, more information and other aspects of a usual magazine company. After plenty of research on the more successful magazine companies' double page spreads, I can see that they pack out both pages with either pieces of texts or images of artists which are featured within the magazine.

I believe that the more suitable genre of music I should base my magazine around is the latest chart music/chart music. This is because it is one of the most popular genres around right now, which both genders listen to. This means that the looks on the faces of the people who I want on my front cover to have on will be different to the faces which people in to rock music look like. An example of this is the face paint in rock music characters won't be used in the magazine as it's not conventional or stereotypical. An example of when face paint is used on rock music characters is the band 'Kiss'.

I believe the latest chart music is the correct genre to go for in my magazine because it is a genre which both male and female audiences can enjoy and read about. Because I am concentrating on the latest chart music, this means the main genre is going to pop music. Because of this, I understand what the characters need to look and dress like to be placed on the cover.

Magazine Colour Schemes

Colour Schemes on Magazines

After plenty of research on magazine covers and double page spreads within the music magazine industry, I have noticed that a lot of the larger distributions in magazines use colour schemes on their layouts. This is because they normally have up to four colours, usually three, that represents throughout the magazine. They would also be stereotypical. By this, I mean that pop genre magazines may have funky colours in the background or surrounding certain words, or even have the words coloured in these certain colours. As well as this, if a magazine was meant for a female audience, it is more than likely that the three colours used would be bright, or 'girly'. Furthermore, the colour scheme may be chosen down to the main character(s) in the centre of the cover. 

The main point of the colour scheme is to make the magazine unique and stand out. I will apply this theory to my magazine cover and double page spread which I am creating. I believe that the colours on certain magazines represent a certain stereotype for each one. By this, I mean that the colours used make the magazines trademark. On the other hand, as I researched the colour schemes on the magazines created by 'Vibe', I noticed that the colour schemes on one of their magazines, would be different to another one of their magazines. This tells me that there is no 'tradition' to each magazine concerning the colours.

I will attempt to use a maximum of four colours within my magazine cover, contents and page spread. This is because I have found that the major music magazines do this. This gives me the idea that I could use the theory on mine to make it stand out a lot more. I feel as though if I was to use more than 5 colours on my magazine, it would be too over decorated and not look as good as what it could be. As well as this, if I was to use only 1 or 2 colours throughout my magazine, it would be looked upon as boring and not so attractive. 

Music magazine Company Breakdown part two

Music Magazine Companies Break Down Part One.

Magazine Research Evaluation

Evaluation of magazine Research.

From the two magazines i have analysed, i have came up with an evaluation from them. I have made an analysis on them which can be found around the two magazines. However for the evaluation, i am going to fully evaluate the two magazines and there influences on my magazine creation.

I believe that after the research of the two magazines found on my blog, i have came up with a prime plan of what i want my magazine to be laid out like. The two magazines i researched was 'Vibe' and 'Billboard'. After my research on the magazine company 'billboard', i can see that it was the first ever music industry company that released a music magazine. From this, i can learn that they will have more experience then vibe as well as a lot more history behind them. However, i felt as though 'Billboard' was far too plain and didn't contain much things around the sides of the main image. For example, i noticed that the magazine company 'Vibe' tend to have special words and phrases filling up the space on the front cover of their magazines with buzz words etc. As well as this, i feel like the magazine company 'vibe' was more multi-sex as from research, they do magazines for both males and females. Where as the company 'Billboard' was also multi-sex, but was very plain on the cover. On the other hand, the 'Vibe' magazine is very attractive and catchy. This means it can attract customers to purchase it. 'Vibe' also use catchy effects around special buzz words which go on in all the free space within the magazine. I also feel that 'Vibe' magazines give a lot more information way on the front cover, enabling the customers to get a full insight in to what is in the magazine, before they buy it.

Target Audience

Target Audience

My magazine is aiming for all types of people, no matter what there age may be. This is because my magazine will be a friendly magazine for all types of ages. However, it may be people who are more interested in certain genres of music that will buy my magazine. The genre i am aiming to do the magazine on is about chart music as well as a little bit of indie-rock music. However, on the front cover of my magazine, i will aim to please all types of audiences, no matter what type of music thy listen to mostly. On the other hand, i have sent out a questionnaire to many people about music and magazines in the music industry. Once the results are handed in, i will make a tally/graph to easily pick out the results. These results will give me the idea of what people want to see in a music magazine. This means i could use the answers to work them in to my music magazine. Part of the questionnaire was to do with the favourite genre of music. I will tally the results up for that question and therefore determine what genre most people want to see within my music magazine, genre wise. As well as this, i asked what people enjoy in music magazines. I will take them results in to consideration also. This is because it would give me the idea of what to include within the magazine in which i can use to satisfy the audience. 

I am aiming to please both genders with my magazine. This is because i will include a fair amount of info for both genders. From the questionnaire i have launched, i can see what the majority of males have being saying as well as what the majority of females have been saying. This gives me the idea of what needs to be included to please both genders. However, without the questionnaire for help, i am thinking about doing a male section as well as a female section. In the male section i could use the latest chart music, as well as some other music bands/artists. On the other hand, for the female section, i could also include some chart music but mostly about young, upcoming boy bands. An example of this would be one direction or lawson. 

Questions For The Questionaire

Codes and Conventions

Codes and conventions from jordanbrodie

Audience theories

Audience Theories

Passive Audiences – The passive audience theory is where the affiliates of the audience just basically sit and consume the aspects of media texts. This happens with adverts in particular. Because of this, it is believed that the active part of the brain wasn’t needed to be used. This is because the audience believes that all messages in media text is acceptable to the brain. This all together is known as the passive audience theory.

Active Audiences – This theory is kind of the opposite of the passive theory. This is because this theory doesn’t involve the audience being ‘couch potatoes’ unlike what they were in the passive theory. The main reason why the active theory is different is because they interact with process within the communication and have their own purpose for the media texts.

Uses and Gratifications Theory – This theory advocates that the audiences of media are active and therefore make active decisions about what they consume in relative to both social and cultural settings of their needs. The theorists Blumier and Katz created this theory in 1974-75. They believed that the usage of media could be explained as it provides gratifications related to the fulfilment of both physiological and social needs. This basically means that the audience choose what programmes they want in order to make them feel good.

Reception Theory – This theory suggests that the meaning of a text is not inherent within itself, but the audience must provoke a meaning based on their discrete cultural background and experiences throughout their lives.

Female Magazine Research

Male Magazine Research

Preliminary Task

Action Plan