Evaluation

In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

I used 'Kerrang' magazine as a template for my magazine as it is the closest in terms of genre. I concluded that Kerrang mainly used dark colours which fit in with the hardcore genre that my magazine is based around so I chose to incorporate this idea into my own magazine. My front cover mainly consists of dark colours and like in Kerrang, I used a dark background with white writing.

Media language: Dark colours to attract target audience, big, bold image to represent the lead singer being portrayed, and so the target audience can clearly see him, dark colours to connote the genre of the magazine which is rock. The teasers underneath the main image are accompanied by the plug, reading 'PLUS' which encourages readers to read the whole magazine.

Genre: Hardcore, underground rock music

Representation: Represents alternative section of society, rock fans who go to gigs and youth, as the predominant target audience is young people.

Audience: The audience for this magazine would be young people between the ages of 18- 25. They would be interested in rock music and gigs, and would have enough money to pay the price of £2 on a regular basis. The straplines appeal to the target audience who would be interested in 'Reading Festival' and live gig reviews.
 

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

My music magazine represents rebellious youths who like to go out to gigs, who like hardcore music and are interested in music. As mentioned in David McQueen's book: 'Television and Media Studies Guide' he says 'youth's frequently socialise in anonymous spaces such as night clubs' and I wanted to exploit this to my advantage.


What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?


An institution that might distribute my magazine would be the Bauer Consumer Media Company who publish Kerrang magazine. I think they would be an ideal choice as Kerrang covers the same genre as my magazine and so would appeal to Bauer's target audience- fans of rock music.

What is the readership profile?

Individually minded, independent of thought and musically experienced, an audience defined by attitude, passion and loyalty.

What is the magazine’s mission?

To provide an insight or overview of the modern hardcore scene similar to Kerrang, but with more of a focus on young and upcoming bands. Also to give in depth interviews to gives fans an impression of what it’s like to be a musician.

Who are the target audience?

Mainly teenagers aged between 15 and 25.

Who would be the audience for your media product?


The broad audience for my media product would be young, rock fans who are interested in up and coming hardcore bands and who enjoy going to gigs in their spare time. The age range I would hope to appeal to would be from the ages of about 15-25.


How did you attract/address your audience?


I attracted a 'rock' audience by using dark colours which are usually associated with the hardcore scene and by using bands that are popular amongst young audiences; bands that have emerged on the scene fairly recently. I used the name of the magazine as a selling point by calling it 'mosh' as this is a word heavily associated with rock music, and is something familiar to most young people.


What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?


I have learnt how to design a media product using the software tool, Photoshop. I didn't know a lot about it when I started the process but I now know how to resize, crop, and edit images by removing blemishes and adding special effects. I also learnt more about digital photography when taking the images for my magazine where I had to think about framing, lighting and composition.




Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the final product?
 

As you can see my skills in both Photoshop and magazine design have improved considerably since the preliminary task. The school magazine was too centred around the main picture and there was nowhere near enough text. The fonts and colour scheme are simple in both but the music magazine looks a lot more proffessional as it shows pictures from inside the magazine, as opposed to just one cover image. The music magazine is a lot more eyecatching and the logo is much better. It is clear that my Photoshop skills improved as well as you can see in the music magazine I managed to manipulate the three photos at the bottom using the free transform tool, which I learnt whilst making my music magazine. The music magazine was also much more effective in having a clear target audience, and targetting them successfully by maintaining the rock theme throughout.

                                           How to access the free transform tool

Kerrang! Feature Deconstruction

This music magazine feature focuses on Biffy Clyro, a mediocre Scottish rock band. The entire interview is focused around the bands on-going tour of Iceland and this mainly highlighted by the picture, of Simon Neil, the lead singer, bathing in Iceland’s volcanic Blue Lagoon.

There are two pulled quotes, one reading ‘they eat rotten shark- Biffy Clyro’s guide to Iceland’ which relates to the theme of the feature, and will draw readers in because of its unusual statement. The feature has one main image which takes up more than half the page. The lead singer’s tattoos and ‘wild’ style are highlighted. He is staring directly at the camera which acts as a way of drawing the reader in- it is as if he is looking directly at you. The feature seems to be written on the assumption that the reader knows the band and their songs well as the main quote reads ‘It’s scary that anyone who’s listened to puzzle knows what I was going through.’

Each paragraph has a drop cap of the first two words and this engages the reader further with the actual content of the interview, again a way of ensuring they read the whole article. The feature is definitely coherent with the front cover of the magazine as a very similar image is seen on the front, except of the whole band, not just the lead singer.

Contents Page Deconstruction



• Main image is profile shot of typical 'rocker,' to appeal to target audience
• Smaller pictures show all other bands in the mag, another selling point
• Contents headers in large bright font on dark background for emphasis
• Contents are numbered and seperated into sections
• Lifted quote provides incentive for reader to read the main features
• Editor's letter gives informal, personal feel to the page
• Light background makes dark text more readable

Audience Survey Results

I interviewed 30 people.

Questions                                          Results         

What gender are you?                          65% were boys  35% were girls

How old are you?                                90% were 16-17  10% were 18-19

Do you read music magazines?             70% Yes   30% No        

If yes, which one?                                 Kerrang- 25%  NME- 40%   Vibe- 10%  Mojo- 5%   Other- 20%

How much would you pay for a           

music magazine?                                   0.50p- 75%   £1- 20%   £1.50- 5%   £2- 0%   More- 0%

Which magazine name do you

prefer?                                                  Amplitude- 5%   mosh- 65%   Breakdown- 20%   Beatdown- 10%

    

What colour scheme would you

prefer?                                                  Primary colours- 80%   Black and White- 15%  Blue/Yellow- 5%

What would most attract you to a

music mag?                                           Colours- 15%  Name- 20%  Featured Musician- 45%  Price- 20%

Audience Survey

What gender are you?              M                  F

How old are you?

Do you read music magazines?                   Y                      N

If yes, which one?           Kerrang!         NME          Vibe            Mojo         Other (please state)

How much would you pay for a music magazine?    0.50p      £1.00     £1.50     £2.00     More   

Which magazine name do you prefer?     Amplitude      mosh.         Beatdown      Breakdown

What colour scheme would you prefer?      Primary colours       Black and White         Blue and Yellow

What would most attract you to a music mag?      Colours      Name     Featured Musician        Price

Music Magazine Feature

Music Mag- Feature: Eden Poole- In memory of

In Memory of’s Eden Poole popped into the mosh. Office this week to chat with us about the bands upcoming UK tour.

Who are you most looking forwards to hanging out with on tour?

“Well, we know the guys from Your Demise, we’re good friends with them. We love them, they’re going to be so much fun. And we recently got to know Dead Math, they seem lovely. Pierce the Veil we’ve never properly met, we hear they’re party animals, so I think that’s quite exciting.”

Is there anyone you aren’t looking forwards to spending large amounts of time with? Any irritating traits…?

“Well I would say each other but we spend 24 hours a day with each other… Actually yeah, I take that back, the other 4 annoy the hell out of me. Especially Hassan…”

What can fans expect from your performances on the tour?

“Well I think we put on a pretty good, fun live show. We try to get the crowd involved as much as we can, and just try to give them half an hour that, hopefully, they won’t forget in a while. We devote as much energy as we possibly can to playing live. I think it’s the most important element, the most rewarding thing about being in a band.”

Who in ‘In Memory of’ would be the worst to be trapped in a tour bus with?

“Definitely Hassan and Adam. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone to be honest with you.”

Have you ever had anything thrown at you on stage, good or bad?

“No one’s ever thrown anything at us, but once a chicken was let loose on stage at Bestival last year. That was interesting.”

Is there any particular venue you’re most looking forward to playing at?

“I’m really looking forward to playing the Roundhouse. I used to go there as a kid and it’s near where I used to live so it’s a special place for me.”

Any plans for after the tour?

“We’re going to the studio the day after tour, to record our album. We’ve got a show with You Me At Six on March 2nd, and me and Adam are doing an acoustic set in Camden, but apart from that, for about a month and a bit, we’re recording the album, so a lot of work.”

Finally, what’s the best aspect of touring?

“Walking on stage is the best feeling. The anticipation gives you such a huge buzz.”

Kerrang Profile

Who produces the magazine?

Kerrang is produced by Bauer Media Group- a large German based media company.

Who is the editor?

Nichola Browne is the editor of Kerrang! and has been in the job for over 10 years.

What is the readership profile?

Individually minded, independent of thought and musically experienced, an audience defined by attitude, passion and loyalty.

What is the magazine’s mission?

To provide an insight or overview of the modern hardcore scene, and give in depth interviews to gives fans an impression of what it’s like to be a musician.

What is the readership and the circulation?

43,000 people read the magazine worldwide.

Who are the target audience?

Mainly teenagers aged between 14-18.