preliminary task and planning & research
- 1. OCR Media Studies – AS Level Unit G321: Foundation Portfolio in Media Planning & Research Name: Jon Villacci Candidate Number: 1248 Center Name: St. Andrew’s Catholic School Center Number: 64135 Set Brief - Print Music Magazine – Production Preliminary Task Progression and Planning & Research
- 2. Section 1) – Preliminary Task
- 3. Preliminary Task Progression– Evidence Front Cover Step-by-step Step 1 – Create blank canvas – Photoshop//file//new//internati onal paper// Step 2 – Change background //Gradient tool Step 3 – Start adding in the main conventions such as masthead and cover lines. (Added in St Andrews logo and masthead with dafont font) Step 4 – Social media icons added to barcode and background deleted using magic eraser tool. Step 5 – Puff promotion and any further advertisement e.g. Frog added.
- 4. Step 6 – Header and tagline added In to make the front cover look professional. Step 7 – Rest of the conventions are all added in especially cover line which are created with text tool and edited with the stroke effect. Step 8 – Finally the main image was added in complete the front cover, imported from my phone camera on to Photoshop and the background was cropped using the quick selection tool and the inverse selection. And here is the finished product.
- 5. Final Preliminary Front Cover Mast head Puff Promotion Cover Lines Logo Barcode/ issue date Main Story
- 6. Preliminary Task Progression– Evidence Contents Page Step-by-step Step 1 – create the document //file//new//interna tional paper// Step 2 – Change the background colour from white to whatever colour you have for your front cover, (I had the same gradient pattern selected) Step 3 – I started adding in the main codes and conventions such as the editorial and main stories. Also the title page “contents” Step 4 - At this point I need to make sure that everything is following my house style, this includes colour and size layout along with drop shadows and embossing important bold text.
- 7. Step 5 – After laying out the boxes for my relevant data I then had to fill them in, for example the main stories box had to be filled with stories and their relevant page numbers. Step 6 – In order to achieve high marks I needed to include a header and footer with the relevant conventions within. This included adding the website URL which was made with the text tool as well as the page number and issue date. Step 7 – This step was the simplest one, it included dragging over my mast head from my preliminary front cover ‘ New Testament’ to the contents page from one file to another. Step 6 – The final of part of putting together the contents page was filling in the empty space once all of the conventions where added. This included gathering relevant images and placing text on to. The completed and finished product – Contents Page.
- 8. Final Preliminary contents page Brand identity Date Editorial Sign Off Masthead Main Images Content stories
- 9. Section 2) – Log Book
- 10. Music Magazine – Genre research (Alternative Rock) • A music magazine is magazine dedicated to music and the cultures, and sub cultures within. Examples of music magazine include – ‘kerrang magazine’, ‘Rock sound magazine’, ‘NME magazine’ and ‘Q magazine’ (all examples of alternative Rock magazines). • UK consumer magazines lost nearly 1m print sales in first half of 2014 – ABC (The Guardian) • All five titles in the paid-for music magazine sector, including Q, Kerrang! and Mojo, reported double digit sales losses in circulation the first half of 2014. "Certain genres are struggling," said Douglas McCabe, a media industry analyst at Enders. "There are a number of titles where physical sales are falling to a level that makes the business look quite difficult, NME would be a very good example. Music discovery has moved online.” • http://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/jul/06/sink- or-swim-for-nme-as-long-running-magazine-becomes- free-from-september “But the problem with NME is that the core target audience is 15-, 16-year-old kids who live in the middle of suburbia who are getting into music and use the magazine as a portal to get into that world.” – Douglas McCabe
- 11. Established Magazine for my Research Masthead Main Headline Cover Lines Main Image (Ian Brown, Front man of stone roses) Star Appeal (Richard Dyer) Barcode/date issue Strap line
- 12. Target Audience – Katz, Maslow, Hartley and/or socio-economic needs Usual customers of Q magazine, music lovers and fans of the ‘Star Appeal’ in this case the Stone Roses. In terms of age gaps Q is stereotypically aimed at older upper class people, usually to males who are white and only few black or other race. The majority of Q magazines readers are in the range of A-C1 on the socio-economic table. Which implies it is aimed for more upper class people. However Q reaches out to all ages as certain artists appeal to only certain age groups, for example ‘The stone roses’ are the musicians of young sweaty youths living life free without limits. However an artist such as John Lennon may more drift to the age group of late 60’s as they where the big icons of that era. The purpose of Q magazine is to entertain that specific social group (Katz) in this case fans of rock music fans primarily in the A-C1 section of the socio economic needs. The music has a ‘personal relationship’ to the readers and how they interoperate the music (Katz). The consumers of Q magazine may be considered as ‘social climbers’ (Maslow hierarchy of needs) because they idolize the starts that appear on these magazines and want o be just like them (star appeal). What is the USP of this magazine? From the research completed into this media product, I think the USP is the ‘Star appeal’ (Richard Dyer) of Ian Brown on the front cover of this issue of Q magazine. Buyers of the magazine are hooked in from the initial front cover, if the front cover looks good e.g. with Ian Brown the public will buy the issue if they idolize Ian Brown or Stone Roses. Hence forth bringing in a higher selling number.
- 13. Publisher research http://magazines.bauermediaadvertising.com/magazines/detail/Q http://www.bauermedia.co.uk/brands/q • Bauer – “We think popular” slogan – Gives the impression of the mainstream over played artists and brainwashing pop music. • Readership profile of the magazine – Socio-economic needs, circulation figures etc. • Retail outlets the magazine is available in. Q Magazine, is known for delivering quality to modern music fans (preferably modern rock fans) by distilling the un needed information and feeding the readers with the content which relates mostly to them (Katz). They have hired the best music writers and photographers to achieve the best content for their fans.
- 14. Conventions of a Music Magazine • Rock sound Magazine • Rock sound magazine is a corporation who create Rock magazines for Rock fans. Mainly for music more underground and alternative rather than mainstream commercial pop. It generally focuses on pop punk, post-hardcore, metal core, punk, emo, hardcore, heavy metal and extreme metal genres of rock music. • Strapline - "For those who like their music loud, extreme and non-conformist“ • Primarily aimed at the British market, the magazine is also sold in Australia, Canada and the United States. Masthead Cover Lines Main Head line Main Image (Lower than Atlantis) Barcode/Issue date Give away
- 15. Target Audience Mainly aimed towards major rock fans and sub cultures down the line such as metal and hardcore. Aimed at anyone mainly between 13 and upwards, the biggest audience seem to be white males and fewer young female teens. Rock sound is a working class issue as it price ranges from 3 – 4 pounds. The idolization of the front cover stars creates a desire in the fans and makes the fans want to connect more with the stars (Maslow), this is all down to star appeal that the cover star radiates to the readers (Richard Dyer). Rock sound’s main purpose is to weekly update the music fans of alternative rock by entertaining them through the music that they love and can relate to (Katz). What is the USP of this magazine? I think the USP is the main mast heads and images on the front page, the bold masthead implies a great impact on the reader weather they buy it, or not. If it looks good they will buy it, rock sound magazine make their front covers eye catchy to hook buyers. Rock Sound’s front covers are commonly known for being the most eye gazing section of their magazines. The great front cover images creates rapport with the audience and create desire for social climbers (Maslow) through the choice of star appeal (Richard dyer).
- 16. Publisher research – Rock sound The magazine was bought out by its director, Patrick Napier, in December 2004. • Then, visit their website and deconstruct the information you can find about the target readership in terms of socio-economic needs, circulation etc. Key areas to focus on: • Publisher slogan – "For those who like their music loud, extreme and non- conformist“ • Readership profile of the magazine – Socio-economic needs, circulation figures etc • The magazine is available in most supermarkets such as TESCO and Sainsbury's.