Preparing for My Music Magazine: Magazine Name and Font Selection

For my music magazine I wanted to chose a simple name that wasn't too long and complicated. I've followed in the idea of NME and CRASH and names like that as well as BILLBOARD. I decided to think about all elements of music and what words are specific to music. I looked at words such as TUNE, CONCERT, SOLO, CHORUS, DUO and MELODY. Short, catchy names that would be easily recognisable and universal to all music lovers.

 

I've decided to go on www.dafont.com to look at various styles that I could present my signature title for my magazine. I chose the name SOLO as it is short, rolls-off-the-tounge and universal. These are some of the fonts that I have looked at in either Original, Italics, Bold or Bold and Italics.

 

 

I will now be experimenting by drafting my music magazine layout and the font that looks the best with the photography, house style and flat plans.

Preparing for My Music Magazine: House Style

Preparing for my Music Magazine Production: Target Audience

For my Target Audience I am not restricting myself to a specific age, because I started out looking at a musically eclectic magazine I am keeping my audience eclectic as well. Mainly basing my articles and contents page topics in line with the up-to-date Media. I am aiming for about 16+ to 40- as some artists I use are very controvertail and carry with them a broad fan base so I want to be able to appeal to them.

Preparing for my Music Magazine Production: Double Page Spread

Producing my Music Magazine will require a lot of research in different areas, a lot of planning and a lot of trial and error when it comes to my draft work before the final product.

The first element I am tackling is 'flat planning' which requires sketches of possible layouts and themes for the magazine and what looks best; keeping in mind the rule of three, magazine conventions and contents pages.

I am starting out with the double page spread and researching some from music magazines as a guideline for my own production.

 

Obviously there are many ways I can produce my double page spread but each one of them all include a large 'page-dominating' image of the artist they are interviewing and talking about. Most of them include Profile Images of the artists that are being interviewed and some of them -depending on their music style- adopt an editorial sense and fashion element to the photoshoots to not only express the artists themselves but keep up publicity and keeping their personal style and image to look very good in media for more promotions and to continue or add to the highlighs of their career.

Preparing for my Music Magazine Production: Where Will I Get Contents Information From?

When deciding on the subjects I will put on my contents page I will be looking at different sources and my questionnaire review to allow a variation of subjects for my target audience. I will be looking on Social Media sites to see what the lastest news is about on there, E! News which is a television programme of news about all artists and famous people so I will be able to take music information from there up-to-date broadcasts and from the newspapers to get a wide range of solid stories or interests that I can base an article from and incorperate into my Contents Page.

 

 

Preparing for my Music Magazine Production: Contents Page

As I was researching the Billboard Layouts for their Contents Pages, I came across some of these annotated images on www.google.co.uk. I think these will really help me decompose the contents of the pages and allow me to understand what goes into producing an effective contents page for a music magazine. It will help me explore the topics that are used, how many stories and interviews are used, paperazzi images are used and competitions and things that are included in the Contents pages.

I like how Billboard include their Billboard Charts on the left hand side of their contents page to show that they are constantly keeping tabs on the latest albums, singles and record sales. It also brings attention to the immidiate fact that it is a music magazine but also includes some tabliod-esque features by their headlines, cover stories and kickers. It brings in an element of gossip that will attract people to the magazine and to purchase the magazine but also addresses the kickers in the interviews themselves so they are getting the gossip and information straight from the artists themselves which creates a sort of familiarity to the audience and in turn gain more respect from followers or extend their "relationship" with their fans.

It also includes promotion information, like the upcoming dates of tours, how to purchase the tickets and competitions. It can also include anchorage which will create a buzz for the audience and interest them in reading the magazine.

Preparing for my Music Magazine Production: Cover Page

 

 

 For a successful cover photo magazines have to have amazing sharp photography and thrilling articles for headlines, kickers and cover stories. A lot of elements will go into creating the perfect cover page and I have recently been researching a lot of the different magazines that Billboard and some others produce as their selling cover. 

 

 

 

 Obviously, it has to be eyecatching and attractive in order to be spotted when it is on the shelf in a store or a newsstande, the headlines have to be compelling and interesting, and the articles have to allow an element of surprise, something the audience will gain from the experience of purchasing the magazine itself, whether it would be juicy information about their favourite artists exclusively from them or winning once in a lifetime experiences. 

 

 

 

 The layout of the cover page has to also be tied in with the cover story and the main headlines. The feature article rules the entire magazine presentation once it becomes an established magazine itself. For instance, this cover for Billboard of LORDE an up and coming alternative music genre star is blowing up on the charts, Billboard have taken notice to this and taken the oppertunity to have her on the cover. As her genre of music is alternative, they have stayed clear of the pop and R&B elements of photoshoots. Instead of bright colours, fun props and pretty, preppy compositions they have adopted LORDE'S single titled 'Royals' and made her photoshoot very victorian, royal and rich looking with the colours and clothing she is wearing. It is all in deep green suggesting her wealth and fortune from her shuttling stardom. It is a very interesting and different cover page and I know if I walked past this magazine I would look twice at it becuase of her direct address in her posing as well. It's all really compelling and would definitely make me want to read about her and buy this magazine.