History of Music Magazines

Below is a PowerPoint which is about the History of Music Magazines. This gives me an insight to how the music magazine industry use to be and how it is nowadays. 

History of music magazines from Dylan0akes

Uses & Gratifications Theory

As part of my research, I have decided to research Blumler & Katz' Uses and Gratifications theory. This research into this particular theory will help me to understand why audiences consume and use different types of media (including magazines).

I have presented my findings on a Prezi Presentation. 

Audience Expectations

When making my music magazine, I need to consider what the audience expects when it comes to viewing the magazine.

From my textual analysis of 3 front covers, 3 DPS' and 3 contents pages I have learnt about what the audience usually expects to see from the magazine. The first thing is a professional look. This is extremely important as it draws the audience in and also makes them believe that what they're reading is true. To get this professional look, the audience also see to see consistency in house style throughout the entire magazine, this is something I definitely need to concentrate on in production of my magazine. 

Additionally, the audience will expect the magazine to be tailored to the suitable genre of the magazine. For example if the magazine was specifically about the rock genre, they would expect to see rock articles featuring famous musicians from the genre as well as a consistent rock house style. Also, if the magazine is aimed at a certain demographic, this needs to be shown all the way through to keep that certain demographic interested in the content. 

The audience will expect to see an eye-catching front cover. On the front cover they will all expect to see the conventional features - such as masthead, a main image, cover lines, date, price and possibly even an incentive (this is increasingly popular so an incentive will be more increasingly expected). 

During my textual analysis, almost every magazine had the presence of some form of media convergence. The audience will most likely expect to see a form of this as this is also increasingly popular in modern-day society. They'll expect to expand their magazine experience in the form of a website or an app. 

Lastly, the audience will expect to recognise the genre of the magazine or the brand of the magazine (if its a popular magazine that they often buy). 

How Are Media Audiences Categorised?

I have done some research into how media audiences are categorised in the media. Doing this piece of research into audiences will allow me to pick my target audience for my magazine. 

The 'ABC1' and the 'C2DE' are groups of people that are categorised by their income:

A: Upper Middle Class (e.g. high managerial)

B: Middle Class (e.g. intermediate managerial)

C1: Lower Middle Class (e.g. supervisory or clerical)

C2: Skilled working class (e.g. skilled manual workers)

D: Working class (e.g. semi or unskilled manual workers)

E: Those at lowest level of subsistence (e.g. people on state pension)

Audiences can also be categorised by Geographic and Demographic.

Geographic includes:

• Region
• Size and Density (of a place)
• Climate

Demographic includes:

• Age
• Ethnicity
• Gender
• Family Size
• Family cycle
• Generation
• Income
• Education
• Occupation 
• Religion
• Social Class

For my magazine, I will focus of the demographic side of audiences rather than the geographic side of audiences. 

Young and Rubicam's Four Consumers:

• Mainstreamers: They like security and belonging to a group.
• Aspirers: Want status and the esteem of others - like status symbols and designer labels. The alos live off credit and cash.
• Succeeders: People who have already gained status an control.
• Reformers: Define themselves by their self-esteem an their self-fulfilment.

LifeMatrix

This is one of the newest approaches to audiences targeting. The 'LifeMatrix' tool (launched by MRI & RoperASW) defines ten audience categories. These categories are centred around values, attitudes, beliefs and demographic audience categories. The 10 categories are:

• Tribe wired - digital, free spirited, creative young singles.
• Fun/Atics - Aspirational, fun-seeking, active young people.
• Dynamic Duos - Hard-driving, high-involvement couples.
• Priority Parents - family values, activities, media strongly dominate.
• Home Soldiers - home-centric, family-oriented, materially ambitious.
• Renaissance Women - active, caring, affluent, influential mums.
• Rugged Traditionalists - traditional male values, love of outdoors.
• Struggling singles - high aspirations, low economic status.
• Settled elders - devout, older, sedentary lifestyles.
• Free birds - vital, active, altruistic seniors.

Textual Analysis of Double Page Spread 3

For my final textual analysis of a DPS, I have chosen this particular DPS (pictured below) from the 'Mojo' magazine. I have chosen this DPS as it is quite different compared to the other 2 DPS' that I have previously analysed. It is quite unique. Analysing a DPS that is different will help me massively when it comes to the production of my own magazine as it can give me different ideas of how to present my DPS and also still comparing the conventional layout techniques that are typically used. 

This is the DPS I am analysing: 

The Way it is Presented & The Main Image:

• As I have previously mentioned, this DPS is a lot different in comparison to other double page spreads. The most obvious difference is the whole page being covered by a red filter. This will most definitely stand out when the reader is flicking through the magazine, due to the red as it stands out tremendously. 
• The red filter has many connotations. The filter may indicate danger, leadership, courage or passion. These aspects can all be codes for the rock/indie/alternative genres, so this article (or perhaps the entire magazine) may be based on these particular genres. 
• With links to the red theme, the header of the page is also in a dark red colour. It says the word 'vicious' which also connotes the danger aspects of the colour red as well as the genres previously mentioned. 
• The red filter may also possibly highlight the fact that he is performing to a crowd. The red maybe a symbol of the red lights that could be shining on him when performing. This also can connote the genres mentioned as they are quite common lighting colours when at concerts for people representing these genres. 
• Mise-en-scene in this main image can also connote the genre of this article. Firstly, we can see that the man in the image is wearing make-up. This is typically a code for the genre of rock or hard rock, as a lot of people who represent the rock genre do wear make-up as it is part of the 'style' that goes with rock. Additionally, we can see that the man is holding a guitar. The guitar look more like an electric guitar rather than an acoustic guitar. An electric guitar usually is related to the rock genre as these guitars are typically used in the creation of rock music. 
• Also, we can see that the red filter highlights the sweat on his face. The sweat could connote passion and hard work from the man. He may be striving to perform the best he can hence the sweat. 
• Furthermore, the red parts of the page are all placed on the plain black background. This is used to emphasise this red filter, making it more eye-catching and more appealing to the reader. Additionally, it is used as black can also connote danger. The use of red and black is a good combination to use in this rock genre as they both have connotations which are connotation of the rock genre. 
• A low-angle shot is used in the main image. This may be used to connote his power or possibly his celebrity status over the crowd. 

The Typography: 

• The header used is extremely eye-catching, especially when the reader is flicking the magazine. It is certainly eye-catching. The word 'vicious' has many, possibly negative connotation. It has connotations of extreme violence, destructive behaviour, evilness and severe aggression. The font of this particular bit of typography is like it is fragmented into different section. This could also be used as evidence to indicate the connotations of 'vicious'. For example things being broken (just like the font) can be a connotation for violence and aggression, just like the connotations for 'vicious'. This all indicates that the man the article is about may have some of the characteristics, or possibly it might just be relating to the genre of rock as these are, stereotypically, aspects of the genre. 
• Just underneath the header, as small opening to the article is used. This is in a slightly larger and bolder font than the main body of text. This is used to make the reader go to this part of the page, which, hopefully, will draw them in to read the rest of the article. The names of the people who are interviewing and who is being interview are also in white. This makes these names stand out from the text which makes the reader feel like they're are of some sort of significance and important to the article. This feature is very common at the start of a double page spread as gives a slight introduction so the audience can know what to expect in this article. 
• The start of the main body of text begins with a drop cap. Using a drop cap is a very common and conventional way to start of the article. Drop caps are used as a way of grabbing the readers attention so they can proceed with reading the entire article. It also looks better than just a plain 2 columned body of text.

Additional Features: 

• The main image bleeds onto the second page of the DPS. This may be used to provide continuity of the article. As well as this it may be used to indicate that both pages are about the same article. This is conventional in a music magazine DPS as it also shows that it is all connected which makes it a 'spread'.
• Additional images are also used around the main body of text. These images are most likely used to enhance the experience to give the reader a visual of what the article is on about. The two images together at the bottom of the page are both in black and white. They look like fairly old images, this may connote that the article is talking about something nostalgic so therefore providing these images will give the reader an insight on what they're talking about. However the caption tells us that one is before and one is now. They may've used the black and white in this case to highlight the differences and for presentation purposes too. 
• The text around the image on the right page towards the top is moved so it is aligned with where the picture starts and ends. This gives it quite a professional look.
• On the bottom of the page the logo is present and so is a page number. The logo will have been put there to increases continuity throughout the magazine so the magazine is continuously recognised throughout, so it also increases brand recognition due to the repetition of the 'Mojo' logo. The page number is an essential part of the page as they are present throughout the entire magazine. These page numbers allow the reader to navigate through the magazine and locate different articles with ease. Every magazine has page numbers so therefore making it a vital aspect. 
• Furthermore, the actual article is placed on a red section which has a ripped/burnt out effect. This gives the reader a feeling that the article has been ripped from somewhere and stuck on the page, which also connotes a rebellious nature which I believe the article is trying to broadcast. 
• The rebellious look to the whole page (the red, black, ripped look and the typography) all connote the rock genre. Therefore I believe that this particular article (maybe the whole magazine) is targeting a fairly niche audience of people who enjoy the rock/metal genre of music. Also, I think that the main gender that this article is directing towards is the male gender. This is due to dark red and black (more dark colours) are quite often linked to males. With the addition that all of the images are of males. Also the word 'vicious' and all the connotations on the page of aggressiveness are all, stereotypically, male characteristics. However, the article is definitely not limited to the male gender.

Textual Analysis of Double Page Spread 2

The second DPS I am going to analyse is an edition of a 'Q' magazine. Doing this will help me to understand how a DPS is conventionally structured and it will also give me ideas on how to construct my own music magazine. 

I have decided to present this Textual Analysis on a PowerPoint, which I have converted to a PDF and then uploaded it to FlipSnack 

Media Convergence

Media Convergence is a growing aspect of modern day media. On my magazine, I will include aspects (for example website links/an app/QR code etc...) of this to show how my magazine is more up-to-date and show how understanding of why it is used. I am using a from of media convergence on my magazine as my research has indicated that almost every music magazine has some for of convergence, so I need to include it to try and make a conventional music magazine. 

I have made a Prezi Presentation addressing Media Convergence, which has helped me to understand Media convergence more and how to use it.