Main Task: Music Magazine

We were proposed to create a new modern music magazine, this included a front page, contents page and a double page spread. By choosing a genre, target audience and theme we

had to go ahead with creating a magazine with justified features and conventions.

Idea 1: Indie Rock

This would be a rock magazine with a combination of pop music and top hits. I have been inspired by the magazine "Kerrang" as it uses one large main image and small subheadings, the page will also be extremely busy. The main image on my front my page will be taken against a plain coloured background. Features could include unsigned bands, a competition and upcoming festivals and tour dates. Font types would be grunge looking and also some handwritten font types so that it fits around the photo perfectly and looks very youthful. Coverlines would be italicized and highlighted over with yellow. The colour scheme would consist of a mixture of dark and bright colours to give the page contrast such as Pink, orange, yellow and black. Fonts will all be Sans Serif which are fonts without strokes at the top and bottoms of letters, such as “Impact” Possible titles would be: The Gig, Instro, Unplugged, Music glue, Note or Toon.

Kerrang has very little space, all of the articles are all extremely compact and close together which gives the page an interesting look similar to that of NME. The page is majority black with some yellows, greens and reds which identify this magazines with youth.

Idea 2: Classic Rock

This magazine will be aimed towards 30-50 year olds. The magazine would highlight famous and unforgettable

musicians, The main image would include a single singer or group with one person holding an acoustic guitar or a

microphone with stand. This photo could be in black and white with a high contrast and lots of noise to make it look

very dated and from the sixties. Features would include free nostalgic poster, an album review with the album cover next to it (made myself). Possible colour combinations would be:

Black, dark blue and grey; black orange and grey. The Double page spread would include the interview with the singer on the front cover. Possible names for the magazine include:

Blend, Audio-who, Stage, Music Central, MUK (music of UK), Rewind or Fast Forward. Elements of the page would be rotated to make the page look a little more interesting.

The magazine “UNCUT” uses a strict colour scheme makes the page appealing to the older audience. The main image

takes up the whole page in a greyscale mode which will also appeal to the older audience. The dates highlighted around the side show exactly what era the magazine is highlighted.

Idea 3: Techno/rave

This magazine would have a very niche audience of techno lovers who go to raves which would fit into the age range of 17-25 year olds. The main image would be of a friend with a Dj Deck in front of him with headphones on.

Colour combinations would be: black, green and blue; blue, yellow and red. Possible titles: Audiophere

(Atmosphere), AMP (A Music Phenomenon), Fusion or The Fix. There are no existing Rave/Techno magazines which

would leave a gap in the market for my magazine. All text would be very clean and sharp all in capitals. Getting photos of the rave scene would be difficult so i would create lasers and strobes using tools on photoshop.

Features of this magazine would include dates of DJ’s in certain clubs, rave merchandise such as glow sticks. An interview with a top DJ and also articles such as ‘Most

embarrassing things to happen to you when drunk’ and comparisons on best London clubs to visit.

Due to there not being an existing magazine for the genre Rave and Techno the magazine would be not have

anything to base itself on. This would give me the chance to create my own target audience and the opportunity to use colour, images, font type and layout in a way never

seen before.

Decision to go with Idea 2I asked 2 peers of their opinion which magazine I should go ahead with. Ryan thought a Techno magazine would look the best because techno magazines

are unheard of whereas there are plenty of Classical Rock magazines, however a classical rock magazine would be more popular with society

because there are more older music lovers than techno fans. Tom’s opinion was to go for a Classic Rock magazine as there are few existing magazines

compared to rock magazines. He said “There is less competition in the industry for Classic Rock”. He also mentioned getting photos for the rave

magazine would be difficult.

I will continue to make a classical rock magazine. Using dated musicians and similar artists of today. The magazine will be similar to “UNCUT”, “Rolling

Stone” And “Q”. the colour scheme will use 3 colours and be very dark and vintage. The font types I use will be a mixture of sans serif and serif fonts. Both of these opinions influenced me as I couldn’t take photos for the rave

magazine, i do not own any rock instruments such as guitars or drums so an indie rock magazine would not be as convincing as an indie rock magazine. I have a very deep interest in historical rock, bands such as The Beatles, The

Who, The Hollies and other bands from the Sixties influence me so creating a classic rock would be entertaining for myself while at the same time the older

generation are short on older music magazines to read.