FINAL MUSIC MAGAZINE

Current Music Mag

This is the current look of my music magazine. I have completed my DPS and contents page but my front cover still needs some editing done.

Evaluation Guide

This is the plan we did in class on how to answer the questions 1 & 2 for the evaluation task. 

DPS Development

This is the current look of my dps. I decided to remove the yellow and stick to a 3 colour scheme of black, white and red as this is consistent in my front cover as well as my contents pages. Also, from my case studies, black , white and red is a common 3 colour scheme which is used in many rock magazines for example, NME.

Contents Pg Further Development

This is what my contents page looks like at the moment. I have added another photo and will continue to do so on the blank space above the editor's letter. I have also added a social networking site box next to the subscription so that the readers can get in touch with the magazine via twitter, facebook and instagram.

DPS Update

This is the current design of my dps. I have completely finished the article on the second page of the dps, and will insert a photo from my location photo shoot of the band lead singer tyra, on the first page of the dps.

Contents Pg Development

This is the current design of my contents page for my music magazine. The blank space next to the subscription will be filled with the rest of the feature articles and the other blank space on top of the editor's letter, will be filled with more photos linking to certain articles.

ROCKEFELLER

This is the masthead for my magazine, which I have created using Illustrator. I used the white edgy effect to make the masthead appeal more to the genre of rock as well as the audience.

Photoshoot Images

Photoshoot Images

Contents Page

This is the current layout of the contents page. I have decided to change the layout by removing the gig guide and instead, presenting it as an extra feature on the magazine. I have done an editor's letter to show what will be in the issue.

DPS Article Layout

This is the current layout of my double page spread. I have decided to go for a question and answer type of article and have arranged the questions in bold and the answers in regular font. I have put a pull quote from the person I interviewed along with a summary and background information of the band as well as what the article is about at the top of the pull quote. On top of that, I aim to create a title called 'It's All About Vapor' for the masthead of the DPS using illustrator.

Layout Plan - Contents Pg

This is the layout of my contents page. The blank spaces are where the photos from my photoshoot in the studio as well as my location shoot photos will be placed. A gig guide will be presented at the top of the 2nd page, along with an editorial letter below that. The rest of the boxes will have the articles listed and the subheadings to go with them for example, cover story, features and extras.

DPS Questions

1. Tell us about your new single ‘Arrow’


2. Who came up with the band name?


3. Do you get recognised on the streets and get asked for photos/autographs?


4. How did the band come about and start?


5. Did you ever think your first single would be such a hit?


6. What instrument does each member in the band play?


7. Would you like to tour and play in other countries?


8. What’s the best bit about being in a band?


9. Lastly, how are band rehearsals like?

Planning

Font Experiment

This what I did in today's lesson. I have used illustrator to create the masthead of the contents page of my music magazine. As it is a rock magazine I have gone with dark and bold colours. I have also stretched the edges of the letters to make them look quite edgy in order for it to have that rock feel to it.

Call Sheets

These are the call sheets for my photography to use in my music magazine.

Flat Plan

This is my flat plan for my music magazine. The colours represent different aspects of the magazine:

Green: Main aspects of the magazine

Yellow: Adverts

Blue: Feature Stories

Orange: Regulars

Black: Extras

Magazine Proposal Pitch Video

Magazine Proposal

Magazine Proposal from thanihaa

Illustrator Experiment

 

This is the experiment I had made using Illustrator. Learning how to use this would be beneficial for when making my music magazine as I intend to use this software to create my masthead and any logos I'd like to create. I experimented with the pencil tool, shapes tool and text tool. The 1st two images show instructions on how to use illustrator.

Induction for Photoshoot Studio

LIGHTING AND BACKGROUND
In the studio, there are white and black backdrops. For my photo shoot, I intend to use a white backdrop as my models will be wearing dark (preferably black) clothing. This way, the white backdrop with compliment the black clothes well as they are contrasting colours but go well together.
Flash kip – Remote controlled.
The flash creates highlights and shadows and focuses on the main subject of the photo shoot.
In the studio, the lights get switched off as it affects the shoot. If they were to remain on, the ceiling light, the sudio lights as well as the flash from the camera will all clash, making the photo come out differently.
It is advised that models are not too close to the backdrop as they would bleach in, and it would result in the models not being shown clearly in the image. The best place to stand is 5 feet away from backdrop as there is a clear distance between the subject and the background
There are 3 main model lights
Trinity flash heads/lights - never heat up
Minus and plus buttons are used to adjust flash light settings with 1 at the lowest light flashed and 6 at the highest light flashed.
Godox - battery operated remote control/transmitter for the camera to use flash
3 lights
One has a grid - fill light
Snoot - hair line light - hit subject at the back, separates subject from backdrop
3 point lighting
Key light, the main light that would light the subject
Key light is brighter than the rest of the lights

Use 3-1 lighting ratio on shoot

CAMERA
Nikon DLSR D7000 cameras
17 million megapixel camera
Advised to not take photos in landscape way as portrait balances camera so it’s the best way to do it.
Only look through the view finder lens to capture photos
Playback the shots taken on little screen at back of camera
18 to 105 zoom lens
When the camera beeps everything is on auto mode
Manual option - enables photographer to zoom themselves
A and S on the dial - Aperture and Shutter
Shadow depth of field - eyes focused ears out of focus
Aperture meaning controlling the depth of field
Shutter for movement being in focus for example, jumping and hair blowing
The faster the shutter, the quicker the shots are captured
Menu button - set picture control SD
Standard = colour

black and white = monochrome
Reflector boards - 500watts
Defuses the lights
Kicks out shadow
Glow to features
White would soften light
Silver give a hard light

Planning

 

Similarly, this was another plan done for task 6 in the class as well as some ideas of how to present the proposal. For example, prezi, PowerPoint, emaze or spider scribe. The more creative it is, the better.

Planning

 

This was the plan drawn out in class in order to improve our task 6 magazine proposals and start thinking about planning our photoshoots, which will be taking place in the studio. 

Magazine Distribution

The distribution company for my music magazine will be EMAP Bauer as they publish Kerrang! magazine, which is a rock magazine. The reason as to why I would want this specific company is because I myself, am creating a rock music magazine, therefore EMAP Bauer would be the best distribution company for it as I have also been influenced by Kerrang! magazine, through my case studies. Publishers control the editorial content and the design of the magazine, as well as managing relationships with advertisers, who bring in the majority of the profit/revenue. Circulation figures help publishers to plan how many issues to produce and distribute. All publishers use a network of distributors, who manage the flow of magazines from the printer to the final newsstand, where the magazine is being sold. Magazines are mainly sold in supermarkets and newsagents and to move the magazines into the shops, the magazines are taken in lorries to regional distributors.

EMAP Bauer give marketers the freedom to create customised advertising packages, utilise individual portfolios, or a combination of both; depending on the objective of their campaign. The 'Bauer Place Portfolio' would offer brands with the chance to engage personally with local as well as loyal communities in specific geographical locations. Alternatively, brands which seek to engage and appeal to consumers emotionally, would find value in the 'Bauer Passion Portfolio', which specifically appeals on the basis of lifestyle choice.
Source: http://radio.bauermediaadvertising.com/

By using the media, Bauer is able to interact with their audience greatly. The main aspect of media that they use is the radio. The radio is seen as the perfect medium as it creates close touch points as well as an on going relationship with a demanding audience too. It benefits from being spontaneous and has a 2 way trusted relationship as given. In order to take advantage of a medium's strengths, the unique benefit that the brand can offer and also the audience are needed to be known.
Source: http://radio.bauermediaadvertising.com/solutions/cross_media

Box TV was the most watched music TV portfolio in 2013 as it attracted the most viewers. The portfolio was number one and had a highly coveted 16-24 audience. It also gained 3.3billion UK video views for all individuals across its several channels and all programmes may be sponsored, with an exception of bulletins. As a network, they are proud to offer more music than any other network and will continue to rein as champions with the finest music entertainment.
Source: http://radio.bauermediaadvertising.com/solutions/tv

Ezines are electronic versions of magazines, with similar features such as pages that can be turned, adverts and also page numbers. These enzines are usually free and would usually include electronic features, for instance video clips and hyperlinks, that would redirect the reader to another source once they click on these clips and links. Although this specific company uses various media technologies such as the radio and the TV, Bauer Media also use ezines too. This is beneficial as though they might not buy the magazine in a shop, they would still download it from online and read it there as it may be a better way and source for them to use. Therefore, their audience rates will more or less increase rather than decrease with these ezines along with the advantage that they are free too. The link below is the Bauer Media website which has ezines consisting of hyperlinks and video clips too.
http://www.bauermedia.co.uk/

In terms of apps, many magazines now have smartphone or tablet apps with some or all of the content available in the hard copy of the magazine. These may be linked via a smart code on the front of the magazine. As well as that, most magazines now tend to extend their brands with an online presence too, for instance on social networking sites such as, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook. They may also extend into gigs and other events taking place.

Music Magazine Stand Analysis

The image above shows music magazines being displayed on a shelf in a newsagents store. The layout and composition of the magazines is quite peculiar as usually magazines are laid out on top of each other with just the masthead clearly showing and the best selling magazines, being placed on the front shelves with the whole magazine cover page showing. However in this case, the magazines are laid out on the side of each other, showing only half of the masthead as well as half of the rest of the cover page.
The magazines may be presented like this as by showing half of the magazine covers, when customers come to look at the magazines they'd like to buy, they may go for the ones that have bold font/colours as well as have cover lines on the side that sound interesting and that they may want to read.
By showing only half of the page also means that only some cover lines are shown and not others, therefore if a cover line is stopped midway due to another magazine covering the rest of it, the customer may be urged to pick up the magazine and read the whole cover line, thus making them buy the magazine too.
Also, since many music magazines are well known through their colour schemes and masthead logos, regular customers who buy music magazines regularly, may be able to spot and navigate their chosen music magazine easily even if only half of the masthead is showing.
On this specific image, the magazines laid out have words such as 'FREE' and 'WIN' written boldly near the masthead, which could potentially attract customers to pick up the magazines as they have the chance to win something or receive something inside the magazine; which will then result in them buying the magazine.
Sale or Return is a system used by magazine distributors with newsstands, which consists of any copies of magazines, which are not sold, being returned to the distributor; with no cost to the retailer. This is beneficial for the retailer, as there is no wastage or risks involved in buying magazines to sell as if the magazines don't sell, then the publisher/distributor would suffer from wastage and environmental damage instead.
Freemiums are direct distributions which is an increasingly popular method of distribution being used today. This is giving out free issues of magazines or producing freemium magazines. These are typically given out at transport stations or any other busy public locations. These types of magazines make all there revenue/profit through their advertising therefore, any freemium magazine around will have more adverts than a normal magazine being sold in a shop.
Regular readers of magazines tend to subscribe to a number of issues and have their chosen magazines regularly posted to them, usually at a heavy discounted price. This is much easier for the audience and it ensures a regular core readership for the magazine. Electronic distributions work in a similar way however, the only difference is that the customer's magazine will be delivered to the customer's inbox, Kindle Fire or iPad.

Planning

This is what we planned together in class to help plan our music magazine proposals to present to the class the next lesson .

Evaluation for College Mag

To create the front cover page, I have used PhotoShop. The photo was taken in the college and the image is a medium shot. I have used a psychology book as a prop as that is what she studies, and the pose and gesture that she is making, gives an idea that she enjoys the subject too. Under the cover lines, I have added captions that include a bit of further details on what the articles are about. The cover line's font and size is bigger and bolder than the caption as they are the main aspect of the entire college magazine. A barcode and price is also listed at the bottom corner of the magazine as well as, the issue number and date of the issue at the top of the magazine, under the masthead. The mast head is behind the image of the cover girl, which looks quite professional as this look is used in several magazines.  I have also included a pull quote from the cover girl, which relates to the article that she is featured in. Using PhotoShop was fairly simple as I was already familiar with the software and remembered certain features that it included to help me produce the magazine. However, an issue I faced was ensuring that the photo I used was not blurred when I enlarge it. This problem did arise, which resulted in having to constantly place the image back onto PhotoShop again, but it was solved after the third try as the image was not blurred anymore once I enlarged it. Overall, using PhotoShop was a better experience than using InDesign and in terms of text, there were no dilemmas, which made me complete my cover page quicker than I had expected.

To create the contents page of the college magazine, I have used InDesign as that was the best software to use in terms of inserting text and ensuring that the layout is similar to normal magazines being sold today. To make the college magazine look professional, I have divided up the articles by putting them into different sections, as it is shown in various magazines being sold today. The titles of these listings on the contents page are the following; features, study, extracurricular and plus. Under the article names, the page numbers, in which the article would be found, are also listed to ensure that readers find it easy to navigate the article that they want to read. In terms of the photos I have used, I have used another photo of the cover girl as there is an article regarding her, I have used a photo of people studying, as it goes along with the study related articles and I have finally used a photo of people in the college gym to show what extracurricular activities are available to join. Using InDesign was better than I had expected as when I first used the software, it took me a while to adjust to the format and settings of it. The only thing I did have difficulty with was resizing the images as the shape would suddenly change. However, this did not become an issue for me, as I decided to go for the slanted look of the images despite not planning to place the images like that in the first place. I decided to keep this look as I felt it would differ from other college magazines I had seen and it looks quite cool and edgy.

To improve my front cover, I think I could have added a skyline perhaps, as that is usually shown on many magazines and to improve my contents page, I think I could have added the page numbers on the bottom of the images I have inserted as this is also shown in real magazines being sold. My three key points for development when producing the main task (the music magazine) would be to use other features on PhotoShop such as the lasso tool and the gradient tool, in order for the cover to look less plain and boring by adding a different effect to it and focus my images properly when capturing them so I do not face any issues based on the resolution and quality of the images. Finally, another key point for development would be to use more features included in InDesign rather than just inserting text and images, in order to make my contents page look far more appealing and suitable for a music magazine.