Questionnaire results.

To gather a better idea of what I may need to include in my magazine, I issued 20 questionnaires to a varying audience concerning Indie music and in general, music magazines. The answers to the questions will give me an insight into what genres of music Indie fans like other than their usual style, which age and gender more frequently purchase music magazines, bands and artists the audience would like to read about and a possible name for my magazine may be achievable within the answers to the question, 'Which three words do you associate with the genre of Indie'

After receiving the information I required to be able to make a successful magazine, I put it into pie charts so it was easier to make out the more popular answer for each question. Here are my results:

When looking at the pie charts it is clear to see that the most popular purchases are either weekly or monthly. The monthly segment is slightly larger and so evidently, monthly magazines are more successful within my genre. Also, the age group that are more fond of Indie music magazines appear to be those of 16-20 by a rather significant amount.

This pie chart was formed from a question of which the audience had a variety of answers they could choose. Quite rightfully, as the audience were those interested in Indie music, Indie was the genre that had the more dominant section of the pie chart. Getting an insight in to what sort of music Indie fans appreciate when accompanied with Indie is quite useful however as it could possibly be used within the music magazine.

Question five was 'Who is your favourite artist/band associated with Indie music'. This was open to any answer the audience chose. Five out of twenty of the audience chose 'Arctic Monkeys' as their favourite band. Four chose 'The Wombats'. Three chose 'Kings of Leon'. Three chose 'Mumford and Sons'. Two chose 'Florence and the machine' and two also chose 'Coldplay'. One member of the audience chose 'The Smiths'.

Researching the market place.

Researching the market place on Prezi

Analysis of double page spread.

Analysis of double page spread on Prezi

Kerrang and NME magazine

Kerrang, the worlds largest weekly music magazine falls into the range of magazines I will be closely analysing in an attempt to make a similair magazine. Magazines like 'Kerrang!', 'NME' and 'Mojo' will act as templates and guides whilst I'm making my own music magazine. Below is a link that gives statistics of which gender and age group mostly reads Kerrang. This helps in giving information of what type of audience my magazine will also need to appeal to. It also gives a mission statement telling of their role as not only educators of the young in the older music department but also the introducing of new bands within the magazine.

http://magazines.bauermediaadvertising.com/magazines/detail/kerrang

http://www.ipcadvertising.com/resource/99gzt67ilbyjlxie0lvxvld9.pdf

Above is a link to NME's media pack. It offers information on the key statistics of NME's audience, specific amounts of categories that buy the magazine and a collection of their personal opinions on the magazine. It also tells of its mechanical date and production.

Analysis of professional front covers

Front cover analysis

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Closer look at analysis of contents pages

Copy of Analysis of professional contents pages on Prezi

Analysis of professional contents pages

Copy of Analysis of professional contents pages on Prezi

Conclusion of preliminary task.

After producing a rough version of my front cover, it came to my attention that it deviated more codes and conventiones than it actually followed. Due to only spending a small fraction of time on this piece, I decided that rather than having a cluttered front cover I could quickly alter it by having one large image and the font in a clear colour over the image. When doing this, I would need to find a way to maintain the conventions I'd followed, such as; a barcode, a title that stands out, one main image linked to a main story and headlines in different fonts to the descriptions of the stories. I would contrastingly have to improve my magazine by adding things such as a date, issue number and possibly a website address at which the audience could receive further information and stories due to feature within future issues of the magazine. My contents page looks slightly different to my front cover, the reason for this being the realisation that I hadn't actually followed as many codes and conventions as I shoud have when making the front cover. Like many professional contents pages, it follows the convention of 'regulars' and 'features' sections. This guides the audience into what they would usually be purchasing regularly from the magazine and what special additions are included in the particular week that they have purchased it. It has a variety of pictures that relate to storylines. It does reinforce the main storyline but not obviously because a different picture has been chosen to link with that storyline on the contents page. Like the majority of magazines also, my contents page has a different colour page number, to the story it is linked to. The front used in my contents page is within the correct range usually used. To improve my contents page, I would use a main image or possibly an editors letter. Instead of using a main image, I simply used a collection of small ones, this means there is no main attraction for the audience when looking at my contents page, nothng stands out as much more exciting than the things its surrounded by.

Initial ideas

In advance of making our music magazines, detailed research is a crutial aspect of our work and in figuring out what to do and so after conducting that research, initial ideas were formed. For my individual magazine, I decided the genre would be more specifically Indie than anything. This follows ideas of magazines such as 'Q', it's sister magazine 'Mojo' and 'NME'. Using these as guides, I intend to model my magazine in the unique way that they also do. The target audience for these magazines is genders in general mainly within the age group of 16-24. Indie fans obviously make the most frequent purchases. Taking this into account, my magazine will be aimed towards that target audience in a way that will help them to engage in the magazine.

The layout would generally be similair to the magazines provided within this blog. The images used would all be original, taken by myself. The main band included will have also been interviewed exclusively by myself, the likeliness is that this band will be local.

Photographs for the school magazine

In advance of making our magazines, we dedicated a lesson to taking the shots that would be included in the magazine. Before doing so, we drew up what we ideally wanted our magazines to look like and the stories that they would consist of. This helped us create an idea of what sort of pictures we would need to take, those that linked in with our storylines.

This will be the main image on the front page due to it being the main storyline. 'Exclusive interview with Robynn Middlemiss' in which advice and a success story will be given based upon GCSE results.

Links in with the 'All about the Arts' storyline.

Used on the front cover, this gives an idea of what types of books will be sold during author week and the cost at which they will be available.

This picture will be included in the contents page, linking in with one of the coverlines on the front page (Well known authors visit the school). It is based in the library in which the authors would give readings and signings.

This picture would be included in the contents page, the picture however would also link in with my main headline about the new sixth formers.

The intention of this picture was that it would be included on my contents page. I decided that the story would be based around an exclusive interview with Geoff and that the story would be included within the 'features' section of my contents page.

My magazine included a headline on the front 'It's all about the Arts'. I found pictures of art pieces and photographed them in order to provide an idea of what the story would be about although it could include a range of things from arts performances and creations.    

                                                                         

This picture links with a feature story that will be included on the contents page. An exclusive interview with Mrs. Parsons speaking about the subject she specifically specialises in (Philosophy and Ethics) and encouraging people to enjoy an interesting journey learning the subject.