Front Cover

This image shows the final product for my music magazine front cover. Several things have changed from the layout I had previously created; however the majority of things have stayed the same.

I decided to call my magazine “connected” as I thought this would be the most suitable title. The name “connected” links with the idea of musical instruments being connected to amplifiers, and the artists themselves being connected with their fans. I placed the headline at the top of my page in the centre where it will be most noticeable; this is a typical convention of a magazine. I used a bold font, which I downloaded from 1001freefonts.com. The website had lots of fonts to choose from but I chose one which I knew would stand out. I used a deep purple colour for my masthead as it is neutral colour. Although it is slightly more associated with females. My magazine is aimed at females however males may want to read the music magazine as well so it was important for me not to use a colour such as pink.

The picture is the main focus of my front cover, which is another convention of music magazines. I wanted to pick a picture for my front cover where the models had the masks on so that they were hidden behind them and their identities still unknown. This would entice the target audience to buy the magazine to find out who the girl band are. The image I used was originally in colour however after looking at other images of different girl groups in my research, I decided to make my picture black and white and leave the dresses and masks in colour so they stood out. I edited my photo in Photoshop; I added another layer to make it black and white then rubbed out the parts I wanted in colour. I believe my image works very well on the front cover, it stands out especially due to the fact that only some of the photograph is in colour.

My main headline is in colour so that it stands out compared to the rest of my headlines which are in black and white. “Masquerade revealed” links in with the fact that my models are wearing masks to hide their identity. I placed it more towards the bottom of the page but in the centre, so that it went across my image but not right through the centre of it as this would distract attention from the main focus of the image. I chose an older more fancy style font so that it linked in with the masquerade theme. I used a pale blue colour as blue and purple work well together, however I could not use a dark blue as this with blend in too much with the blue from the dresses and would not stand out as much. Underneath my main headline I have a sub headline “The truth behind the masks” this informs the target audience that inside the magazine all will be revealed.

My other headlines are in black and white, they are still noticeable but do not stand out as clearly as my main headline. I did not place them where I said I would on my layout. In my layout I placed them both down the left hand side of my magazine, however when it came to creating my magazine I realised this would not be possible as it would cover the centre of main image if I placed them down one side. Therefore I put one on either side so that the headlines fitted around the image.

Also on my front cover I have included a barcode, issue number, date, price and website. They are all small in comparison to the rest of the things on my page however they are only there to help make my magazine more professional and realistic so therefore it doesn’t matter if they don’t stand out as much as everything else. Overall I think my front cover is very effective; the picture and headline stands out how I wanted them to as does the masthead. I believe my magazine would attract the attention of my target audience. The headlines used are interesting ones and would entice audiences to want to read on.

Photoshoot

The girl band featured in my music magazine is supposed to be a new group that have just had a hit single. The photographs will be the main feature of the magazine so it was important to me that they were done to a good quality and everything was thought through. I asked my models to all wear dresses but made sure they were all going to be in different colours. After researching different magazines and photographs of other girl bands I had a few ideas for my photographs. The double page spread from rock sound, which I analysed earlier on in my blog, gave me the idea of having the band wearing masks. Also the girls aloud picture with the old fashioned style setting and dresses gave me the idea to have masquerade masks and an old fashioned setting. I therefore decided to take my photographs in the transport museum so I could take pictures on the trams and down the cobbled streets which surround the museum. It would have been too hard to get hold of old fashioned style dresses and not very appropriate for a new girl band so I made sure my models wore modern dresses to contrast with the masquerade masks and old fashioned setting. I took a lot more photographs than I needed as I knew some of them would not turn out how I wanted; therefore I made sure I had plenty.
However the task of taking my photographs was more difficult than I at first imagined. I only had a small hand held camera that does not take pictures as well as a specialist SLR camera. Before I went to take the photographs I had to ring up and ask for permission to take the photographs in the museum. They said it would be possible for me to go in and take some however it would have to be on a day that it was open to the public. Therefore when I was taking my pictures it was very difficult as many members of the public where around so I had to try and make sure my pictures didn’t get any other people in. Also the lighting was very dull in the museum and I had a very limited time to take my photographs as I could not stay in one place too long and interfere with people viewing the museum. Baring in mind all the things I had to overcome I believe my pictures turned out very well, a few are a bit dull or a bit grainy, however I feel they could have turned out a lot worse baring in mind all these factors.
There are too many photographs to post on my blog so here is a small selection which I am considering placing within my magazine.

For the main image on my front cover I wanted a photogrpah where the band have their masquerade masks on so that you could open the magazine to find out who they are revealed. Here are a couple of pictures I am taking into consideration for my front cover.

The next few images are ones that I think would be suitable for my double page spread. I want a picture that is clear and allows you to see each memeber of the band clearly and minus their masquerade masks.

Here are a few images that I do not think would be right for my front cover or my double page spread. However I feel they would be really good to have as small images on my contents page as there are a variety of shots and poses, some staged and some more natural.

Ideas for my photographs

I looked at several different photographs and album covers of different girl bands because I wanted to get inspiration for my photographs. The main feature of my magazine is going to be a new girl band so therefore I thought it was important to look at popular mainstream girl groups.



I like this image becuase of the way the colour stands out against the black and white background. I had already decided that my models would wear dresses, each a different colour, but now I might think about making the main image on the front cover black and white but keep the dresses in colour. I think this is very efftective and will make the picture stand out more which is important if its going to be on the front cover because is has to draw the attention of the audience.

This image has a low angle camera shot which makes it look like you are looking up at the subjects. In a lot of pictures taken of girl bands the artists have a really intense stare which draws your attention to the picture and makes you imagine they have some power over you. I like the abandoned setting this picture has been taken in, it is quite plain but gives the image a bit of edge.

I really liked this image of Girls Aloud and it helped give me inspiration for my photographs. The dress style is old fashioned and makes the photograph look really different from all the other images taken of girl bands. It is very eye catching having them wearing something like this, moreover the shot and pose are very simple with the singers standing in a straight line; however the effect that is created looks very professional.

This is another image of Girls Aloud but this time it is a album cover. This drew my attention because of the way individual shots of the girls have been placed together to create one image. I feel this would work for my double page spread or contents page. I could take individal pictures of my models and place them together to create one image. This allows each member of the band to be seen in a clear and imaginative way.

Layout for double page spread

The majority of double page spreads I’ve looked at from magazines, such as Rolling Stone and Hip Hop Connection, have been very plain and simple; with the image on one side and the article on the other. They normally have just one image on them; however the image is usually a large one that takes up either one or both pages. My main image will be placed over one and a half pages, this will mean the image is large and clear. I will then put my headline down the side of my second page; I will make sure my headline is in big bold font so it is clear to read. I will then place my article underneath in a small simple text. My article will be an interview with the band which will reveal more about their music and their lives.

Layout for contents page

My contents page isn’t really based on any other contents pages I’ve looked at previously. I wanted to find a way to incorporate as many pictures as possible, so I will include more pictures from my photo shoot with “Masquerade”. I will set them out in a contact sheet, these are used when editors of magazines are choosing which pictures to use. There are normally about 20-30 photographs on a contact sheet so this will be a perfect way of making sure I have lots of photographs. Also it will be different from any contents pages in other magazines I’ve looked at. I will then place a list of features of things coming up in the magazine down the side of my page; however this will be in a simple, clear font so that my page doesn’t look too cluttered.

Layout for front cover

This is a rough layout for my front cover; I will use this as a template so I know where to place things when it comes to piecing my magazine together. I used the research I had done on other music magazine to help me decide where to place things. I don’t want my front cover to look over crowded and liked the minimalistic look of the Hip Hop Connection magazine.

Masthead
I will place my masthead at the top of the page so that it is easily noticed and will attract my target audience. I knew my magazine was going to be based around pop music so had to think of an appropriate name for my magazine. I didn’t want a long title; I wanted something short and snappy. Here are a few ideas that I came up with:-

Connected this links with music instruments being connected to amplifiers and the artists themselves being connected with their fans.

Network when I was thinking about this title I was inspired by the way the music industry distributes their music, through a network of music shops, magazines, the internet and radio.

TMG (The music generation) this title could be aimed at any age, it would be up to the person reading the magazine if they were the music generation.

Rhythm this title has an obvious link to music and would maybe appeal to someone involved themselves in creating music, whether professionally or in an amateur way.

Sound bite is something that represents the whole of something in a short and snappy way. This title uses the word sound which obviously links with music but in a more general sense conveys a meaning of lots of information being given in a simple way.

Main image and Main Headline
I will place the main image right in the centre of the page; images are normally the things on magazines that draw the attention of the audience first. Therefore it is important my image is a good and eye catching photograph. I will position my main headline through the centre of the page and make sure it links in with my main image. My main image is going to be of a new girl band called “Masquerade” who have just had a number one hit but have had little media attention up till now and will be giving their first big interview to my magazine. I will make sure my image represents a successful girl band so that my magazine will appeal to the right target audience.

Sub headings and plugs
The subheadings and plugs will be tasters of what is to come in the magazine and will help attract a larger audience. If the main topic was not of interest then one of the other articles mentioned in the subheadings could appeal to the audience instead. I will place the sub headings down the side of my front cover and make sure they don’t obstruct my main picture. Also I will include a barcode, price and date as these are all conventions that appear on all music magazines.