Basics

Choosing name for my music magazine
In this post I will set up the essential basics for my music magazine; I will put and consider some possible names for it, and then come up with a rough cover price. I will also need to think how often my magazine will be released. As I have written down before, I am going to base it upon indie, rock and pop music. My magazine will follow mainstream ideology, and for example I will include there news and gossips about controversial musicians.
Considering all the mentioned aspects of my music magazine, the name for it should be sharp, (one word would be the best, maximum two words), as it would be easy to remember; it should also draw people’s attention and reflect the idea behind the magazine.

X-Ray – as to x-ray the music, showing all the truth about music stars and music industry, giving good and objective reviews on artists and their music. I think this name would fit perfectly for a music magazine, I also think that the letter ‘X’ has got this excitement and mystery, which could draw people’s interest to it.
SPECTRUM – I believe this name would make my magazine seem being professional in its music genres, for examples by giving large spectrum of reviews. However this name may sound too seriously and it could be also confused with political publications.
MUSIC ROLL – Roll connotes on-going movement, it would give a feeling that the magazine is up to date with current events and it is mobile. It could also be connote with a bread roll, as the magazine’s contents is like a roll’s filling – various and satiated at the same time :P
EXPOSED – It would seem as the magazine focuses on showing the true face of music industry and people within it.
JUICED – It connotes the magazine will focus upon music stars. I also think that there is a sort of excitement behind this name and it just sounds nice.

After analysing all the possible names, I have decided to call my magazine “X-RAY the music”, as I believe it would grab attention of my target audience. I also think that the name would fit into to the mainstream market.

A rough cover price for my magazine and how often my magazine will be released
I am more likely to create something similar to “Q”, and that is why I would like my magazine to be monthly released. A rough cover price will be £2.50. I believe it would be possible to do, as my magazine will have smaller coverage than “Q” has. (“Q” costs £3.90) This price would affordable to a wide audience. What I would like to gain especially by having this moderate price is to attract teenager from the younger profile, which is from 14 to 15 years old. At this age, teenager start to develop individual music tastes, and I believe my magazine could be one of these good things, which would guide them into the world of indie and rock music.

Quality of printing
Following the convention of most of the music magazines, I will print my magazine on a glossy paper and create it in a tabloid size.

Original Photos - part two

FRONT PAGE

DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD

This is the picture I would like to use for a double page spread. I have already put there a white space for the article's text to check if it is going to work out.

Original Photos

LIIAR for my music magazine

Establishing music genre within my magazine

Key fetures of indie, indie rock and rock music.

The music genres which I would like to focus upon my magazine are indie, rock, and a mix of pop and soul.

What are the key features of these genres?
The main cultural elements of rock and indie rock genres are white male artists; bands usually consist of four members. The characteristic elements of their appeal are: medium long hair, casual and vintage clothes: skinny jeans, cardigans, usually predominance of dark colours. Indie and rock musicians try to appear as they are strong and at the same time free individuals. Some of them promote rebellious look.
Indie music may adopt different music styles, (which step over rock) as it includes underground music. However underground music can also appeal trough vintage clothes (look at the posted examples) I believe that we may call the appearance of indie and rock musicians by the term - ‘casual sophistication’.
The main musical elements of indie, indie rock and rock music are classic guitars, electric guitars, bass guitars, drums and keyboards.

What magazines, are currently in publication, cover these genres?
The magazine which cover these genres are NME, Q and RollingStone.

What features do they have in their magazines and how do these features tie in with their target audience’s expectations of representation?
To analyse the features within those magazine I will use previously posted examples of double page spreads from NME and Q. NME’s feature presents The XX; it is an indie, dub and electronic band. On the photograph we see four members of the band: three males and one female. They are all dressed in black clothes. The setting around them is some kind of an urban located playground; in the background we can see a metal fence, on which there are two overlaid letters X; I don’t know how they were made, however I know it is surely a part of the original photo . The group members look natural, as this is their every day environment. The thing which drew my attention is the metal chest on which they sit (the sort of a chest used to transport musical installation and instruments); It seems like they are after some performance.
Q’s feature presents The Gaslight Anthem; it is an American punk/rock band. The band consists of four male members; they all wear casual clothes: jeans, trainers. As well as on the NME’s feature, they are showed standing against metal fence. The photo looks less natural than NME’s one, as they all look into the camera and it seems like that the places where they are standing, were deliberately planned by the photographer. Nevertheless, the musicians still look pretty confident and relaxed.
The symbol which occurs on both features is the letter X; it is not surprising with The XX, however the double page spread with the Gaslight Anthem also uses this symbol. Apparently letter X connotes this rebelliousness and individuality, which accompany indie music. (look at the examples – CD cover “This is indie rock – the best bands you’ve never heard”)
I believe that these features tie in with their target audience’s expectations, as it is something what indie and rock music fans would expect from it; casual look of the artists, uncommon environment of the photos, as they connote indie music. The target audience for indie and rock music must feel that this representation is accessible for them, they don’t want to only listen to music, but they want to take part in it; going to gigs, attending festivals, being up to date with their favourite bands.

LIIAR

Language - For my front cover I will use a photograph showing a female vocalist (as she is going to be a subject of my main article) I've taken already many different photos of her, some present her with a guitar, and some show her alone. On the front cover I may use both options; however the convention is that the artists or bands are showed on the front covers without any musical instrument, as the focus comes upon the same artists, who are interesting individuals, and it is unnecessary to connote magazine's type by placing musical instruments on its front cover. I will experiment while creating the front cover; I would like to try creating two different covers; one which would follow the NME's approaches and another one, which would follow the approaches of 'Q'. I personally prefer 'Q' design, as it is much clearer and at the same time more 'classy' than NME's design is. Also the contents pages of 'Q' appeal better to me, that NME ones do. The next thing which I will need to consider is the text within my front cover. Following the conventions of NME and Q, I will place my masthead in the right-upper corner. For my main headline I will use a san-serif and bold type of font, as I want to draw people's attention to the main story. The colours used in my front cover will be limited, as I want to give a professional appearance.

Institution - A type of publisher which would be similar to NME's or 'Q''s publishers, as my magazine would be addressed to the mainstream audience; I would need a 'big' and well established publishing company, if want it to succeed.

Ideology - Following the conventions of every music magazine, my publication would inform its audience about the recent happenings within the new music world, and at the same time it would try to entertain its readers. I am more likely to take 'Q' approaches, as Q follows the mainstream and includes in its coverage more established bands and artists (emphasising that my main article is going to include a story about an artist already well known to the public).

Audience - I would like to address my magazine to the people from 16 - 30+ I believe that they would be a people with already established music tastes, as my magazine is going to follow the mainstream

Representation - To represent rock and indie music, I have got a range of photos showing musicians with electric guitars. I have got also some photos taken at a gig, it would represent that my magazine is also into the "live" music. For my front cover I have got photos of the female artist; I believe they follow the conventions as she is showed as an interesting individual.

For my double page spread, I've got photos which follow the conventions of double page spreads from 'Q' and NME.