Evaluation of my music mag

• In what ways does your Media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
My music magazine includes all the needed forms of real media products; e.g. a masthead, headlines, sub headlines etc. My front page features a masthead, main headline, a sub headline, issue number, a bar code with a price, an additional plug which says the bands which feature the issue and a link to the magazine’s website. The masthead challenges the convention which states that it should be in the biggest font size out of all the text, as my is smaller than the main headline. However some magazines, for examples NME, do that in order to draw people’s attention to the particular band or artist. My masthead also follow the convention of ‘Mojo’ and ‘Kerrang’, in which mastheads are spread through the whole width of the cover. The limited colour scheme which I used in my front cover, as well as in the whole magazine, follows the convention of “Q”. My contents page consists of conventional features, such as the masthead ( in a changed form to make it look more interesting), three edited, original photographs, page numbers with the articles which occur on them. I have divided my contents into special features and regulars, as it is w conventional way. My special features headlines contain also small descriptions underneath them. The double page spread is constructed also in a conventional way, as the photograph takes ¾ of the whole space, and it’s the focal point of this page. It features a headline, a sub headline and a strap line, which are conventional.

• How does your Media product represent particular social groups?
The social group presented within my magazine, contains of young males and females, which are related to the music industry; it includes solo artists a much as various bands. They all have been represented through the use of original photographs, which have been taken by myself and then edited. All the featured people appear as being happy and relaxed, as I believe it would appeal to the target audience. Also the way they are dressed connotes that they may be related to this particular social group and music genre. The way the photographs are constructed is very energetic; it adds the feeling that the people featuring them, have got busy and interesting lives.

• What kind of Media institution might distribute your media product and why?
I believe that the most suitable publisher which might distribute my magazine would be similar to ‘Bauer Media’ – the publisher of ‘Q’ magazine. I think my magazine has got this professional appearance, which accompanies several publications from ‘Bauer Media’. Also the style of writing used in my magazine and the music genres within it would appeal to the well established audience of Bauer Media. Furthermore I like the fact that ‘Q’ has got several media platforms: radio, television etc. I think it is something which I could possibly consider in the future development of my magazine.

• Who would be the audience for your Media product?
The audience for my product would be people from 16 to 30+. I believe I might reach the adult audience from the high economical model, as much as well as student, young adults and teenagers. My magazine would be addressed to peoples who have got already established tastes within the indie and indie rock music, however they are open minded to unconventional ideas; as I think indie music may adopts various genres. However my magazine would mainly follow the mainstream trends within my chosen genres.

• How did you attract/address your audience?
I did attract my audience in several ways, e.g. the professional and at the same time clear look of my magazine might attract people from the higher economical model. Furthermore, the magazine has got also a bit of indie look, which is actually addressed to my target audience. Another thing which could attract and at the same time address my audience is the main article. It addresses the people who are interested in rock music, as the artist featuring this article used to be in a rock band; it also addresses the people who are interested in pop and soul music, as this artist has released her new album within those genres. Another thing which could attract my audience is the use of bold colour on my front cover. Also the moderate price of my magazine might attract students.

• What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?
From the process of constructing my music magazine, I’ve learnt a lot about the technologies, which I was using. For example, I am now much more skilled in using Publisher and Photoshop; I know also how to combine those two programs, in order to get the best results ( how to use the advantages of one to overcome the disadvantages of the other) Furthermore, I have become very much aware, how important is the quality of the pictures used within the new music magazines. I have also learnt how to put the magazine’s conventions into the real product.

• Looking back at the preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?
While progressing within my studies, I believe that I have become much more aware of the conventions used in different sorts of magazines, especially the new music magazines. I have learnt how to put those into the real product. Furthermore, I have become aware of how essential is the representation within the new music magazine; how it can attract and address the audience; influence the whole ideology and appeal of the magazine. I have also learnt, how the music magazine industry works in itself.