Evaluation

The preliminary project (school magazine and front cover) involved the same techniques needed to create the music magazine. Through creating the school magazine and front cover, I was able to learn and adapt new skills to suit the various arts, editing and manipulation to create the music magazine project. Through this, I had also educated myself in the various software that the Apple Mac computer offers, and learnt how to use and manipulate them in the favor of the music magazine. My photography skills had also greatly improved as I learnt new shot types and techniques that are evident in my music magazine project.

Using many inspirational music magazines, ranging from the pop genre (such as Smash Hits) to Classical (such as Classical FM) to Rock (such as NME), I decided to base my music magazine around the Rock genre, however using the same technique as Smash Hits, the magazine includes bits of other genres such as Pop and R'n'B to attach a slightly more broader audience.

The vast majority of consumers buying music magazines of any genre are between the ages of 13 - 19. By targeting the audience from about the age of 15 - 19, the prospect of becoming mainstream through consumer buy seems very reachable and appropriate. Through research, it was found that 77% of the target audience preferred brightly coloured front covers to a darker tone. Using a black background, bright colours used created a complementary and sticking effect that attached the target-audience. Using the results that target-audience preferred magazines that had elements of a magazine rather than not influenced the lack of challenge in the codes and conventions in favour of these findings. The target audience was further narrowed down within the audience's age group due to the fact that the music magazine front cover would be aimed to those who enjoy Rock rather than Hip-Hop and Rap, Classical etc.

Established under the genre of Rock, this genre was used as an umbrella term so that sub genres such as Indie/Punk/Electro and even modern pop could be introduced in a variety of issues (hence the list of music bands in the bottom banner of the music magazine front cover). Other ways the genre was presented included the different bright colours used, headings supporting the magazine and its content, as well as the model herself and the way she dressed. Elaborating on the latter point, the absence of clothing such as a tracksuit (usually associated with those who enjoy rap and hip-hop) also created the absence of Rap and Hip-Hop influencing the magazine. My model wore a brightly coloured t-shirt and coloured jeans as well as coloured accessories. Her hairstyle also added to the absence of influence from the Rap and Hip-Hop genre due to the fact that her hairstyle included a thick fringe that covered part of her eye. So through the target audience's age group, this genre further narrows the type of people most likely to buy the magazine which is those who enjoy rock more so than hip hop or rap.

I decided to call the music magazine BASS MAGAZINE for the reasons that it was quick and simple, easy to remember and has connotations of a guitar (bass guitar), which in turn has connotations of a range of music genre that a guitar is very much a part off and therefore suit my genre of Rock and its sub-genres.

Using Photoshop to create the magazine front cover and contents page and Apple Works to create my double page article, a range of skills were needed to fully bring out the potential of the idea behind the music magazine. Therefore a pilot study was put in place. This was to create a school magazine for Canon Palmer Catholic School. Through research of photo shot types, the differences in conventional and unconventional elements, symbols, USP and use of colour, I created a successful school front cover and contents page. These skills were then applied when producing the music magazine front cover, contents page and double page article.

Aiming to get the magazine published by Bauer Consumer Media (the same publishers used to publish Karrang Magazine), the chances of the music magazine becoming mainstream would (amusingly) increase due to the past success Bauer Consumer Media as had with previous projects. Believing that the music magazine has addressed all aspect required, there is no reason for the final product to not become successful and be at the same league as magazines such as Karrang and NME. For the first three years, the magazine would aim to be distributed at HMV music shop branches all around the UK. Using mainstream music shops, along with a well know publisher would increase the chance of success with the magazine. After the three years, if sale turnovers meet demands the prospect of expanding the music magazine sales outside HMV would become an option. Niche and independent music shops and even convenience stores and supermarkets would be considered as distributors for the music magazine.