Introduction and Aims

                                                               Introduction and Aims

In order to make decisions on my aims and targets of my magazine I researched front covers of music magazines of my chosen music genre to discover codes and conventions of which I will include in my own.  I looked at various different music magazine of the alternative music genre such as NME, Q, Mojo, Rolling Stones and Clash. The titles of these magazines are short, memorable and catchy and therefore appeal to the age demographic of late teens, early 20’s and over of both genders, which are these magazines, target audience.

Other forms and conventions I discovered included the layout itself to be clear and ordered with minimal cover lines and one main large cover photo. The title is also typically placed to the left or is over lapped by the main photo, which is usually surrounded by a simple background of one colour, usually grey, white or black. This simple background emphasis the main focus to be upon the cover photo and the chosen colours suggest a more serious approach of the artist and the magazine in general. The main cover image is always of an artist and band typically looking at a direct gaze at the camera to engage tend get the readers attention.

 The cover lines of Alternative magazines are similar to other genres in that they inform the reader of what’s inside however they are placed in more of a structure around the image keeping the focus on the model, again appealing to their older target audience. The colour scheme of my analysed magazines were all of a simple colour pallet such as nudes, and kept to only three colours for the text. The typography is usually of a simple, clear and easy to read font, with the headline of artists name in bold or capital letters, rarely they will use a different themed typography for the feature headline of an artist such as Lana Del Rey.

As a result of my findings I have decided to aim my music magazine at late teens, early 20’s and over of both males and females of an alternative music taste. I therefore need to make sure my magazine meets my audience’s expectations by following guidelines of alternative music magazine codes and conventions.  I am unsure yet of a specific name for my music magazine but it will either be a short catchy name such as ‘clash’ or initials of a name such as ‘NME’. Each page, including the front cover will also have a limited colour pallet and simple typography. I will also make my music magazine front cover appeal to my target audience by featuring popular alternative bands and artists in my headers and cover lines and keeping my colour scheme, typography and language unisex and mature.

I will take a photo-shoot of my created band or artist to feature as the main cover image, they will be dressed in conventional alternative costumes and have appropriate props for the music genre such as an acoustic guitar.  Finally the social economic group I will be targeting at are C1, C2 and D, these groups include the middle class, skilled working class and working class; I chose these groups as they hold the majority of people. They also hold the main alternative music listeners and therefore by aiming and targeting by music magazine at the social groups it is more likely for my music magazine to gain success and recognition.

To conclude my introduction and aims, I will be continuing planning and making my music magazine of an alternative genre and continually referring and looking at existing alternative music magazines and going by codes and conventions in order to make my magazine appeal to my target audience of both genders aged 20 and over. I have chosen the colour scheme of pastel nudes and greys, and my typography will be simple, clear and readable with a bold headline in capital letters, although not to take away the focus of the main cover photo. The photo will be of a band/artist created by me looking at a direct gaze at the camera in order to engage and gain the readers attention. My title will later be decided upon however it will be place on the top left hand side of my cover or overlapped by the cover photo surrounded my a plain background to make the overall image of my alternative magazine to be appear professional and serious.