Survey results (Bar Charts)

Front page and contents page sketches.

Front Page. 

This is the front sketch of my music magazine. I am looking to have one main picture, a masthead, various sub-headings and other previews of what is going to be in the magazines. As the above picture shows, the main background picture covers a part  of the masthead. This gives the main headings of the magazine, superiority over the masthead of the magazine.  

 
Contents Page.

This is my contents page draft sketch. the page includes 2 side pictures and a main contents text box. By having images on the contents page it makes it more interesting and eye catching. i will use pictures that link to the main headline. The way i will layout my contents text box, is in the form of a list. Tis is because it is simple, not to complicated. i will have no further information, on the contents page.       

Flat Plan

I created a flat plan, to plan ahead to what would be in my music magazine. my music magazine will have a lot of content (as shown above). My plan includes a magazine of 37 pages, including the front cover and back cover. as you can see in the above picture there are various adverts, positioned at various places. This is one of the main features in any magazine. i have also got various double page spreads in my magazine. These are the main headings and sub-headings.

Photo Shoots.

For my first photo shoot, I wanted to do a natural photo shoot. I did not want any additional lighting, just the blue skies and the sun. I will do more photo shoots, where I will use special lighting and different background to blend colours.

The 1^st photo shoot will happen at a primary school. I have made up a two man band. The headline is: a famous two man band visit and help primary schools for charity. I have taken various different shots, were they have different poses. As I have said above, there was no lighting involved, therefore my photo shoot does not look professional. My photos are of high quality, due to the camera I used, however they are of a low standard, as I have not used a solid background and extra lighting.

The 1^st photo shoot I done was a natural photo shoot. I wanted nature in the background.  I am currently planning on doing 2 or 3 more photo shoots. In these photo shoots I will aim to have them more professional; they will all have a solid back ground, I will also like to use lighting gels of different colours. This will then make my photos look more professional after I edit them using special technology. 

Here are some of the pictures i took from the photo shoot:

 These are some of the best photos i took during the photo shoot. i will probably use one of the photos as my front cover picture. i have taken many more photos. The photos above ae unedited. i will edit them using Adobe photoshop, this will enhance them to look more professional. 


Contents page photo shoot.
I did a photo shoot fro the contents page. i am looking to include two photos on the contents page. as my mian headline is a famous two man band visiting a school, i want the two pictures to be of the band either side of the text on the contents page. This layout will look good. Below are some of the photos i may include.

 

I am looking to include two pictures on my contents page, 1 picture either side of the text. In my opinion this is a good layout, it looks catchy. This has been planned, when i completed the rough sketches of the front page, contents page and the double page spread.

Equipment

To be successful in this project of making and producing a music magazine, I have to have the right equipment and software to enhance all my work. Some equipment is necessary to complete basic things in this music magazine project such as: the Pages software for Apple Macs. This will be the programme that I will create and edit my magazine on. The list below is all the equipment I will be looking to use during this music magazine project. 

· Apple Macs, Iworks Pages + other Apple Mac software.

The Apple Mac computer is a vital component of my project. The Macs have specialist software, were if can develop, enhance all my work, including the actual music magazine using the software Pages, any photos I take using Adobe Photoshop etc. 

· Memory Stick.

I will need a memory stick to save my work so that it can be done in my own hours. If my music magazine is going to be the best I can make it, then I will need to put in many extra hours of work at home to enhance the quality of my work. Having a memory stick to transport my work from the Apple Macs to my laptop at home gives me the option to improve my work from home.

· Camera and Lighting gels.

I will have to do many photo shoots. To do photo shoots I will need a good camera. The photos that go on a magazine are the main piece of the main heading. Without a photo to back up the text of the main heading the front cover, contents and double page spread will look dull and uninteresting. This will not persuade a customer to buy my magazine. Therefore having a good camera that can take clear and precise shots is important. The lighting gels help me to take clear and focused shots. They change the colour of the shot from the normal background colour to the colour of the lighting gel; this makes the photo look professional. 

· A guide to help me through the project.

I have received a guide to help me through this project. The guide helps me to develop skills on how to write evaluations; it also guides me through the project, helping me understand what to write in the different sections of the project. 

· The internet.

The internet is vital to my success during this project. The internet can help and benefit me in many different ways; research, image downloads, view on other music magazines, upload my work to a blog, look at the work of my fellow students etc. This all helps improve my work, so that it is to the best of its ability. 

· Music magazines.

If I look at professional music magazines that get published weekly/monthly, then it will give me an insight on what my music magazine should look like and contain. I do not have to produce a whole magazine, but I do have to produce a front cover, contents page and a double page spread. By looking at professional music magazines it helps me to understand a good way in doing all those things. 

· Various different types of paper.

I have to plan everything before I make any final decisions. By planning my layout I will need various amounts and sizes of paper. This will affect the quality of my work.

Audience research - Quantitative data (Survey)

I wanted to collect quantitative as well as qualitative data, because I wanted to find out what my target market/ audience would want in my magazine. For the quantitative data I created a survey on a website called survey monkey, www.surveymonkey.com is the link. I thought that making a survey was the best method of achieving precise qualitative data. The link to my survey is: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/XSZT5CL

Analysis of the questions: 

1. Do you buy and read music magazines?

Yes – 19%

No – 42.9%

Sometimes – 38.1 %

I thought that asking this question is a good way to start of a survey about music magazines. Although I got a negative reply, I respect that they have been honest in the matter. 42% of 21 people said that they do not read music magazines, however 38% of people said they occasionally do, this is promising, because I would be receiving unreliable information from my audience.

2. What types of music are you interested in?

Hip hop – 61.9%

Indie rock – 33.3%

Pop – 23.8%

Rap – 47.6%

Classical – 4.8%

Country – 0%

House – 9.5% 

This question was a necessary question that I had to include in my survey. I wanted to know what type music my audience listen to and to do that I listed various different music genres and waited for a response from my survey. The majority of the people said they listen to Hip hop music. I now know that I have to include a Hip hop section in my magazine so that it appeals to the majority of my target audience. My magazine is not going to be concentrated on a particular genre, however by looking at the results of this question; I know to include a lot of hip hop news. 

3. On the front cover of the music magazine, who would you want on the front cover?

A good looking boy – 28.6%

A good looking girl – 33.3%

A band – 38.1% 

This question was ideal, because the front cover need to be appealing a persuasive in order for my target audience to pick it up and buy it. If I ask what the main picture and focus should be, then it will appeal to them. As the results show the voting was quite close, but the majority voted for a band to be on the front cover. I think that this is the best way forward as well. If there are two or more people on the front cover, it is easier for people to recognise who it is; also I think from experience, that it is easier to get a good photo shot if there is more than one person in the shot.

4. What is your opinion on a music/gossip type magazine? 

I got many replies on this question. Most of the people that answered this question said either that they do not have enough time to read magazines, they think the written content inside them types of magazines is not true or they do not like them. Although some people said they liked them, the majority would rather read something else. This is my main idea, however I will not change my idea, because this survey has only been distributed to my friends on facebook, therefore it does not represent for all types of people such as: musical enthusiasts. To have a proper opinion on a magazine of this type I will go on to musical forums and ask questions, this will be my qualitative data. I will respect everyone’s opinion. 

5. What do you think a suitable name would be for a music/gossip type magazine?

I got a good response to this question, however some people did skip the question, and this may have been because they didn’t have a suitable idea. Most of the suggestions that were put forward are okay, but I am looking to give my magazine a catchy and persuasive title, also some of the suggestions are more than one word, I want my masthead to be one word long, as this means it is straight to the point and catchy. 

6. Would the magazine be better if it concentrated on one particular story, rather than lots of different stories?

Before I asked this question I thought that most people who say that variety in a magazine is important. This was the case; most of the people who answered this question said variety make the magazine interesting, fun and diverse. Most of the music magazines I have read in preparation, to make my music magazine, have one main story and then lots of little stories within the magazine. If a magazine completely concentrated on a magazine then it would become boring for the reader. If my magazine is interesting then it will attract advertisement.

7. What do you think the target market would be for this musical/gossip type magazine?

Under 10 – 14.3%

11-15 – 28.6%

16-21 – 81%

22+ - 4.8%

This may have been a biased question as the majority of the people I asked were in the age range 16-21. However the people I have asked chose the age range they thought would be most suitable for my music magazine idea. Personally I think the music magazine I am going to make could come under two of the categories above. 11-15 & 16-21 are the main age categories I will look to have as my target audience. The voting is particularly in favour of the 16-21 age range. Due to this I will look to include more mature news in my magazine. 

8. Does this type of music magazine appeal to you?

Yes – 71.4%

No – 28.6%

The feedback I got from this magazine is quite helpful. The people that answered this survey are all in the age range 16-21, one person was over 22. This means my main target market does appeal to a music/gossip type magazine. This also means I have chosen the right aspects of the musical world; I have also manipulated the use of gossip to enhance my idea.

NME Magazine Audit

NME – Magazine audit

Front cover – Elliot smith (mysterious death).

Back of front cover – JD Sports advert.

Contents.

Page 5 – ‘On repeat’

Pages 6-14 - ‘Upfront’

Page 15 – Puma advert

Page 16 - 18 – Radar

Page 17 – asos advert

Page 19 – Virgin advert

Pages 20- 25 - Elliot Smith

Pages 26-28 Heir to the throne – Kanye West  

Page 29 – HMV advert

Page 30- 31 – PORNO PANDA

Pages 32-33 –Queen of the damned

Pages 34-36 - MACCA VERSUS MEIGHAN

Page 37 – NME advertising its own t-shirts and HMV advert

Page 38-41- Reviews

Pages 42- 48 – Live

Page 45 –Magazinedirect.com Christmas gift ideas

Pages 49-56 – various adverts

Pages - 57 – 61 – NME gig guide

Page 62 – The after show

Page 63 – the legendary NME crossword.

Page 64 – Fan mail

Page 65- 66 - The after show

Inside back cover – next week’s NME issue preview

Back cover – Windows 7 phone advert