Question 1: In what ways does your product use develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

  My product follows traditional conventions of a music magazine as it has a Masthead which should be the biggest and most attractive font on the cover. I have used a suitable font that matches the rest of my fonts throughout the page so that it looks like a professional magazine. I have made the title suitable to the genre "Unplugged" is a semantic field of music this is to make it clear what kind of audience it is appealing to.

I have also included a selling line which is above my title so that is accompanies the title as if it was used in a sentence, "Your guid to music... Unplugged." This is like popular music magazines such as "Mojo, The Music Magazine" who has tag lines relating to and joining with the title. A selling line follows conventions of real media products as they show a sharp description of the magazines selling point. My selling line is therefore a short description of what i am including in my magazine in this case it is a "guid to music". By it being "Unplugged" demonstrates it being raw and unseen as it is just being "unplugged" therefore just discovered, and the audience feel as if they are getting something completely new and exclusive compared to everyone who does not read "Unplugged".


I have also used a puff/plug containing important information which is conventional to be in the shape of a star or circle. Usually found in the corner of the page i have located my puff on the bottom right hand corner so that it is still visible but not in the way of my main image. The information inside should stand out for example on "MOJO" the information is in a different font and size to draw your attention to it. In my version i have used all capitals and a different font again to enhance the exclusivity of the information inside therefore it should be highlighted.

Another traditional convention i have used is a model credit along the middle and on the front which i have placed traditionally next to the artists name to show the link, between the two texts. I have used a smaller font and different colour picked out from the band name to coordinate the two text despite there deferences so the audience can make a direct link to why its there. Also the text is made smaller as it is conventional and does not take your attention away from the artist which acts as a heading and the main focus where the model credit is a subheading to accompany it, and intrigue the reader to read more about the artist and want to buy it. By making the model credit extravagant it instantly stereotypes the artist and therefore the audience interested in this artist. I have also linked it to music, such as "Its not easy being a rockstar 24/7 believe me" this makes the artist seem likable as she is truthful yet fun appealing to my target audience.

I have made all my main sub-headings and the first part of my headline visible on the left third as this is vital for sales in some shops where the magazine as a whole isn't on show and only the left will be. Therefore all the key ideas, and my main content should be recognisable in display of other competition. This is similar to all magazines  not just of the music genre as the magazine industry is competitive therefore every magazine needs to highlight the main content giving a quick overall picture of what they have to offer inside.

I have used a date line and issue number to show the month and the year of the publication to show the audience are receiving something up to date. High gloss monthly magazines are usually published a month before the cover date says. I have used "February 2013" therefore it should be the issue for January again this makes the audience feel exclusive as they are receiving music information before everyone else.

I have also used a main image of my artist which takes up most of the page, this is conventional as it's the main attraction and catches your attention instantly. On music magazines it is usually an upcoming or of time artist that the audience will find inspirational therefore should be the main image. The artist is usually, weird and wacky therefore my main image was a model posing in strange way with the indie/rock characteristics and outfit. This mes-en-scene demonstrates who the target audience is as it will often be what they wear and how they act. My main image is taken against a plain background like professional images so that it doesn't draw your attention away from the centre model and the heading and subheadings.

I have used a variety of cover lines distributed around the whole page all having similar stories to appeal to the interests of my target audience to make them want to buy my magazine and read the articles. This is a convention of traditional music magazines as it is used to attract a certain audience and also gives an insight into some of the content, they are often the most interesting or exclusive cover lines to stand out among the competition. I have used cover lines such as "100 around the world gig blow out reviews" and "Top 10 festivals this year".

My main cover line is another convention as i have made it so that my feature artist name is the main line on the front cover. This is demonstrated on over various magazine covers i have presented, furthermore i have written it in a similar colour but with effects and larger font so it is noticeably different from the rest of my cover lines. I have aded extra conventional details to add to the overall magazine such as a bar code and sans serif font where extra flourishes has been added to the text. These minor details have made a difference as it adds a professional touch which you would see in everyday magazines.

Question 2: How does your media product represent particular social groups? 

Presentation media from daisyflood

Question 3: What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

Question 4 and 5: Who would be the audience for your media product and how did you attract/address your audience?

Questionnaire:
I created a questionnaire asking  10 of my target audience about interests, consumption of media and how they spend their time to confirm how my magazine has been created to appeal to this particular target audience.

1. What would you prefer to do in your spare time? 
    a) Listen to music or go to a gig   4
    b) Read  2
    c) Do a sporting activity 2
    d) Shopping 2

2. Which other media products do you consume? 
    a) Film and TV 2 
    b) Music and radio 3
    c) Magazines and newspapers 2
    d) Social networking including blogs 3

3. Which would most interest you if you had the choice? 
    a) Going to a festival or gig 6
    b) Visiting a football match or any other competitive game 1
    c) Vintage shopping 1
    d) A lazy day in doors 2

4. What would you most like to read in a music magazine?
    a) Gig reviews 2
    b) Interviews from the latest indie/rock stars 4
    c) Pop or rap music reviews and stars 1
    d) Top dance festivals to visit 3

5. With a low income as a student would you still spend over £2 on a music magazine?
     YES 8
      NO 2

6. What would you do to 'escape' from stress? 
    a) Reading a magazine 2
    b) Listen to music 3
    c) Shopping 3
    d) Visit family and friends 2

7. What is your preferred choice of music to listen to? 
    a) Pop 1
    b) Indie/Rock 6
    c) Rap 2
    d) Dance 1

8. Would music reviews be useful to read about?
    YES 7
    NO 3

Question 6: What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

 STRENGTHS:

• New technology has introduced new ways for the magazine industry to progress and take advantage of this to construct a magazine that offers a variety of articles that have been improved and made more interesting through other peoples blogging or written articles that can feature in the magazine. 
• I have interpreted "100 around the world gig blow outs " therefore social media has allowed me to get reviews across the globe. This new technology has allowed the magazine to develop and improve due to communications from the other side of the planet. The locations where my magazine will be published will be in one place therefore they cant get information on gigs in different areas across the globe and without this article are restricted to local reviews. 
• I used the programme 'InDesign' to create my magazine so that it makes the magazine look professional and has allowed me to create a magazine that looks similar to those in the industry already. The program also allowed me to make improvements to the front cover, contents page and double page spread so that they look more professional.
• Since constructing my student magazine i have learnt how to create a music magazine that further addresses magazine conventions through examinations of music magazines on the market. I have also improved from this by enhancing my knowledge on how to use 'InDesign'. This meant I was able to construct an appropriate product after learning how to correctly use the program 'InDesign'. 

WEAKNESSES: 

• New mergence of technology such as "blogger" means it is easy to access gig reviews online. Many students can find these on an iPod, smart phone, laptop, or iPad. This would mean that students are less inclined to purchase a magazine to read about something that is easily accessible online. Because of this I have not only included tag lines about gig reviews on the front I have also included that the content contains a variety of interviews and competitions as this is exclusive to the magazine and cant be found online. 
• The price could be seen as a problem to students due to their low income as my magazine is just over £2. However I have made it a monthly magazine as a weekly would mean spending more a month. I have also made a questionnaire asking my target audience whether they would be prepared to pay this a month and the majority said they would. 
• The majority of music magazines are known as 'glossy' just as mine is, however technology has aloud me to make a glossy magazine that stands out from the rest of them as it doesn't over crowd the page or look to busy. It also allowed me to confirm my target audience due to conventions and the elements I incorporated to appeal to my target audience and the 'mode of address'. Technology is very important to the publishing sector as it allows you to differentiate the difference between the genre of the magazine what target audience it appeals to and what reading age would be most suitable for the particular magazine. 

OPPORTUNITIES: 

• Due to new mergence of new technology, it has given me the opportunity to create a magazine that looks like a high class glossy magazine that follow all natural conventions of a high end magazine. InDesign also allows me to ounce again make my magazine as professional as i could. 
• By creating a new indie/rock magazine I have been allowed to change customers tastes and find a new target audience. I have made it to appeal solely to a younger generation, due to the connotations, sub titles and images especially to appeal to my target audience. 
• This was an opportunity to add sub headings and content that provides what the target audience specifically want. My sub heading of "100 gigs around the world" this allows technology to give around the world feedback. This means we can co-operate with people around the world, and use technology to interact. 
• With the mergence of new technology advances I can create other media aspects to coincide with my magazine. This could be a website or app for smartphones, iPods or iPads, furthermore I have included the website link on my front cover to show i have already been thinking about new media and how my magazine will adapt to the transformation in this industry leading to new opportunities for the magazine. 

THREATS:

• Not all of my target audience might take to my new magazine as it is high glossy and you don't receive anything from it other than the enjoyment of the magazine. This could be a put off as they like to have more for their money. 
• Another threat could be as new technologies begin to emerge many people can find things in a magazine for free online. Also they offer more and can be accessed more easy if it is on a smart phone, iPad or iPhone product compared to a magazine which is more inconvenient. Even though this can be seen as an opportunity if this does not relate to my magazine and the company it will become a competitive threat. 
• There is a large number of music magazines on the scene at the minuet, therefore it might be hard to choose mine over the others it must be even better. I have created something that should stand out of the crowd however it can still be seen as a similarity to other magazines due to the high glossy magazines following the connotations. 

Question 7: Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in progression from it to the full product?

Front Cover 

Contents Page

 Double Page spread

Music Magazine: Planning 
 

• My magazine would be specifically aimed at the majority of young males or females that are interested in indie rock style music. Probable that they wear the same style as the artists on the front cover such a skinny jeans messy hair, or over the top iconic outfits. My initial idea was to have mainly a young male audience however this music and also particular music artists would appeal to young females as well expanding my targeted audience. 

• The main theme of my magazine will be indie rock music therefore the typical content will include reviews of gigs, new albums, artists, and festivals, interviews with typical indie rock artists, articles based around music,  and top 40 albums of the time. Initially i was not going to include articles however they can be varied as they can appeal for both genders as well as include vital information on this music genre.

• Possible cover lines could be 'Over the world gig blow out!' talking about possible reviews of gigs that not only take place in england but around the world as well. Another possible cover line would include my main image bands name and a model credit introducing the main topic of the interview. I would also include an article that will attract my target audience such as '100 things you didn't know about Oasis', there would also be a controversial headline to grab peoples shock factor for example 'Mcfly pop to rock success in a week!'. Then i would include and 'ultimate festival guide to kickstart 2013' as it is january and the start of the new year. 

• 'Unplugged' could be a possible music title for my magazine as it could follow the slogan of 'unplug your life to music' or 'Your guide to music.. Unplugged'. This is a possible title as it relates to this genre of music as you would normally unplug a music amp of a guitar and this is the main instrument for indie music making. Another possible suggestion would be 'INM' as it would stand for Introducing New Music, this could be a tag line as its plain and simple as well as easy to remember.

• A possible font for my music magazine could be Bernard MT as it look rough and ragged like a music icon is stereotyped to follow this particular trend. Another possible font for my title could be Momento Mori as it looks idealised to be on the front of a rock/indie magazine with its grainy and rough features. These are just ideas and no definite choice for my magazine as it may alter depending on my image and headlines or sub headings. Furthermore the colours can change depending on my image colour and feel.

• Depending on which title i will use will alter the tagline, for example if i chose 'Unplugged' it would be 'Your guide to music... unplugged' as it suggests it is a music magazine and acts as a 'guide' so will guide you in the right direction of music to listen to. Also as it is 'unplugged' this could mean that the information given is fresh and raw imitating the actions of unplugging something. On the other hand if i choose 'INM' the tagline would be the meaning which is 'Introducing New Music'.

• I have decided for my main images and smaller images to be of one person preferably a girl with the stereotypical look of an indie girl, something of a style icon. I will also ensure a white clean background for the main image to be taken so the colours do not contrast with the other colours on top of the image. The images above both show a clean background and a variety of shot distances as appropriate to portray the photography as professional, this also means i have more to choose from when creating my front cover, contents page, and double page spread. 

A contents page that has another main image and smaller images on a banner. There is also a text box where the content and page numbers are written. 

This is my flat plan for my front cover, i will have a main title, model image, cover lines a banner and puffs and promotions.

• I will incorporate a puff which has a promotion inside for a festival or associated with music, this will again appeal to my target audience to show who it is written for as this prize will draw the attention of this specific group of people. 

• My price will be around £2-£3 as most popular glossy magazines are around this price. It will indicate again the target audience and portray the type of content it will have as you will be provided with a variety of information that is worth this money, i will stick to a maximum of 3 main colours as this again shows it is a high end glossy magazine. 

• I will include a banner on both the front cover and contents page to make the information stand out and again professionalise the magazine. Within the banner will be content that my target audience will most be drawn to so it has to be a selling point and indicated on the left hand side as this is spotted first when looking at magazines and should be one of the main focus for a selling point.
  

 This was my first cover for my "Unplugged" magazine. I had a banner of images on the bottom and my puff was in an awkward position. To improve this cover I changed the images to a banner that runs across the whole of the bottom of my magazine to have band names. This also allowed me to make the puff less of a problem and look as if it was an appropriate position for this convention. I have also moved my title so it was more to the left. This makes the reading from the left third when in shops or on the racks of newsagents. Again by creating a long banner i have allowed room for the barcode, date, price, issue number and web address to fit in. They are also easier to see and notice when looking at the front cover of my music magazine. 

How does indie rock music magazines present the representation of the audience and artists

For the indie magazine genre normally the artists on the front cover follow the same mis-en-scne to create the aspired look for this particular genre of magazine. Often male artists will follow the same messy unkept hair do with skinny jeans, ripped baggy t-shirts, vintage coats, harrington jackets, and desert boots. This is often portrayed, depending on the magazine, in a white studio background or with a dark quirky setting to translate the style of the band. Props on the front cover would normally contain instruments such as a guitar so that it clearly demonstrates what type of music they will be promoting. The targeted audience would be seen to be copying this type of trends and style as this is what they aspire to be, therefore will be interested in gaining as much knowledge to become their aspiration.

Females artists presented on front covers of indie based magazines usually have quirky hair cuts or colours, as well as iconic fashion and make up. The imagery would be of a vintage style again located in either a plain studio or a slightly colourful dramatic background to captivate what there music and themselves represent. Female artists are not only put on the front to captivate the female targeted audience but also as sexual objects for males. Furthermore this could lead to revealing outfits and jewellery so that even though the male target audience look at the magazine and see a woman, they have elements about the artist that are made to attract both genders. By having an expressive female artist of this genre on the front cover of a indie music magazine the editors are choosing a target audience of females who are interested in music and standing out from the crowd with their dress sense therefore will want to read this magazine not just for music advice but also fashion if a music icon is on the front wearing an outfit similar to their taste. 

On a double page spread magazines still captivate the artists 'look' by sticking with the same mis-en-scene but rotating poses so that they can reveal more about the bands personality and what edge of indie they are presenting. By having the artist on a double page spread with images and their interview it is made clear that the magazine understands what representations it should present. In my magazine i would produce photography evident to other indie artists following traditional conventions indie magazines often follow. If a male was the main image of a music magazine their look would be made more authentic and messy as this is what they like to present, whereas if it was a female who graced the front cover she would have to represent quirky beauty as not only do females aspire to look like this but the targeted male audience aspire to go out with females who look like this. 

Deconstruction of indie rock Music magazine covers 

• The magazine sticks to 3 main colours, in this case it is red, white and black. There is also pops of yellow but not much as it is only used to highlight the most important news that wants to be recognised. It could be seen as exclusive news as it is in yellow attracting you to buy the magazine more as you feel as if you are personally receiving first hand information about music before any one else therefore you have exclusivity which you wouldn't want to miss therefore you feel more inclined to purchase it. Red has been used as it is a colour that catches your eye and therefore attention first. 
• It contains a lot of cover line's to represent its large content, they have also been made in the colour red and in a larger font than the extra information beneath as it wants to attract your attention first to then go on and read about the extra information that interests you. They all include some significance to showing you what type of music magazine it is such as 'Rolling Stones Exclusive' which you instantly link with a rock or indie genre magazine. 
• Its masthead is in the top left hand corner as people read from the left and look at the top first so your instantly attracted to it. It is in colours of ounce again red so you are attracted to it first and outlined in white to further enhance what the title is. All of the three main colours are interpreted in the masthead so that when ever you see them colours or that font you immediately link it with this magazine increasing its popularity. 
• Underneath the masthead is the puff/plug which is normally shaped as a star however it is now in a circle as it suits the genre of the magazine more. It contains a small piece of information which stands out instantly as it is a different colour from the usual main colours therefore it is seen to be one of the most important cover lines on the magazine as it seems to be the most exclusive. 
• The main image is of an indie band named 'The Last Shadow Puppets' which is made up of Alex Turner and Miles Kane who are both icons of the indie genre confirming who the magazine is aimed at. They also have the 'indie look' which is seen as they both have similar haircuts which is long and messy and have black harrington jacket types. 
• There is a model credit beneath the image and the name of the band, 'I was worried the monkeys would think i had an affair' which clearly shows the article is also going to be a bit about Alex Turner's other band Arctic Monkeys who yet again follow the indie trend. It also reveals a bit about his personality therefore how the interview will be carried out as he seems laid back and comical which we can see through the line 'think i had an affair' with a different band. 
• All of the cover lines are on the left third so that when advertised on a newsagent stand therefore all there key selling information can be seen instantly. This is why it is important the cover lines are short but can instantly provide you with the genre and meaning of the magazine. 
• In the bottom right corner there is a bar code which also includes the date it was issued and with the price therefore you can see whether it is the latest issue which is normally out a month before the month its written for therefore you get instant news before everyone else finds out the month after. 
• The selling line beneath the masthead is what NME stands for which is New Music Express, this is another clear sign to what the magazine is about and will deliver. The message is clear that the magazine will be delivering 'new music' information quickly which is what the target audience is basically buying it for.
• It has a simple clean cut sans serif font with no extra flourishes which again links with the type of magazine it is and suits this type of genre. It demonstrates the magazine will be sophisticated compared to others this also can be shown through the price. 
• The magazine has a banner above the masthead including information that also wants to be recognised instantly as it is written in yellow so that it stands out from the main colours. It also includes another two bands that are seen as the 'indie' genre of music to reinforce ounce again what sort of magazine it will be.