Pitch -

Genre -
The genre of music which will be featuring in my magazine is Indie/Alternative rock. As soon as i was set the task of creating a music magazine, this genre jumped out at me straight away for obvious reasons. Firstly, this particular genre of music is extremely popular with the youth culture of today and therefore appeals to a huge audience, and one which i can relate to. Also, this genre of music is what i enjoy listening to, and so i feel as if i have a good amount of knowledge of the bands, fashion and style of music magazines within this particular genre.

Age group -
I put a large amount of thought into the age group my magazine would be targeted at, but after much deliberation i decided upon the range of 16-24 year old's. I chose this particular age group because i believe that they are the ones which my chosen genre appeals to the most, as indie/alternative bands or artists aim their music at people in my age group. People of this age group are also obsessed with music and enjoy keeping up to date with the latest goings on in the musical world. My chosen age group also enjoy going to gigs and feel the need to enjoy their favourite artists whilst they are still young. Also, by including a mixture of ages my magazine is able to appeal to a larger audience and so is more likely to be popular on the market. This mixture of ages also allows me to use a mixture of linguistic features within my magazine, such as colloquialisms, taboo terms as well as sophisticated language and jargon. 

Target Audience -
From my audience research i came to the conclusion that my magazine would be best suited to a group commonly known as the Indie Scenesters. This group of people are renowned for their interesting taste in music as well as fashion and their desire to discover new music and share it with the rest of the world. To be even more specific, i am going to target my magazine at the males from this group, as my magazine will feature a large amount of male artists and bands rather than female artists. Also, the language and overall appearance of the magazine will appeal more to males due to the colour schemes, fonts and topics etc. 

Magazine Name -
When i began planning my magazine name i decided that i wanted it to have a meaning behind it, to add appeal and memorability. I also wanted it to apply to the target audience. Therefore, the chosen name for my magazine is 'REVOLUTION.' The official definition of revolution is 'a forcible overthrow of a government or social order, in favour of a new system.' In my opinion, this meaning applies to the target audience as this is exactly what the indie scenesters have begun, a revolution, a stand against mainstream music and fashion and a desire for change, a desire to be different. It also applies to the genre of music as each indie/alternative artist is unique from each other, and are of course extremely different from the usual mainstream artists. 

Colour Palette -
From researching and analysing numerous magazine covers in detail i have decided to use two of the most popular and traditional printing colours, black and white. These two colours are tried and tested and compliment each other on the page. They allow both images, fonts and other colours to be highlighted and stand out, making the page noticeable and easy for the readers to see. However, after initially planning to use a shade of turquoise, I eventually opted out after testing it with the black and white. After discovering that these particular colours did not complement each other and give the magazine the professional effect I was looking for, I decided to revert back to the tried and tested colour palette of black, white and red. However to add further colour I may in cooperate colours such as yellow, to highlight certain aspects and add contrast to each page. 

Artist - 
The artist which will feature in my music magazine is a 3 piece, indie/alternative rock band from Leicester, who go by the name of 'Marshall Stack.' The band consists of an intriguing, slightly deranged front man, a guitarist who makes Jimi Hendrix look like an amateur as well as a world class drummer, thought to be the long-lost grandson of Keith Moon. (The Who) The bands name originates from a particular musical object, the world famous Marshall speaker. During their rise to fame, the trio practiced daily, and have stated that their very first song was blasted out of  two Marshall speakers, which were stacked on top of each other. The band have stated that they owe their excellent musical sound to the speakers, and so decided to name the band after them.

Artist Style -

Marshall Stack have been influenced by some of the greatest indie/alternative rock artists of all time, such as the Arctic Monkeys, Fellow Leicester band Kasabian as well as the likes of Miles Kane the Killers and Oasis. The band have written a number of songs, all of which are catchy, unique and great to listen to. The bands choice of clothing is similar to that of the Arctic Monkeys. Each member of the band has their own unique style and wear clothing such as interesting shirts, t-shirts, caps, leather/denim jackets as well as their trademark sunglasses. Although their music is extremely important, the band insists that looking good is a crucial part of being successful. 

Survey's, Questions and Answers -

Surveys, Media Studies Coursework by Jack Leatherland

25 word pitch -

Evaluation Of Prelim -

How does your prelim represent your particular social group?

To kick start the coursework, i was set with the task of designing a prelim school magazine cover via Photoshop. The prelim cover i designed represents the particular social group (Lutterworth College students, aged between 14 and 18) as it features the college logo, language features such as 'school jargon' e.g. 'A*'s', as well as images of students and simple fonts highlighted in the college colours (blue and green) When set the task, i decided upon creating a magazine which would cover every aspect of college life, hence the title 'LC LIFE' To clearly show this to the reader, i decided to create a number of cover lines, highlighting different features which were happening around the entire school, instead of just focusing on one, e.g. the school sports teams etc.

Who would be the intended audience for your product?
Students who attend Lutterworth College, aged between 14 and 18. 

How did you attract/ address your audience?
Whilst designing the prelim i carefully considered what aspects of the page would be best suited to the particular audience, and how i could attract them to the page.The aspects i considered included the colour scheme, the layout as well as the fonts. To make my prelim cover instantly noticeable and recognisable to the target group i used the College logo to show exactly who the magazine was aimed at - students who attend Lutterworth College. I decided to position the logo in the top right corner of the page so that it was the first aspect the reader could see. The use of the college colours increase the pages noticeability and gives the page a colour balance and professional edge. The use of images of students also helps the reader understand that the magazine is aimed at students who attend Lutterworth College. 

What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?
Whilst constructing my prelim magazine examples i have picked up numerous techniques which i will most surely benefit from when designing my final magazine. These techniques include the lighting techniques, camera techniques and computer techniques. Firstly, whilst undergoing the process of creating my prelim magazine i have discovered how to use the correct lighting and backgrounds whilst taking a picture of the chosen model. I have discovered that the different types of lighting can help give the model different appearances and therefore emotions on the page e.g. a lack of lighting and a darker setting may connote the dark, mysterious character of the model. The second discovery i made whilst constructing my prelim magazine was various different camera techniques. These techniques include where to position the camera, how to use the camera and where to position the model so that the overall picture appears better. The final technological discovery i made whilst constructing my prelim magazine is the use of computer programmes such as Photoshop. Whilst making my prelim magazine cover i had to learn how to use this particular programme in order to create a page, text, crop and edit images and add various colours.  

Font Analysis -

Below is a list of analysed fonts. By analysing the following fonts i hope to gain a good source of knowledge on what type of fonts i should use throughout my magazine. The fonts below could all possibly be used as both the masthead as well as the main cover line and cover lines.  I have scored each font out of a possible 10 to portray how useful each font would be on my magazine.




This particular font caught my eye due to its simplicity. Although this font does not have any artistic effects or features. it does in fact hold the ability to be able to stand out on the page. This font is similar to the one used for the NME logo, as it is bold, clear and easy to read. This particular font would could also make a statement on the page and therefore capture the readers attention. An aspect i particularly like about this font is its bold lettering. To me, this suggests that the font has a higher status than any other, as its boldness is almost a way of it gaining the most attention and respect. Another noticeable aspect of this font is the gap between each letter, this allows the audience a clear, simple view of the text, this therefore allows the title to become recognisable. For my magazine, i want/need fonts which are both eye catching but not overly complicated, as if the font is too artistic it can become difficult for the reader to see. This bold and basic style of font could be the ideal font for my magazine title. SCORE 8/10

Similarly to the first, this particular font also uses its boldness to stand out on the page. However, this font uses its lettering in a way which can easily attract an audience, due to its uniqueness. The jumbled letters gives the font an added appeal and may stand out to the indie/alternative audience, due to this uniqueness. However, although this font ticks many of the boxes it may also face many negative criticisms, due to the fact that it does not run in a perfectly straight line. This particular error may not sound like anything too drastic, but may prove to be costly when layers are added to the magazine cover e.g. if a banner or image is added then they may overlap crucial parts of the title, making it unrecogniseable and less eye catching to the public. SCORE 7/10





I personally like this font because of its ever changing lettering. Each letter begins with a thin effect and gradually gets thicker. This effect may appeal to and indie/alternative audience as they too are ever changing, with both their taste in music and fashion. However, some might say that this font would be better suited as a cover line font rather than a masthead, as although it is eye catching, it does not completely stand out and may blend in to the background of the magazine and be looked upon as just another part of the page rather than the MAIN part of the page. SCORE 5/10




Ar Berkley is one of the most artistic fonts featured on this page due to its sketchy, 'swirly' style. This style of font may be well suited to my magazine as its uniqueness and stylish appearance is well matched to that of the target audience. The sketchy style may suggest that the magazine is informal and is similar to a journal or piece of work which is hand written by the magazine producer. This particular effect may give the audience a sense that the information inside is true to the genre and that the producer has put both time and effort into producing a magazine which is personal to the reader, artists and genre. However, similarly to the 'APPLE BOY' font, this too is not perfectly straight and so holds the risk of being overlapped and therefore over looked. Although this font could fits well into the indie/alternative market, it unfortunately holds the risk of being overlooked by the audience, meaning that both the name and magazine would not stand out on the shelf and therefore not become a memorable item in the minds of the target audience. SCORE 7/10



Similarly to the last, this particular font is also artistic and unique. The difference in size, shape and positioning gives this font a certain edge which would help it to stand out on the page.
One of this fonts best aspects is its ever changing, un predictability. As each letter is different, it is interesting to see how the next letter will look, giving the title a sense of freedom from any other font on the page.  Thanks to this fonts uniqueness and ability to change letter by letter, it would work well with the target audience, as indie scensters and hipsters are unique and are also ever changing, meaning that a noticeable similarity or comparison can be made between the audience and the title, this may therefore entice the target audience toward the magazine. SCORE 8/10





Magneto is one of the most interesting fonts on the page due to its simplistic yet artistic style. Magneto is both artistic and eye catching, yet simple to read and would is a worth contender for a place as the masthead font. The lettering is smooth and so may connote a free flowing, simplistic magazine. However, by looking at this text immediately associate it with electric guitars and fast paced rock, and therefore this may font may not be the perfect fit, as it may not attract my target audience (indie scenesters/hipsters) SCORE 7/10


What I Have Learnt -
By analysing a variety of fonts, i now have a clear image of the style of font i want to use on my magazine. The font needs to be simplistic, easy to read, stand out on the page to capture the audiences attention and possibly represent or suggest the genre of the magazine. The font will need to be memorable, something which the audience can imagine easily. A prime example of a successful font used on a music magazine is the NME font. The particular font mentioned uses all of the features mentioned above and so is extremely popular with its target audience, this is something i wish to replicate.

What I Have Learn From Analysing Existing Music Magazines -

From evaluating various pages from existing music magazines such as NME and Q, I have discovered a number of techniques which I will carry forwards and use whilst designing my music magazine.

Covers - The following contains information on what techniques I have learnt from analysing existing music magazine covers and why I may or may not use them whilst designing my music magazine cover -

Masthead –
The first technique I have discovered is the use of a clear masthead which is simple for the reader to see. By using this technique, the magazine becomes instantly recognisable and therefore becomes more popular with the audience. The masthead used by the likes of NME and Q contains a number of features which makes it recognisable, these are the use of a clear font, this makes it easier for the audience to read and therefore makes the name of the magazine more memorable. The second feature used in the masthead is the use of a bright colour, one which stands out on the page and appeals to the audience. The use of a bright colour on the masthead allows the title of the magazine to become more recognisable, existing magazines such as NME and Q have used these features to make their simplistic fonts stand out on a vivid red background.  Whilst designing my music magazine contents page I wish to use a bright colour and a simple font which will make my masthead stand out on the page and be clear and simple for the reader to see. When all of these aspects are put in place, I hope to have created a bright, vivid, recognisable, simplistic masthead which will be extremely popular with the readers.

 Banner -
Another feature which the analysed magazines contained was a banner. The use of a banner gives the reader an early insight into what else is featuring in the magazine. The banner also fills in certain negative spaces, giving the cover a busy appearance, something which appeals to the audience, in this case the busyness connotes youth as existing magazine such as NME (a youthful magazine) use this 'busy page' technique. The banner is usually a noticeable aspect of the page and so uses bright colours and clear fonts to highlight its presence. However, depending on the importance of the information on the banner, the designer may opt to make the banner blend in to the background, or stand out. Whilst designing my magazine, I may opt to use a banner to cover any un needed negative spaces and to give the reader an early insight into what else is featuring in my magazine.  If I were to use a banner I would definitely make it a stand out aspect of the page, as it would in fact contain important information, however, I would not use colours which would take any attention away from the main aspects of the page, such as the masthead or the main image etc.

Main Image -
Whilst analysing a variety of existing music magazine covers I immediately noticed that the main image is arguably the most crucial aspect of the page. The main image holds the power of attracting the audience, as the models aesthetics hold the ability to portray the style of music as well as the style of magazine and the target audience. For example, an indie music magazine such as NME will feature images of bands which appear indie on the front cover (an indie magazine will not feature artists which look punk rock etc. as this would not match the target audience.) When creating the image, the photographer has to make it clear how they want the models to look e.g. what fashion they wear, their stance, their arrogance in front of the camera etc. all of these listed aspects can help the main image become the crucial part of the front cover which it needs to be, if all of these aspects are put in place then the main image should be attractive and therefore should attract readers to the magazine. Whilst creating my main image I will need to put all of the aspects listed in place in order to create an image which is appealing to the target audience. As my chosen genre is indie/alternative rock, I will have to make sure that my chosen models are dressed in a way which portrays this genre. Also, by researching bands in this genre, I have discovered that the members are usually arrogant and appear extremely serious when pictured, this may be another aspect I will use when creating my main image.

Main Cover Line/Cover Lines -
From analysing numerous existing music magazine covers I have discovered that the Main cover lines and cover lines are a crucial aspect of the page. The Main cover line is usually an extremely eye catching aspect, which contains crucial information about the featuring artist, this is usually the artists name. Similarly to the masthead, the main cover line uses a simplistic font and vivid colour in order to attract the readers eye. Although the cover lines are not as important as the main cover lines, they are in fact still extremely important aspects of the page. The cover lines include further information about what else is featuring inside the magazine. The cover lines may include talkie headlines in order to interest the reader and inspire them to read on. Therefore, whilst designing my music magazine front cover, I will need to use both a Main cover line and a number of cover lines in order to give my front cover a professional edge. By doing this, my page will appear eye catching and will hopefully appeal to the target audience and therefore intrigue them and give them the desire to read on.


Contents Page - The following contains information on what techniques I have learnt from analysing existing music magazine contents pages and why I may or may not use them whilst designing my music magazine cover -



Running Head -One of the very first features I discovered whilst analysing music magazine contents pages was the running head. This eye catching feature is situated at the very top of the page and acts as a headline by giving the reader the information they need to know, in this case, what the page is about. The running head also has many similar characteristics to both a masthead or banner, as it usually features a clear font (making it easy for the reader to see) as well as a colour palette which helps it stand out on the page. The running head often features the single phrase 'CONTENTS' however, existing magazines such as the NME use the phrases 'THIS WEEK' to make the page appear more interesting as well as stand out from any other music magazine.
Therefore, whilst designing my contents page I will most definitely use a running head in order to capture the readers attention as well as inform them of what the page is about. I will most likely use NME's technique and use a different phrase to add a certain uniqueness to my magazine. In my opinion, the phrase 'CONTENTS' used on a contents page is extremely dull and does not match the thrilling, energetic genre of indie/alternative rock.


CVI (Central Visual Interest) -
The CVI is the most noticeable part of the page. It is commonly used on each, individual page of the magazine in order to make each page appear eye catching, this therefore draws the reader in, due to the aesthetic appeal. From analysing a variety of music magazine contents pages I have discovered that the most common CVI is the main image. The main image on the contents page is usually the artists which has featured on the front cover and which is the main feature of the particular edition of the magazine. The main image is used as the CVI as it is easily manipulated by the designer and can be re-shaped, re-sized and re-coloured in order to stand out on the page. By using the main image as the CVI, the designer is able to intrigue the reader even further, as it is a well known fact that pictures are more interesting that writing.
Therefore, whilst designing my contents page I  may use a large image as the CVI in order to give the page a professional edge and make the page more aesthetically pleasing and interesting to the reader.



Deck -
Whilst analysing a variety of music magazine contents pages I discovered a particular aspect which is commonly known as the deck. The deck is usually situated underneath the main image and is usually written in a clear, eye catching font, which attracts the reader toward it. The deck is commonly a short introduction, which gives the reader an early insight into the main article on the following page. The deck is a useful aspect as it allows the reader to get an early taste of what the featuring text will be like, they can then decide whether they want to continue reading or not.
Therefore, whilst designing my contents page I may use a deck to give my readers an early insight into the following article. I also believe that the deck brings with it an added interest to the page. The use of a deck allows the contents page to appear busy and youthful, the theme therefore continues throughout the entirety of the magazine.

Sub headings -
By analysing numerous examples of music magazine contents pages I discovered a particular aspect commonly known as sub headings. Sub headings are vital aspects of the contents page as they act as minute titles. These headings feature short and snappy phrases and are used to inform the reader of what the text written below is about. Although the sub heading is not the most important aspect of the page, the designer always sees fit to make the sub headings a stand out feature. A prime example of this would be inside of the NME. The NME contents page features a number of sub headings which are situated on the sides of the page. Here, the designer has chosen to place them at the sides so that they do not take any attention away from the CVI or masthead. By analysing sub headings in even more detail i have also discovered that they are usually Wob's (white text sitting on top of a coloured background) The use of a Wob is able to highlight the sub headings and make them noticeable, yet let them blend in and not cause any un wanted distraction.
Therefore, whilst designing my music magazine i may opt to use sub headings in order to give my page a professional edge and to make crucial information simple for the reader to see. I will most likely use a wob also, as in my opinion the wob gives the page the 'clean cut' style which i am aiming to produce.




Double Page Spread - The following contains information on what techniques I have learnt from analysing existing music magazine double page spreads and why I may or may not use them whilst designing my music magazine cover -




Main Image -
Whilst analysing examples of double page spreads I discovered once again that the main image is arguably the most crucial, eye catching aspect of the entire page. However, the main image which features on the double page spread holds different characteristics to the one used on the front cover. The main image used on the front cover is used to attract the audience and entice them into the magazine. However, the main image used on the double page spread is used to give the reader an early insight into what the following article is about and to show a different side to the artist (usually, the main image which features on the front cover is of the band performing a serious, enticing pose, however, the main image which features on the double page spread may be of the artist being less serious, they may be laughing or joking, this technique is used to give the audience a sense of happiness and to show them the relaxed, human side of the artist, this therefore builds a closer relationship between the reader and the artist, making the following article more meaningful and personal.
From my analysis of main images, I have decided to use one whilst designing my double page spread. I may opt to use an image which represents the artists relaxed side, in order to draw the reader in and portray the artists 'off stage' appearance. By using this technique, I hope to create a personal bond between the reader and the artist, this will therefore make the article and the magazine much more meaningful to the reader, this will also add to its memorability and popularity.



Drop Cap -Whilst analysing a variety of double page spreads, I discovered a particular technique which when used can be extremely useful, this technique is commonly known as the drop cap. The drop cap is a form of text, usually the opening letter of the article, however, the letter is usually bold, colourful and larger in size than the rest of the text. By using a drop cap, the designer is immediately indicating where the reader should start reading from, this allows the reader to get straight to the main aspect of the page - the article. Therefore, whilst designing my double page spread, I will use this technique in order to make the article one of the most noticeable aspects of the page and to show the reader exactly where they should start reading from.




Feature -The feature appears on every double page spread as it is arguably the most noticeable and important aspect of the page. The feature is in other words the article and so contains information about the featuring artist, this therefore hands the feature the title of the most important aspect as it is the main reason why the reader has bought the magazine. The feature usually consists of interviews and background information on the featuring artist. It is used to give the readers a sense of the artists personality, inspirations, musical preferences and even their future plans. The feature allows the reader to form a closer bond and a higher interest to the artist, as this information allows some, if not all of the readers questions to be answered. Therefore, whilst designing my double page spread I will most definitely use a feature to give the readers exactly what they want, information on the featuring artist. Whilst writing my feature I may include both quotes from interviews as well as background information, musical preferences and future plans. I believe that if I use each of these aspects I will be able to produce an article which is entertaining, humorous and suitable for the target audience.




Pull quote -The final eye catching technique used by many existing music magazines is the use of a pull quote. The pull quote can feature on virtually any page, and on any place on that particular page. The pull quote is most commonly a quotation taken from a particular interview and is used to add humour and added interest/appeal whilst attempting to attract the audience. This particular technique has been proven to be extremely successful as not only does it add humour to the page, it also breaks up the article and allows the reader to see a fresh piece of text, which therefore inspires them to read on. The pull quote is usually written in a unique font, and is placed in a box or is written in a bright colour. The designers use these techniques whilst using a pull quote to highlight the fact that it is a different piece of text and to highlight its importance to the reader. The use of a bright, unique font allows the reader to be drawn to it easily, therefore the pull quote is virtually impossible to miss or ignore. Also, to add interest, the quotation used is usually short, snappy and witty. By using a quotation which includes these three aspects the pull quote is almost certain to fulfil its purpose and make the reader laugh and inspire them to continue reading.
Therefore, whilst designing my double page spread, I may opt to use a pull quote to add humour and added appeal to my page. The use of a pull quote will allow my article to be broken up, and therefore made more interesting. To be certain that the reader will view the pull quote I will use vivid colours and a unique font in order to make the pull quote unique from anything else on the page so that it will stand out. -

Magazine Analysis, Q magazine Double Page Spread, Example Three -

Magazine Analysis, Q contents page, Example Three -

Magazine Analysis, Q front Cover, Example Three -

Magazine Analysis, NME Double Page spread, example two -

Magazine Three Double Page Spread

Magazine Analysis, NME Contents Page, Example Two -

Magazine Three Contents Page Analysis 

Magazine Analysis, NME Cover Page, Example Two -

Magazine Three Cover

Language Register -

To make my magazine the complete package i will have to analyse, in detail, the language i will be using in order to define who my specific target audience is and why the language will apply to and attract them to my magazine. As my genre of music is extremely popular in today's youth culture, i have decided to aim my magazine at a predominantly male group, as stereotypical, males prefer indie/alternative rock music. The age group i have decided on is between 16 and 24. I decided to use this particular age group after analysing my audience research. The groups i found to enjoy indie/alternative rock are defined as Indie Scenesters and Hipsters. The people who fall into this category are youthful people, and the age range stretches from the mid teens up to the mid twenties, the reasons for this are their fashion, culture and of course taste in music. Therefore, i am going to use a mixture of simple and sophisticated lexis throughout my magazine to show a clear balance between the youthful and the sophisticated, older side of the target audience. To add interest, humour and opinionated discussion into my magazine i am going to include colloquialisms as well as taboo terms, in order to give the target audience a sense of maturity. However, if taboo terms such as the 'F' word are used in e.g. interviews with the artists, they will be clearly written but censored to avoid negative criticism e.g. "it was F*****g great!" To give my magazine a professional edge, i am going to include aspects of jargon throughout, in order to portray to the reader my knowledge and intelligence on the particular subject e.g. the jargon/terminology of guitars may be used when interviewing a particular band. Along with jargon, a semantic field of music will be used throughout also, as musical words and phrases will feature on virtually every page.

Examples of Indie/Alternative Rock Music Videos -

By analysing these particular indie/alternative rock music videos i have discovered a number of elements which i will attempt to emulate whilst creating my music magazine. The first element i will attempt to emulate whilst creating my magazine is the fashion. Each artist has their own unique style which symbolises their influences, style of music and even their personalities. For example, by watching the Miles Kane music video, it is clear to see that his choice of clothing is key to his image and musical style. Kane has clearly been influenced by the 'Mod' culture and so wears smart clothing such as blazers, shirts and various other items of which associate him to that particular group. Although i will not be using the 'mod' look for my chosen models, i will try to emulate the same uniqueness and group association used by Miles Kane to show the readers of my magazine that the featuring band are associated to the indie scene through their choice of clothing. 

Another element which i will attempt to emulate whilst designing my music magazine is the use of black and white. 3 out of the 4 videos chosen feature these two, simplistic colours. The use of black and white gives each video an artistic effect which makes both the artist and the scenery more aesthetically pleasing. Also, as the use of black and white is quiet common in the indie/alternative scene, it allows the audience to realise immediately that the particular artist is from the specific genre. I will attempt to emulate this technique whilst designing my music magazine so that the chosen artist appears more aesthetically pleasing and so that the audience can realise immediately that they are from the indie/alternative scene. 

The final element i will attempt to emulate whilst designing my magazine is the arrogance of the artists. Each video features an artist with arrogance and therefore a particular noticeable presence, this arrogance makes each artist stand out and in turn, creates a certain likability, something needed when trying to attract an audience. To give my artist this added likability, i will attempt to make them appear arrogant during the photo-shoot in order to attract readers to my music magazine. 

Photographers, Graphic Designers and Magazine Creators -

Roger Sargent, Photographer -

Snapped: A photo of Meighan and Gallagher 

Roger Sargent is a British photographer who has worked for the highly acclaimed British music magazine NME for a number of years. In that time he has photographed hundreds of some of the worlds best known artists, including Kasabian and The Arctic Monkeys. Although he has ventured out into the world of music and has photographed many different artists, his passion is indie/alternative rock and he is often at gigs and festivals ready and waiting to shoot some snaps of the main men. Here is a picture of Tom Meighan (Kasabian) and Liam Gallagher (Beady Eye) as well as a quote from Sargent himself taken from NME's 'Sargent's top 10 pictures.'

"I had a spell as Kasabian's official unofficial photographer. I would tag along to various gigs and shoot away. This was after their V headline show – Liam was mid brilliant rant, pointing to me and telling Tom, 'This f****r knows it, he knows it.' Not sure what I knew but I agreed, of course."


David Carson, Graphic Designer -

Mood board featuring examples of Carson's work

David Carson is as an American graphic designer, art director and surfer.He is best known for his innovative magazine design, and use of experimental typography. He was the art director for the magazine Ray Gun, in which he employed much of the typographic and layout style for which he is known. In one issue, he notoriously used Dingbat, a font containing only symbols, as the font for what he considered a rather dull interview with Bryan Ferry (However, the whole text was published in a legible font at the back of the same issue of Ray Gun as well). In 1995, Carson left Ray Gun to found his own studio, David Carson Design, in New York City. He started to attract major clients from all over the United States. During the next three years (1995–1998), Carson was doing work for Pepsi Cola, Ray Ban, Nike, Microsoft, Budweiser and Giorgio Armani. In 2004, Carson became the Creative Director of the Gibbes Museum of Art in Charleston. That year, he also designed the special "Exploration" edition of Surfing Magazine. In a feature story, Newsweek magazine said he "changed the public face of graphic design". In November 1995, Carson published his first book, End of Print. It sold over 200,000 copies in five different languages and soon became the best-selling graphic design book worldwide. This design inspires me to consider the idea of creating something that is more complex rather than just having the simple magazine. Although I do like the idea, I am deciding because I feel as this will be very tough to try and use as a style model.

Christophe Brunquelle

Christophe Brunquelle, Magazine Creator -
Christophe Brunquelle is the creator of the highly acclaimed 'Purple', a magazine which features French fashion, culture and art. Brunquelle is something of a legend in the publishing world, as his style and creative flare has inspired many to produce the modern magazines we see in stores today. Brunquelle's magazine philosophy is to have each page 'jam packed' with images and artistic features. His style has been replicated by many and has revolutionised the way that magazines are created in today's modern era. The use of images as well as words allows his magazines to develop a unique persona/status which separates them from any others o the market. Brunquelle's magazines often contain a vast amount of blank, white spaces, which provide each page with a sense of cleanliness as well as a professional, smart and clean cut edge.

A double page spread, taken from Purple. 

Analysis Of Institution -

Bauer -
Bauer is  Europe’s largest privately owned publishing Group. The Group is a worldwide media empire offering over 300 magazines in 15 countries, as well as online, TV and radio stations. Bauer Media is a
multi-platform UK-based media Group consisting of many companies collected around two main divisions – Magazines and Radio - widely recognised and rewarded as being industry innovators.

I have selected 'Bauer' as the my magazine publisher as it would enable my magazine be viewed by a British audience, as well as global one. This would allow the target audience (indie scensters/hipsters) from other countries and cultures to view and discover new British talent and see what British music has to offer. Although Bauer is a huge global company, it does not publish 'run of the mill' everyday magazines which feature pop/chart music. However, it does in fact publish alternative magazines such as Q and Kerrang, therefore my magazine genre (indie/alternative rock) would be a perfect fit. 

Audience Research -

In order to discover what type of audience was best suited to my genre of music magazine i decided to use Channel 4's 'UK tribes.' After surfing the site for quiet some time i finally found a suitable group, this particular group are known as the 'indie scenesters.'

Information on Indie Scenesters  taken from UK Tribes

The scenesters are the ones which are best suited to the style of music magazine i am hoping to produce for a number of reasons. Firstly, the scenesters are in love with music. Old, current and upcoming music is guaranteed to be on the iPod of an indie scenester, showing that they are open and willing to indulge in various types of music. Not only do they listen, but they search as well. Yes, an indie scenester is never content with listening to the same tracks over and over again. The scenesters are renowned for searching for and finding new music which they then give to the world. Thanks to the indie scenesters many new and upcoming bands have become big in the public eye and some have even turned into highly successful artists. Some may describe the indie scenesters as 'trend setters' as their fashion appeal is highly acclaimed by many. Indie scenesters have both the confidence and arrogance to bring back styles which have not been worn in public for decades, for example, the scenesters have recently bought the 80's flares back into many peoples wardrobes. 

Information on Hipsters, taken from UK Tribes

After discovering the indie scenesters i also stumbled across another group, the hipsters. This particular group may also be suited to my music magazine as their taste in music and fashion will most likely match. Although some hipsters go for the 'hip-hop' look, others like to make statements and show their taste in music through their clothing by wearing iconic 'retro' or 'vintage' items, something which many bands from the indie/alternative rock scene do also. 

Audience Profile -

Dean performing live on stage. 

Name -
Dean Welch

Age -
17

Gender -
Male

Background - 
Dean was born in the city of Leicester on the 31st October, 1996. From a young age, Dean was a bright child and throughout his school life acclaimed many fantastic grades, including several A*'s at GCSE. Dean now attends a highly rated sixth form college in Leicester City Centre.

Likes -
Although Dean is a huge football fan, who enjoys watching and playing the sport, his number one passion is music. When dean is not listening to his favourite bands, such as the Arctic Monkeys, he is playing their songs himself. For the past 2 years dean has been the lead singer/songwriter and guitarist of numerous different bands, all of which have performed live in front of over 100 people. Not only has he performed at gigs but he has also attended many and so has experienced his favourite bands live. Dean recently attended Leeds festival 2013 and so managed to soak up the atmosphere and whatever else he could find.

Dislikes -
Dean is a man with so many dislikes it would be impossible to list them all. However after searching through the list i have managed to find a couple of examples which are suitable to share. Firstly, Dean detests pop music and manufactured 'bands' such as One Direction. As a musician, Dean believes that real talent should be portrayed by either singing without a backing track or miming, and being able to play a 'proper' instrument. Dean also dislikes arrogant, pretentious people who believe that they themselves are above any other, as Dean has been brought up in a working class manor.

Musical Preferences -
Although Dean enjoys tracks from all corners of the music spectrum his preferred style is Indie rock/rock. As mentioned before, Dean is a massive fan of the Arctic Monkeys, but also enjoys listening to the likes of Oasis, The Stone Roses, Kasabian, The Smiths, The Courteeners and The Who.

Idol -
Alex Turner is by far Deans idol because he quite literally wants to be him. Not only does Dean listen and play his music, but he has seen him perform live on numerous occasions and also bases his appearance on him, although, he was not impressed when Turner opted to go for the bryl cream style.

Clothing -
As mentioned before, Dean bases his image on the likes of Alex Turner and Noel Gallagher. Dean wears a selection of band T-shirts as well as skinny jeans, hoodies, leather/denim jackets and vans or Adidas originals. Dean often states that he would be more adventurous with his appearance if he could "pull it off."

Ambitions -
Deans main major ambition is to perform in a band, tour the world and get paid for it, just like his idol. However, Dean of course can not afford to rely on this dream and so his plan B is to pass his A level, gain a degree and earn an extremely high wage.

Media Consumer Habits -
Dean is a film fanatic and has seen nearly every film ever made. When he is not playing his guitar or writing music, he is watching a film or the TV. Dean thinks of himself as a proper 'bloke' and therefore believes that his ability to watch horror films and not get scared awards him that title. As well as horrors, dean also enjoys action, comedy and of course, Sci -Fi. Like many others his age, Dean also uses other forms of media, such as social networking sites like twitter and Facebook as well as Spotify and his Iphone.

Magazine Title Analysis -

NME -

The New Musical Express (better known as the NME) is an Indie and pop music magazine in the United Kingdom. It has been published every week since March 1952. It was the first British magazine to include a singles chart.

The font used is extremely simple and does exactly what it needs to do - shows the readers what the title of the magazine is in a visually clear way.  The vivid red adds to the trademark title and is used to make the logo stand out on the page. The red is usually placed on either a black or white background and so is able to stand out more than most of the other aspects on the page. Another brilliant aspect of the NME logo is the fact that no matter what colour it is printed in, the logo is still immediately recognisable, and so does not rely, solely on its colour. 

Billboard -

Billboard is an American magazine that lists the top albums and singles of the week. It is most famous for the Billboard charts.
Billboard was started on November 1, 1894 in Cincinnati by William H. Donaldson and James Hennegan. It was called Billboard Advertising.
The billboard logo is yet another simplistic magazine title. Its simple font and use of primary colours gives the title a youthful persona. The billboard logo is usually a stand out aspect of the magazine cover, due to its uniqueness. This logo is completely different from any other magazine title and therefore is instantly recognisable. This uniqueness is what attracts a large amount of people to it, as it is unlike any other magazine title on the market.


Fader -

Fader is a New York-based music publication launched in 1998 by Rob Stone and Jon Cohen. The Fader is credited with giving exposure to top artists months ahead of mainstream recognition, a prime example is The Strokes.
The fader logo is once again simple and recognisable, but unlike any other, it uses a certain technique which allows it to be instantly recognised even when the entire word can not be shown. The 'F' is the aspect which stands out the most. It is placed inside a box and so can be highlighted in whatever colour the designer wants, this allows the logo to stand out or blend in with the existing colours on the page. The text which is used is once again clear and simple to read, it is also nicely spaced out, making it clearer once more.


Q -

Q is a popular music magazine published monthly in the United Kingdom.
Q magazine has an extensive review section, featuring: new releases (music), reissues (music), music compilations, film and live concert reviews, as well as radio and television reviews. It uses a star-rating system from one to five stars.
The Q logo is arguably the simplest magazine title on the market as it is literally only one letter. However, the fact that the title is short and snappy makes it extremely recogniseable and of course easy to remember. The title itself is extremely similar the the NME, as it features white lettering on a vivid red background. Similarly to the NME, the Q stands out extremely well and is crystal clear for the reader to see.



Rolling stone -
Rolling Stone is a magazine published every two weeks that focuses on politics and popular culture. In 1967, Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco, California, by Jann Wenner. The rolling stone logo is extremely recogniseable due to its unique font. Unlike many other magazine titles, the rolling stone font has an artistic flare added to it, in order for it to stand out, not just on the page, but on the shelf. Like many other magazine titles, the colour used for the rolling stone title is red. Another unique aspect of the rolling stone title is the graffiti style shadow which surrounds certain parts of each letter. This technique allows the text to appear in 3D, this also helps the title stand out on the page.


Tips i have picked up -

By analysing these particular magazine titles i have picked up many useful tips which i will use when designing my magazine title. The tips i have learn are -

- Use a simple font which is clear and easy for the audience to read. (can use a slightly artistic font to make the title even more recogniseable)

- Make the title an iconic logo, so that it can become recogniseable and simple to spot.

- Use at least one vivid colour to highlight the importance of the title, this will make it stand out on the page.

- Possibly use a particular shape within the logo

Mood Board -

Below is a collection of images featuring bands, artists and album covers which are associated to the indie/alternative rock genre. 

Mood Board

Colour Palettes -

Colour Palettes Media Coursework

Magazine Plans -

Genre -
After being asked the question  "What genre of music will your magazine contain?" i immediately thought of one genre and one genre only, that of course was indie/alternative rock. I have chosen to create my magazine using the genre of indie/alternative rock because  the majority of music i listen to falls into this category.
I also feel as if i have a good understanding and a large amount of knowledge on this particular genre. To me, indie rock brings something different into the musical world, a different dimension, a certain 'wow factor.' Indie/alternative rock has also inspired some of the most legendary bands this country has ever seen and will  most likely have a huge part to play in the success of new and up coming artists.


Artists which inspired me -
a number of bands inspired me to choose alternative rock as the genre for my magazine, however i have narrowed this list down to just five:
The main four are -
-Kasabian
-Arctic Monkeys
-The Killers
-Beady Eye
-Miles Kane

To me, the likes of Kasabian, the Arctic Monkeys and The Killers are it, the epitome of alternative rock. They have everything, entertaining front men, inspirational singers/songwriters as well as out of this world talent.
In my opinion, the likes of Kasabian stand out in the world of music, they create a sound which is a pleasure to hear and in doing so, have created a legacy which will last forever.

Fashion/appearance -

Miles Kane

Indie/alternative rock has seen many artists match their music with their fashion. Artists such as the ones listed above tend to wear clothes which are 'smart-casual' with a rock twist. A prime example of this would be Beady Eye front man Liam Gallagher, who is renowned for his interesting coats, patterned shirts, scarves, leather jackets, blazers, and of course, the famous 'mod' haircut, also worn by Kasabian front man Tom Meighan as well as Miles Kane. Although the clothes worn by these artists are usually stylish and unique, they are often unbranded to make the clothing even more noticeable and appeal more to the public. However, the likes of the Sergio Pizzorno (Kasabian) have been photographed wearing certain sports branding such as Adidas. Therefore, if i am going to make my chosen model appear as an indie/alternative rock band front man, i am going to have to dress him in the clothing listed above in order to make the image look realistic and replicate that of a real Indie/alternative rock band front man.

Choice of Magazine -

Although there are many great examples of music magazines on the market, i have decided to use NME as a template for my music magazine. I have made this choice as NME often features alternative artists and so fits my idea perfectly. I also like the way the designers carefully and creatively assemble each aspect of the magazine to make the overall final piece look stylish and stand out on the shelf - this is what i am aiming to do.

An edition of NME featuring Kasabian