I have done an analysis of the conventions of a music magazine cover, contents and DPS. I have annotated the elements and done Task 1 and the start of Task 2 of the AS Media Coursework Preparation: Double Page Spread 1.

1. The conventions of a chosen
genre of music magazines
An annotated example of a
music magazine front cover,
contents and DPS and Tasks.

2. Wire Magazine – Front Cover MASTHEAD: The block capitals stand
BAR CODE: Although it’s placing seems out against the image because it is in
quite random, it suits this quirky style of front and dominant on the page. The
cover being aligned sideways. It looks choice of white font colour against the
neater than having it cluttering up near black and white photograph gives it
the cover lines. This is something that more prominence. This is conventional
wouldn’t present itself as a professional with magazines and is something I
publication, when making my magazine need to think about how I am going to
I need to think about where I am going incorporate it’s large sizing on a
to place features such as this. standard magazine dimension. This
sans serif font is something that fulfills
the young target audience
expectations.
ISSUE NUMBER AND PRINT MAIN IMAGE: The black and white
DETAILS: Conventionally photography is something I said I
the smallest text on the would like to do for my full task. The
page, this cover meets the headshot clearly displays his
expectation by placing the face, with his eyes looking down the
tiny text near the barcode camera lens shows he’s on the same
in a small font. It keeps to level as the audience, giving a sense
the colour scheme using of connection mentally. Not having
the same white to avoid any other imagery on the front cover
making it stand out or look is something I would expect from an
obscure. When composing intelligent magazine with intellectual
my cover together I must readers in mind. This is what I plan to
make sure that I do not do for mine to show my
make my issue details too understanding of target audience
distracting. expectations.
COVER LINES: These are neatly presented using lines and a column COVER LINE: Using the artist name over his face shows
format, something the educated readers would expect to see on a the link between him and what his relation is to the
conventional cover. It’s mention of underground names and titles issue, making him the main focus, Using the matching
reflect the alternative readership’s interest. This is what I have colour and font and font type to the mast head shows
planned to do in my magazine. This fulfills the genre well as it the professional and conventional composition of this
incorporates the unique and edgy side of music and how a person cover. The name is slightly smaller than the mast head
influence music choice not music influencing a person – this would to avoid confusion. This is something I need to make
be found in a pop magazine. sure is repeated in my work,

3. VIBE – Contents Page
DROP CAPITAL/DESIGN FEATURE: TITLE: IT’s presentation is quite quirky, something big brands of magazines do conventionally, I
Similar to a double page spread, the plan to do this with my magazine to tie in the visual importance indie readers would expect from a
drop capital here is used more for visual stylish publication. Again like ‘WIRE’ magazine it uses the contrast of a white serif font against a
effect rather than practicality. This darker black/grey background. This convention I will imitate with my own magazine.
works well for the indie genre which has
a large focus on looks and visual SUBTITLES: This conventional separator
presentation, so I think this would work works well in distinguishing the different
really well for my target audience. ‘catergories’ of the magazine, usually between
what’s new this issue (cover lines) and what’s
ARTICLES & PAGE NUMBERS: As part of the in every issue as a permanent part of the
whole point of the contents pages the articles magazine. Conventionally as this one proves
are neatly displayed (usually in columns/lines they are in a different font to the features.
like this one) so readers can find their way This is show they are aiding the reader
through the magazine. They are easy to read through the page and not to be confused with
and labeled with a caption to give an idea of articles. I will use this convention on my own
what it’s about. It’s only a small amount of text contents page in a way that would respond
that I will use in my magazine to show I well with indie audiences.
understand the generic rules of a contents page
and style of my indie genre.
DESIGN DETAILS: This small visual effect
gives the page a more appealing overall look.
MAIN IMAGE: Usually featuring the Some magazines don’t use them it’s more
cover artist or a second main star of whether it meets the genre expectations. I
the magazine in a different outfit. I don’t think my magazine would require
will be using this to match the indie something like this. Indie magazines focus
genre expectations and what would more on the photograph effects and imagery.
sell to a target audience.
PHOTO CREDITS: This tiny print of text ISSUE DATE, BRAND NAME &
explains in short about the photograph(s) PAGE NUMBER: Conventionally
used with who it features, the altogether this explain
photographer, where it was and what when, what and where in the
they were wearing. It’s more for those magazine you are. I may or may
interested in the details of the magazine. not use all three for my own
magazine.

4. Task 1- List of different types of
DPS/Feature Spread
• Interview – an individual/group answering a set of Q&A styled questions that are written up in the
questioning style or continuous prose. Could be highly suitable for the indie genre, as a rising or popular
artist for a young adult demographic (16-26). It could be presented either way for this genre of
magazine and still meet audience requirements.
• Article - a written work published in an electronic or print for the purpose of research results, academic
analysis or debate or propagating news/information. Could be suitable for my genre as it would be a
good analysis of a new festival or gig opening/center for music that would suit my target audience. It
might seem a bit dull for my young age group and if too analytical it may not represent the theme of
creativity and individuality I want to project through my magazine.
• Profile/Biography – An account of a person’s life that has be written, composed or produced by
another that isn’t themselves. I think this would be interesting to do in my magazine as I think for a
popular artist who isn’t always in the public eye this could be factual and inform the readers of questions
they may have wanted to ask if interviewing the artist themselves. I think for my target audience this
would also fit the genre and ideology of intelligent journalism that they would expect, so by having
another writer produce something about their favourite singer/songwriter’s I could create an indie
looking design and layout to match what’s said. This would be a good way to link in imagery alongside
the biography.
• Image Gallery - A collection of images displayed on a magazine spread to illustrate outfits, the artist
and show the representation of an individual. I think this would be something suitable to incorporate
alongside my columns of text. I think images would make my work look appealing and suit the 16-26
age bracket I am intending to attract.
• Review – An examination or assessment of something with the possibility or intention to
compare, criticise or institute change if necessary. It can be entertaining and funny with positive
feedback or argue reasons for being unsuccessful. I think this would suit my indie genre and do well to
attract the young audience, however I think I wouldn’t be able to produce a review as convincingly as
a professional DPS as I would other types of DPS. I think it would do well to include popular culture within
my genre and represent my target audience’s interest in music and the artists they want to read about.

5. Q Magazine - DPS
MAIN IMAGE: This whole left
page is taken up by one large
image. This is a common
convention for music magazines
(as although writing about a
new release for press can only DROP CAPITAL: This convention is used to make the design of the journalism on the page appear more
take up so much space) it also professional, this has been interpreted as a large statement design on the right page being behind the first column.
displays clearly who the article The black stands out against the white background, so black is a conventional colour choice. It contrasts nicely
is about and starts to build against the photograph, this contrast is something that I want to incorporate for my DPS as it suits the audience’s
iconography. Iconography is expectations of a conventional music magazine. I can make sure that my individual style is still apparent by not
something that establishes the using black but a charcoal grey to give it a slight edge.
artists with it’s target audience
fan base, which is what the ARTIST: The name of who you are
magazine’s use to sell copies. talking about is really
This edited style of photo makes important, this DPS shows it almost
the artist appear from a certain as though she’s her own feature, this
angle to fulfill the genre and shows how big she is as a star. This
attract a key audience. This is works for popular publications that
something I could consider for rely on huge stars to sell. I will work
my individual take on a music off the mystery of new artists as a
magazine, especially having a common convention of the indie
large photography focus. The genre is the discovery of new bands
close up of her face is very clear and music/songs they like.
in displaying her face, which is
why it’s a convention when COLUMNS: Its conventional
photographing a musician. for magazines to have a
newspaper style of
PAGE NUMBER: It’s important presentation. The neat layout
for readers to be able to navigate makes it easy to read, it
freely and easily throughout the would work well style wise for
magazine without complications. It a clean cut indie magazine
meets the conventional magazine such as mine. Columns make
requirements and is something I the layout easier to compose
will use on one of the sides of my at the same time fitting in
DPS. This in theory if the whole INTRO/SUB PARAGRAPH: It’s plenty of article information.
magazine where to be WEBSITE INFORMATION: Today conventional for a brief bio
created, would be repeated on with the ever expanding internet and before the rest of the MAGAZINE LOGO: It’s
every other page. I would still be social media, magazine conventions interview/article to sum up the conventional for the mast head
keeping in with my target include having a web address or some objective/angle it’s approaching. (title) to appear in one or both
audience and genre as my readers form of digital expansion from the It’s in a bolder/different font and corners of the pages so it’s obvious
are intelligent with the common article. I will use this in my magazine meets the expectations of who it’s from and the brand is sold.
sense to work out the pattern in as it meets the target audience readers. I will be considering I will make sure I fulfill audience
order to find the pages they wish expectations of my young using this to make my work expectations by doing this is my
to read. demographic, and the indie genre. appear neat and professional. own magazine.

6. Task 2 – Planning your DPS
What type of DPS to you intend to create? I plan to mix a bio and interview style together but only write the
introduction to the interview (in a bio style) with the idea that the interview would be on the next page. I will include
an image gallery to attract my young audience and use my photography to show the focus of my magazine and
the genre conventions.
Explanation of how this is appropriate and relevant for your target audience and your genre of music magazine. The
short amount of text isn’t daunting to a young reader who might be on the go or looking for a quick flick through to
chill out at home. I will still compose it in the intelligent style they would be used to reading, but use condensed text
rather than overly long paragraphs which could be neatened and shortened. I think this would work for my genre as
the minimalistic style of design will still be fulfilled, as there won’t be masses of text and little imagery. The focus on
many indie artists representation is their cover art and how they are photographed so by making my magazine focus
about photography and style I am homing in on that factor and mirroring the artists through my work.
How you intend to incorporate original images. I will be using the imager gallery form and placing it besides a singular
column (mostly likely the left for cohesion purposes) and create a mixture of different sized images to look appealing
to a young audience. Being very visual suits my genre as the artists are very visual through cover arts, so I plan to take
photographs that could be used on their cover art to show my understanding of representation.
How will you obtain information and images for your feature spread. I will be using own personal knowledge of the
genre to portray a real professional feature, I will be creating new artists to be able to make my information
completely my own and by using new artists I can take my images in my own time according to a schedule that
worked both for my models and my friend who’s photography studio I was using. I planned everything and took the
images individually so I could take images that suited a feature I could write about my ‘new’ artists. This way the
independent images I took were able to match whatever I wanted to write.
What visual style would you like to achieve? I would like to achieve something that looks classic and sleek like a
professional publication but also that has little quirks to fit the indie genre and use images that appear striking to my
target audience to grab their attention. I hope that I will be successful in a minimal looking style of work that contains
the basic conventions of a DPS.
What writing style do you intend to use? I plan on using a young and fresh sounding style that would suit both a
blog/vlog or column but also an independent newspaper such as the guardian or independent under their lifestyle
(music) section. I think this would suit the genre’s stereotype of casual intelligence in a relaxed ‘cool’ manner which
seems genuine and down-to-earth. I want to appeal to my 16-26 demographic and by using play on words and
cheeky metaphors that use literary devices such as alliteration, I will tap into that smart sleek style found under the
sections I am aiming to sound like. I don’t want to be too formal or casual, just a blend of both to fit my genre and
target audience expectations.