3. Primary Audience
The results form my audience research show that the primary audience for my
magazine will be males and females between the ages of 16-25.
My audience will be predominately females as 80% of my questionnaire results
come under females in my audience research. However, in reality my audience of
males in ratio to females will most likely be higher, as it may be coincidence that
more females took the time to answer my research. This is a factor I kept to mind
throughout creating my magazine, DIRT.
The age range of my audience means that my audience will be primarily students
and young professionals. This means that my magazine will cater for a niche
audience of people who enjoy a specific genre of music and live similar specific
lifestyle, this being one of enjoying partying, gigs, alcohol and most importantly
have a shared love of music.
Audience research: DIRT's
Primary audience age group
Age 10 - 15
Age 16 - 25
Age 26 - 35
Age 36 - 45
4. The target audience of my magazine are a
readers who have a passion for rock music and
the sub genres surrounding it. From my
research I also found that the primary
audience of the magazine shop in places such
as topshop, urban outfitters and river island.
This helped me base an idea of the style of the
magazine and the tone that the magazine
would have. Urban outfitters being one of the
most popular places to shop and it being
considered a more ‘indie’ and less mainstream
place to shop, I decided that I would use that
as the main basis of the magazine, having it
predominantly rock and indie rock. But as the
primary audience like places which are
considered more mainstream such as river
island, I decided that I would make my
magazine cater for their other needs and likes
and feature bands and artists which could be
considered mainstream, but the reader still
listens to and enjoys them, (think artists such
as disclosure.)
5. The results of my research also define the
music that is most popular with my target
audience, defining the type of people my
audience will tend to be. The most popular
artist amongst the people In my research was
artic monkeys, they then went on to say that
they would like to see Alex Turner as the
cover star of my magazine. My audiences
second most popular artist is imagine
dragons, and oasis. From these results I have
concluded that my audience has a large range
and variety of genres of music that they
enjoy, but however enjoy genre just as much
as they enjoy another. I will appeal to my
target audience by show casing a large but
relevant variety of artists on the cover. I aim
to in The age of my primary audience is
relatively young and I can conquer from this
that because they are young that they are still
discovering new music and growing in music
taste. My magazine will aim to appeal to that
niche audience of people.
6. My secondary audience for my magazine would be adults between the ages of 25-35
who are still passionate about music and still have a very music influenced life style.
Secondary Audience
How many gigs or music
related events do you go to a
month?
0 to 2
3 to 5
6 to 8
9 to 11
Other
7. I aimed my magazine
at...
People who are
likely top shop
at
Who go to gigs, music
and drinking related
events
Who are likely to
spend money on
Males and females
around the ages of 16-25
That are likely to use
social media to help
express and enjoy
aspects of their life
Influences
People who know and love
the music they listen to
Who live in the area of
Young professionals and
students
8. My audience research shows that
my preliminary audience currently
consumes magazine such as
Kerrang, NME, and Q.
I have decided from this
knowledge that my magazine will
be of a similar style to these
current magazines to create a
similar tone to appeal to those
consumers. However, my
magazine will aim to be more
desirable to the target audience
because DIRT, will have the
concept of having a wider but
more loyal and committed
audience. My magazine will tailor
more to the tone of Kerrang which
I think connects with the
reader, and has a loyal readership.
Similar Products To My Magazine
Audience research: What
music magazines do you
read?
Kerrang
NME
Q
Billboard
MOJO
9. Why there is a need for my magazine
My magazine will aim to not only have the loyal readership which tends to be
associated with heavy metal enthusiasts and die hard rock fans, but give some of
that room for readers who want to find a magazine that has that kind of fan base
and connection for sub genres which will be equally featured throughout the
magazine, these being such as indie rock and phycadelic. This will be the selling
point to my magazine as there is a clear gap in the current market for a magazine
of this type. However my magazine will make a strong point of only having artist
which are reputable, not one hit wonders that would damage the reputation of
the magazine. That is not the point of the magazine and its readers. This is what
makes my magazine different to those of the current market and have the edge
in the current market.
10. DIRT’s Ideal Reader
This issue of kerrang features a lot of artists and bands. It
draws the readers attention to key features which feature
popular band of the magazines genre. It appeals to the
same genre of music lovers as my magazines would as the
style and approach to music fans is similar.
However to create my magazines individual style and
appeal, I will incorporate similar styles like the ones in
NME. This NME magazine appeals to its audience as it has
a band predominantly featured with very little other
information about the content available. This is typical of
NME. I will incorporate NME’s approach into my magazine
by including bands such as the genre of music that foals is
associated with.
By combing these classic key elements of these magazines
I will create a niche audience that the magazine
specifically caters for as it combines the likes of the
genres featured in NME but will take the less sleek, and
more personal approach to featuring the artists that
Kerrang does.
11. Q2: How does your media
product represent particular
social groups?
Q2
12. My cover star represents audience and social
groups in which DIRT magazine caters for. Alex
Turner, the front man of one of the biggest
bands at the moment, artic monkeys
represents the ideal reader because he is a
cool indie rock idol who is well respected for
the quality of his music and is popular for
being the front man of the band. He presents
the people who would buy the magazine as
the genre of music he creates represents the
types of people who listen to indie rock and
what they do with their spare time, for
example going to gigs and festivals and
enjoying music and life. Readers of the
magazine will aspire to be like these people
and want to partake in the thing that these
particular social groups do.
Alex Turner is an effective and ideal cover star
as my target audience said in my audience
research that Artic monkeys where their most
favoured band, and that they would like to see
Alex turner as the magazine cover star.
The Ideal Reader
13. Q2
Mode Of Address
I have used intertexual references within my magazine cover to creates a code
within the readers which they will only understand I they are the audience and
readers of the magazine, as they will refer to terms to do with bands and artists
which they are fans of in the magazine. I have included these as it adds to the
personal and very fan orientated approach my magazine has, which is its selling
point.
Referring to kasabians
album ‘velociraptor’
Referring to their
break through
album lonerism
AM short for Artic
Monkeys
Referring to fall out boys
new tracks going back to
their musical roots
14. Q2
To appeal to my correct target audience my cover star
has a purpose to represent an idealised version of the
reader of the publication. In order to appeal to as many
consumers as possible, the star must appear to be
different, by wearing none mainstream clothes, have a
hair style that does not appear to be groomed and
sleek, and have a stance which connotes an attitude in
which my audience would appeal to and relate to.
Alex turner filters his appearance in image for different
types of media and different publications to suite the
audiences that they are appealing to.
Both images represent different sides to his personality
. For example the smart clothing and the sleek slicked
back hair represents an innocent positive stylish role
model whereas the image of him smoking connotes
being a rule breaker, who doesn’t care about things
and is cool because of it. It also suggest the rock and
roll lifestyle he leads. These would both appeal to
different audiences.
Filtering Images To Represent Audiences
15. Q2
Posed image-
probably for a
magazine
clean
groomed, sleek
looking hair style
Smart
fashionable or
statement
clothing. Out of
the ordinary style
Ring he’s
wearing suggests
he has a
subversive side
Neutral
positive facial
expression
Trying to appeal
to a an audience
looking for a
young musician
role model
Eye contact not
being at camera
suggesting
interested by
how he is
perceived or
interested in
creating a
particular image
for himself for
the media
Old style smart
clothes in this
picture
16. Q2
Sunglasses create
an enigma and
keep audience at
arms length
Smoking a cigarette
suggesting he is
mysterious and
breaks rules
Hair is gelled into a
messy old school
quiff
Usage of drugs
shows he is overtly
not against them
Casual plain
clothes and
leather jacket
suggest having
style and being
style conscious
but casual about it
Usage of leather
makes him seem
tough
Stance is laid back
leaning on an old
car making him
seem rock n’ roll
and not caring
about peoples
perceptions
The fact the
cigarette is lit and
he’s taking a drag
off it suggest sits
not for show
17. Q2
Cover Star
In all of the images of my
cover star I have tried to
ensure that in every image he
appeals to the audience as an
aspirational. He is the same
age as my ideal reader which
would therefore attract my
target audience and entice
them towards buying the
magazine as he is the cover
star. The mise en scene of my
star represents a
cool, powerful, passionate
artist through the usage of his
posture in the images and the
usage of props such as
drumming sticks which
connote that music is his
life, which is what readers of
the publication identify with.
18. Q3: What kind of media
institution might distribute
your magazine and why?
Q3
19. Distribution
My magazine would be a sister publication for magazines such as Kerrang
and NME. My magazine would aim to appeal to a more niche audience of
indie rock music lovers rather than metal rock music fans, which the genre
that Kerrang appeals to.
I am going to publish my magazine weekly. I would release my magazine
weekly, like my competitors, Kerrang and NME. The fact that my magazine
is released weekly will make my magazine of a similar price to Kerrang. I
will price my magazine at £2.20. I will price my magazine at this much
because my magazine has a similar age audience to Kerrang and this is a
suitable price that my niche audience would be prepared to pay for it.
My magazine would be published with Bauer media group. I would publish
with them because my magazine has a similar tone to Kerrang but for a
different music genre. By publishing with Bauer they would understand
what is needed for the publication for it to appeal to my niche audience.
Q3
20. Multi media platforms
I have made it possible for my audience to
access my magazine through multi media
platforms in social media such as
Instagram.
By having this popular social media
platform it is easy to share pictures
associated to music and DIRT. By having an
Instagram account where my magazine can
share images with reader, it allows the
readers to have audience participation
with the magazine. This creates a close
relation between the reader and the
magazine which is important to maintain
readership.
By having an Instagram account my
magazine will partake in sponsored
hashtags so that readers can connect with
other fans of music and the magazine.
These sponsored hashtags give readers
access to more images than what are also
available in the magazine. This creates a
more exclusive appeal to my magazines
brand.
Alex turner reveals all in this weeks issue
of DIRT! We hope you guys are as excited
as we are! Give us your thoughts! #AM
21. DIRT’s Distribution
Q3
I have also given my audience easy access to my magazine and its brand by
advertising a subscription to DIRT on the contents page of the magazine.
This allows dedicated readers to feel valued by being offered a discount
from the magazine and its cost, and gives the publication the opportunity
to have constant weekly readers.
22. Multi media platforms
My magazine also has a twitter page which is also featured on its
website. DIRT’s website has information on new bands, gigs and
small articles which can be accessed like an online music blog.
On the magazines website there is a constantly updating twitter
feed which consists of the tweets that have been written by the
magazines titter, and any hashtags and mention that mention
the magazine too. This gives the reader an insight into what
other music fans th9ink about things, and a great deal of
audience participation. This will appeal to my target audience as
they can access all the information they want on the go, even if
they do not have a DIRT magazine on them at hand to read. This
leads to my magazines app. The app consists of relatively the
same information that is available on the website but is
designed to be quick an accessible for on the go reads about the
audiences favourite bands and gigs.
23. The worlds biggest weekly rock magazine.
SEE INSIDE: DIRT.com/blognewissue
London, England
This is the banner of my publications online twitter
feed. In the bio of this twitter banner I have included
the magazines website. This allows my reader to
access the magazines website quickly and easily. It also
allows the reader to be more involved with the
magazine and its articles as they can access some parts
of these articles through the twitter feed.
This will be the icon for my publications smartphone, android and tablet app. The
app allows the reader to read and participate with DIRT, whenever, wherever. This
creates a larger readership and a tighter relationship between the publication and
the reader.
24. Merchandise
These are some the products that will be available for readers and fans of DIRT
magazine to buy. This merchandise will be sold on my magazines website.
25. Festival sponsors
To reinforce my magazines importance and place in music and its media
industry, the magazine will be a sponsor of a major festival in Britain which will
feature some of the main bands which my primarily and secondary audience's are
passionate about.
26. Q4: In what ways does
your media product
use, develop or challenge
forms and conventions of
real media products? Q4
27. On the front cover of my music magazine I have followed the codes and
convention of a real media product. Firstly I have created a striking masthead for
the magazine with the magazine name being ‘DIRT’. It is important to have a
masthead front that creates an overall theme and tone for the magazine and the
genre that music that the magazine follows.
I have followed the conventions of existing media products by spacing my
masthead central at the top of the magazine cover so that it is the first thing that
the reader sees. I the primary image juxta posed on top of the masthead covering
some of the lettering slightly. I have done this to connote that the stories that are
inside the magazine are of an exclusive quality and can be found only in DIRT
magazine. It is also important as it shows that the cover star is more important
than just the name of the magazine. This is a typical feature of music magazine
covers. I have also included an secondary image which is hanging down from the
banner over the top of the masthead to show another image of an important
influential artist. By having images covering the masthead it also suggests that the
magazine does not need for its lettering to be full seen as people know what
magazine it is as it is a well known and renowned magazine.
Q4
Masthead
28. I have followed codes and conventions of real media products in my front
cover further by including a typical banner and header to include the names
of other artists that are included in this particular issue of the magazine. I
have challenged the conventions of some magazine banners as I have
included a secondary image of an artist above my cover star. However I think
that this works well as it is typical feature to have several artists featured on
one magazine cover. In addition to this my rival magazine would be a
magazine such as Kerrang, and Kerrang uses lots of images as it suites the
appeal of its particular audience.
Banner
29. I have then gone on to show an image of other features on the
magazine and my double page spread on the contents page through
a print screen of each image. This entices the reader to flick through
and easily fin the articles which are being shown to them.
I have followed the conventions of a contents page by having a
letter from the editor, talking about the different features of the
magazine in a chatty style to create a positive tone with the reader.
Contents page conventions
30. I have used a popular artist to be the cover start for my magazine. I have followed
the typical forms conventions of a cover image by having the image central and the
star using the ‘The gaze’ looking straight into the camera. I have chosen my cover
star through popular demand in my audience research questionnaire in which I got
people of my target audience to answer.
In addition to my image I have used a pull quote relating back to my double page
spread and in large font , the name of the cover star. It is important that I have his
name in the largest font on the page so that music lovers will be drawn in by his
name to buy the magazine. It is also important because music lovers tend not to be
interested in the image or will not recognise the artist, as much as they will
recognise and be drawn to the name.
I have also included lots of secondary images as it is important to show images so
that the reader has an idea of what each features about. In addition to this it break
up the page an makes it more visually appealing t the reader.
Cover star Image
31. The colours that I have used on my cover are primarily, black, red, white, yellow, and
grey. I have chosen these colours are they are typical of my genre, and compliment
each other, as well as this they connote the genre of my magazine which is
rock/indie rock. In my audience research it was the second most popular colour
scheme voted by my target audience. I did not choice to use the first most popular
colour scheme which was purple, black, white and red, as I think that this colour
scheme works better for my particular magazine.
Colours
32. I have finally included additional information on my cover, including
information relating to offers, and secondary features in my magazine. I
have chosen the features and artists who are in the features of my
magazine through what my target audience said that they would like to see
no the cover of the magazine. Majority of the artist that are the most
popular with my target audience made it onto the cover.
In addition to this I have also included the general legal information for a
magazine, including the date, issue number, price and barcode for the
magazine to be scanned in a shop.
Additional and legal
information
33. Q5: How did you
attract/address your
audience?
Q5
34. Q5
Magazine Masthead
I first of all attracted my audience by the bold house style mast head
that I created for my magazine. The masthead that I have created is
bold capital lettering but the inside of the letter is shattered like glass.
This connotes the style of music that my magazine features and the
types of personalities that it would appeal and cater towards. I have
chosen as the standard colours that the masthead uses, black and
white. I have chosen these because they do not suggest that my
magazine is based specifically towards one gender. In addition to
this, I chose black and white so that the masthead would compliment
the surroundings it has on any page of the magazine.
35. Q5
Image of my cover star
I have attracted the audiences attention in the image of
my cover star through the usage of the rule of thirds
convention which has been used when placing the
image of my cover star on the cover of the magazine. By
doing this it makes the cover star look like he is making
eye contact with the reader as they look at the
product, being a persuasive feature by using mode of
address towards the reader.
The cover stars facial expression is somewhat neutral
and confident. This connotes that the cover star is a
powerful confident person, which would persuade the
reader to buy the magazine the audience of my
magazine like to read and learn about the lives of their
favourite band front men. There is a slight smirk value
to the facial expression that the cover star is
pulling, this suggest to the reader, along with the cover
feature article underneath that he has something that is
has been hiding that he has to share with the
audience, which creates a unique story line which will
persuade readers and fans of Alex Turner to buy the
magazine.
36. Value for money
Q5
I have introduced the idea that DIRT is of value for its
audiences money by presenting the content as being
very exclusive to the reader.. ‘AM Front man gives us
the inside tory’ suggest that it is a reliable source as
the information has come straight from Alex turner
and that its never before heard information which is
of value to the audience to be the first to know.
By showing the reader that there
is an opportunity to win exclusive
tickets to a special come back
tour, it suggest to them that they
should buy it because the value
of the magazine money is little in
comparison to the money to
ticket would cost if they won it.
This suggest that the content of
the magazine is hugely bigger and
better than other rival magazine
of its kind. By claiming that its ‘the
biggest’ suggest to the buyer that
they should opt for DIRT as they
get more content for their money.‘Plus’ and ‘exclusive’ very simply suggest to the
reader that the content of the magazine can only
be accessed by buying the magazine and that
they should not put off buying the magazine
because there is a lot that it has to offer.
37. Magazines Features
Q5
I have created these features to
attract my audience because my
audience enjoys these bands . I know
this through my audience research
that I created before creating my
product.
My audience enjoys music related
events such as festivals, therefore I
have created a festival related
feature which features some of the
biggest indie rock bands in Britain-
this will appeal to my audience also
due to the fact that it is an ‘exclusive
preview’. I have also included an
article about Miles Kane who ‘takes
America’ as he was one of the artists
that my target audience said that
they liked.
38. Q6: What have you learnt
about technologies from the
process of constructing this
product?
Q6
43. Q7: Looking back at your
preliminary task what do you
feel you have learnt in the
progression to the full product?
44. Looking back on my work that I created form my preliminary task, I feel that I
have learnt a sense of what is key to have on the page of a magazine cover and
contents page and how it should be portrayed for the reader to see. For
example I feel that I have a better sense of displaying the main feature of the
magazine which sells the magazine as a product in a more efficient way. This
being done through the colours that I have chose, I chose colours which I felt
complimented each other better than the colours that I had chose previously
on my ‘Aquinas’ magazine. Secondly I felt that since my preliminary task I have
improved on my sense of composition. This is important in making the reader
see what you want them to see first on the page which will draw them into
being interested in your magazine, and buying it. I have also improved by
creating a better cover line for my cover in comparison to my Aquinas
magazines. I have improved further too by the masthead which I have created
for my magazine cover. The masthead is more professional and aesthetically
pleasing. I have finally improved by choosing a more suiting cover star to my
magazine and its genre with an improved quality of the picture with my
knowledge from making my Aquinas magazine.
Q7
Aquinas magazine cover- DIRT music
magazine cover
46. Aquinas magazine contents page- DIRT
magazine contents page
I have progressed from my Aquinas magazine contents page product to my DIRT
magazine contents page product firstly by the colour scheme I have used in the layout.
With my first product, the layout was very basic with little intricate detail which made
it look and feel like a genuine professional product. In my Dirt magazine I have used a
range of colours which all compliment each other well, whereas I feel in my Aquinas
magazine the colours did not complement each other and looked somewhat childish
which would not particularly appeal to its target audience. I have then gone n to
improve my product by the quality of the images that I have included. I have used a
range of images which relate strongly to the features which are in the contents page.
This makes it a more convincing product and it appeals more to the target audience. I
feel that I have thought about the layout of my contents page in the second product
more thoroughly, I have included a lot more attention to detail. For example, all the
text in the columns are aligned with each other. All images in the columns are made to
fit neatly between the spaces which in general just makes the page more aesthetically
pleasing. There is more contents features on my second product too, as I realised that
more effort would be needed to make the page look like a genuine magazine contents
page. Lastly, I have improved the product by creating a stronger house style for the
magazine by the creating icons such as the ‘cover story’ icon which has been used a
few times throughout the contents page, this reinforces the link between the cover
and the contents page, which I feel my Aquinas magazine lacked.
