Analysis of music magazine covers

Indie mood board

Analysis of Survey results

This is the analysis of the survey results. This question was "how old are you?" The most popular result was the age "11-20". This result means that people who are most interested in music are aged "11-20".  I put this question in my survey because I wanted to know what age audience I was aiming my music magazine at.

This question was "what would make you buy a magazine?" The most popular answer was "information about well know band/artists". I was expecting this answer to be the most popular and I asked this question so I could find out what the audience I am aiming at is most interested in when buying a music magazine.

 This question was "how do you listen to your music usually?"
The most popular answer was using a "mobile phone". I was expecting this answer to be the most popular, because since I listen to music myself, I do generally listen to it using my mobile phone.

This question was "how much would you pay for a music magazine?" The most popular answer was "£1.99-£2.99". Again I expected this answer because I know people would like to pay less for magazines. I asked this question because I wanted some background information on how much people would pay for a music magazine.

















This question was "What type of music do you listen to?" The most popular answer was "Indie". I was not expecting this answer, I was expecting "pop" to be the most popular genre of music. But I am very happy with the result because this my original idea could fit an "indie" genre. I asked this question because because I wanted to make a magazine that was suitable for my audience I am aiming at.

This question was "What is your gender?" The most popular answer was "female".  I was expecting more of an equal response to this question, I thought both genders would take my survey. I asked this question so that I would know what gender was most interested in music.



           









This question was "How often do you listen to music?" The most popular answer was "everyday". I expected this answer, because as I listen to music myself, I know that I personally listen to music everyday. I asked this question because I wanted to find out how interested people were in music.

This question was "What is your favourite band/singer?" Because the answer to the previous question was  "indie" for the genre of music most listened to, the answers are mainly "indie" bands or singers. I had no expectations for this question because I was unsure what the answer for the question "What type of music do you listen to most?" I asked this question because I wanted to know what bands/singers my audience like so that I can model my magazine on them.

Examples of plans for the layout

These are some examples off the internet of what the inside layout of generic magazines look like.

This is a generic contents page. I like the layout of this page because of how it has used the space. I like how many pictures has been used here and how they have filled that space without looking cluttered.
I also like the way, the pictures have little blue boxes in the corner implying that there will be text explaining the images.









This is a generic cover for a magazine.  I like the layout of this but its very simple. When I do my magazine, I will probably make it busier, with more information and pictures included on it so people know what will be in the magazine. Although, I do prefer the more simplistic covers of magazines.

This is a generic double page spread. Again, I like the way it has used that space because it has a lot of pictures and lots of text.
When I do my music magazine, I will probably use a slightly different layout for my double page spread. I will probably be using a large image covering the top part of both pages, then do a interview below, using the rest of the space. For the another images, I will be using the interview as space as well.

Models being used (Preliminary project)

 Hannah Weeks

I am going to be using Hannah Weeks for my preliminary project,  because I think she has a school look about her. I think that she will be a good model to work with. Hannah is also very photogenic. I may be also using her for my actual magazine.








Charlotte Snook

I am going to be using Charlotte as well because she is very photogenic and can be a good model. Her posture is also very good and I think this could be an advantage to using her in my magazine.
Although I am not considering using her for my final magazine.









I am not going to use Lauren in my preliminary project but I am considering using her in my final piece.

I am also not going to use Heather because I don't like the way her hair is not a natural colour. I think with a school magazine, it is highly unlikely that a school would let a student have dyed hair.

Potential Models for Preliminary

 Lauren Stevens


I would like to use Lauren as a model because I think she will fit well with my "hippy" style magazine. Her hair stands out for the most of me, because of its ginger colour and the way it is slightly curly.
I can also make her hair big because it is so long, this again fits the style of my magazine.






Heather Mclaren

 I would maybe like to use Heather as my model because of her red dyed hair. Heather has prominent cheekbones and I think this makes her a very good model to use. But I may not use Heather and Lauren together because of the colours of hair may clash. Although both fit my magazine type.

 Hannah Weeks

Hannah would be a very good model to use because of hair yet again. I  have many models with long hair and Hannah would add diversity to the magazine. I also do not have a brunette model.
Hannah also has very good posture, and I think this could be an advantage of using her as a model.



   Charlotte Snook

Charlie would also offer diversity as she has blonde unlike any of my other potential models.
Charlie also has height as an advantage and is very photogenic.

Preliminary Project

Our preliminary project will be on a school magazine. For this I need to find suitable models and fonts to use. Also maybe some already existing school magazine covers.

Inspiring contents pages

I really like this contents page, because its done very differently. I like the way text goes around the artist instead of the other way around. I like how they have used the space that had to make it mostly about the artist but also made the text really clear to read. The different positioning of the model, makes it more interesting and eye catching for the reader. I also really like the colour scheme of this page. The white, bold title stands out on the grey background which also matches the woman's outfit. The black writing of the text also stands out from the background as well.

I really like the idea of how they have placed the model,and would consider doing it for my own magazine, but I would have more information then this particular example, and I would probably have other pictures on the contents as well. Although I like this contents page, I think it could be filled with a more information to show the reader what else is in the magazine. The camera angles on this contents are low, but this is because the model is led down. So the angle is low so the audience feel like they are looking at the model in the eyes.


This contents page is a little more informative than the previous one. I like the black and white idea for a contents page, because it makes the texts, that are different colours, stand out against it. I also like the idea of having a picture behind the text. They are using the rule of thirds on this contents page. I also like the way, that the text goes across the page when talking about the artist in the background. Although, I would not lay out my contents like this for  my own magazine. I like the picture in the background and the colour scheme, but I don't like the way the text is put across the page with the numbers text to them, I prefer the way the text is on the other example of a contents page.

This is probably the contents page I like the most. I like the way the pictures have text boxes next to them, telling the reader a little bit about whats going to be inside the magazine. I also like the way the title is clear, and is in very professional font. The colour scheme is very simple but works very well, with black and white, but then a little bit of purple to make it more eye catching. I also like the way all the photos are separated by a thick white border. I think again, this makes it look more professional and is very effective.

When I make my own magazine, I will probably do the contents very similar to this one because I think it is very eye catching. Although I really like way the model is positioned on the first example of a contents page because it has been done very differently.

Inspiring double page spreads

Both these double page spreads use one of the pages for a large picture of the music artist. I think this looks very effective because it gives them the focus.
On the page spread featuring "Lady Gaga", the colour scheme is very eye catching and bold. I like the huge "L" in the back ground. I may use this idea in my own music magazine. It adds a different colour to the very plain colour scheme, that without this unique detail, would look boring.
The other double page spread featuring "Alexandra Burke", has again a very plain colour scheme of black and white, but matches nicely with her clothing. Then, the artists name is in a pink. to make it stand out and seem more important.
I don't like the second double page spread at much as the first one with "Lady Gaga"because it I feel it is less effective. And if I was a reader of the magazine, the first double page spread would be more appealing because of the bold colours.
The page featuring "Lady Gaga", is aimed at an older audience than the one featuring "Alexandra Burke" and you can again tell this by the colour scheme. The colour pink, is a girly colour and gives off a "pop" vibe, whereas the colour scheme of the "Lady Gaga" one is bolder and is made to appeal to an older age group, like teenagers and young adults.
The pictures on both these spreads have the artists looking directly at the camera and doing some sort of pose. By putting "Lady Gaga" in a sepia type effect, they have given her an old fashioned feel, where as the "Alexandra Burke" one her clothes are silver and shiny. These again give off a "pop" vibe. The poses on the magazine are both very sexualised even though the one with "Alexandra" Burke on the cover, is aimed at a younger audience. Although the one with "Lady Gaga" on the page is more sexualised than the other, she is pretty much naked, with only a few necklaces on. But I think the "Lady Gaga" one is more sexualised because it is aimed at an older audience as we can tell from the colour scheme.  Another thing that shows what age audience the magazine is aimed at in the font used in both texts. The first one with "Lady Gaga" in it uses a more formal font that is straighter and in line whereas the other one with "Alexandra Burke" is more informal, although it is in a grid like the "Lady Gaga" one.
The camera angles on the "Lady Gaga" one is eye level with the audience but "Lady Gaga" is still looking down slightly at the audience. Showing that she is slightly above the reader, making her seem superior to the reader. On the second one with "Alexandra Burke" the camera is a low angle, again making her seem superior.
 

These two double page spreads are different because they are representing bands instead of just single artists. On the "Paramore" double page spread, the thing that stands out the most in the colour scheme, with a beige type background and black writing. The orange colour is very cleverly used on the spread, because its a direct match with the lead singers colour hair. This adds an element of interest to the page. I also like the style of text they have used for the title. It has a "rock" feel to it, with all the disconnected letters going all the way across the page.


Again, both of these spreads use the artists as the main focus and keep and entire page dedicated to a photo of them. I think this is the most popular way to do the magazine spread.
The second double page spread of the band "Nirvana" is also very well done. The way they have positioned the band is cleverly done, so it looks like a friendly photo and not a photo-shot photo. The main singer adds to this vibe by pulling a funny face instead of posing. I think this double page spread is very unique to the band. The colour scheme generally consists of blue, white and black. But there is an orange text box on the side of the page. This makes it seem more important than the rest of the writing around it. The camera angles in the first double page spread with "Paramore" on the front, the camera angle is lower to the readers eye line, making them seem higher up the page and more superior. The women seem more important and the leader of this group, as she is front of the two men. Although all the models have very causal poses.
In the second magazine cover with "Nirvana" on the front, the camera angles are directly on the readers eye line. So it makes the reader feel like the band members are looking directly at them. Also all the men are very close together compared to the other "Paramore" double page spread. This gives the picture a sense of closeness.

This a survey so I can find out what type of music magazines people like and how much they are willing to pay for one. Please take it if you have the time!

Inspiring magazine covers

I really like both of these music magazine covers because they are both really simplistic. They both only have models on the front cover without any other information. I think how minimalistic both the covers are really make them stand out amongst other magazines.
On the both the covers, I think they use colour to their advantage, like in the first one, they use yellow of her hair and this makes the magazine stand out. Also on the"paper" magazine, the blue background really catches my eye. I feel this colour is really hard to use well, because it is so bright and many colours clash with it, but on this magazine it works really well. Both the covers use the rule of thirds, where the models eyes are on the top portion of the magazine.
Both these magazines are aimed at a collector type of market because of the little information on the front of the cover. The magazines also seem very popular, again because of the lack of information on the cover.
On the "paper" magazine, the artist is looking straight at the camera, making the reader feel like she is looking at them personally. But in the other magazine. the artist is looking up, making her seem more unaware of her photo being taken. It also makes her seem more mysterious and above the reader because the camera angle is low.
These magazines inspire me to create one similar, because I like the simplicity of them both and the way the use bold colours to stand out.


 In these magazines, the cover uses bold titles, and unlike the other ones, they have a lot of writing on the front of the covers. They have a lot of advertising on the front, showing buyers whats on the inside of the magazine. But like the other two magazines, they again use colour to their advantage. The magazine, "Mojo", has the cover, with the dominant colour of red. This again makes the magazine eye catching. It also suites the singer on the cover. The artist on the cover is "Kurt Cobain", who is known for being a grunge singer. The colour red, makes the magazine very personal to the singer that is inside.
The "rolling stone" magazine, uses a black and white theme, this again suites the singer, "Lana Del Rey". It also makes the red, bold title stand out amongst the monochrome photo. The rest of the colour scheme consists of black and white writing as well as the occasional red.
On both these magazines, the artists on the front cover have their heads over the title. This is a really simple thing to do when it comes to editing but makes it looks so professional.
On the "Mojo" magazine, "Kurt Cobain" is facing the camera, which makes it appealing to the reader because its eye catching and feels like he is looking at them personally.
On the "Rolling Stone" magazine, the artist is looking at the reader only slightly and the camera angle is low, like we are looking up at her. This makes her seem more dominant.
These magazines inspire me because, of the colour schemes and how they personally suite the artist. Again, this is simple to do but is very effective.        
   

These magazines are both of bands rather than just one person. On "guide", the band are very close to each other, so they are still obeying the rule of thirds. The colour scheme is a very basic grey background. But it has a white title, on the grey background making it stand out. Also the writing of the bands name is in dark red,again making it stand out and is eye catching. This cover has very little on the front, making it very focused on the band.
On the "NME" magazine, it is of a group again, but they are very differently positioned. They have more of casual, "caught off guard" position. It has an even more simple colour scheme than "guide". The "NME" colour scheme consists of black and white and red. The red makes the title stand out and the black and white photo suites the band. The reader is given the impression that all the important bits of the magazine are written in red, including the bands name and the title of the magazine.
The positioning of the camera on the "guide" magazine, is level with band, so the reader feels like they are looking at them directly. But on the "NME" the camera angle is a lower than the band, making them seem superior to the reader. In my opinion the angle of the camera and the fact that it is a black and white photo, adds to the "bad boy" look.
These magazines inspire me, because of the positioning of the all the band members and how well it is done. They need to give each band member the same amount of space each, otherwise it will look unprofessional.        

Introduction:
Hello, my name is Asher Downer and this is my AS media blog. This blog will contain all of my planning for my music magazine.