Analysis of front covers.

-List of artists included in the issue.

-Date and issue number.

-Bar code and price.

-Main image of an artist/band, usually direct address.

-Main artist/band name in bold on or next to the image.

-Sometimes have a quote from the artist/band next to the name.

E.G. On the second picture of Uncut, above Paul Weller's name it has the quote "I'm a survivor!"

-The image often depicts the genre, Especially on the covers of NME.

-Stick to a specific colour scheme.

E.G. NME is white, red and black.

-Cover lines around the main image.

Analysis of contents pages.

-Articles split into categories.

-Articles in numeric order.

-Images (3-7.)

-Sticks to a colour scheme.

-Editor's letter.

-1 or 2 bigger main images that are linked to the main article.

-Date of release.

-Magazine logo.

-The word 'contents' in bold at the top.

-Images have numbers on to tell the reader what article they are related to.

-In a 3 column set out.

Researching the market place

Genre: Indie.

Published: Weekly.

Price: £2.20.

Main image: Direct address.

Includes: Posters, interviews, reviews, general music news/gossip.

Genre: Indie/rock.

Published: Monthly.

Price: £3.99.

Main image: Direct address.

Includes: Interviews, reviews, guides.

Genre: Indie.

Published: Monthly.

Main image: Direct address.

Includes: Free CD, reviews, interviews.

My magazine:

Image will be direct address, price will be between £3-£4 pounds and it will be released monthly.

Initial plans.

Genre: Indie/Acoustic.

Inspiration magazine(s): NME, Uncut, Q.

Released: I have chose to publish my magazine monthly, like Q and Uncut.

Target audience: My magazine will be targeted at 16+, mostly males (yet still readable for women.) This is because -from the research i have done on music magazines of my genre- they are mostly targeted at males between 16 and 25.

Main image: I am using two pictures I have of inspiration. One of David Bowie in the late 70s and the other of indie band The Horrors. Both pictures are softly coloured and have a slight hazy look to them. I think this both depicts the genre and makes the picture look more interesting and arty. I am using the location of The Horrors image as the inspiration for mine. The photograph is taken in a forest so I am going to take mine in a nearby forest and the fields around it. I think this works for the genre because it creates a calm and interesting atmosphere, which is exactly what Indie music does.

Codes and conventions of a music magazine double page spread.

Image: One image usually on the left. Signifies aspects of the artist/band/article.

Date and page numbers at the bottom.

Byline: Article and photo.

Drop capital for first letter of the article.

Title: Short and snappy.

Stand first: Bold paragraph underneath the title/above article.

Drop quotes: In big letters to stand out from the rest of the story.

11pt font.

Informal mode to connect with the audience.

3/4 columns.

Consistent colour scheme.

Artist's name in bold/highlighted writting.

Codes and conventions of a music magazine contents page.

-Have reference to the magazine name.
-Have word 'contents' on.
-One main image.
-Set out into 2/3 columns.
-Grouped pages.
-Each section numbered in order.
-More than one image.
-Set colour scheme (2/3 colours)
-Images include related numbers.
-Date.
-Website/ way of contact.
-More images that writing.
-Advertisements.
-Editor's letter.
-Different font for section headings (sometimes includes graphics)
-Banner to highlight important things.
-Usually 2 columns of pictures/photos and 1 column of writing.

Codes and conventions of music magazine front covers.

-Mast head at the top.
-Main story line.
-Main image links to main story line.
-List of other artists in the magazine.
-Bar code and price.
-Contact details.
-Date.
-Different fonts (3-4)
-Graphics around the text.
-Sub-images.
-Direct address used in main image.