Development of Double Page

These were my final drafts, before I got my final pictures. I found that they looked too armature for my final idea so I decided to have a high quality image dominated my final product as it would make it look more conventional.  

Front Page Development

This was my final draft of my Front Cover. I didn't change it much when I added in my final images as I felt that it already had a good structure and layout. All that I had to do was to move the text a bit to fit around the new image.

This was the first original trial for my music magazine front page. I felt the chosen font was good but I felt even using red didn't help it resemble blood, so in my final idea I decided to change it to black as it was easy to read and fit the house style of my final magazine. I also decided that it would be best to discard the background as I felt it made my magazine look very noisy difficult the read as the only words that would be readable is my masthead. 

Early Stages of Contents Page

With these early drafts, i wanted to experiment with the basic layout of my contents page as I felt that it would be a good method for me ensuring that all of my proportions are correct with suitable image sizes, text sizes etc. I found that I boxy layout for my contents page would be best to ensure that everything is spaced equally and looks right. As I had so many different elements that I planned to put in, I found that pages guidelines and margins were very helpful as anything that I inserted clipped to the lines and were equal with anything clipped to the same line.

Basic Music Magazine Design/Construction

Magazine Moodboard

Magazine Annotation/Deconstruction 'Metal Hammer'

Magazine Annotation/Deconstruction 'Sniffin' Glue'

Magazine Annotation/Deconstruction 'Terrorizer'

Image Deconstruction: Amon Amarth

The basic appearance of the artists was intentional as they're meant to look scruffy and un-groomed as it is part of their image. They beards are also a large part of their image as it adds to their burly look. Their shirts are intentionally tight to show their physique as they aren't intending on being shown as scrawny because they are representing burly Vikings.

The first thing that you notice about this picture is the strong use of the colour black, the artists are dressed fully in black and the background of the shoot is also black. This contrasts heavily against the artists light coloured hair and fair skin so it makes them stand out more. The main intention of the heavy use of the colour black is to make the artists look intimidating.

The angle that the picture is taken from is from a low angle to give the artists more height and make them look larger overall. This is again to make them look more intimidating and potentially aggressive.

The way the artists have been directed to stand was very intentional for the they photographer was trying to achieve. The are all stood closely but you are still able to see all of their body shapes and sizes. They are also purposefully in a specific way, not in any placement of their choosing but the way they have been placed would be similar to their on stage placement. With the singer at the front, the two guitarists by either side, the bassist a bit

further back and the drummer right at the back.

The way they all have their arms is very purposeful as well as they are all hunching their shoulders to make them look bigger as well as clenching their fists to add tension to the picture. Their facial expressions are also very intimidating as they are all making direct eye contact and aren't smiling at all to again reinforce their intimidating look as this is a key convention for bands within the same or similar genre.  

Why Heavy Metal Fans Are Most Loyal

Spotify last month published data that found heavy metal has the most loyal fans across the world of any major genre by a wide margin. The music streaming service put together a series of charts and interactives showing the variety of musical genres online and how these genres vary around the world. Pop came in second place, with folk, country and rock fans rounding out the top five.Spotify's research arm The Echo Nest "identified 'core' artists that are most central to each genre" and quantified genre loyalty worldwide by "dividing the number of streams each core artist had by their number of listeners" and then normalising the charts. Spotify's lineup of "core" heavy metal bands included such names as METALLICA, SLAYER, JUDAS PRIEST, IRON MAIDEN, SEPULTURA, PANTERA, CRADLE OF FILTH and ANTHRAX.In an e-mail to Mashable, Bob Lugowe, director of promotions and new media at Relapse Records, stated about metalheads' dedication to their genre: "Whether it's wearing a 'battle jacket' full of sewn-on patches of their favourite bands, buying every vinyl colour and edition of their favourite album, tattooing their favourite band mascot on their arm or traveling exceptionally long distances to concerts and festivals, metalheads are extremely diehard and dedicated to their favourite bands and the genre as a whole." He added: "Streaming has been particularly beneficial as a promotional tool and a discovery vehicle [for new artists]."
Although heavy metal fans tend to be stereotyped as angry, alienated, and rebellious, a 2013 study found that fans of metal tend to have higher openness to experience, more negative attitudes toward authority, lower self-esteem, greater need for uniqueness and lower religiosity than those individuals with a preference for other musical genres.
Michael Friedman, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist specialising in how social relationships influence mental and physical health, wrote an article for the Psychology Today web site last year in which he stated about heavy metal devotees: "People who like intense and rebellious music such as heavy metal… [are] more likely to engage in civic activism. In fact, research suggests that heavy metal musicians and fans are 'gifted outsiders with feelings of low self-esteem that develop from their sense of alienation. They turn to heavy metal for inspiration and support. This is perhaps one of the reasons that heavy metal musicians and fans are so dedicated. Pop bands may come and go, but a METALLICA fan is a fan for life."
Biff Byford, singer of British heavy metal legends SAXON, told Independent.co.uk in 2010 that "heavy metal is a tribal music and everyone is a member of the tribe. The audience is very, very loyal… especially the Germans. It's not like pop music, where if the next song isn't good enough then forget about it; with our music, people will allow you to be shit sometimes, and that's one of the great things."
He added, "The music's not about love. Our songs are more about Richard The Lionheart, steel trains and thunder. But when you do click with a big audience, it can be quite an experience, a massive connection… I suppose you could say it is a religious experience in a way."

Target Market Questionnaire Results

My Ideal Consumer

Heavy Metal Culture

Health and Safety Concerns

Health and Safety Concerns and Issues

- You cannot take a picture of a child without parental consent if you are over the age of 16.
- You have to make sure the person you take a picture of does not have epilepsy.
- You must have permission to be in the location where you are taking a picture of someone.
- You must ensure you do not interfere with any copyright laws.
- Be aware of whom you are taking pictures of; they might attempt to steal from you or cause a disturbance.
- You can take pictures of bands, as long as they are performing in a public place.
- Be aware of your surroundings to ensure your wellbeing is not at risk.
- If you take pictures of students over the age of 16 you need the principles permission.

Uses and Gratification

Uses & Gratification: Extended

Blulmer and Katz’s Uses & Gratification theory suggests that media users play an important part in choosing and using the different aspects of media. The theory suggests that a media user seeks a source which meets both the wants and needs of the user. We are becoming more active users; we want more interactivity with media texts. Example: 3-D movies at the cinema.
Needs that have to be met:
 Diversion/Escapism
 Personal Relationships/Discussing it socially
 Surveillance
 Personal Identity
Diversion: Trying to escape from reality, it helps you relax.
Personal Relationships: People use the media to fulfil their need for companionship and to form a relationship with others.
Surveillance:  People want knowledge of what is going on in the world, whether it affects them personally or not.
Personal Identity: Sometimes members of society can use the media to find out about themselves. Sometimes the way people are presented can reflect us. Example: Wanting to be like a famous person.

Mainstream vs. Niche

Mainstream vs. Niche publications:

Mainstream publication is one that appeals to a lot of people. E.g. NME, Q, OK, Chat, Kerrang etc.
Advantages:
- Hopefully big sale/audience.
- More profit.
- Wider T.A.
- More appeal to advertisers.
- Covers more subject matter.
Disadvantages:
- Flooded market (proliferation of similar products).
- You can’t appeal to specific audiences.
- Mainstream magazines are usually owned by multi-media corporations, with links to record labels.
- This cross-media convergence can unduly manipulate record sales.
- You have to be sensitive with the entire contents of the magazine – you cannot offend anyone.
- They can lack credibility.
Niche publication is intended for a small, specific and dedicated audience. E.g. Terrorizer, Pitchfork, Fangoria etc.
Advantages:
- You can appeal to a specific audience.
- You have a more dedicated audience that will keep sales constant.
- You don’t have to be as sensitive with the content.
- People who produce them usually share an interest so credibility is not a problem.
- Not owned by corporation so it alters the price.
- It can use technical terms and jargon due to dedicated and understanding audience.
Disadvantages:
- Doesn’t have an advertiser so it not as well known.
- Could be of a lower quality as it has a lower budget. (Aesthetic)

Magazine Terminology

Socio-Demographic Indicators

Current magazine ideas

What to include in music magazine:

Price: £4.75

Why?

Magazine that match a similar genre and target audience share the same price. This means that as soon as my target audience becomes aware of my magazine, the price will not put them off.

Masthead:

                   

Why?

It is a clean font but has a slightly grungy feel to it to it will appeal to the magazines target audience and purpose. Some people may misread this but member of my target audience will recognize the significance and meaning behind this font and name.

Colour Scheme: Monochrome//Sepia

Why?

I would mainly use monochrome with highlights of sepia. The hue used would symbolise the effect of aging, which would relate to my target audience as metal is not as popular as it once was. My target audience grew up with metal so it is aging at the same rate as they are and the sepia and monochrome will show this well I think.

  

'Science Suggests Metal Fans And Classical Fans Are Identical Personality-Wise'

A new study done by scientists over at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh has delved into proving that classical fans and metal fans are deep down very similar people, according to an interview done by The Guardian.

The study consisted of a research team speaking to 36,000 people from six different countries about the music they listened to in order to come to their conclusion. I'll let the lead researcher do a little bit of the talking here to clarify.

"The general public has held a stereotype of heavy metal fans being suicidally depressed and a danger to themselves and society in general," explained Adrian North, the professor who led the study. "But they are quite delicate things."

Metal fans, like classical listeners, tend to be creative, gentle people, at ease with themselves. "We think the answer is that both types of music, classical and heavy metal, have something of the spiritual about them — they're very dramatic — a lot happens," North said to the BBC.

Formatting in Indesign

Picking masthead font: 'Valhalla'

NME Magazine Front Cover Analysis

Terrorizer Magazine Front Cover Analysis

Terrorizer Double Page Analysis

Metal Hammer Magazine Front Cover Deconstruction

Metal Hammer Contents Page Analysis

Metal Hammer Contents Page Deconstruction

Q Magazine Double Page Analysis

Kerrang Magazine Front Cover Deconstruction

Finished Preliminary task

Front Cover

Contents Page

Key Features of a Magazine

This magazine is very mainstream as it contains all of the common conventions of a magazine. This is to make it seem familiar to the targeted audience, which is a mainstream one as they tend to be more attracted to things that look recognisable.

Magazine Deconstruction

Audience Research for Preliminary Task (Q&A)

Notes from what teachers and students (school magazine)

Staff: Miss Longhirst

Colour: They would like to see clear, simple and a consistent colour scheme.

Articles: Miss Longhirst said she would like to see articles about current news in the schools local area.

Images: They would like the images used to be detailed and using bright colours.

Layout: A traditional layout would be preferred.

Extra pointers – extra success stories form students, e.g. GCSE results and changes around the school. Miss Longhirst said she would prefer the magazine to be written by students and thought it would also be a good to share students work, e.g. artwork. Finally they recommended a student guide to help out younger pupils.

Staff: Anonymous

Colour: They said they would like the scheme to be nice and bright.

Articles: Promotion of reading for pleasure and advertising newly released books. They would also prefer students to write the articles. Use catty language to appeal to students but no slang should be used. Different events around the school would be good to inform other faculties that may be unaware. Praising students work inside the magazine would be a good idea as it would make them feel appreciated. Explaining current world news for students who may not understand it too well would also be a good idea also.

Tone of the magazine: Not too formal, use standard English at the least.

Extra pointers: avoid celebrities/bad influences being inside the magazine as it might not set a good example for younger students. Article titles look better on the front but if you are struggling for room you could put a couple of articles on the front cover instead. Make the overall design look professional but not to the extremes of intimidating students.  If the magazine is written using chatty language it will seem friendlier but no slang should be used at all.

Staff: Miss McAlaney

Colour: They suggested the school colours to make the magazine more recognisable.

Articles: They suggested book reviews, success from students and they would also like the articles to be written by students. They would also want students work to be praised. Formal would be good for how the magazine is written but it could be slightly informal on sections aimed at younger students. Praise students work.

Extra pointers – You could hold writing competitions and offer prizes like theme park tickets, also hold competitions for student to design the front cover.

Student: KS5

Colour: colder colours are more professional looking whereas bright vibrant colours are quite tacky looking. Keep the colours consistent throughout the magazine on the layout but do not overdo it as it will become boring. School colours are also good.

Articles: Changes around the school, information and opportunities to achieve UCAS points, advertise open days at universities and information on extra-curricular activities. You could have interviews with teachers about help with work and also interviews with examiners on how to achieve the highest grades within your answers. They would want the magazine to be written by students.

Extra pointers – They would prefer the magazine to more traditional and common and not contain articles on the front.

Student: KS4

Colour: They would like the colour scheme to be bright.

Articles: They would like them to be written by students and include school gossip also how well the school is doing. They said they would like it to be written informally.

Extra pointers – include puzzles and quizzes throughout the magazine with prices like theme park tickets and include a letter from the principle.

   

Very early School Magazine draft

Deconstruction of School Magazines