Mock up front cover

During the process of planning my main task, I aimed to create mock-ups of both a front cover and a contents page in order to follow a specific detailed outline of what I want from my magazine.


I want to keep the graphology of the front cover neat and simple, with one main image of my chosen artist and their name title which is the main focus of the front cover. I am following the conventions of any typical music magazine, just with a much less busy front cover. Following Q's example of a more professional image and font.

Main Task Plan

For the purpose of completing my main task, it is essential to formulate a plan of action of which I can employ to successfully construct my magazine. As my magazine is highly influenced by alternative rock music from the 1970's early 1980's, I will use older models to show that they are emerging back into the media and into our musical awareness.

• Firstly I must create a plan for my chosen magazine layout, including pictures for my Front cover, contents page and double page spreads. Apply a colour scheme throughout following conventions of most branded music magazines.
• Secondly I will have to assemble a double page spread article - using my chosen 'model' from the front cover as my main focus.
• Then I will take pictures for my front cover, contents page and double page spread applying a colour scheme and editing the images to fit with the conventions of my chosen house style, using Adobe InDesign CS4 to work to my advantage.

My Chosen Magazine Institution

As I am going to produce certain features of a music magazine, I thought I should research the kind of institution that would publish my finished product.

I believe that in order to create a magazine based upon a specific genre of music, there would be no need for a major publishing firm like Bauer who own a chain of different magazines; from FHM, Closer, Q and Kerrang and who are an international company. I feel as though my magazine would benefit IPC (International Publishing Company) as it specifically applies to the British consumers - with its use of home life (25 Beautiful homes) Women's Weekly, which appeals to a female audience and NME which has highly influenced my own music magazine, although this is mainly indie music, I have already established my magazine as Alternative Rock - highly specific in order to appeal to my target audience and so as not to rival NME, another IPC publication. I feel that Alternative Rock music is increasing in popularity, with older bands being re-introduced; and now would be a good time to publish a 'grunge' 'gothic and punk rock' magazine not necessarily only indie/pop like NME, but instead introduce a different music not as common. My magazine would need a publishing company with the abilities to familiarise with a British audience.

IPC is the UK's leading consumer publisher, two in every three women and 44% of all men read an IPC magazine. They sell up to 350 million copies per year. IPC's brand are at the heart of the UK's cultural life. As IPC has been around since 1963 I believe it has the experience and funds to publish my magazine - working to my advantage.

Q Contents Page Analysis

Q Magazine opt for a more simplistic graphology, using one main image of the star/band used on the front cover. The image does not rely upon his sex appeal but rather his reputation as a musician. Q is a monthly edition therefore the banners make this known to the reader - 'Every Month'.
The banners use coordinating colours so as to represent the clean cut nature of Q magazine, which wants substance over style.

Quotes from band members are used in order to advertise whats to come in the rest of the issue and to generate interest in the rest of the article 'I fart in your face'.
Q magazine is popular for formulating lists of best Beatles songs, '100 greatest albums ever' etc. This is a special promotional method which entice consumers.
The information is presented neatly and is organised with the text of Sans Serif font on the left hand side, and the main image to the right.
There are no promotional offers, as the target audience of Q magazine only buy the magazine for the purpose of music.

Contents Page Analysis

NME posts many images on their contents pages in order to meet their target audience of a more younger/adolescent age. The Masthead is very dominant and is presented on the contents page like on the front cover - as NME is a weekly edition, 'This Week' is in a bold font to announce their regular appearance in the public eye. 'This week' is basically a sell line to highlight that the publication is released weekly, and is very different from week to week. Cross heads are used to split up the text and enable a more important feel to a specific article or heading - 'the moment that'. NME regularly use banners of contrasting colours to provide the reader with the week's top articles, making the text more structured and readable, for example 'News' 'Live!' which appear on the right hand side.

Their contents pages are mainly compact and neat, in a specific order which appeals to regular consumers as it is easy to find the article they wish to read. There is usually one main image which relates to the front cover and main story.

This type of magazine represents a younger audience and follows the conventions of this type of music genre 'Indie/Rock - using bright contrasting colours, images and to promote new bands. The image usually presented is of either an action shot of a performing band (long shot), or a produced shot (medium close-up) etc. For the readers who like free goods and competitions there are usually promotional offers on the bottom of the page, for example subscriptions which provide the consumer with reduced prices. In all, the contents page supports the style of the front cover - following the colours and conventions of a typical Indie magazine.

Deconstruction Of A Double Page Spread

Jamie T is a 23 year old English singer/song writer from South London. This double page spread portrays the singer in a different light, revealing his most personal thoughts and memories about the build up towards his success in the music industry.

The article basically states; what you see is what you get. This 'Cheeky, gap-toothed' young man, who is constantly cursing, drinking and smoking like a chimney has a specific target audience of a adolescent generation, whom dislike authority and are seen as rebellious. Also fitting in with the house style of the magazine in order to introduce new or original Indie's into purchasing the article.

The opening paragraph introduces a young Jamie T - before the fame. As his lyrics are extremely controversial - with constant chanting of drug and alcohol use, the opening paragraph of this article sounds as though he is over dosing from drugs. 'Jamie T curls up on the street corner in the blue pulse of the ambulance lights, breathing uncontrollably, desperately trying to keep control of his bladder. His muscles spasm, the dizziness comes in waves.' As he is 'scruffy' in appearance it is no shock to the reader how this lead sounds - turns out that he suffers from severe anxiety attacks before he performs live. He uses the word 'geezer' a lot which implies he is a typical 'cockney', who is loud and cheeky. The mode of address and tone of this article is as though Jamie T is talking in continuous prose to the reader, making the text seem more personal and intriguing almost like a one-way conversation. 'Jamie T is a 21st century romantic poet' - this is a PUN, as early before this is printed he talks about 'puking' and drinking excessively, which contradicts the word 'romantic' or aims for a more contemporary romantic. 'Whetherspoons' is a British bar, this makes for an extremely specialised audience of people who only live in the UK. This makes Jamie seem almost realistic, usually with celebrities they come from this idealistic world in which nobody sees, this allows the audience to relate to the star.

The graphology of the text shows Jamie T as everyone knows him, the image of the washing line in the backdrop showing themed t-shirts and checkered Indie shirts which are very common with the youth today. His expression is effortless just like his music. His ripped jeans and discoloured trainers make him seem laid back in a contemporary sort of way, but his tartan jacket represents the London scene (Burberry) which symbolises his hidden wealth and success. The drop capitals of the text is in blue - as is his name and the word Britain, this is mainly what the article is about 'Broken Britain' as revealed on the front cover. The iconography of this image illustrates a wealthy talented young Cockney - who hides within his London culture. The colours red, white and blue shown on the main heading, are the colours used for the Union Jack - representing Britain, the layout itself has connotations of a British theme; the clothes, hair style and the attitude of the artist reveal very British. The layout of the article is taken over by the image itself, the banners stand out as the contrasting black on white is eye-catching yet simple, using a Sans Serif font to enable a traditional feel which takes the emphasis of the cursing.

I believe that in order to read and enjoy this article, it requires some official knowledge of the artist. It is extremely specific, talking about his opinions on the likes of 'Pete Doherty and Lily Allen' whom people need to have heard of in order to follow this text.

Deconstruction of Q Magazine

Q Magazine are famous for compiling lists. Here their double page spread is a tribute to the Beatles - '200 things you didn't know about the Beatles'. The choice of band featured in this double page spread targets an audience of older music lovers - mainly those who lived through the reign of the Beatles fame.

As Q Magazine devotes most of its space to interviews with stars - it must maintain professional throughout, with the use of high standard photography and prints. The lead paragraph is prominent as it is set on coordinating banners, in a bold serif font for the purpose of following the magazines house style and persisting its simplicity. The gutters and kerning of the text are all neatly aligned as to fit in with the iconography of Q magazine - due to the target audience being mainly older music lovers. The numbers are neatly kept in the same colour scheme, in a bold font to show the numeric order and allow coherency. Red, white and black are the colours of font used throughout this edition, this creates a systematic style and looks easy on the eyes. The double page spread is set out as a compiled list - numbered with the most interesting facts highlighted, many images are used also - but these are spread out around the text to create cohesion.

The text is no longer than 6 lines per number and is mainly factual with a hint of humour to hold the interest of the audience. 'One girl lunged at Starr, only to be rugby-tackled by Beatles PA'. The text is quite brief, determiners are missing. The tone used is mainly informative - also big uninformed fan.

The pictures are mainly black and white - suggesting an old well loved band, of who must have been extremely popular in order to be recognised in modern magazines. As this is a compiled list it requires no real knowledge of the band, it is informative and lightly humoured depending on the reader.

Double Page Spread Research

A double page spread is an article that fills two facing pages of an open publication. Normally affiliated with the main story on the front cover.

A double page spread could include an interview with the star/band, an article of what icon has been recently up to, their views on a particular subject - maybe a promotion for a new album etc. Also could contain a list of most favourable artists, or headliners at festivals. Double page spreads contain up close and personal images with the stars, and down to earth publishings of events and personal details.