Target Audience

From looking at the Mixmag website, although there is no obvious features of the website to identify the target audience, i can see that the target audience is anyone from an age range of 16-30. I chose this because i think that people from this age range are the people most likely to listen to the genre of music Mixmag is for. The genre of music in my magazine is similar to the genre of Mixmag so the target audience for my magazine will also be 16-30.

From this i can gather that to appeal to my target audience I will have to include similar ideologies to mixmag. This includes some bright vibrant colours, on a dark background which could exemplify the nightlife of a club and the lights and lasers in a dark club. In addition I should use informal language to relate to the audience as this is the age range most likely to use informal slang.

People choose this genre of magazine becuase they are interested in the lifestyle that the genre of music portrays which is clubbing, raving, listening to mixes, keeping up with the raver fashion and the technology.

One of the things that attracts people to the magazine is the huge names within the magazines. By involving interviews and constant updates on big names within the industry, audiences can feel a little closer and are given an insights into the life of a DJ.  Another thing that attracts audiences is the range of different articles. In addition the bright colours on the magazine attracts audiences from the 16-30 age range because they can associate it to their youth and nightclubs they have been to which is relevant to the genre.

Things that may put off audiences could be things not relevant to the genre on the front cover like a pop star. Audiences would be put off by this because they expect to see a DJ on the front cover. Furthermore audiences would be put off by bad colour schemes or if the front cover looks cluttered with text and too many fonts.

In my magazine, audiences would expect to see some bright colours on the front cover. They would also expect to see a big name on the front cover along with an image of the DJ (direct address). They would also expect to see information about new technology. They will expect to see references to mixes and new music.

Institution Research

The company that publishes similar magazines to the genre I am making is called thrust publishing ltd, which started up in 2009, who publish DJ Mag. This company would be the one who is most likely to publish the magazine I am creating. Another publisher who would be likely to publish my magazine is Development hell who are also responsible for launching Q, Empire, Mojo and Heat. I believe the most likely company to publish BPM would be the independent publishers Thrust Publishing Ltd because the magazine they publish is similar to the one i am creating.

In the magazine I am creating, the main focus is the DJs, events and technology which is similar to the content DJ mag has inside it. The company is based in London and has experience with publishing magazines similar to mine.

The idea of my magazine fits into this institution because they focus of house music and more which is the same to my ideas. Also, the company is independent and DJ Mag is the only magazine it publishes. Their headquarters is in London which is easily accessible resulting it in being an appropriate company to publish my magazine.

Thrust do not pride themselves on its digital platforms but I could promote my magazine through the internet and websites to become a widely spread magazine where anyone can read articles. Also, through a website, I could add more content and articles, whereas in a magazine I am limited to the pages the company will publish. In addition, with a website I could constantly be adding news and keeping readers up to date with news, like release dates, events and new tech within the industry of DJs and dance music which audiences would be intrigued by because if they have read the magazine and want to read more so this is where they can do so.

On the DJ Mag website there is a wide range of articles to read; from technology news to the top 100 clubs in the world. I would like to include similar things in my magazine to please a wider audience because some people will find parts more interesting than others.

In addition MixMag publish their own magazine which makes them an independent institution. The company is called MixMag Media.

In comparison to independent publishers, mainstream publishers like IPC media

Article Research

For my article research i chose to look at articles about individual DJs on Mixmag's website and DJmag's website. This way i would discover the vocabulary and structure that they write in to help me when writing my article.

I found out that both Mixmag and DJ-mag use explicit words like 'shit' and 'fuck' which suggests that the target audience is of an older age. They also use slang words like 'banger'. The writing style they use is fairly laid back in terms of the words they use. The context in the articles seems to talk about tracks that the DJ is well known for and their main genre. They also talk about upcoming tracks and events that the DJ is releasing or taking part in. In the Mixmag articles it also talks about the sound of the stars music 'thick brooding drops' and 'crispy percussion'. In the DJ mag article, the star talks about his last year and a brief description on how much he was DJing from week to week. In the last paragraph he talks about what he wants to change for his next year and how he wants to change for the future to stay at home with his kids. From this research i have learnt that i can use explicit words and slang because my target audience is over 18. I am also going to use slang words like 'banger'. For the whole article i will combine Mixmag's and DJ mag's writing style of describing the DJs music and the way he gets the crowd going but also include an interview about my stars history. I might also end with an upcoming event that my star will be playing at or a track he will release in the future.

Main Task Research - Codes and Conventions - Double Page Spread

1- Mixmag:

2 - DJ Mag:

Main Task Research - Codes and Conventions - Contents page

1: DJ mag

The colour scheme consists of 5 colours (pink, white, black, blue and yellow) with small additions of red. This makes all text stand out and look modern. The colours suggest the urban nature of the music and magazine which would appeal to a younger audience because they are less serious. 

The use of varied fonts makes all text stand out and easy to read. The Additional images are there to link to the subheadings and makes it easier to understand the context of the magazine. For the tech part they have put an image of decks (convention) next to it so the reader doesn't even have to read the information to become interested because they will be interested in the tech behind their favourite DJs work. The image for upfront gives the reader more visuals towards that section of the magazine.The image is of the front of a crowd, everyone with their hand in the air representing the fun of a rave/club.The font of the sub headings: Music, Raving Mad and Upfront the font for the Ms and Ns are jaged which gives the contents age a more edgy look. This appeals to people who love this genre of music because it links with the technology behind the music and the modern nature of it. 

The writing at the top of the contents page says 'Living & Breathing Dance Music' which will be relatable to the young readers because it is young people who are stereotypically going to but and read the magazine. The page is full of information about what is in the magazine and covers sections suitable for a wide range of people because some people will find part more interesting that other in a result of everyone having different tastes. In addition, at the bottom of the page is the website (www.djmag.com) which is there so that the reader knows where to go if they want to read more about this magazine or any other information if they really like the magazine. This could also generate more readers or sales if they are constantly telling them about their website.

Also the contents uses informal language 'bitchin' which will appeal to younger audiences. In the additional images, almost all of them are giving the reader direct address which will draw readers in because it feels like the images are looking directly at them and perhaps inviting them to the party.

2: Mixmag

The colour scheme is black and white which gives the freedom of colours to the images on the page. The white writing on the black background make the writing easy to read but also represents the time of day that the music in the magazine is played in (night time).

The font for '110' is the writing that stands out profoundly which implies that it is important or interesting. The font has bits cut out of it which people could link to the font of famous clubs or bars which is relevant to the genre of music.

 At the bottom the section gives information about the free cd and the track list and addresses the reader 'those of you'. This will draw in the reader because they will feel like someone is taking to them which will make them want to read on. It also describes the music as 'electro tech with disco-tech flavours.' which will encourage the reader to listen to the CD.

The contents uses informal words and phrases like 'tick 'em off' and 'where you at?' which will draw in younger readers as this is the sort of language they would use or the way they would speak. The font of 'Contents' looks retro and underground which would appeal to the ravers and the clubber scene because they seem to wear a lot of retro clothing so they may find it relatable. The clothing the woman is wearing in the main image also reinforces the retro look of the page. She is wearing a Casio watch witch also adds to the style. Her dress is very outstanding with the sparkles and relation to space.

 Instead of having direct address, the woman is looking down which makes the shot look a lot less staged and more realistic like she is in a club really feeling the music.

Main task research - codes and conventions - front cover

The genre of music I have chosen to base my magazine on is music made my DJs. This includes house, drum and bass, garage and EDM (electronic dance music). I chose this genre because its the type of music i listen to most and i know a fair bit of information about it.

Front Covers:

Codes and conventions for DJ magazines

The codes and conventions for magazines under the house music magazine are very different to other genres. For example the colour scheme is a lot brighter and vibrant to catch audiences eye. The content of magazines from this genre are for an audience who enjoy clubs, nights out and festivals so the content is usually about DJ tours, albums and  exclusive interviews from top names and upcoming DJs for people with an interest for this genre. The text on these magazine are bulky and are usually very square like. In addition, the clothing worn by DJs on the front covers are very plain and keep to black or white. Almost every image will have either headphones or decks in it to make it easy to identify the magazine as a DJ magazine.

The contents page- In magazines like mixmag, DJmag and Vibe the word 'Contents' is always the largest and boldest text on the page. It is also in a different font to all the other fonts on the page. Furthermore, there is always one column with all the text which gives the page numbers and an insight to the sort of articles in the magazine. They Contain one large image and smaller additional images to give a further, visual insight to the magazine. Also the page numbers are present on every page to make it easy to locate the pages on the contents page and around the magazine. Lastly, the magazine name and the date of the issue is present on the contents page which makes it easy to recognise. The colours on house music magazines are always either vibrant or plain.
The text is short and straight to the point t

Pre-lim evaluation

In class we carried out a peer assessment of evaluation. My peer said I met the brief by including: a front cover, a photograph taken by myself, text on the magazine, a masthead, a contents page, a variety of fonts and sizes, a variety of images, images and text which is relevant to the genre and manipulation of images.

 He noted that he thought the most successful part of my magazine was the use of colours and layout then said that it makes it easy to read and stand out. This was the effect I was initially going for so I will agree with him. He then said to improve, that I should put the mast head behind the main image to make the use of direct address stand out more. I would agree with him because most magazines made today have the mast head covered partially by the main image and it would look more professional if I did this. In addition he added that I should darken the background to make the text easier to read which I would agree with because when looking at my magazine, the background is a little too bright and to improve on this to make the text stand out more i will have to darken the background.

From this feedback I have learnt how to make a magazines text easier to read. I am going to manipulate images more effectively and put the masthead behind the main image when I do my main task. When doing my pre-lim, I think I managed my time well by meeting deadlines and working in my free time to finish off parts. If I start to find difficulties with time management with my main task I will work in my free time to catch up.

Pre-lim

Front Cover

Contents Page

Pre-lim magazine sketch

Pre-lim planning

Ideas- For my college magazine i am going to make a magazine targeted at the students of Bitterne park sixth form. Its going to be a general college magazine which will include college news, upcoming events and a sport section. I want to use the colours of the college and make the look of the magazine be mature but with some fun as well.

Photo shoots- For my photo shoot i will take photos of a student with some folders in his hand, a pair of headphones with a working area behind him. The photo will be a medium shot and the main image will be making direct address with the camera I have chosen this shot because in most magazines the main picture has a person making direct address to catch the audiences eye. 

Setting/ location- The setting will be in a classroom because it fits the genre of college. This is because a classroom is where work is done. In the class room the walls will have realistic college wall displays, some computers and chairs.

Costumes- For my magazine cover we won't have a costume, the person will be wearing casual clothing. Casual clothing includes: t-shirts, hoodies, jeans, trainers. This fits in with the genre because all students in college wear casual clothing so they will be able to relate to the person on the cover.

Props- In our Magazine the props we will use will be a folder, a book, an apple mac and chairs. This fits in with the genre because they're all things associated with working/college. 

Font and colour- For the colours I am going to use colours which are bright and happy but also match the colour scheme of the college which is yellow and green. I could also use black for the writing because it will compliment the yellow and green. For the font i will use a simple font and maybe a different font for the cover lines/puffs.  The specific fonts i want to use are called

This is the green i will be using for my
pre-lim magazine. The code of the colour
 is 009900.








This is the black i will be using for my
pre-lim magazine. the code for the colour is
231f20.








This is the yellow i will be using for my
pre-lim magazine. the code for the colour is
ffcc00









These two fonts are fonts i found at da font (http://www.dafont.com). I want to use these for my pre-lim but canva (https://www.canva.com) may not have these specific fonts so i will have to find fonts similar.



Font 1







Font 2








When making my magazine in canva i used the font graduate which is similar to the college font above. For the font of the main 'FYI' text i used rubik mono which i prefer to the bold font above. i also used other fonts which were trocchi and permanent marker. For the contents page i used all the same colours but used different fonts. I used Badoni FLF and Montserrat. I kept the Rubik mono the same for the FYI on both the front cover and the contents page.





This is the classroom i will have my photo shoot done in for the front cover of my college magazine.

For my contents page i want to add other images to make it look fun and give the reader an insight of what will be inside the magazines. in my magazine i plan to have a sport section so i thought it would be suitable to have an image reflecting that. here are some ideas.

This is the college magazine i chose to analyse and thought it was very eye catching and fun which is what i want my college magazine to be so i decided to keep it in mind when creating my front cover to achieve a similar effect.

College Magazine Codes and Conventions

The colour scheme for college magazines involve more colours and usually more vibrant ones, in this case: Black, neon green, white and a little bit of pink. This is different to other magazines because in most cases they have a strict 3 colour rule which college magazines do not have to obey because they are selling to a different audience.  The main image makes direct address to reach out to audiences. also the man in the main image is wearing causal clothing (t shirt, jeans and a jacket) which matches the genre because students don't wear costumes or anything too outstanding in comparison to big magazines where the 'big names' wear outstanding clothing/costumes which in some cases are designer. The cover lines are different to other magazines because the content is talking about stories about students within the college and articles relevant to college 'Make money on campus'. They aren't huge cover lines but this is because college magazines are aimed at college students so they will want to read things relevant to college when they are buying a college magazine. Furthermore, in the image the man is holding books which fits in with the genre of 'college magazine' because it is a place where young people go to study their a levels.

Codes and Conventions

                                                            Codes and Conventions

The Masthead- The mast head is the main title you usually notice first on the magazine. It is the name of the magazine and the size, colour and font will usually fit the genre. sometimes the colour can change to suit the time of the year or the colour scheme but the font and size will always stay the same.

Main cover lines- The main cover lines or cover lines are the writing around the main image. this writing tells the readers what is inside the magazine. in some cases the cover lines are funny and in other cases they use shocking cover lines. to do this the cover lines include emotive words. Another word for these cover lines are 'puffs'. These puffs give the audience a small insight in what is in the magazine.

Main image- the main image is always either a single portrait or in some music magazines a full band. cover lines are usually arranged around it. In the main image, the picture will have direct address which is when the person in the image is giving you eye contact. this draws the audience in because they feel the person in the image, usually a celebrity or musician, is looking at them. Additional images are used in magazines to illustrate cover lines or sell lines.

Covermount- the covermount is the free gift which is mounted on the front of the magazine which in all cases, is relevant to the genre. the gifts can range from toys and stickers to CD's or make-up

Skyline/ strapline- The sky line is the writing across the top of the magazine, above the masthead, which helps the audience learn about something about the magazine.

Anchorage text- This is the text which is usually in the center or towards the bottom of the magazine which gives the image purpose. It is text which basically tells the audience why the person on the front cover is actually on the front cover.

Price/ Bar code-  the price is how much the reader has to pay to own the magazine. usually the price is on the front of the magazine but in very small text. Every magazine has a bar code so you can scan them. these are found on the front of a magazine.

Colour scheme- Magazines don't usually tend to use more than 4 colours on their front cover. they usually use colours which compliment each other. the colours of the photograph are usually the most dominant but the font colours and colour of the masthead also attracts readers.

House style- the house style a style that the institution that owns the magazines keeps to which includes fonts colours and styles of magazines.

The designer used a masthead because you can clearly see the name of the magazine and it is recognisable. The colour, size and font of 'Rolling Stone' is always the same which is what makes the magazine so recognisable. The colour scheme of black, red and white are colours which compliment each other to reach out and appeal to an older and more mature audience. it also adds a sense of quality to the magazine with the lack of real bright colours. The anchorage text 'NIRVANA' is used to stand out and give the main image a purpose of being there. The main cover line underneath the anchorage text gives you an insight to the anchorage text and gives you a bit more information about why the band are on the front cover but it also doesn't tell you much which makes the reader want to read the article inside. The main image of the band is in black and white which fits in with the colour scheme. Also within the image, all 3 members of the band are giving the reader direct address which draws readers in to looking at the magazine and picking it up from the shelves. Furthermore if the reader was receiving direct address front perhaps their favourite band, actor, celebrity etc, they will feel a connection with them and probably buy the magazine. The Skyline is used to attract readers in shops because they will only be able to see this and the masthead because of the magazines being stacked on top of each other. The coverlines/ puffs are used to give the audience another insight into what else is in the magazine. In most cases the cover lines will include big names like for instance 'Kanye and Jay-Z' to attract other fan bases and age groups.

Dance Music Mood Board

Casual clothing: Jeans; black or blue, T-shirt; White or black, Hoodie, Trainers.
My mood board includes relevant mise-en scene in the modern dance music industry. Below I have also included pictures and brand images of worldwide superstar DJs who I could use in my final design to grab my target audience's eye. I have also listed some of the festivals that dance music lovers will also be interested in, which if I include on my front cover will again draw audiences to my magazine.

DJs:

 (Murlo - House/Garage)

 (Preditah - House/Garage)

 (Flava D - Bassline/Garage)

 (DJ EZ - Garage)

 (DJ Hazard - Drum and Bass)

Festivals:

Camera Shots

Camera Shots

The most commonly used camera shots in magazines are medium shots for the front cover. sometimes a medium shot is used with the 'celeb' eye level to the reader which can be used for sexual tension in some cases. Medium close up are also commonly used in magazine front covers. Long shots are commonly used in the contents page.

Ideas

I have chosen to take the magazine brief and am working with Oscar Joyce. We both have similar interests in music and good ideas so i thought it would be suitable to work with each other. the genre of music we have chosen to base our magazine on is drum and bass and any other DJ music.

The initial idea i have decided to go through with is about an upcoming DJ who is young and from Southampton. He goes by the name of DJ Ranga and recently is becoming very popular and is being recognized by some of the worlds biggest djs. In the magazine it will show interviews and quotes from some of the best DJs in the world who love DJ Ranga's work. it will also include interview with DJ Ranga who will talk about what inspired him to become a DJ, his first decks and his words to young musicians who are aspiring to become a DJ. The name of our magazine is called 'BPM' which stands for 'beats per minute' which is relevant to the genre of our mag. For the front cover i'm planning to use a medium shot or a medium close up of 'DJ Ranga'. I will include content on technology, DJs, events and fashion.

For my pre-lim task we had to create a school magazine which included a front page and a contents page. we chose the name 'Bitterne Park Sports'.  we chose to include sport events and fixtures and the sporting teams within the school. For the front cover we were thinking of having a sports team of some sort or perhaps a player in action.