EVALUATION QUESTION-In what ways does your music magazine use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real music magazines?

Having chosen the genre of African RnB for my music magazine, currently there are no established African RnB magazines so for my research I have decided to look at magazines such as VIBE (hip hop genre) and Billboard as these are the closest genre to my chosen genre.

Having researched the following magazines (VIBE and Billboard), my magazine has the following:-

• date
• issue
• barcode
• price
• masthead
• strap line
• lures
• cover lines
• mode of address
• a mid shot image on the front cover
• one colour or gradient colour background

My magazine has a consistency of style keeping the African culture throughout the whole of the magazine; I have stuck to the colour scheme of red, green, as well as using similar fonts Caecilia and African throughout the magazine which is what real music magazines do. 
I also have a gradient background as most magazines concerning my genre of music have, 2 fonts and 2 colours maximum used throughout my front cover.I have also noticed through my research that on front covers there are either close ups or mid-shots of music artists and this I also have on my front cover.

On my contents page I have used page references as well having pictures on the page as this is what I found real music magazines do, they usually .I have an image on the contents page which all music magazines have.


I have used three to four columns on my double page spread for my music magazine as from my research I have gathered that most music magazines used  3-4 columns on double page spreads about music artists, they also usually have an image of the artist on one side of the page as I have done as well. I also put a strapline near the top of the page near the text as this is what magazines usually do.

The way my music magazine challenges codes and conventions is through my masthead; its is not plain compared to others such as VIBE their font is plan and simple yet mine has lines mine also has different colour text where very few have. 

EVALUATION QUESTION-How does your media product represent particular social groups, how are you appealing to the youth culture?

I am appealing to the youth culture by using vibrant colours such yellow, green and red to appeal to the culture of youths. It is said that these colours represent the life of a youth: fun, care-free, busy. For example magazines such as Top Of The Pops.

As you can see there are a lot of vibrant colours (Pink and Yellow), this is similar to my magazine, I have managed to adapt African culture through the colours as well as being appealing to young people; as luckily the colours connotes with Africa are bright. I have also used curvy fonts (like the magazine above) as I believe it represents a life of a youth: fun and different. Rather than plain and straight fonts with dull colours such as black, grey etc (which appeals more to 26+).

Predominantly African people with in the UK are working class so I believe the fact that my magazine is Africa inspired it means that inevitably I am representing the working class through my magazine.
I have pacifically chosen an African who is 19 and a female as well because firstly, my magazine is based on African culture and my target audience is within the ages of 16-19 years so using someone with in this age range will apply more to my age range as she is one them for example if we look at the magazine Vogue; there is Vogue and Teen Vogue. Teen Vogue (with teenage models) was created to appeal to teenagers and this is what I have done as well I have used someone within the age range that I am targeting to appeal to them more.

EVALUATION QUESTION-How did you attract/ address the audience for your music publication?

As I said previously my target audience are Africans so I use various strategies in order to relate with Africans. I address my audience by using colours are often connoted with Africa such as red, green and yellow or green and white (Nigeria).Not only that I use West African colloquial language which is often referred to as pidgin English; I have done this in order to relate to my potential readers, this will then make them more inclined into buying my magazine as they feel it is about them, their culture and their people. The name of my magazine 'DRUM' is also an inference to African music as drums are the basis of our music, I have used a font containing lines and curves this relates to Africa as within the textile industry materials often have patterns containing stripes and curves. The line with in font also refers to the strings that are on an African drum. This amount of detail in relation to Africa conveys and passes the culture through the magazine this then attracts African people to the magazine as it takes them back to their homeland reminiscing and seeing the best of African music and culture within my magazine.

I will publicise my magazine within places such as Hackney and Islington where there is a huge population of Africans. I will then target corner shops within these areas where I will sell my new magazine. I will advertise my magazine using T.V programmes that a lot of African people watch such as AIT-African International Television. I will promote my magazine on African music websites such as www.naijamusic.net and put posters advertising my magazine in the areas which I mentioned before. In order to even furthermore attract my potential customers I will give away a free authentic African bead bracelet

Prelim task-Content page analysis

I have the mast head to keep a consistency through the magazine. 
I've also used same fonts as the one on the front cover to also keep consistency throughout the magazine as this is what professional magazines do. 
There are pictures of the school and students of the school as this is a school magazine.
I have used bright colours in the magazine as this represents the life in a youth. 
However, I feel that there is too much white and this not professional enough for a magazine.

Magazine Price research

Price: £3.85

Price £2.25
                                                                  

Price £3.25

From researching other magazines similar to mine; I own I have now decided to sell my magazine at £2.50; I have not made the rice on the higher end of the scale as I am a new magazine and I therefore want to attract people to my magazine and not have them put off by the price.

Ideas For Headlines and mastheads

Here are some ideas of mastheads. My first name for my music magazine was 'Exclusive' as my news will be exclusive from Africa; however I felt that this did not really represent the genre and the content of my magazine, so I came up with the name of 'Drum'as this is the basis of African music and also has a strong connotation with Africa therefore making it an ideal name.

My first, second and fourth masthead I have used a distorted font with green, white, yellow and white these colours connotes with Africa, this was done to represent the genre of the magazine however I felt it did not relate the research in mastheads in which  I have done.

So I have chosen the third masthead as the curves relates well to established magazines such as VIBE and  Billboard; which inevitably represent the style of music I am promoting; the lines in the font (atlas) also reminds me of the string of an African drum which again relates to my genre of music as well as the title within itself. 

Idea 1
Drum....
Gives You The Deal
On The Begining
Gifted

Idea 2
Drum... Presents
Gifted

Idea 3
Drumroll.....
Presents Gifted our sister from Africa

I have chosen to go with idea 3 as I like the manipulation of the name of my magazine, also the common reference to people from Africa as sister or brother really portrays the African culture that  I want to promote in my magazine

Research in straplines

Here are music magazines that are similar to the type of genre my music magazine promotes. As u can see the strap lines usually contains music artists name on the front cover it is larger compared to the other names. So this is what I will take and adapt to my music magazine. Not only that the straplines usually give little hinters of what is the content of the magazine for example Vibe says 'Rhianna:Exposed.' Tells me that a secret will be exposed. This I have also adapted in my magazine when doing strap lines for example on my music magazine it states 'D'Banj-The untold story.' The second part of the phrase attracts the audience to the magazine as they become curious of the topic; just as 'Rihanna: Exposed' Lures in the readers.

My photos for DRUM Magazine

Photo shoot organisation

Picture 1

 Landscape-midshot. Model must be wearing African attire and will be sitting on a sofa posing as if she is dancing and having fun.

Picture 2

Landscape- midshot. Model must be wearing african attire and will be hanging from railing whilst smiling appearing as she is fun.

Picture 3

Close up on whole body with face being the main focus, sun must be shining on her body, again smiling.

Picture 4

Posing with scarf against a wall. Long shot image.

Picture 5

Long shot, land scape. whole body in shot, she should be crouching down looking directly into camera with a smaile on her face.

Semi Otics- Analysis

This picture is a close up shot, the main focus is the wedding ring, this is an indexical sign as it indicates that he is married, it is also a symbol as the circle represents eternal love. Another sign to the ring concerning the indexical sign, is that the ring is a indication that he is no longer on the market, he is now in a committed relationship. The ring can also be an iconic sign as weddings are usually connote to church, so this is a religious sign.
The watch is also an indexical sign as the watch looks very expensive so the watch acts as an indicator of his wealth.
His tattoo of a star can act as a symbol for his that he is a superstar!

Semi Otics

This picture is a close up shot, the main focus is the wedding ring, this is an indexical sign as it indicates that he is married, it is also a symbol as the circle represents eternal love. Another sign to the ring concerning the indexical sign, is that the ring is an indication that he is no longer on the market, he is now in a committed relationship. The ring can also be an iconic sign as weddings are usually connote to church, so this is a religious sign.
The watch is also an indexical sign as the watch looks very expensive so the watch acts as an indicator of his wealth.
His tattoo of a star can act as a symbol for his that he is a superstar!

Semiotics: The Science Of  Signs (the understanding of why we use signs)- an attempt to create a science of the study of sign systems and their role in the construction and reconstruction of meaning in media text.

Signs: Consists of a signifier has an idea/ meaning behind the set of images 

There are 3 different types of signs:-

Symbol: A sign that represents an object or concept solely by the agreement of the people who use it.

Example:-


Iconic signs: are like religious paintings, statues and stained glass windows found in churches. It could also be famous people or people of high power- these people are refered to icons.

Example 1:-

Example 2:-


Indexical Signs: signs that have some kind of direct connection with what is being signified . E.g. Smoke signifies fire. Indexical signs are 'indicators.'

This shows me how I must consider this in the pictures that I take. As I am creating a magazine on the basis of African Cultural music it essential to convey this to a person so that even without the text they can know all about my magazine, I want to use essential semi otics that will relate with an African, which inevitably attract them to my magazine. So therefore I have decided that the person on the front cover must be African clothes acting as an indexical; indicating that she is an African.

Drum- Magazine

As my chosen genre is African RnB, due to the scarce of African RnB magazine; I have chosen magazines such as Billboard and Vibe, which are the closest type of magazines to my chosen genre, in order to gain inspiration and guidance on how I can create a magazine related to the R N B side. I will then entwine Nigerian colloquial language (pidgen English) to represent the African side of African R N B

Two page spread of mix and mag analysis

Lighting and colour

The first half of the spread uses natural lighting; however the second half of the spread uses flash in order for the clothes to be more visible to attract the reader’s attention, the use of flash and the white background is used to enhance the advertisement of clothes

Camera angle/ shot/ facial expression/ body language

• Right shot angle
• It covers a range of ethnicity (black,white asian)
• It covers both genders ( two boys and one girl standing in the middle)

The fact that there is a range of ethnicities and both genders shows the beliefs of those who are in control of the magazine that they believe in equality no matter gender nor race.

•   the girl in the middle looks directly at the camera but the two boys aren’t (expand-what could this mean)

Costume and props

The designer outfits on each model

Setting

Set in alley way which makes it look their standing outside a night club, which relate to the magazines target market (young people and those who like to go clubbing etc.)

Iconography

The looks of the models compliments the clothing and makes people want to buy their outfits as they look fashionable with them on. 

(This picture is scanned in)

EVALUATION QUESTION-Who would be the audience for your music magazine?

My target Audience are between ages 16-19 years as I will be doing African RnB my main target audience are African people however African music is also currently becoming popular amongst Afro- Carribeans, so though I will be targetting Africans, Afro- carribeans may be interested as well.

My magazine contains only African music artists, it will regulary inform it's readers of the latests African songs and the new and upcoming artists. It will also have the latest news on the artists lives according to the gratifications theory my readers will be satisfied through knowing the latest songs as usually african music comes out in Africa first then the west, by having this magazine I will be giving them the advantage of knowing the latest music and artists before it comes to the UK, giving them the satisfaction of surveillance but not only that by giving them the heads up of the latest music they'll feel important by having the exclusive knowledge on it before anyone else. The latest news on different music artists will give the readers a Diversion satisfaction. My magazine also relates with my audience as in my magazines I will be having the latest fashions concerning African attire and hairstyles as these are the topics that afro-Caribbean are stereotyped as having high involvement in.
The type of products and services that I will be advertising in my magazines are body lotions, hair products and African clothing boutiques the latest designer brands such as Nike, Adidas and other designer brands as these are desired by my target audience.

Age range: 16-19 years


Gender target: Male and Female  


Target Ethnicity: Afro-Caribbean


Occupation: Student


Demographic: C2DE


Technology ownership:-

• Computer ownership
• CD player
• Ipod
• Satellite/Cable TV

Favourite TV channels: Black Entertainment Tv, AIT (african channel), BBC, OBE (african channel), MTV and Entertainment TV



Favourite clothes shop: New Look, Top shop, River Island etc

Personality: Bubbly, outgoing etc

Where they buy their music
iTunes
Limewire

How much they spend

Maximum £14.99

Do they go concerts?
Yes, occasionally

How do they listen to music?
Youtube
Ipod

Image Analysis

Different angle shots
Low angle shot


High Angle Shot


Eye Level

Image Analysis

Differents Shots
Long shot


Medium shot



Close Up Shot



Extreme Close Up

Music Genre and Representation- R N B

Males

Often portrayed in a sexual manner. Usually have earrings and half naked in videos and pictures and romantic.

Females

Portrayed in a sexual manner, quite soft and gentle.

Song content

• Sex
• Love
• Partying

Lifestyle

• Intimate Relationships
• Party life style

Clothing style

•  Not a lot of clothing
• Jeans bellow waist- showing boxers-again a sexual reference
• Chains
• Designer brands

Music Genre and Representation- Hip hop

Females

Within the Hip Hop industry concerning the music press, females with in this industry are usually seen as the tom-boy, edgey, domineering, independant, a diva and edgey.
However females can also be portrayed in a sexual manner aswell.

Males

The Hip Hop industry they are usually associated with being extremely rich-this is usually conveyed through physical money or 'bling' (jewelery), smoking cigars and taking drugs and also Pimps (people who have a lot of girlfriends and lovers).

Within Hip Hop industry there are many things in which are promoted...

Lifestyle:-

• Promiscuisy
• Big 4x4 cars
• Upper-class lifestyle
• Gangs
• Gun crime
• Violence
• Alcohol
• Drugs

Contents of music in the Hip hop industry:-

• Past experiences
• Hard ship of being poor in the past
• Jealousy
• Drugs
• Gangs
• Crime
• Girls
• Money

Music Style

• Rap

Masthead Research- VIBE

Through this masthead it is noticeable more of what type of music is promoted within this magazine. Firstly the name ‘vibe’ has connotations of being more calm, laid back sort of music-a type of music where people will ‘bop’ their heads to, whereas Rolling stone which is dominantly known for promoting rock music has points in the font-portraying that this type of music they promote is not laid-back but rather the total opposite. Also in combination with the name itself; the font it very curvy again suggesting a calm feeling from this we can gather that the genre of music is Hip-hop.
As African R n B magazines are very scarce as well as R n B, I have chosen to take inspiration on how my magazine will look like from the nearest type of genre which is Hip Hop.

Masthead Research- Rolling stone

Through the twists and points combined within the font style and in fact the name itself ‘Rolling Stone’ which is a name of a rock n roll band shows conveys to the reader of what type of magazine it is, a music magazine, the twists and the curves could resemble the fact that music makes you dance.

Examples of functions of the Music Press

Examples of the_music_press

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What is the Music Press

What is the music press?

The music press plays a vital role in the advertisement and publicity of the new upcoming music artist as well as the continuous promotion of old and current artists maintaining their popularity.

The music press is very broad it includes music shows such as 106 and Park on BET (Black Entertainment Television)

Music magazines such as VIBE, a Hip Hop magazine, where it promotes current and upcoming hip hop artists it also contains the latest gossip on the artists as well. All of this is done to keep the world wanting more and more, boosting their publicity, leaving the hungry world wanting to know the ins and outs of their their favourite celebrities lives.

Why?

The more a certain music artist is on ones mind and the more popular the artist is, the more music is sold meaning......THE MORE MONEY MADE! Whether it comes in the form of a concert ticket, to CD's or their latest clothing line!

NANG Magazine Analysis

Front cover of Nang



Masthead

"NANG"

The title is orange informing us that the magazine is aimed at both genders as it has not used a stereotypical colour such as blue or pink. The font of the mast head is in a graffiti style showing that the style or the audience they want to attract are urban, edgy youths, the graffiti style also informs us that there target audience are young people as young people are often associated with committing act of vandalism such as graffiti on wall etc. the same type of font used through the front cover which emphasises on the edgy, trendy style the magazine wishes to promote.

The Lure on the front of the magazine

"Bashy: NANG!'s verdict on his long waited debut album"

There are many lures on the front cover; in fact the magazine cover in the background is basically full of lures. However the one that I have mentioned here stand out the most it is right next to Bashy's face. Also the lure corresponds with the picture as the name of the person on the magazine is called Bashy therefore highlighting the importance of the article; consequently it grasps the reader’s attraction the most.

Mode of address

There is use of colliquial language within the masthead itself, again targeting the youths.

Media analysis

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Persuasive Techniques

 Analysis (persuasive techniques) on article on Dizzee Rascal

Throughout Dizzee Rascal's article the write has used various techniques in order to make the reader intrigued by Dizzee Rascal the writer uses persuasive techiniques  such as facts, alliteration, hyperbole, colliquial language and opinions.

Firstly as for the facts it states "sold over 600,000 records" the fact Dizzee Rascal has sold so many CDs assures the reader that he is popular and good, so in order to fill in and be part of the crowd they become more curious about him, it may lead them into buying a CD, listening to his music on youtube etc.Therefore swaying the reader into liking Dizzee Rascal, or atleast to listen to his music. Another fact stated is "widespread audince spaaning street kids to conservative broadsheet readers" this informs the reader that he is multi talenetd reaching all audiences again showing how good of an artist he is, as he reaches all different types of audiences.

Secondly, another persuasive technique that is used is alliteration "credible commercial" the C sound brings emphasis on his fame, his popualrity again telling the reader that he is a big hit, persuading them to find out more about him.

Thridly, the writer also uses hyperbole such as "heraldly" again exaggerating his talent making the reader extremely impressed by him without even hearing his music.

Fourthly, the writer disguises facts as opinions its states "proclaimed by Wyclef as one of the best rappers in the world" as this comes from a celebrity it appears to be fact however in actual fact it is an opinion but through this disguise the reader automatically understand Dizzee Rascal to be one of the best rappers again persuading the reader to listen to his music or buy a CD.

Lastly, the writer also uses colloquial language such as "Dirtee stank" again targeting a pacific audience which is young people as they are known for using colloquial language als notifying the reader of the partcular genre of music he comes under, the use of colloquial language appeals to young people again attracting and persuading people into listening to  his music.

How the genre of music is being represented

Front Cover of Mixmag

Lighting and colour

Yellow is a neon colour which contrasts with the black font, this represents the glow sticks in the dark creating a rave setting informing the potential customer that the magazines is about clubbing, raving etc. 

Picture effect: The combination of the black and yellow with the distorted affect represents the vibrations coming from the base of the music in the rave, it also informs us of the genre of music mix and mag deals with. The disorted font represents the base in Dub-step, rave songs etc.

Facial expression

Generally all the people in the front cover look happy showing that they are having a fun time it also portrays raves and clubbing as fun as the Dj's seem to be enjoying themselves.

Costume and props

Head phones and a mixer again referring to the genre of music, the magazines deals with Dj's and raves.

Iconography
Famous Dj's who are all men.
                     

http://www.mixmag.net/

Coursework Introduction

For my media coursework we have been asked to create a music magazine on my chosen genre of music, we have been been instructed to create the front cover, contents page, and a double page spread containing an article on our new and upcoming artists whom we will promote within our magazine. My target audience is 16-19 year olds and my magazine will be aimed at a UK magazine audience.

D' Banj

This is my favorite Nigerian artist at the moment. I love his song "Fall In Love"!!