Institutional Research

Main Task:Bauer Media Group and Mama Group Research November 4

In order to enrich our knowledge on producing and distributing magazines we looked at various institutions such as Bauer Media and Mama Group.

Magazine Cover Analysis

Main Task:Planning

Analysis of Front Cover November 5

First, to understand what is expected of a front cover I made a spider diagram covering all the basic features present of a magazine front cover.

I annotated the front cover of KERRANG! magazine. I pointed out the main codes and conventions that are present on the magazine cover and many connotations of the underlined meanings.

I then annotated an existing NME music magazine cover to show some of the other conventions of a magazine cover.

Magazine Contents Page Analysis

Main Task:Contents Page Analysis November 20


First to understand what is common on all contents pages I devised a spider diagram with the basic outline of what a good contents page should consist of.

Then I took a look at a Q magazine contents page and analysed its uses of the codes and conventions commonly seen on music magazines.

I then did the same to a Glamour magazine as their audience differs to that of Q's.

Magazine Double Page Spread Analysis

Main Task:Double Page Spread Analysis November 21

Firstly, I created a spider diagram of the main codes and conventions expected of a double page spread in order for me to understand the common features that I will need to apply to my own double page spread.

Then I analysed a quirky double page spread and pointed out any codes and conventions that I noticed.

After, I looked a a rarer double page spread, it's layout isn't very common but I have outlined how it still manages to use the codes and conventions so that the reader can recognise it as a double page spread.

Questionnaire & Analysis

Main Task:Questionnaire & Analysis December 2

I created a questionnaire made up of 13 different questions with a variety of closed and open questions so that my results could be accurate and informative.I asked about 20 people to complete this music questionnaire in order for me to learn what would sell and what wouldn't.

Here are 2 examples of answered questionnaires:

I gathered the results from my questionnaire and used it to create a more visual evaluation to help me see clearly what was popular and what wasn't.

Title and Logo Ideas

Main Task:Title and Logo December 5

I brainstormed various possible titles of my magazine. I whittled it down to two which I felt best suited my genre of music, 'Blur' and 'Blare'. I felt that as the definition of Blare is to play something really loudly it was a title that reflected my genes of music well, so I chose that one.

After I decided what my magazine title was I came up with various logo ideas, by using a font generator website, so that I can see which one stands out as the clearest, boldest and loudest so that the genre of music is really connoted through it.

I felt that 'Gling' was the best suited font for my magazine as it looks as though it has been spray painted and vandalism is a common connotation of rock and indie music. Also, the excess splatters of ink make the masthead look like its sending out vibrations which reflects the name 'Blare' which means to play something loudly.

Front Cover Photoshoot

Main Task:Cover Photoshoot December 8

For my photoshoot I got a friend who is a music student and is into indie/rock music. This allowed her to look comfortable in all of the images as she was in her comfort zone.

I chose a female model of her age because my magazine is predominantly aimed at females of her age which is 17. This will help portray this because she will be the cover model and this can make my target audience clear. It will also attract girls of similar ages.
I thought about the mise-en-scene of the images and in order for the images to relate to the style of music I had my model hold various props to reflect as if she is part of the band.

In the images above I had my model sit on a bench outside with a beer bottle and a pair of drum sticks. The beer and the surroundings both symbolise independence and youth which is relevant because 'indie' is short for it and is where this style of music gets its name from.

Above I had her strum an electric guitar with facial expressions that would connote the genre of music. I chose an electric guitar because this tells the reader that the music is loud and rocky. The model gave me a brilliant facial expression that really represents the rage and emotion in rock music.

 In these two images above I had my model jump whilst singing into a microphone in front of a brick wall. The mise-en-scene connotes rebelion, which is linked to this type of music.

In the above images I took various camera shots of my model to be possibly put into a montage strip on the cover. The one at the top is a medium shot and the one below is a close up. In the image below I had my model bite a guitar pick with the brand name clearly on show to represent the style of music I want to portray.