Before I decided to make my front cover, I thought that I would research other existing magazines, to see which conventions they use, to help me when I make my front cover, to make it as appealing as possible.
LIIAR analysis of Q magazine
Language
The denotation of the front cover shows a close up shot of the famous and iconic singer Cheryl Cole. I like how Cheryl Cole is on the front cover of Q magazine, as you wouldn't stereotype her with this sort of music magazine, so it grabs the audiences attention which widens the target audience of the magazine, therefore making a larger profit, and also they've changed her appearance, to be more rock and sexy. This attracts both male and female audiences as women want to be her, and men are attracted to her. Just by first view of looking at the magazine, we can instantly recognise that the brand image is of Cheryl Cole, which makes the magazine more desirable.
There is a masthead in the top left hand side of the magazine, which allows the reader to instantly know what the name of the magazine is, "Q". Also just above the masthead is a banner strapline stretching across the whole top of the page, it says: "The UK's biggest music magazine".This makes the audience more attracted to the magazine as they are reassured of the quality of the magazine, if it is the UK's biggest music magazine then it will be instantly recognised as a good magazine if the majority of the UK want to read it.
Institute
Q magazine is published by Bauer media. Bauer also produces over 300 magazines in 15 countries, as well as online, TV and radio stations.They produce magazines such as FHM, Closer, Grazia, Kerrang!.
Ideology
I think that the ideology of this magazine is to change the audiences opinion and views of cheryl cole nd her music in an attempt to change the views of the audience
Audience
Representation
The music genre which I have chosen to base my music magazine on will be Pop/R&B. I have chosen this particular genre as it is the music genre which I personally prefer, therefore I feel that I will be able to give a better representation of it, than I would with a music genre such as heavy metal, as I do not listen to nor do I particularly like it. The magazines which I have based my music genre around are "Q" and "Vibe", as they target the same age range as I am, and also they are a mixture of the two music genres.
The pop and R&B style's are very popular right now, as reality shows such as X-factor base their music around pop songs, but have also tried modernising their shows, to suit the new modern generation, by introducing R&B songs. I find that R&B has alot of sub-genres inside of it, such as soft rap, urban and "black" music. Most of the popular celebrity singers right now are from the pop "scene", for example:- Cheryl Cole, Katy Perry and also Lady Gaga.
Alot of adolecent female's copy the styles of and also idolise Cheryl Cole, and also young men are attracted to women like her.
Language
The front page will include a masthead, banner headline, barcode and price, sub-headings and an image of most probably medium close of an artist or band. I think that I will use a straight on shot for my front page. I don't think that I can think of colours for the house-style yet, but I was thinking that the easiest would probably be black, but it depends what style of music I choose to direcrt my magazine at.
Institution
I am going to produce a brand new magazine instead of for an already established business.
Ideology
I want my magazine to conote a new appreciation for different styles of music, therefore to broaden a niche market, and bring more attention, and publicity to it.
Audience
I would like my target audience to be from an age range of teenagers to late twenty's, so quite a modern audience. I would like to target a pop/r&b genre, apart from magazines such as "Smash Hits" there are currently no popular magazines targeting pop/r&b genres for a more mature and modern audience in the UK. I want my magazine to target both male and female audiences.
Representation
I intend to represent my magazine/artists/music genre, as very positive, which will hopefully make people more interested in my music, and therefore the style of music I like, but I don't want my magazine to be represented as the usual stereotype for pop music, as girly, boring and stupid. I want my magazine to be read and able to represent both male and female audiences.
We were given the task of producing a front cover, contents page and a double paged spread of a new music magazine of any genre of our choice. We have to use a minimum of four images, produced my ourselves.
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