Proposal 2 – Identifying the brief
I have chosen the brief R&B music because I listen to the genre of music often. Therefore I thought it would be easy and enjoyable to make a magazine for it. I also thought that I will be more likely for me to know what my readers want to know, as I’m interested in the genre myself; I know a depth of knowledge of this particular type of music. Furthermore there are very few R&B magazines out already so thought it would be a challenging task to undertake.
The core audience profile I am planning to target is 13-25 year olds, mostly female but some male. They like to keep up with the latest fashion and trends. They also like linked genres of music such as hip hop and rap. They like to go out to clubs and parties and like a very eventful lifestyle. This lifestyle is what the magazine will promote, along with the view that women are strong and independent. They have great night lives and are always seen living it to the full.
I’m planning to style the front cover with a new and exclusive R’n’B artist on the cover, with a big bold title of ‘Rhymes ‘n’ Beats’ with appropriate coverlines and distinctive colours. With a free CD included on the bottom left section. I choose to call my magazine ‘Rhymes ‘n’ Beats’ as it is straight to the point. The audience knows exactly what the magazine is going to be about and what type of music it is going to be based on. The actor I will be using will be posed as a made up new and exclusive R&B artist who will be portrayed very laid back and cool. He will be wearing fresh new clothes looking very stylish. The cover shot that I will be using will most likely be a medium long shot.
The type of content that my magazine will include will be things such as album/single reviews, new and old artist interviews and new downloadable tracks. The type of language that will be included within the magazine is quite informal. With use of words such as ‘aint’ and ‘yer’ as I want it to appeal to the targeted audience and stereotypically, this is how the reader would talk.
My magazine offers a great alternative from the magazines already on the market for this particular genre as there aren’t many already out. I searched for magazines of the same genre but only found one called ‘Chocolate’ which didn’t seem to be that popular. Therefore my magazine will offer a greater and much more up to date source of information of the R&B world.
Thursday 27 November 2008
Monday 10 November 2008
Top of the pops language analysis
Within this analysis I have discussed the language of the magazine ‘Top of the Pops’, discussed the structure, how it targets its audience and what it tells us about the magazine.
The magazine ‘Top of the pops’ is a successful and popular magazine. It is very clear who the target audience is just by looking at the front cover. The target audience is young teenage girls. You can tell this by the band on the front cover, The Jonas Brothers who are a young, good looking band of brothers who are very appealing to young girls. The language has been chosen very carefully to draw in its target audience. It targets its audience by using slang words and shortening of words such as ‘OMG’ and ‘pics’ this makes the audience feel like they can relate to the magazine and make them believe that it is a cool and up to date magazine to read.
On the front cover it is clear that they have purposely included lots of girl interests to draw them in such as ‘Your instant makeover’ as girls always like to look good and ‘Exclusive pics! 24 hours with ZAC’ as most teenage girls have crushes of Zac Effron. Each coverline is short and catchy and draws your eye right in. Everything which is mentioned on the front is there because it’s the main contents of this magazine, so individual words are essential for them selling their magazine. A lot of explanation marks are included on the magazine which shows very informal and chatty language.
Looking inside the magazine at the second page is an interview of the Jonas Brothers. The language again is very casual and chatty and not too long. Therefore again this shows how the magazine targets its audience. The responses from the Jonas brothers within the questions are very enthusiastic and they come across really ‘cool’ and they often talk about dating girls which is what young teenage girls like to read. They seem to come across really happy and excited which is a positive tone which will have a positive effect on the reader. The structure is very good and relevant as it shows a clear indication of the question then answer in a short paragraph instead of long paragraphs with quotes from the band hear and there. It also includes a lot of pictures throughout the page which makes it easier and more interesting to read for a teenage girl.
Also in parts of the magazine there are sentences like ‘Its time you found out what all the fuss is about’ which is as if they are talking to the reader. It also includes rhetorical questions which makes the reader feel involved and it makes them relate to what is being said. The whole spread has a sense of rhythm via the punctuality as there’s a lot of comers and ‘…’ which makes it seem to flow better and makes it more reader friendly.
The magazine uses celebrities to help draw in the target audience. Within the magazine they have included celebrities talking about subjects that teenage girls can relate to. For example they have a section on the front cover of McFly, a well known and successful band, talking about ‘Our hidden heartache’. Most teenage girls can relate to this and they will automatically think it must not just happen to them and it must not be that much of a bad thing if it’s happened to a good looking and popular band such as McFly.
To conclude, the overall language of the magazine, top of the pops is informal, chatty, gossipy and enthusiastic. It is targeted at young teenage girls and this is clearly shown by the chosen language and is successful. It is very basic and easy to understand which is useful for the intended reader. The language suits the target audience very well and the kind of music magazine that it is.
The magazine ‘Top of the pops’ is a successful and popular magazine. It is very clear who the target audience is just by looking at the front cover. The target audience is young teenage girls. You can tell this by the band on the front cover, The Jonas Brothers who are a young, good looking band of brothers who are very appealing to young girls. The language has been chosen very carefully to draw in its target audience. It targets its audience by using slang words and shortening of words such as ‘OMG’ and ‘pics’ this makes the audience feel like they can relate to the magazine and make them believe that it is a cool and up to date magazine to read.
On the front cover it is clear that they have purposely included lots of girl interests to draw them in such as ‘Your instant makeover’ as girls always like to look good and ‘Exclusive pics! 24 hours with ZAC’ as most teenage girls have crushes of Zac Effron. Each coverline is short and catchy and draws your eye right in. Everything which is mentioned on the front is there because it’s the main contents of this magazine, so individual words are essential for them selling their magazine. A lot of explanation marks are included on the magazine which shows very informal and chatty language.
Looking inside the magazine at the second page is an interview of the Jonas Brothers. The language again is very casual and chatty and not too long. Therefore again this shows how the magazine targets its audience. The responses from the Jonas brothers within the questions are very enthusiastic and they come across really ‘cool’ and they often talk about dating girls which is what young teenage girls like to read. They seem to come across really happy and excited which is a positive tone which will have a positive effect on the reader. The structure is very good and relevant as it shows a clear indication of the question then answer in a short paragraph instead of long paragraphs with quotes from the band hear and there. It also includes a lot of pictures throughout the page which makes it easier and more interesting to read for a teenage girl.
Also in parts of the magazine there are sentences like ‘Its time you found out what all the fuss is about’ which is as if they are talking to the reader. It also includes rhetorical questions which makes the reader feel involved and it makes them relate to what is being said. The whole spread has a sense of rhythm via the punctuality as there’s a lot of comers and ‘…’ which makes it seem to flow better and makes it more reader friendly.
The magazine uses celebrities to help draw in the target audience. Within the magazine they have included celebrities talking about subjects that teenage girls can relate to. For example they have a section on the front cover of McFly, a well known and successful band, talking about ‘Our hidden heartache’. Most teenage girls can relate to this and they will automatically think it must not just happen to them and it must not be that much of a bad thing if it’s happened to a good looking and popular band such as McFly.
To conclude, the overall language of the magazine, top of the pops is informal, chatty, gossipy and enthusiastic. It is targeted at young teenage girls and this is clearly shown by the chosen language and is successful. It is very basic and easy to understand which is useful for the intended reader. The language suits the target audience very well and the kind of music magazine that it is.
Questionnaire results
From looking at the findings of my questionnaires I have found out that not many teenagers aged 16 -18 buy music magazines. But if they do they buy them with the money of their parents or EMA and are prepared to pay from 2 – 3 pounds on the magazine. Most of them said they would like a well known artist to appear on the front cover of the magazine and they all wanted an interview of their favourite artist to be included within the magazine. Lastly, the things that interested them most about music magazines are the gossip and news they find out about their favourite artists.
Sunday 9 November 2008
Questionnaire for music magazine
Below is a questionnaire to help with my research for my music magazine.
Questionnaire
1. Are you a male or female?
Male
Female
2. How old are you?
.................................
3. Do you buy music magazines?
Yes
No
4. If so, how often do you buy them?
Weekly
Monthly
Yearly
5. What types of music magazines do you buy?
........................................................
6. What kind of music do you listen to?
........................................................
7. How much money would you be willing to pay for a music magazine?
........................................................
8. If you had the choice, what would you like to appear on the front of a music magazine?
........................................................
9. What sort of colour scheme would you desire the magazine to have?
........................................................
10. Would you like for the magazine to include interviews of your favourite artists?
Yes
No
11. Would you be more likely to buy a magazine if it included a free CD?
Yes
No
12. What is it that interests you most about music magazines?
.............................................................
13. How much money do you get a month?
.............................................................
14. How do you get/earn this money?
.............................................................
Questionnaire
1. Are you a male or female?
Male
Female
2. How old are you?
.................................
3. Do you buy music magazines?
Yes
No
4. If so, how often do you buy them?
Weekly
Monthly
Yearly
5. What types of music magazines do you buy?
........................................................
6. What kind of music do you listen to?
........................................................
7. How much money would you be willing to pay for a music magazine?
........................................................
8. If you had the choice, what would you like to appear on the front of a music magazine?
........................................................
9. What sort of colour scheme would you desire the magazine to have?
........................................................
10. Would you like for the magazine to include interviews of your favourite artists?
Yes
No
11. Would you be more likely to buy a magazine if it included a free CD?
Yes
No
12. What is it that interests you most about music magazines?
.............................................................
13. How much money do you get a month?
.............................................................
14. How do you get/earn this money?
.............................................................
Analysis of two reader profiles
Analysis of two reader profiles
I have analysed two different magazine reader profiles. Each has very different target audiences, as both are very different styled music magazines.
They both have many differences in the information that is included within the reader profile, which I shall elaborate on further.
Firstly the target audience of the music magazine ‘Word’ is aged between 30- 55 and are within the ABC1 grouping. The ‘NME’ magazine is more targeted to an average of 24 and 65% of it readers are in the ABC1 group. The NME magazine is more of a male-targeted magazine as 69% of its readers are of a male gender. The Word reader spends over £90 on music, films and books whereas the NME reader spends £71 on DVD’s alone a year. A family man is the type of reader of Word whereas NME’s readers are younger and experimental and like going to live gigs and festivals. The word reader listens to radio channel 4 unlike NME’s reader who listens to such music as indie and rock. Lastly, other interests of the word reader are such things as reading books and watching movies. On the other hand, the NME reader’s interests would be to try out the latest technology such as games consoles or to learn about the latest fashion as 63% of readers believe that it is important to look good.
Advertisements that would be most likely to be used within word would be music stores such as HMV and Zavvi, new films coming out in the cinema and on DVD, Myspace, Facebook and other social networking websites and books. Advertisements that would be most likely to be used within NME would be Big events like festivals, Designer clothing such as Fred Perry and converse, new games and consoles, new technology such as cameras and phones, hair products such as shockwaves gel and alcohol.
To conclude there are a few similarities about the two magazines such as both magazines are directed mostly at the male gender. However there are quite a few differences. The word reader is older, family man, more sophisticated whereas the NME reader is younger, outgoing and up for trying out new things.
I have analysed two different magazine reader profiles. Each has very different target audiences, as both are very different styled music magazines.
They both have many differences in the information that is included within the reader profile, which I shall elaborate on further.
Firstly the target audience of the music magazine ‘Word’ is aged between 30- 55 and are within the ABC1 grouping. The ‘NME’ magazine is more targeted to an average of 24 and 65% of it readers are in the ABC1 group. The NME magazine is more of a male-targeted magazine as 69% of its readers are of a male gender. The Word reader spends over £90 on music, films and books whereas the NME reader spends £71 on DVD’s alone a year. A family man is the type of reader of Word whereas NME’s readers are younger and experimental and like going to live gigs and festivals. The word reader listens to radio channel 4 unlike NME’s reader who listens to such music as indie and rock. Lastly, other interests of the word reader are such things as reading books and watching movies. On the other hand, the NME reader’s interests would be to try out the latest technology such as games consoles or to learn about the latest fashion as 63% of readers believe that it is important to look good.
Advertisements that would be most likely to be used within word would be music stores such as HMV and Zavvi, new films coming out in the cinema and on DVD, Myspace, Facebook and other social networking websites and books. Advertisements that would be most likely to be used within NME would be Big events like festivals, Designer clothing such as Fred Perry and converse, new games and consoles, new technology such as cameras and phones, hair products such as shockwaves gel and alcohol.
To conclude there are a few similarities about the two magazines such as both magazines are directed mostly at the male gender. However there are quite a few differences. The word reader is older, family man, more sophisticated whereas the NME reader is younger, outgoing and up for trying out new things.
Sunday 2 November 2008
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