My music magazine mood board (2)

My music magazine mood board
On this part of my mood board I focused on the images and layout that will dominate the whole magazine.
For my images, I talked about the different elements of photography that will make my main image interesting and meaningful, as well as relating to my target audience and genre of music. I brought my concern of pastel colours as a colour scheme into the appearance of some of the image, and how light direction will enhance the images appearance. I also started to look at positions for my artist to stand in when having their photo shoot. By looking at all these images, they summaries my idea of a good picture for my front cover.
I also looked at the layout of the images and text on the pages of my magazine. I talk about how I'm particularly fond of the image taking up the whole page, with a white banner round it. I also like the formal arrangement of three columns of text, using a serif font that is classic and looks typed, making it more creative. Looking at these existing magazines for their choice in layout, it inspired me and gave a better idea of what mine will eventually look like.

My Music Magazine Mood Board (1)

My Music Magazine Mood Board (1)
For this part of my mood board I talked about my inspirations from other magazines and images off the Internet that influenced my choice of colour, pattern and typography.
for colour and pattern, I discussed my natural theme I wanted to include, using nature as a pattern for the background of my images, or even just the patterns and colours they consist of. this natural approach will convey the new and exciting content of my magazine, listing new indie musicians otherwise unheard of.
I also discussed the conventions of typography, and how my magazine was quite edgy and different so wanted a typeface that would convey this. I especially talked about a indie trend of the moment that would influence my style of font for my masthead.
Looking at these already existing fonts, colours and patterns really let me decide what I want in my music magazine, and how I will create a design that will differ from others.

Audience profile: my music magazine

 

 

Music magazine:Audience research analysis

Audience research: Music Magazine Questionnare

 

The representation of bands/ artists in music magazines

When we look in a music magazine, it is clear the images that relate to articles about artists are not just taken in a natural environment without any planning previously to shoot the image. So many factors go into the creation of the image, controlled to make their target audience like the image so they will buy the magazine. Also, it’s very unlikely that the artist/ band themselves will decide on this image which can sometimes lead to arguments. The lists below are the main people in order of status that would be the decider on what the image looks like:

1.       The band/ artists manager- as they control the band they will have the biggest say in their image, as they know what attracts their audience and how it looks good in the media, even if it’s against the artists opinions

2.       The record label- they have chosen to take these people on to sing so they must have an image that conveys not only that artist, but the whole company, meaning they must uphold a certain standard of appearance

3.       The magazine company the articles and images will feature in- if  the magazine has a certain image that is a house design, they will want to fit the band/ artist into the same category, so not only will they fit in with the style and feel of the magazine, but will attract the audience that the magazine wants

4.       The stylist – it is their job to create the image that the manager or magazine editor will want, therefore dressing them in on trend items that will inspire the audience to wish they looked like them, and include brands that they can go buy themselves. This can also relate to the advertising of the magazine that appeal to the audience(found whilst collecting audience research)

5.       The photographer- they don’t have much power over the image except the creative way it is taken, making them stand in certain poses that may contribute to the image and style of the artist or magazine.

6.       The audience – even though quite far down the list they have a major role in the way some artists are displayed. It’s their interests that the magazines adapt and refer to, so creating an image that will appeal to them must be considered.

7.       The band themselves- even as the actual singers, it is very rarely they will get a say in their own image if their manager has the control. For most bands its ok with them being able to keep their original image relatively similar to what they like. However other bands are more influenced into wearing outfits and acting to how the audience would want them to be, rather than themselves.

In the Rocksound magazine I had previously analysed, one of its articles featured a picture on Hayley Williams from Paramore. They chose to make her look almost innocent and cute’ with the hairclip and body position as it related to her being nominated as ‘Eye Candy of the Year’. They made her look more feminine for this feature as it emphasises the reason for her being in this article. However it’s an ironic image of their band as she’s known for being a tomboy outgoing character rather than a delicate girly-girl. By the magazines director choosing to do this it attracts their audience more to show she is something of beauty rather than just a musician, as well as creating humour for their fans because they know change in attitude the artist actually is.

Another picture within the same article shows Bring Me the Horizon, winning the best British band. They clearly stand them with no other people in the picture; especially no other women that the magazine has especially chosen to attract the female audience. This way they seem single and so the audience don’t envy then, causing disrupt in the media.