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Research of exisiting music magazine front covers
I made this research on Microsoft Word. I collect the magazine covers from the internet then anaysised them using text boxes and arrows. Once finished I print screened each front and saved as a picture.
Initial Research into Billbaord:
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International, newsweekly magazine
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Focuses on popular chart music
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US magazine
What may influence my magazine from Billboard?
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I like how this front cover has just placed the font down one side. This makes it structured and not too clustered. This would be a good idea to organised my magazine front cover.
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Katy's pose is very friendly and welcoming... for my magazine I want my model to invite the reader in.
Initial Research into Q Magazine:
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Published monthly in the United Kingdom by Bauer Media Group.£3.59 per issue (monthly).
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Target Audience: The general public? Originally designed for rock/heavy metal fans due to the editor also being the editor for Kerrang Magazine. However now it is critised for being more mainstream.
What may influence my magazine from Q?
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The yellow circle stating '26 festivals to blow your minds" really stands out, I think this could be a graphic on my magazine to display information.
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The "140 songs you must download now" banner
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Having contrasting colours goes against convections and creates a uniquie look- this would be perfect for my magzine.
What may influence my magazine from VIBE?
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I like the gradient background because it produces a modern look.
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I think having the main model layed above the title gives a powerful front page and attracts the fans of that music artist therefore getting more readers.
WE LOVE POP-We Love Pop is a monthly music magazine, concentrating on the Pop genre. It is focused towards girls aged 11-15. Published by EGMONT
They used a medium shot of a well known singer on the front cover who was very relevant at the time the edition was published because of her appearances on a popular talent show. The cover model makes direct eye contact with the reader, which intices them in to buy the magazine.
The tagline of 'Gossip, Fashion, Boys, Uncensored!' appeals to their target audience of young teen girls because these are the things that are typically important to them. Using the word 'Uncensored' draws the reader in and makes them think they are reading something exclusive.
I was influenced by this cover to include a banner, like the one at the bottom of the page, on my front cover. I also liked the style in which the information at the side of the page was displayed and did something similar in my magazine.
The masthead is bold, bright and the slanted angle gives it a quirky feel. The contrast of the black text against the bright pink makes the colour pop more. The use of the cartoon-like speech bubble and heart appeals to their target audience of young teen girls.
They use a simple yet eye catching colour scheme of bright pink, purple, black and white.
The footer advertises the free posters included in the magazine. The posters are mostly male which appeals to the young female audience. The arrow directs the viewer of the cover into opening the magazine which would encourage them to buy it.
TOP OF THE POPS- Top Of The Pops is another music magazine focused on the pop genre and targetted towards young teenage readers. Published by Immediate Media Company. Features chart information, celebrity gossip, fashion and beauty advice. Supplimentary magazine to the television show Top of the Pops.
I made this research on Microsoft Word. I collect the magazine covers from the internet then anaysised them using text boxes and arrows. Once finished I print screened each front and saved as a picture.
They use a simple colour scheme of pink, blue, white and black and but use the bright yellow as an accent colour to make that area stand out
The main image on the cover is of a well known pop star, she is making eye contact with the reader which invites them in to buy the magazine. She is placed directly in the middle of the page which suggests she is the centre of attention.
The magazine uses lots of colloquial language such as 'Amazeballs' and 'Gasp!' which appeals to their target audience.They also use other words such as 'confessions', 'secrets' and 'exposed' to draw the reader in.
All the fonts used on the page are bold and some look like bubble writing or handwriting which appeals to their target audience of young teen girls.
i really like how they have addressed the audience with the main image of the pop star. For my magazineI would like to make sure the cover pop star is friendly, welcoming and giving eye contact.
TOP OF THE POPS and WE LOVE POP are the two magazine brands I will really focus on regarding designs and convections because we both have the same genre as me and same target audience. However, I want to coporate alternative research into my magazine to give a more modern, sophifcated look; this will also be my USP because there isn't a pop magazine thats goes against some convections.
The theory of layout
