LIIAR Interpretation Of The Brief

Front Cover

Language
When it comes to music magazines, there is such a variety of genres for multiple audiences. Due to this, there is a wide range of conventions; different conventions for different readers, which have very assorted tastes - there are niche audiences! However beneath the varieties, there are still a few conventions which stay constant.


Masthead

A masthead is certainly an aspect which is continuous through-out every music magazine, which is 99% of the time allocated to the top left hand corner. This really is a compulsory element to a magazine as this is what we as an audience first glance at. As it’s the same literally everywhere, it’s just something we do naturally without hesitation. If the masthead is truly eye-catching, then that initial glance will soon develop into a stare of an attraction; here, a magazine purchase is born! If I were to perhaps locate the masthead to the bottom left hand corner, it wouldn’t be visible, and no one would even notice the magazine.

"Exclusive" Headline
Taking centre stage, a large headline is often a convention of a music magazine as that is how they promote their biggest and most extravagant story. Often the headline is shadowed by bold and intense “exclusive” writing to express almost a high importance. Usually stories in order of importance have small to large text size on the cover. The subheadings on the front page are usually a different colour to make them stand out and to bring attraction.Trademarks of the magazine can feature the typface.

Images

Another main convention of a music magazine is the large image which is positioned across the full cover. 7 out of 10 times the image is actually a medium close up that contains a direct address to the audience. This establishes a connection between the viewer and the magazine making them feel a part of the cover. It isn't offen where you will find multiple amounts of images on the front cover as I feel this over-complicates the layout. It tends to allow the audience to wonder of onto stories that don't have as much high-importance.

Synergy

Synergy is a large convention which happens within music magazines on a regular basis. It highlights the comings together of two or more establishments that are trying to achieve a goal that isn’t possible independently. This allows both the music magazine and the artist to both get outcomes from one single thing. For example, a popular artist such as Britney Spears on the cover will bring lots of revenue as she is so iconic. This therefore means that the magazine will sell a lot more editions making a larger profit. However in the process of this, the artist such as Britney, is also making a huge profit of money as she will promote a new album or as such.

Barcode/Price

Usually on the right hand side of the page, more or less at the bottom is the barcode. This is always on the cover as of course when bought, it needs to be scanned and purchased. Although the price is positioned not far from the barcode, it is deviously done at such a small font which misleads the audience. The price is the last thing that they look at as it the most unnoticeable element. After eventually looking at all of the components on the cover, they will eventually see the price. Even though it may cost an arm and a leg, they still feel the urge to purchase it due to the desire to read the main stories which they have just viewed.

Many conventions stay constant through-out the magazine onto the contents page such as the images and head banner. Images are almost compulsory at this stage in the magazine as of course it needs to just be just as out-going and attractive as the front cover. Still of course, different music magazines have different conventions of a contents page to appeal to their audiences. Music magazines that are more child-based are going to have a much more imagery-based style then to one focused at an older generation of adults – different audiences expect and require different elements and aspects.

Head-banner / Title

Often enough, the majority of music magazines that you come across have ‘contents’ inked across the actual contents page. It gives the page that defining feature that truly makes it stand out from the advertisement pages before and after it. Conventionally, the font of the title stays similar to either the text of the magazine name on the cover, or/and the exclusive headline too. Having the two the same or similar, brings the magazine together as a whole, making the magazine feel not as fragmeneted

Images

On the front cover, the stories of importance are allocated by the size of their text. This is a very similar convention on the contents page as stories of importance are represented by images and text. A featured and exclusive interview with the latest pop star will be reflected within a large thumbnail image, text and even an extensive summary. Stories that don’t maintain the same high importance often only have a small page number and title; if that even. A lot of articles within the music magazines don’t even feature on the contents page.

Logo/Magazine Title

Some music magazines feel that it’s imperative to feature their logo or magazine name on the contents page where as other magazines…not so. Apparently, there is something extremely significant about reassuring the reader about what magazine they’re reading. When I glance at a magazine that has features constant on the contents and homepage such as the logo, I feel it brings everything together as one.

Insitution

 Within the UK, there is only a pocket full of leading magazine companies that are well distributed and successful.

IPC
IPC is a great example of a successful establishment which is involved in magazine distribution. However, the only downfall is that the 85 iconic brands that they put on the market are more focused to the world of gossip; not the music industry.

Bauer Media

Bauer Media is probably the most successful magazine distributor to date in England. As an establishment, they reach over nineteen million, UK readers alone. They’re most famous for iconic magazines such as ‘Q’, ‘Grazia’, ‘FHM’ and ‘Kerrang.’ All of which are very popular music magazines that tend to reach their target audiences with such great precision.

This is definitely the kind of intuition that I wish to distribute my magazine with as they have great relationships with engaged readers and businesses. As stated on their website: “We connect audiences with compelling content, whenever, wherever, and however they want.” This is certainly the type of attitude that I want my music magazine to shine through!

Ideology
When any type of audience looks at my magazine cover, contents page and double page spread, I want them to glance at it and feel inspired. Morals and messages that are given off shouldn’t be about how you need to loose weight, or how you look too fat. I want to express literal meanings that have depth and profundity. Stories written within my magazine, should be genuine and to be truthful; no false statements or impressions given off. Although I haven’t decided on my target audience and brand, I can’t really focus on a more elaborated Ideology. After genre research, I will then hope to identify and expand more.

Audience

Audience is the one leading aspect that can truly dictate the magazine - appearance, stories and content. As I am so early on into the development, I can’t at the minute decide which audience my magazine will warm too. Perhaps after researching and getting my roots deeper into the project, then will I will decide which audience my magazine will allocate too. For example, “Top Of The Pops” is a magazine which tends to focus towards teenage youths. As they’re focused at such a young age, the linguistic devices and language will not be as developed as “Q” for example - Different audiences require different contexts.

Socio-economic Groups
Socio-econmic groups largely dictate the type and style of magazine due to their wealth. Semi and un-skilled manual working people aren't all that favourable for buying the latest £10 magazine. They just simply can't afford it and it's not do able. There is no point in me creating a music magazine about Top Of The Pops for 'professional, business and white collar' audiences as there isn't a wide range of that type and it isn't certain that they will even like that style. Great research will need to be in order to discover what types of Socio-economic are in to what type of genre and at what price.

Represenation

Once again I feel as if the representation of my magazine solely depends upon the audience, and as I have no designated type of audience, I can’t really elaborate on the representation. However, I can and will state that I want my magazine to be on the verge of risky so it has that slight difference. So many magazines nowa' days risk defining everything that they are just so that they comply with regulations. Not many are willing to take a risk and publish something out of the normal; so that they don’t tread on anyone’s toes. “Kerrang” is a great example of a magazine that likes to take risks. They don’t settle for the normal that all of the other types of publishers do - it makes them more wacky and more defined. If a conversation of magazines is brought up for example, "Kerrang" always comes to mind as of course it stands out. This is simply what I want for my music magazine; to stand out and not be forgotten. The front cover is always about giving the best representation possible to draw people in to reading the magazine. No one particularly wants to see a female youth reading a book on the cover as it isn't favourable. Celebrities want to be incorporated with only the best magazines in the business as it reflects themselves as an artist. This is the 'only' way to go to create a successful magazine.