Oringinal photos

Here are a few of some of the photos I took for possible front cover pictures. I will later choose one (with the input of my target audience) to use. I will then edit the photo to then fit in with the genre and style I am aiming for.

Socio- Economic Status

Whilst choosing my target audience I've had to research very deeply in to everything about the audience I am trying to appeal to in order to make sure my magazine does appeal successfully.
 
Your Socio-Economic status is determined by your income and occupation;

A-(upper middle class); Landed Gentry,
B-(middle class); professional working people, higher manergerial
C1-(upper middle class); junior managerials, admin workers
C2-(skilled working class); plumbers, carpenters, white van man
D-(working class); unskilled workers
E-(those at lowest level of subsistence); students, unemployed, state pensioners

Some people argue that this theory is outdated and should not be used to 'catorgorise' people. However, I disagree with this and I feel that the socio-economic grouping helps to be able to target an audience more successfully as it allows you to infer things such as how much to price the product at (in terms of a music magazine) based on the income of the people aimed for. For example, if your target audience is of the status 'A' the magazine can be much more expensive than those of the catorgory 'E'. This is because those in high paid jobs are able to afford a lot more than that of the unemployed in group E. However, although I think the grouping is good, it also does have some negatives. It doesnt take into consideration your living conditions and the 'bigger' picture such as hobbies, interests and family incomes. This may be an issue as 'students', such as myself, would be considered in the 'E' catorgory due to the individuals income and job status, however if the parents of the said student is in catogory 'A' the student is likely to recieve an allowance or have more general money than others in the catorgory E due to the overall status of the family.

A music magazine is considered a luxury much rather than an essential so this links to the socio economic status of the people I want to aim my magazine to. As it is a considered a luxury, it means the people will need to have 'extra' money in order to buy it aswell as the essentials they may need.

By taking this into account, I have decided to aim my magazine at 15-30 year olds with the status of C1-E. Although this is quite a wide group to aim for
I choose it as the majority of 15-18 year olds will be in the demographic E but will have parents in the group C1/C2 and/or will have a part time job enablinhem to have money for luxuries. The rest of my age bracket will be in the group C1/C2 with a job that pays enough to again allow money for luxuries such as music magazines!

Publishers

The first music magazine producer is Bauer. Bauer Verlagsgruppe has been managed by four generations of the Bauer family. Bauer Publishing Group has grown into a worldwide publishing and media company. The Bauer Publishing Group comprises 300 magazines worldwide in 15 countries, incuding TV and radio stations. It started in the UK with the launch of 'Bella' magazine in 1987 and as H Bauer Publishing became Britain's 3rd largest publisher. It then further expanded in the UK with the purchase of 'Emap Consumer Media' and 'Emap Radio' in 2008 to become the UK's biggest publishing group.
They have produced magazines such as Q and Kerrang. If i went with this company, my magazine would be amoung well known music magazines. This would benefit me as it would able my magazines popularity to me incread as more people would buy it and I would reach a wider audience as this company can afford high costing advertisement for the magazine.

Because Bauer is such a big company with over 300 magazines up and running, they can also get this magazine to 15 different countries, therefore making the magazine more well known.

Another big music magazaine producer would be IPC Media. IPC Media produce the music magazine NME which is in the genre of high chart music or new successful artists. IPC Magazines Limited is the largest consumer magazine publisher in Europe. It has more than 50 magazines in circulation, with its market leaders in the notoriously competitive women's magazine category. Sales of IPC magazines comprised just over one-third of the £700 million the U.K. spent on consumer titles in 1991. However, IPC Media only produce a few music magazines which, you could say, makes them less experience then Bauer.

RECCE

These are some photos of my chosen setting for the front cover. I chose a field as i feel that it coinsides with the genre and the target audience to an extent as indie lovers are often quite outdoor-sy. I think the setting will give it a good look due to its unigueness and natural feel.

Double Page Spread Research

 

I have decided to look at excisting double page spreads in different magazines before creating my own. Looking at previous professional double page spreads will hopefully show me what is used around the market and give me insipration to give my double page spread the same professional aspect.

Even though all of the double page spreads shown here are from different magazines, you can see that they all stick to the design of a full page picture on one side and the article on the other. So, for a professional look on my magazine I will stick to this idea too.
 
Firstly, I really like the idea of the 'L' on th Lady Gaga cover behind the article as it reinforces the article topic and gives it a modern and contempary look to it. Adding to this the fact that the whole page is black and white, the red 'L' brightens up the page and will catch a readers eye when flicking through the magazine.
 
However, I also like the idea that the title runs over to the other page on the 'Kerrang' cover as it clearly shows that it is a double page spread and also clearly idnetifies that the article is about the picutre shown on the opposite page.
A major convention which is shown in these images and that I will stick to is the use of collumns for my article. This is used in nearly all magazines to ensure a professional look. It also makes it clear and easy to read.

 



Prototype magazine article

for my magazine article i didn't want a classic interview with the latest artist or a review of the best album out now so i decided to do a handy guide to surviving a festival. i thought this would be more personal for the reader to read.

FESTIVALS: YOUR ULTIMATE GUIDE TO SURVIVING THE DRINK, DIRT AND DANCING.

What you will need: 

• one tough pair of wellies- god forbid a festival without wellies!
• a tent- preferably one you don't mind getting broken by the antics.
• sleeping bag- essential!
• money- who wants to waste the day queuing at a cash machine?! 
• camera- portable or digital to capture your fav artists.
• clothes- but pack light and make sure you warn mum to be ready to wash the beer and mud out of every item.
• ALCOHOL- whatever takes your fancy and as much as you can carry!

Upon arrival;

Now, this may be considered the most stressful and challenging part of your festival weekend! if you're driving by car, i must recommend taking a photo of where you park or you may be staying a bit longer than you expected to! next, go find your tent pitch. it is essential to be in the perfect place- at least 50ft from the toilets to avoid the inevitable queue's but not too far away to stop you being able to take a sneaky mid night trip. 
Once you've chosen the perfect, but practical, tent place set up your tent safely and securely (or as safe as you can get it) have a wonder round, get your bearings and take a mental note of anything you may need to know, i.e. the toilets, main stages and food vans. 
After this, go back to your tent and guess what start drinking! whatever the time is, who cares?! drinking time is anytime at a festival! Also, try to drink as much as you can before heading off to the main arenas as any drink you have on you will be confiscated on entry (and the chance of getting it back is about the same chance of getting it in there in the first place). now, once you believe to be a nice, kind of happy drunk its time to hit the first main arena!
This may vary for different festivals as some may have a few main music stages so the best thing to do is buy one of those handy programmes that hang round your neck and make a note of the bands or artists you cannot miss. once you've decided on the must see bands take a wonder round and see if anyone is playing, preferably someone you haven't heard of.. festivals is a great chance to widen your music taste! 
This should take up a couple of hours or so, and if you're still alive at the end then you pretty sure to survive the rest of the festival. 

While you're there;

Toilets- yes, they're disgusting but you're just going to have to man it and hold your nose and whatever you do, don't look down! 
Washing- there is a minimal chance of this happening! some festivals do you provide you with showering facilities- ones that make you feel dirtier than when you went in, so your best bet is the going to be the bowl and tap.. so make sure you pack your toothbrush and flannel for a quick freshen up! deodorant is essential to as you can imagine!
Sleeping- sleep as much as you can at night! energy needs to be conserved for all the time you'll be vertical with dancing and getting drunk (although this could lead to being horizontal!)
Finding people- now, signal is pretty rubbish at festivals in the middle of a field so pre arrange to meet people in person and decide on a spot to meet everyone if you do happen to get lost within the mayhem. but if not, go socialise and hopefully you will all end up at the same tent later that day!

this is not my finished article and i will add more sections to the article such as safety tips and other things you may need to know about.