7.Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

I feel like i have learnt a lot from my preliminary task and this is evident in the outcome of both my pages

One thing I learnt was to include a colour scheme. In my preliminary task, the page looks too plain with the exception of the media convergence logos such as Twitter and Facebook and the puff. I think that now that I included a colour scheme in my final magazine page, it makes it look like a real magazine and it shows which bits are exclusive or not.

Another thing which is evident after my preliminary task is the use of my Photoshop skills. I have honed my skills through various drafts of my music magazine pages and from the preliminary task such as putting the masthead behind the image of the model and not fade it within the image so that it can be seen.

Through my research, along with what I have learnt from my preliminary task, I found out that it was much better to include more sell lines in a smaller font rather than having less in a bigger font. The more sell lines you include, the more information is given to the audience who sees the magazine which makes them know what can be included within the magazine.

I also learnt from my previous task is that it would be much better if I cropped out the background or had a plain background for the images. It makes you focus on the image and the information which surrounds it just like existing magazines have done. On top of this, I also took more care into what picture I should use and how it links more to my audience and not just use any picture which I could find. 

6. What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

 Whilst I was making my pages, I used a variety of different technology in order for me to make my magazine look professional and the best it can be.
I used the camera to take the pictures myself so it can allow me to experiment on which lighting would be best used for the pictures and whether or not it was better to do plain background or one which includes a scenery in it. From taking these pictures, I found out that the lighting works best against a plain background such as white or black and it works better for the angles I have chosen to do for all my pictures. From all of this, I learnt how to improve my photography skills to show a range of different types of personalities through either the body language or the mise-en-scene used for each image.

I used Photoshop to construct my pages in order to give it that professional look. From this, I learnt how to construct pages just like magazines which exist today. I learnt how to crop pictures and it allowed me to see which colours would look best for my pages against the images used.

Dafont.com was the website I used for me to choose the appropriate text for my pages. It allowed me to see which type of sans-serif text would be more appropriate to use for my particular genre. It also helped me make my magazine look like an existing one as it allowed me to compare what texts work and what does not.

I also used Prezi, Microsoft power point to help construct my evaluation questions. This allowed me to present my work differently and so that it is much neater and looks more sophisticated.

5.How did you attract/address your audience?

4.Who would be the audience for your media product?

My main audience for my magazine would be mainly aimed at 14-25 year old, either female of male. This age range is the type of people who would usually listen to this kind of  music since music is listened to more around these ages. It for both male or female audiences because I included both sexes so that it not either male dominant or female dominant so its not for one particular sex.

It could also be aimed at people who are interested in the gossip or sports because I included other industries within my magazine. From this, my target audience will be even bigger because now I can appeal to athletes such as people from the NBA like LeBron James to also read my magazine as he is also into this kind of music. As for the people into the gossip, I included information which they might want to know so if the music side of my magazine doesn't appeal to them, then this extra information may be suitable for them instead.

3.What kind of media institution (publisher) might distribute your media product and why?

2.How does your media product represent particular social groups?

1.In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

FINAL DESIGN FOR MY MUSIC MAGAZINE

INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH - XXL

   

XXL: Hip-Hop News, Rap Music

Editor-in-Chief	Vanessa Satten
Categories	Music magazine
Frequency	6 per year
Publisher	Harris Publications
First issue	1997
Country	United States of America
Based in	New York City, New York
Language	English
Website	www.XXLMag.com

source: Wikipedia



XXL is a hip hop magazine published by Harris Publications and is founded in 1997. They normally include reviews of music albums but this was only started in 2013 with the XXL staff or by the top 5 being chose by public vote.
XXL rate albums from S (poor) to XXL (classic) however only some albums have ever got XXL. These are:

• The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill by Lauryn Hill
• The Blueprint by Jay-Z
• Get Rich or Die Tryin' by 50 Cent
• Be by Common
• Late Registration by Kanye West
• Hell Hath No Fury by Clipse
• My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy by Kanye West
• Life Is Good by Nas
• good kid, m.A.A.d city by Kendrick 

ORIGINAL IDEA FOR MY MUSIC MAGAZINE

These two pages were my first attempts at making my music magazine. At first I thought it would be easier to us a male model for my front cover and for my double page spread but I found out that it would have been easier to go against the mainstream representations of hip-hop/R&B artists and use a female model instead. This links to my research from my questionnaire as most of the people i surveyed are male and this would link to the male gaze by using a female model and this will attract more readers.

RESULTS FOR MY MUSIC MAGAZINE QUESTIONNAIRE

MUSIC MAGAZINE QUESTIONNAIRE

I have used a questionnaire as part of my research in order for me to get an accurate result on what type of genre of music they prefer and how I can act upon this research to see what is more suited to the audience.

1. Are you male or female?

Are you male or female?  Male Female

2. What is your favorite music genre?

what is your favorite music genre?  RnB hip hop rock classical jazz

Other (please specify)

3. What format would you prefer?

What format would you prefer?  Plain A lot of sell lines Not a lot of sell lines

Other (please specify)

4. What sort of content would you like to see in your magazine?

What sort of content would you like to see in your magazine?  Top 10 tracks Top 10 albums Gigs and events New coming artists and tracks

Other (please specify)

5. How often do you buy magazines?

How often do you buy magazines?  Once a week Once a month Don't purchase magazines

6. How much would you like to spend on the magazines?

How much would you like to spend on the magazines?  50p £1 £2 £3+

Other (please specify)

MUSIC DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD DRAFT

CONTENTS PAGE DRAFT

MUSIC FRONT COVER DRAFT