Album Cover

On my double page spread I will involve my artists new album. In my research I found that this was typical of a page and almost a convention. So I quickly designed a simple album cover.

I called it 'All  You Need to Know' as quite often musicians are asked very personal questions so this is the musicians response to this. The curvy sans serif font conveys a fluency but also creates a statement which can be connected to a signature which is often used to confirm information so the title is almost confirming that Scarlet is signing across her feelings. I covered her face to convey that this album is the artist and is all her emotions. I used the same font for Poppy Scarlet as the magazine to create the feel that this is her logo. I used a close up with her looking straight into the camera to create an honest tone and that this is everything she is, thus creating a personal connection between viewer/listener and artist. At some points the writing cannot be read as it blends into the image but this is the idea to convey that this is a part of the artist.

Possible Questions for my Interview

After reading artist interviews in articles I can now brainstorm possible questions I could use. Most of the interviews are based around a product and I want this feel but I would like to involve a personal tone as well.

1. How was recording your new album different from your last?
2. What's it like hearing your name over the microphone of the BRIT's?
3. What was the first song you ever learned on guitar?
4. Do you ever look back to that YouTube video with five views?
5. What was the meaning behind your new album 'All You Need to Know'?
6. What's the one thing you can't perform without?
7. What inspires your lyrics?
8. What is the most unusual thing a fan has ever done?
9. Did you grow up with music?
10. A summery of your story in five words

These are just ideas so when I get into a fluid writing style I will adjust these questions or add some to relax the tone and decrease the formal tone to appear more chatty as well as make it seem like nothing has been edited and Poppy Scarlet said all the words printed under her name.

Artist Development

 

Here I have developed Poppy Scarlet and explained the name choice, I have also brainstormed possible traits and personalities she would have so I can reflect it within my interview to create a sense of a real artist who often mostly convey their personalities through their words. It is important I capture these traits within my interview as my music magazine promises an intimate relationship between the artist and reader so I must ensure that the interview creates the feel of someone speaking without the need for fillers and hedges in her reply so therefore the reader feels that no speech has been edited of changed by Poppy Scarlet's manager.

Photo Shoot Preperation

Apart from all clothing, all images are my own and magazines have been scanned in

 

Deciding on a Name for my Music Magazine

Article Brainstorm

After my research and survey I found that articles are vital in whether people buy the magazine so I will brainstorm articles to ensure I get it right. For my music magazine I would like to have more featured articles than regular as I feel that, like fashion, music changes and if I was to have common regular articles they would eventually become boring and outdated, although my magazine will still have regular features there will be a ratio of 1:2 so for every regular article I have there will be two features.

Regulars

1. PICK News - A summery of news around the area of that month.
2. youPICK - Alternative charts.
3. PICK Reviews - Reviews of albums, artists, gigs and singles.
4. PICK Fan Mail - Letters and other social goings on.
5. PICKme - Competitions for the tickets you need.

For my regular features the title will include the title of the magazine, this is so it is recognised to be special to the magazine and that these articles are regular for my magazine. The magazine title PICK is appropriate here as it can come across as a choice and that a certain part has been chosen.

Features

1. Return of the Vinyl - How to fit it in your pocket.
I did some research into music news and found out that the vinyl is coming back but usually this wouldn't suit my demographic as vinyl's were around before my audience were born yet they are coming back into trend with alternative artists like Arctic Monkeys releasing their songs onto the format people are buying more and more vinyl's. I then put 'How to fit it in your pocket' this refers to the way that the majority of people listen to music via devices they can fit in their pockets such as phones and iPods, from my earlier market research I found that the entire of my surveys said they own a device that can fit in their pocket so therefore an article that wouldn't be relevant to my demographic becomes relevant, it also refers to the size of the vinyl as something usually you wouldn't able to easily carry round the use of 'your' makes the article more personal and sounds like the article would directly benefit the reader so they can take advantage of this new trend.
2. intro: Little Comets - How they turned a bakery aisle into a stage.
Here I used intro this implies that this band is new or that the magazine is announcing a band that would interest the reader. The majority of people wouldn't know who the Little Comets are so the caption is 'how they turned a bakery into a stage' because this is a weird combination so therefore gives the reader a feel of curiosity therefore drawing them to the article even though they might not know the band.
3. It's not over until the comeback tour - Bands that need to give it a rest.
During my research I came across bands that had broken up but had reformed for a 'comeback' tour, so this article highlights that when a band finish it doesn't mean that they are finished for good. By looking at the title alone it could appear to be that PICK have backstage access to a comeback tour so I have given it a short and clear caption so the viewer will know the topic of the article.
4. Give it some Wellington Boots - Festival line-ups slowly being revealed right here.
While I was looking on music news websites to find inspiration for my articles I found that line ups for festivals are being revealed, e.g Latitude. In my audience research I found that there was a wide range of who went and who didn't and then in further research I found that there was an even wider range of reasons to why my audience did/didn't go from money to not having enough knowledge to feel that they could get there, this article will assist them on their problems therefore attracting the majority of the audience who go to festivals or who want to go but face numerous problems. I could make this assistance more clear in the caption as at face value it looks like this article is just giving the line ups, which it will be but it will also be giving extra assistance.
5. Ticket Stubs and Exfoliating Rubs - Bastille reveal their tour experience.
Here I decided to look at another alternative band, Bastille, which have recently come to Norwich on their tour, they have also been having chart success. By including Bastille it emphasises the top local artists that are here and also that this interview was especially for the local magazine rather than copied or available in other music magazines. By using a rhyming title it rolls off the readers tongue better and is also slightly strange which would heighten the interest of the reader making them want to read the article. The 'ticket stubs' is part of gigs so when the audience read this they will know that the article is related to live music and then the 'exfoliating rubs' is the part that gives the influence to backstage access as this kind of information is never easily available so therefore heightens the interest of the viewer. I could draw the readers attention in more by having Bastille in the title rather than the caption as a viewer would more likely see their name in the title and this viewer could be a fan of Bastille which could draw in a purchase.
6. We call the Arctic Monkeys - Why they are more AM than PM.
This article is another one based on an alternative band. The reason I used the language "call" is because they have recently released a single 'Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High?" and in the caption I used their album title 'AM' this implies to the reader that we talk to the Arctic Monkeys about their new releases and that the article and magazine is fairly up to date with the alternative genre.
7. School Talent Shows are Cool - How Lordes school talent show got her noticed by Universal
This article is another one that focuses on the artists. The new young Lordes has topped the charts worldwide and got noticed through a school talent show. Usually school talent shows carry connotations of being 'lame' or 'nerdy' but here I have involved an article that talks about talent shows which my demographic would still be in the age range of having. I used the language 'cool' as this also can carry negative connotations as 'nerdy' and trying to fit in, but by using a declarative sentence it portrays that PICK is setting the trend. I also put the record company Universal into the caption to provide evidence for the article, which will portray that this article is serious and worth reading. Again I could improve this title by including Lordes in the title to catch the eye of the reader.
8. Vampire Weekend get their raincoats on - How they swapped sunglasses for umbrellas.
Here is another article that focuses on artists on American alternative band Vampire Weekend who have recently performed in the local area of England. Therefore they have had to swap their attire from sunglasses, typical American weather of sunshine, to raincoats (the typical British weather). It also relates to their breakthrough song 'A-Punk' which also reminds the viewer of who they are if they are unfamiliar with the band.
9. The ugly face of the music industry - Simon Cowell what have you done?
This article isn't based on any artists but the music industry in the alternative genre. Quite often alternative music subverts conventions of the typical Simon Cowell product so here is a history lesson in the music industry and how it has evolved, it will also give tips for smaller artists as quite often there is a big jump from bedroom to stage, this will interest any musicians in my demographic, but this assistance I need to make clear in the title.
10. Baby it's cold outside - Songs so warm that you'll want a BBQ.
Due to edition being a January 2014 it means that generally the weather is fairly cold. The title relates to a famous Christmas song 'Baby It's Cold Outside' which is well known throughout society and will instantly recognise, Christmas relates to winter which reinforces the cold feeling. My caption then follows with opposite lexis in a different semantic field of summer with 'warm' and 'BBQ' which have more positive connotations than winter. Due to the portability of a magazine the way it can be read anywhere a reader can quite often be reading this outside maybe waiting for a bus as the majority of my audience probably won't be able to drive they will want a warm escape therefore drawing them towards this article.

Flat Plans

Front Cover Flat Plan

Here is my flat plan for my front cover. I have kept the elements of my front cover very simple and have conformed to conventions by having all my cover lines on the left third so they can be seen on the newsstand. I have put the barcode, issue and price on the bottom right hand corner so it cannot be seen easily as I feel that it is an unattractive part of a magazine. If I included anymore parts to my front cover I feel that it would become overcrowded and make the viewer feel confused on where to look.

Contents Flat Plan

Here is my flat plan for my contents page. I have used a grid with 3 columns but it may not appear to be structured like this as a few of the features spread across more than one column. I placed the masthead at the top only this time it will be smaller but there will be a special place for the logo so the name is constantly drilled into the viewer so they will remember it more. Beneath will be the title which will be slightly bigger than the masthead from the cover so the reader will know that this page is the contents. In the first column at the top there will be a montage of backstage photos from my shoot, this will make the reader feel like they are going 'behind the scenes' and make them feel that not only is my music magazine giving them an interview but what the musicians are really like rather than what we tell them to be, therefore removing the barrier between the magazine and the reader and making their experience more personal. In the column next to this there will be a slightly enlarged image from behind the scenes this will emphasise the personal 'VIP' experience making the viewer want to read the article or, if they are browsing in the shop, want to purchase the magazine. This part will also go into the gutter on the left. Over the top of these images will be a folio and caption to help the viewer navigate around the magazine. Below there will be another enlarged image only from a different shoot and underneath will be a folio and caption, this space will go to the main story that featured on the cover so the reader can easily find this story and that anybody looking at the contents page will be instantly drawn to this story. This main feature will go into the gutter on the left and right. Below this and spread across both columns will be a feature unique to my music magazine called where there is a summary of how the magazine was made, for example '12 guitars were smashed' or '1 ukulele solo' this will add to the personal tone that my magazine is aiming for, this feature will also give the reader another reason to go to the contents page and could interest them in other articles that they wouldn't usually read. In the third column will be the list of 'Features' and 'Regulars' which will contain the folio and caption of all the articles. I kept this list together so the contents page remains ordered and assists the reader to navigate their way round the magazine rather than leaving them confused due to an unordered contents page. The guttering will consist of 1cm which is fairly wide but I feel that a wide space will draw more attention to colours and to the centre of the page. Above the columns but under 'contents' there will be the month, issue number and social network information. I put these here as they are under the biggest part of the contents page so will more likely be seen here, it is important to have the social networking information as this is the main way my demographic communicate.

Double Page Spread Flat Plan

Here is my double page spread flat plan. I have placed the title across the whole two pages so that the reader knows that these two pages are based on the articles and so it draws attention. To the left I have put a banner which contains a special feature called 'The Quick Fire Round' where through social networking readers will get to submit questions and in 100 seconds we will ask the artists and they will have to quickly answer, this feature will add a more personal tone to the interview and unique side to the magazine. I put a large image which would take up the majority of the left side of the page so draw attention and to keep the design simple this image will go right to the edge of the page to make the page look fluent then slowly fade out under the interview, at the bottom there will be five smaller images from the shoot to make the audience feel like they were there. On the right there will be the interview which will have three columns to keep the information spread out and even so it doesn't look overwhelming. In the middle of the interview there will be a quote to break up the texts and at the end of the interview there will be information on the artists tracks and where to buy.

Possible Artists to use in my Music Magazine

In my surveys I found that the reasons people didn't read music magazines was because no artists appealed to them so I looked at alternative charts to see what was popular in the UK, to be more precise I will also look at not just national charts but regional charts as my magazine is regional my audience will be interested in local music as wall as national. This is just a brainstorm on possible artists suitable to feature in my magazine and to place on the contents and front page. I am researching this area due to in my survey 57% said that they didn't read music magazines because no artists interested them, so to avoid this I will cover as many artists as possible.

Vance Joy

Riptide

Vance Joy is a Australian singer-songwriter who is new to the UK alternative scene. At the moment this post was written he is number one, this is important as this means he will be a well known figure among the alternative music scene this will attract my demographic as they are likely to know who Vance Joy is due to him having the most superior place in the chart. In the overall main charts his song Riptide is the only one from him but is in number 18 and has risen 17 places, this conveys to me that his popularity is increasing. In conclusion I think Vance Joy would be a good artist to use as he is new on the scene meaning that information on him would be quite hard to get hold of in magazines as he is a brand new artist so therefore will draw attention from the audience as well as magazines but before this breakthrough information would be scarce. Vance Joy would also be recognised by my demographic due to being number one in the alternative charts there is also a chance of him being recognised by other viewers as he is climbing up the charts and receiving airplay from BBC Radio 1 this station is aimed at the age range of my audience and by raising the profile through this it can draw new readers to my music magazine. Although checking on his website his upcoming tour is excluding the East Anglia region meaning that he will have nothing to do with the region therefore excluding him from the regional aim for my music magazine, I will have to consider this when I decide on whether to use this artist.

Bastille

Of the Night

Here is number two in the alternative chart. It is their sixth single to enter the mainstream charts so unlike Vance Joy with the possibility that he might be recognised there is an extremely high chance that this band will be recognised by the viewer including a high majority within my demographic but also a high majority outside due to high airplay from BBC Radio 1 so therefore bringing in other readers who recognise the band. Due to their high success rate this will be an unexpected result as stereotypically local music magazines don't cover top, high profile artists. Looking on the mainstream chart I see that Bastille 'Of the Night' is 17 in the chart and went down since the previous week but this is expected after 9 weeks in the chart and how mainstream music constantly changes from new entries pushing them down. This could slightly effect my decision on whether to use them within my music magazine as this shows a lack of demand but still Bastille are a high profile band who have visited Norwich twice and both selling out therefore portraying a demand for the group within the area therefore attracting viewers and Bastille fans which can be outside of my demographic and become interested in my music magazine through their passion for Bastille. Looking at Bastille's website I see that there are no upcoming gigs for this area meaning that they won't be 'talk of the town' when released but there are very few gigs in the United Kingdom and the majority are international therefore meaning that interviews with Bastille will be scarce therefore creating another reason for a viewer to become a reader.


Half Moon Run

Full Circle

Here is Half Moon Run which was number three in the alternative charts. Like Vance Joy, Half Moon Run are also new to the UK music scene and this song Full Circle will be considered to be their 'breakthrough' track. The track receives a lot of airplay on BBC Radio 1 which, as I have previously said, has a similar age demographic to my music magazine so by using Half Moon Run I can attract people who don't completely fit my target audience. Doing some research on the band the song Full Circle received over 1 million hits on YouTube overnight therefore could be portraying that this band isn't a 'one hit wonder'. This sudden spike in views can convey a demand for this band which could possibly reflect onto my magazine and cause more copies to sell. Looking in the mainstream chart there is no sign of Half Moon Run meaning that their music hasn't completely broken through yet but this can be a good thing as the stereotype of alternative fans is the way they like music to remain individual and unique rather than be in the charts, so maybe I should follow the stereotype of my demographic to meet their expectations. Looking on their website I find that they are only touring Canada for the majority of 2014 so therefore might not be relevant to my local area so therefore interest in the band can be low.

I will now search for local alternative bands. Sadly there are no local alternative charts which could be something I introduce in my magazine as a unique selling point. I found some local artists by looking at certain local venues that held bands of the alternative, rock and indie genre.





The Interpreters

Actions Not Words

Here is The Interpreters a band which plays at local venues and gigs. I discovered this band on a list of all the bands within the local area. They seem popular with 5705 plays on their Actions Not Words songs and are 'connected' to 1.5K on their MySpace page this conveys a popularity and demand for the group that if I were to feature them on my front cover or within my magazine then viewers could be brought in and purchase my music magazine. Although they seem popular their MySpace page isn't updated and there are no current events/gigs the dates the music was last released was in 2009 which conveys that this band doesn't exist anymore and even if they do there is no recent music to suggest they are in demand or in the Norwich alternative music circuit.

When looking for alternative bands within the area of Norwich I found it extremely difficult to find them online and when I did find bands their genre wasn't suitable for my magazine or that their audience were older than my demographic. I now understand why there was a gap here in the market because there simply wasn't enough established bands to create an interest or enough readers for the magazine to be consistent. This search was fruitless and took a huge amount of time so therefore I have made the decision to change the aim of my magazine from regional to national and aim for the more mainstream bands this means that I will have to research more mainstream bands within the alternative genre as this shift is a huge one and can damage the intimacy of my magazine but if I go about this transition cautiously I can still create the desired effect when I wanted the magazine to be local. 

Arctic Monkeys

One for the Road

Arctic Monkeys have been on the music scene since 2002 and ever since have made alternative music with 5 albums and receiving nominations and awards, seven BRIT's and a Mercury prize. With the fastest selling debut album ever and always placing in the top 40 with new tracks the Arctic Monkeys are leaders of this music genre. They perceive the typical 'bad boy' persona which is the stereotype of the alternative scene and quite often set trends such as the vinyl, Arabella their new single will be released on vinyl on the 28th March 2014,  which has become stylish again after Arctic Monkeys started selling their music on the platform. Their currency in the music industry is present due to their new single Arabella being released on the 10th March 2014, their AM tour just finishing and their new album AM at number two and in the album charts for 25 weeks.  From the high amount of awards, albums and trends it is clear to me that the Arctic Monkeys are popular within my target audience and remain current enough to appear within my magazine.



The White Stripes

Seven Nation Army

The White Strips were formed in 1997 and were parents to the famous bass riff and are known as one of the iconic parts of alternative music. They gave permission for Marcus Collins from The X-Factor to sing Seven Nation Army which could've tarnished their popularity from how opinions of The X-Factor, especially those who enjoy music where those have worked hard for fame like in the alternative, rock and singer songwriter, have declined in popularity. Also researching into the band I find that they had broken up in 2011 meaning that The White Stripes aren't current or trending so therefore interest in them would be low and due to their career being at its peak so long ago in 2002 it is unlikely that by just using their name in the magazine some would not recognise the band, in my magazine I have got to keep with my generation and ensure that there will be names of artists that the majority of my demographic will recognise.

Imagine Dragons



On Top of the World

This is Imagine Dragons who have only very recently, unlike Arctic Monkeys who have a high number of years within the music scene, broken into the alternative industry in September 2012, but are hugely popular among fans and those who listen to the genres music. They have been recognised by NME and MTV as the biggest breakthroughs of 2013 in America, yet their completion of a world tour emphasises their worldwide popularity and specifically to Great Britain have been in the album charts for 48 weeks with Night Visions. Although this is meant for the greats of alternative rock the amount of publicity, popularity and awards Imagine Dragons are apparently set to be the next big thing for alternative music. This band would be great for my music magazine as it could make them award of this up and coming band although I feel it might be too late for them to be classed as huge as they have already made it.

Finally I was hoping to have a page on a less high profile alternative band so I decided to look around in the alternative section of iTunes and find a band with not a huge amount of publicity for this section so I can make my viewers aware of the next big thing.

Little Comets

Little Italy



The Little Comets are an English trio who have been around since 2009 and have released two albums, In Search of the Elusive Little Comets and Life is Elsewhere. They've been known for their slightly more crazy side by performing in unusual places as a publicity stunts, venues have included the bakery aisle in Marks & Spencer and University lecture halls. It is certain that this band have been trying to break through since the beginning. Releasing EP after EP and being dropped from Columbia records before the release of their album this band are truly independent. They are now in the process of releasing a new EP, The Gentle EP, making them current and independent enough to have a page spreading their talent while pleasing their tight knit group of fans which will bring in readership for the magazine.

Masthead Development

Here I looked at different fonts in the different names and developed them into final designs ready for use on my magazine. I started by looking at a range then narrowing it down into a final logo, although this is what I want for my magazine it may be slightly different on the final piece due to me aiming to use Photoshop whereas these fonts have been made through Dafont.

1. I dislike this design due to the sketchy and  roughness of the font, it looks like it has been drawn which adds an unprofessional tone. I feel that the connotations of this typeface is doodling which is something you do when you are bored/in lesson at school, this  is outside my demographic of those who choose to be in education, I feel this font my lack a tone of maturity that my audience have. It is important that my masthead reflects and appeals to my audience as this is the first thing that is seen on the newsstand and also the biggest, most eye catching part of the magazine. The thickness is bold which is very good for catching attention and it is Sans Serif which means that it has a modern tone to it. It is a very unique style to the font yet I dislike the doodling as it gives off the wrong connotations. I feel the spacing is too close together and that my masthead should be spread out across the magazine so it can be easily read on the newsstand, to draw attention and to fill the space on my front cover. It is 3D which adds to the miscommunication in the meaning yet even if this font wasn't 3D there wouldn't be anything special about it, the 3D part is the thing that adds individuality to the font.
2. I quite like this font as it is incredibly unique and can contrast with a patterned background. This font is unique and throughout my research I haven't seen any other masthead like it, this will allow it to stand out and attract attention, therefore not blending in with the other music magazines. I also think that this font reflects my audience as unique and individual which also conveys the whole basis of my magazine as treating each reader as an individual rather than an overall group.
3. This style of the font has been coming in and out of fashion for a while, it conveys the American college font. I dislike this font due to the ins and out of it being in trend as when the font it out of style it could affect peoples first impressions. Also due to it being American and my audience being British it removes the personal tone and gives the impression that my magazine is trying to fit in with the style or try to make my audience more American and try to change them.
4. I also dislike this serif font as it has a very western style font, it gives a country and western genre which means it is misleading about the genre of music. It also misrepresents my audience as I feel that this font would appeal to an older audience rather than my demographic.
5. This font is more rough and rugged which I dislike as it decreases the professional and sleek look. I want my audience to feel that they are purchasing a well established magazine.
6. I quite like the way there are silhouettes edged out of the masthead, this makes the design very unique and individual yet removes a kind of impact due to some sides being removed and the contrast lessened. I also wouldn't know what to edge out of the letters that would reflect my audience or the genre of the magazine. I could possibly add a silhouette of a guitar as this is the main instrument in my music genre.
7. I really like how there is another outline to this font but there is a feel that the font is made out of fabric, yet this adds a feminine side due to the stereotype surrounding textiles. It also wouldn't have anything to do with the subject matter of the magazine, this is therefore misleading for the viewer.
8. I dislike this serif font as it is very masculine, it is an army stencil font so therefore conveys the stereotype, by having a masculine style this would alienate the female viewer. I feel that there is no sharp edge to the font causing the professional tone to be lost. I really like the outline outside the font this sections this off from the rest of the magazine and causes attention to be drawn to the name. Although I dislike this font it is very bold which is what I am trying to aim for through a masthead.
9. I quite like the difference in this font and how the lines are in different places, although I like the unconventional letters it comes across in a very art-deco style which isn't hip and trendy, it also suggests that this is an art magazine more than a music magazine.
10. I really like this font due to many different styles brought together, it has a 3D effect which causes the masthead to stand out, I also like the way the letters have been spaced out, due to BEAT being such a short word it wouldn't take up much room at the top of the front page, if I space the letters out it creates more impact. I like the 3D effect but it's achieved by many different lines rather than a whole block, this subverts the stereotypical style of a 3D type.
11. I also really like this font due to the sleek lines and strong black will stand out due to the high contrast that would be created. I also like the way that the holes are filled in on the letters, this is subverting the conventions of a typical bold font, this reflects my audience as individual and the kind if people who subverts conventions.
12. Although I like the pixelated effect on this font and the retro style, it gives off the wrong messages. The pixelated effect gives a video game format and would suggest that the magazine was a gaming genre rather than music. It also suggests a retro style which can be considered old fashioned which is opposite of what my magazine is aiming for.
13. This font is well spaced and stands out, although it looks professional I feel that this font is too common and there is no clear individual style that would be recognized if it was on its own, the masthead is the first thing the viewer sees on the newsstand so it must have its own unique traits.
14. This type is similar to 13 only not as bold, I like this font but due to it not being conventional but the font doesn't stand out and wouldn't be easily read at a distance therefore putting my magazine at a disadvantage to others.
15. Previously all the fonts have been sans-serif but this one is serif, I dislike the serif font as it can have connotations of old fashioned which is not what my audience want, I also feel that the serif font removes the modern and sleek feel in a masthead. The letters on this font are really close together therefore giving a chic style that would be expected in a typical ladies fashion magazine although I wish to subvert conventions I feel that using this font will mislead the viewers at the news stand.
16. I quite like this font as it stands out and is unique from other designs, although this font wouldn't work if I wanted my lettering spaced out as the lines wouldn't have the same impact as when they are parallel to each other.
17. This font carries a similar style to 11 only it isn't filled in, I feel that to draw the eye my masthead has to be filled in and has thick lines, this could be filled in with a pattern but could cause struggle with the reader.
18. I quite like the spacing of the font and how it has followed the typical conventions of a 3D font apart from the angle has changed, this increases the amount of black and therefore causing it to stand out more. The 3D effect causes the masthead to look modern therefore reflecting the magazine.
19. This font is in a handwriting style which removes the modern tone that I want to achieve. Even though this font stands out it doesn't convey the trendy, sleek or professional tones which is needed as the masthead has to reflect the audience and the content whereas this design draft does neither.
20. Like design 19 this font has a handwriting style but this is more quirky and unique, although this reaches one of my briefs it doesn't stand out so therefore cannot be used, also this design doesn't have any unique traits causing it to be easily recognized, a masthead needs a motif which can be used throughout the magazine and I feel that this doesn't have an individual feel.
21. This draft is also similar to 19 yet this font is even worse due to the unclear writing where the T looks like a J this would definitely add an unprofessional tone to the overall magazine.
22. I quite like this design but I feel that is unsuitable for my music magazine. The font looks like paint therefore can be confused for an art magazine rather than a music magazine, due to this there are no sleek smooth edges which removes the professional style to the magazine.
23.  This font is similar to 22 but there are scribbles over the top, this can add confusion and remove the professional feel to the magazine that my readers desire, the scribble can confuse a viewer at the newsstand and can make me masthead less clear so therefore I should avoid any obstructions to my designs.
24. This design is very bold yet can appeal to different types of people, some of my demographic will have good connotations to the graffiti style but others may carry negative connotations which will impact on the first impression and can put them off on the magazine.
25. This design has a handwriting and doodle feel to it which removes the professional feel to the magazine and also can confuse the viewer on the genre as doodling can come across very arty, this font carries no musical connotations and also doesn't reflect the title or the intentions of the magazine so therefore misrepresents the magazine.

Here I experimented with different fonts and placed them on a photo off Google which will be similar to what I'm aiming for so I will know what the fonts will look like on the cover of my magazine.

Now I move on the AMPLIFY designs and I will go through the same process again to try and have a design for my masthead.

1. I really like this masthead, it is sleek and sharp meaning that it looks professional yet it holds an individual style which will be recognized at the newsstand. I like how it is Sans Serif as I feel the majority of Serif fonts have connotations of old fashioned or chic in the majority of contexts so I prefer Sans Serif so the right message is portrayed. It is quite thick meaning it will stand out at the newsstand. The unique style will allow it to have a higher recognisability factor. The spacing is just right as it isn't too squashed yet isn't too far apart as AMPLIFY is quite a long word it would be read quicker if it was closer rather than spaced apart but as BEAT is quite a short word therefore meaning that it would look better if it was spread out more. This font isn't 3D which isn't a problem and I feel for a longer title a 3D title may be too cramped and may ruin the professional tone. The disadvantages of this font is that I feel it isn't sleek enough, some of the lines are thicker than others and some parts aren't level, this removes some of the fluent tone I want but I can improve the font yet keep the individual style of the filled in spaces for my final masthead.
2. This font is similar to number 1. It has a thinner weight which is a disadvantage as it wouldn't stand out as well as the masthead. This is a sans serif font which adds to the modern and sleek tone. There isn't much individuality about this masthead apart from the lowercase i which is incredibly similar to Apple products such as the iPhone and iPod so this is another point that this isn't unique and also there is nothing mind blowing about a lowercase letter in the middle of the word it doesn't make the viewer remember the masthead. The spacing is really close which makes it look cramped and unprofessional. When I look at this font I think of comics which is a bad connotation to have as it can mislead the viewer on the genre of the magazine and the viewer could mistake the music magazine for a comic book, also comic books are stereotypically aimed at boys which could alienate girls from purchasing the magazine. Although it looks like a comic book font it can also be known as retro which can look stylish on a magazine yet due to the connotations it would be too misleading on a newsstand and would look strange on the contents or double page spread as it would be so different from the house style.
3.This font has the perfect thickness as it isn't too thick that it looks bulky and is hard to read and it isn't too thin so it doesn't stand out on the front cover. It is sans serif which I like due to the modern connotations. There is no unique factor though and there is nothing that could be remembered through the masthead which is a huge downfall in the type as there needs to be an individual tone that reflects my audience and can be remembered when seen. The spacing is also ideal as it isn't pushed together yet it isn't miles apart the balance is just right. It isn't 3D but this is a positive thing as it can look unprofessional if it is all squashed together and when a font is 3D it can take up a lot of room which isn't what I want.
4. The weight on this font is very thick and it will draw attention at the newsstand although I feel that this font is a bit too thick and can look bulky and sit unnaturally on the front cover. It is sans serif which has modern and sleek connotations yet I feel that the thickness and unlevelled parts remove this from the font. The connotations of this font I think are caveman and prehistoric due to the bulkiness to the font and how it resembles writing in a marker pen. There is a unique style to the font which is good but there is nothing that will make the viewers mind remember that masthead. The spacing is just right for a masthead as it has got a good balance between too close and too far. This font is also similar to number 1 which I quite liked.
5. The thickness on this font is just right for it's style, it will stand out on the front cover. It is sans serif and the spacing is ideal. Although there is nothing unique about this masthead but I can experiment and attempt to make it more unique.
6. This font is very similar to number 5 but the font is more curved, I prefer this as there is more individuality to this font, although I will have to make some attempts to try and make the type more individual and memorable. I prefer the L of number 5 than of number 6 so I might swap them over.
7. The thickness of this font is perfect and it will stand out on the front cover, although it is a serif font which takes away the modern feel and adds a western tone which can confuse the viewer to thinking that the music magazine is a western genre. I can take inspiration from the use of a larger first letter, last letter and the use of lines, this adds individuality to the font and even if the font isn't very unique by adding this it can create a memorable masthead.
8. This font is extremely bulky and would be very narrow on the front cover of my magazine. It is serif which removes the modern and sleek style, it is also 3D which makes it bulky and the masthead would have to be made smaller at the sides where would disproportion the masthead making it look unprofessional. Although the font is unique I feel that it is too formal to be used on my magazine.
9. This font reminds me of the magnetic letters you'd get for children this means that this font is too immature for my demographic and will put them off. I dislike how there isn't a bold sleek black and that there are 'scratches' in the masthead, this removes the professional tone. Although like font number 7 the use of lines adds an individual style to the font which I could use to make a simple font look unique then it would portray exactly what I want.
10. This font isn't very clear due to it being made out of newspaper but this is very unique yet can make it very hard to understand what it says which is a risk I can't take for my masthead. Although this inspires me to try having a more textured font and to try it out on an image.
11. I dislike this font for being so distorted. It has connotations of the Sex Pistols which is a punk rock band this can be misleading for the viewer and can misinterpret the genre of the magazine. I also dislike it as there is no modern or sleek feel it looks very rough which I don't want on my music magazine and it wouldn't suit my demographic.
12. This font is similar to font number 11 in the way that it is very unique but has a very punk feel which can confuse the viewer on the genre of the magazine. I dislike the fact that there are no smooth lines and it is very scratchy which doesn't truly represent the alternative rock genre. With the zig zag running through the font can obstruct the font and I dislike the way it does this as the masthead should be as clear as possible.
13. I also dislike this font as it is very thin and the use of an arrow for an i is a good unique point yet it isn't really memorable and it doesn't have any direct connotations to music. I feel the font is a bit weak due to the thin weight and the way it isn't the first font you see. The way the letters are at slightly different heights adds an immature tone which doesn't suit my target market.
14. This font is very thick in weight but it works and this thickness adds to the unique style. I really like how the i is set out. I like the big blocks of black at the start and can imagine them up against the side of the magazine, the block for the y should be the other side so it could go up the edge of the other side of the front cover. I will edit this font so the letters will blend and be fluent as the masthead.

Here I added more to my drafts as I did for BEAT so I could easily decide the masthead I'd develop when I have access to Photoshop.

To further my understanding of alternative music then I decided to look at guitar which is often how alternative music is recognised by. When I was looking at the ins and outs of the instrument I saw parts like body and neck yet when I looked at the equipment I came across plectrum which is often shortened to pick. This inspired me to try pick as a title as it can have two meanings, it can have the music meaning but it can also mean to have a choice therefore meaning that my magazine is the one to choose. I decided to go for the title PICK alternative because there are no strong music connotations in pick and also suggests that you should choose alternative music. This title will get abbreviated to just PICK but alternative will remain on the logo. Below are some drafts for logos/mastheads.

Below I have developed my designs even more so I can see what they will look like over an image.

 

Music Magazine Name

I opened a poll to find out which name would appeal to my market the most. The options were Amplify, Beat, Encore and Alternate, I shut the poll after 48 hours of being online but found that there was no clear result. 0% voted for Alternate so I will not consider this name anymore but Beat, Encore and Amplify received 33% each meaning that there was equal interest in these options. To solve this problem I will collect more data using a different method and then analyze the results.

Name Poll

What would your ideal music magazine be called?

Amplify

Beat

Alternate

Encore

Poll Maker

I narrowed down the names from my brainstorm and made a poll through the online Poll Maker so I can embed this into different social media sites and gather information easily and all at once.

Pre-Production Planning

I used Mind42 to produce a mind map of all possible names, I will take a poll of the most appropriate names from the brainstorm with my target audience and this will decide the final name for my music magazine.

Research of other Alternative Products

For more design inspiration I decided to look at other media products within the alternative industry and briefly analyse so I could understand more about the genre.

Press Release

Secondary Research - Design Inspiration

Follow Charlotte Barnard Design Inspiration on Pinterest To see the full annotation and pins click on See on Pinterest  All annotations are my own. 

Primary Research - Audience Profile

Primary Research - Audience Profile

Survey Three Results

Third Survey

My third survey focused more on the VAL's (values, attitudes and lifestyles) of my possible reader, I asked typical questions such as what are your hobbies or do you have a job, this is so I can know information about my audiences habits and behaviour therefore I can tailor my magazine to suit them thus attracting the demographic to become readers. I will also be able to use their interests for magazine competitions and adverts but I can also take inspiration for my design for example colours or whether to go for a linear or curvy layout. 

 

 

Survey Two Results