Project Brief

I will be working in the medium of print. I will create the Front Page, Contents Page and a Double Page Spread for a brand new music magazine.

Vinyl Final: Front Cover, Contents Page & Double Page Spread

Final Vinyl Double Page Spread

I finally completed my Double Page Spread and ended finishing it up by adding extra detail at the bottom the page. All i did for this is I added the magazine issue and the vinyl website. I also made the pull out quote a bit bolder and bigger than the text in the article. This is important as it needs to be one of the first things the reader glimpse at when they scan the double page spread. I did this in a different colour and added a stroke on Photoshop. However, I did make the pull out quote a smaller size as it was to close to the article text. I did this so the reader can view the pull out quote as a separate section of text.

Vinyl Contents Page

This is my final Vinyl Contents Page. Whilst creating the contents page, I ensured to maintain house style. I succeeded to do this by including colours such as: Gold, Black, White and Silver. I carried on to do this by using certain fonts and sizes to engage the demographic suited for my magazine. 

Vinyl Double Page Spread - Adjusted Version

I altered my final double page spread due to further improvements needed. I firstly, made my drop cap into a separate text box so it would remain structure throughout the text. Secondly, my columns needed aligning as they wasn't accurate enough. I also made the text bigger and bolder so it would be more engaging for the reader and easier to read; this makes the magazine have effortless qualities so the reader does not have to try too hard to read the information. Furthermore, I changed the colour and size of the pull out quote so it stands out and is accentuated. 

Evaluation: 7) Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the process from it to the full product?

Evaluation: 6) What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

Evaluation: 5) How did you attract/address your audience?

Evaluation: 4) Who would be the audience for your media product?

Man or woman aged between 18-40. This individual will be sophisticated and have a reasonable income. Besides from this they’re interested in the latest news and older musical artists as well as the newest 21^{st century} artists. The typical demographic will live in the city have a family or lives with a partner. Well educated and owns their own property. In terms with the individual’s attire, the person will be casual and they don’t take themselves too seriously. They avoid bright/loud colours and are more neutral. This person will most likely be a sociable person and enjoy meeting other people with these interests. Creative and is adventurous within their location and interests. The demographic for my Vinyl Magazine are most likely suited into the social classes: New Affluent Workers: This class has medium levels of economic capital and higher levels of cultural and social capital. They are a young and active group. As well as most of my demographic being in the social class of new affluent workers, they may also fit into the social class: Emergent Service Workers: This new class has low economic capital but has high levels of 'emerging' cultural capital and high social capital. This group are young and often found in urban areas.

Evaluation: 3) What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

Question 3 Evaluation
What Kind of Media Institution might distribute your media product and why?
As my media product is expanding their audience by infusing modern music from the 21st century and also music from the 20th century; especially from the 20’s to the 80’s. The new affluent working unisex demographic for Vinyl would need to be introduced to a magazine where they are managed by an institution who manages with many genre’s in the industry and who sells a range of magazines. To spread my magazine and expand its demographic in terms of location, I would need a global institution to distribute my magazine.

Therefore, I would choose Bauer Media group to distribute Vinyl magazine as it is a global company and would successfully sell my magazine across the world and to different cultures. This allows my magazine to be viewed and read by many people from all over the world. Bauer Media Group also distribute Q magazine and Kerrang magazine. This would not affect my magazine as the genre’s aren’t competing with one another are targeted at a diverse group of people. They also distribute many TV listing magazines such as: Take a Break, that's life! TV Choice and Total TV Guide. This is as well as a number of puzzle magazines. This evidently, conveys how Bauer Media Group know how to craft their distribution depending on the type of magazine. This has become a successful tactic as they can distribute Vinyl magazine according to the demographic and what type of magazine it is.

Bauer Media Group manages a portfolio of more than 600 magazines, over 400 digital products and 50 radio and TV stations around the world. The portfolio includes print shops, postal, distribution and marketing services. Bauer Media Group has a workforce of approximately 11,000 employees in 17 countries. This worldwide coverage meant that in 2013 we were able to increase our global sales to €2.4 billion. Due to these features, my magazine would benefit in many ways simply because of the network around the work the proliferation of content being shared and viewed. Their cross-media convergence would incredibly benefit my magazine as it would globally sell my magazine and overall would be distributed successfully. By leveraging their market knowledge across 20 countries, they can provide my magazine with valuable insight onto an international audience.

I would not want to distribute my magazine independently as it would have less of a worldwide spread. This would possibly be a negative factor as one of the main messages my magazine is striving to portray is that the genre of soul needs to expand their demographic. This means that the magazine and soul genre would only reach out to few cultures and identities. By going global this would instantly widen the demographic in terms of versatility as it will have many people engaged with the soul genre and my magazine.

Alternatively, DJ has an independent publishing company, aimed at a more specific audience. An independent publishing company wouldn’t be as suited for my magazine as I a significantly large target market. However, DJ do sell many internationally, but I believe Bauer Media would be a more successful distributer for my product as it has better brand recognition and there is a gap in its market for Vinyl Magazine as it doesn’t publish any other soul/motown magazines.

Considering technology convergence, I would make my magazine accessible on apps, as they're frequently used by people and a lot of individuals are now investing in hardware; therefore this would be good for promoting my magazine. Additionally, there are apps that are available on smartphones that the magazine can be accessed through, which would also be an appropriate approach to appeal to my demographic.

To conclude, Bauer Media would be a suitable institution to distribute my magazine as it is the largest publishing company in Europe. I will also use social media and apps to attract my demographic; simply because hardware and content are significantly growing globally.

 

Evaluation: 2) How does your media product represent particular social groups?

Evaluation – question 2 from paigelash

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

Vinyl Double Page Spread

This is my final Vinyl double page spread (DPS). I decided to alter certain features to maintain the house style within my entire magazine. I wanted to make sure the double page spread contained no white space and I also tried to incorporate features of a conventional double page spread in a music magazine. Firstly, the article was an interview from the subject. I made sure my double page spread was in columns and contained features to form a conventional DPS. I wanted to keep this going by including a drop cap to start off my article. A pull out quote to engage the reader to read the article about the featured artist. Images to attract the reader and to also show diversity within the artist.

Vinyl Double Page Spread Development

Finally, I finished the DPS off by adding metallic beams behind the artist to accentuate his status and how he has progressed within the industry. Additionally, this gives a radiant insight for the readers and it also represents the purity the magazine has to offer.

Next, I added to the article on the next page and even placed some more details about the work behind the magazine's DPS. This adds an effect to the magazine and makes it come across in a friendly tone. Furthermore, I then added a icon of a retro microphone to highlight the roots of Soul and how the two era's can be mixed. This is done by the artists iPhone being featured. This displays how Vinyl is introducing a modern vibe whilst still maintaining the traditional Soul history.

I placed some brief details here which include the interviewer's name and the page number. 

When I first started my DPS I wanted to make sure the column layout was evident. This instantly made my DPS more organised and clearer to work with; hence why this attracts the reader most. Next, I placed the subject on the right hand side of the DPS to break up the text and the image. I avoided placing the featuring artist in the middle of the page as the magazine would break up the image and take away the engagement with the readers. This is why he is placed to the right. Ergo, the image within the article (interview) gives a sense of variation and shows how this artist has diversity.