Initial Research into Forms and Conventions

For the first part of my Media Studies coursework I looked into three different types of music magazine; Rock/Indie, Classical and Dance. By looking into these different music magazines I was able to see which genre of music I would like to design my magazine around, how they use specific conventions to target their audience. This will help me discover whether there is a gap in the market for my new magazine and in which sub-genre my magazine will be based in.


The first magazine I looked at was dance magazine; Mixmag.The layout is simple, with big bright colours to make it different from all the other magazines on the shelf and really draw in the audiences eye. The use of bright colours also help to connote a sense of fun and liveliness. The sans sherif font connotes a fun, unsophisticated and informalness that comes with the magazine allowing it to appeal to their target audience of C2/D, similarly this is done by using short, sharp and informal language for the reversed out coverlines and other selling points to the magazine. The puff and freebie at the top of the cover also helps to appeal to it's audience as students or people with limited disposable income with enjoy the free CD and the borrowed value of owning 'The World's Best Dance Music Magazine'. The main sell is the interview with Goldfrapp. The photo is a MLS which allows the reader to see all of what she is wearing. The silk tied jacket, which is open to show that she is wearing revealing black underwear connotes a fun, exciting and sexy side to the magazine and to dance music. This will also push their audience into wearing provocative clothing as it makes them 'true' to the genre. The grey retro record player that is in the corner shows that dance music is both coll, hip and funky whilst still being retro, thus widening the audience for people who like the older retro versions of dance music.


The second magazine I looked at was BBC Music magazine. This magazine focuses on classical music with articles and features on world and jazz music. The layout is simple, the main sell clear, big, bold and easy to spot as it is coloured completely differently from the other articles that are shown on the front cover. The MS of Sarah Chang, the famous violinist, is shown wearing a conservative dress which connotes the sophisticated and classy tone of the magazine. This is similarly shown by her holding a violin, a very classy and sophisticated instrument and immediately discourages the general mainstream audiences who enjoy pop and R'n'B rather than classical music.
The cover is set colours of white, with hints of red, yellow and black. This, whilst doing little to attract a range of audiences, allows only the true enthusiasts of classical music to buy the magazine. The cover uses formal language and a sherif font to add to the sophistication, intellectual and classiness of the magazine. The puff and freebie at the top of the magazine also provide another level of enjoyment in owning the magazine. The puff gives the person a sense of borrowed value from the magazine as they own a copy of 'The world's best selling classical music magazine'. These features all appeal to their target audience of A/B on the Jicnars scale and of succeeders and achievers. The other reversed out straplines are smaller and less bold then the main sell but focus on the best composers rather than the latest pop acts. Likewise inside the magazine there are articles on classical music lessons, buying and selling classical music instruments and articles on famous composers, the latest news and reviews on classical, world or jazz musical albums.


The final magazine that I looked at was Kerrang!, the well known rock/indie music magazine. The target audience for this magazine was males aged between 15-24, mainly college students with a disposable income and a rating of C2/D on the Jicnars scale. The bold and big masthead at the top of the front cover, with a sans sherif font connotes a strong and masculine air to the magazine, whilst the broken and disjointed letters suggests danger, violence and that the music what the magazine connotes maybe dark and sinister. The coverlines, reversed out and otherwise, are at a disjointed angle which gives the impression of rejecting the norm and trying to be different and original, rather than the carbon copies of other more mainstream magazines. This appeals to the target audience as they also want to be seen reject the norm and challenging the mainstream. The bold and set colours of blue, white, black and yellow also suggest masculinity and power, targeting a male audience more than a female one. The writing is short, sharp and to the point which appeals to it's audience of C2/D hedonists and also connotes a sense of fun, action and excitement to the magazine. Other features such as the competitions and exclusive interviews with famous rock stars such as Ozzy Osbourne similarly attract their audience to the magazine as these exclusive promotions are special to them giving them extra angles over it's competitors. The MS of the famous Welsh rock/indie group The Lostprophets, all dressed in classic rock outfits of black leather jackets and metal necklaces, staring blankly ahead. The way in which they are staring connotes a masculine, powerful and almost confrontational manner, this likewise targets a more male audience who look up to the band and will imitate their behaviour and clothing. The inclusion of exclamation marks and key words such as 'Special', 'Exclusive', 'Plus' and 'Massive' also suggest the importance or the magazine's articles and will likewise attract their audience as they are all positive words and try to offer something different to the public.