Music magazine analysis.

Mood board• This mood board is a collaboration of

grime- dance music. This includes, trance, drum and bass, psy-trance, and euphoria.

• All the magazines have a poster based format, simple with no pull lines, simple title, offers, and lead article. The layouts indicate an audience who are unique and egoistic. And the music magazines offer them this with style options, and all the articles and in particularly the pictures being about an individual, not a group or band.

• However this can also reflect the appeal and values of the magazine, highlighting an individual, it can induce personality, which is why the readers buy the magazines, believing in some sense that they’re enhancing they’re own psyche.

• Par ATM the circulation figures are relatively low, appealing to an ‘underground’ and less mainstream music culture.

CoverHere are the three covers I have chosen to analyse.

Contents

Here are the three contents pages I have chosen to analyse.

Double Spreads

Here is one of three double page spreads, that I have chosen to analyse.

Double Spreads

Here is one of three double page spreads, that I have chosen to analyse.

Double Spreads

Here is one of three double page spreads, that I have chosen to analyse.

Cover oneThis is the first cover I have selected to analyse for my research. As you can see it does not conform to normal magazine formats, in a majority sense. I will go into more detail of this later. I find the magazine simple looking and keeping to a house style, it certainly knows its captive audience, which I will cover in VALS later. I have chosen all URB issues as I can then cross examine easily and in turn I believe It will help inspire my own magazine.

Cover one continuedMagazine format

Left third

‘Z’ format

Left third:-

The left third is usually the section of the magazine which contains items such as the information at ‘1’ and ‘2’. This shows a magazine that is anti conformist, a magazine suited to a particularly ‘non-conformist’ part of the musical scene. Instead in the Left third the only regularity is that of the title, which due to a simple and consistent house style is instantly recognisable. By assuming its not the centre third that will sell the magazine you can assume it has a large circulation or a particularly upmarket audience. As it will be displayed at the front of a shelf, where the entirety of the cover

can be seen.

‘Z’ format:-

The ‘Z’ Format is the usual guideline used to put in information, as this is where the eye follows, according to research. This the magazine does conform to although ‘1’is a little off centre your eye is drawn to it due to the photo. Price and Masthead both conform to this format. This I believe backs up my point about it being a front shelf magazine, which with little words colour and images can sell large volumes.

1

2

Cover one continuedMagazine format

Picture:-

The picture is a medium close up shot of the artist and in this issue, guest editor Kid Cudi it shows him mirrored and looking onwards. It had been put in black and white to heighten the contrast and to make the image more simplistic and hard hitting, which again reflects the house style of this magazine.

House Style:-

Quite clearly the house style can be interpreted as simplistic, there is no footer or skyline, just a simple masthead. Which on all the covers is the clearest thing to see. There is no pull quotes, or selling ‘freebies’ just a short complied list of artists included in the magazine. And of course the barcode and price in small print. Overall the selling point is the minimalistic, poster like cover on this magazine, when compared to the ‘over-crowded’ one on magazine like Kerrang.

Continued

Lessons:-

Of the three covers I do not believe this to be the one that will inspire my own work, however that doesn’t mean there is nothing to learn from it, in my own music magazine drafts, and in my preliminary college magazine my work has been very over the top and reliant on text to sell it. This is why I chose URB magazine being at contrast to my work. It means I can try and work on a simpler masthead, a simpler photo, in order to create more of an effect with less on the page, I believe I can make mine more dynamic.

VALS:- (Values, Aspirations, Lifestyle)

This cover appeals to the VALS of the target audience (about student early adult age) in values by: being simple and dynamic, it is to the point and no nonsense, for people who have the latest technology and are on the go the magazine is very much in the moment as I believe the audience, aspire to be. In doing so the aspirations can be that the audience may want to be like the people in the magazine, who’re portrayed as beautiful, and successful with no inhibitions, this is the message I believe the aspirations come across as. The lifestyle of the audience may be cluttered in which the magazine can in turn offer some escapism from this, and also the lifestyle may be very in the know, and on the go, in which the articles and magazine content, however little, advertised on the front cover, are enough to interest the audience. My criticism of the magazine is that you wouldn’t notice this issue at a distance, a problem when it comes to selling or finding new customers who are looking for new material

Cover twoThis is the second cover I have selected to analyse, Although following the same house style to the first one this takes into account seasonal looks, which I will look into more detail later. I will most likely choose this magazine for my inspiration as it is dynamic, and outside of work I have done before so I believe in doing this I can create a better and new look from the rest fo my look.

Cover two continuedMagazine format

Left third

‘Z’ format

Left third:-

In this particular cover the left third is quite conventional. It follows the usual route of having the main artists and articles contained within this third. It has the clear URB masthead on show as always in order to pull in and maintain customer recognition with the brand name

‘Z’ format:-

With as partial margin of error at the footer, the magazine perfectly follows the ‘z’ format perfectly. Will; the main sell; all the content information the title and price all coinciding with it. Even the main image follows this format making the magazine cover very easy on the eye.

Cover two continuedMagazine format

Picture:-

The picture is flowery contrasting and vibrant, with a high aperture. It follows the season of the magazine which is summery. This is to maximise on seasonal sales. The lighting reflects the title and the image, taken from the side creates a very colourful and artistic poster cover.

House Style:-

This sticks closely to the house style, not having any pull quotes. However out of the norm is the inclusion of a main sell. Par from this the magazine follows the same minimalistic poster feel.

ContinuedLessons:-

I believe I will use this magazine as inspiration for my own as it follows near perfect format and marketing (in regards to season and audience). I find it dynamic and excellent choice to use above some of the others supplied. It is not over crowded as my past examples have been.

VALS:- (Values, Aspirations, Lifestyle)

The values once again appeal to a young trendy audience, taking inspiration from the poster style of the magazine and using the images as role models, thus covering the aspirations of the target audience. These people will be very impressionable, and in turn the magazine makes a good impression. The lifestyle may in turn be heavily influenced or lightly influenced by this magazine, either way it will leave a trend setting impression for its customers.

Cover threeThis is the third cover I have selected to analyse. This magazine can divide itself form the other two covers as it includes a lot more typical front cover items than the more poster style of the other two, I will analyse this in full detail on the succeeding slides.

Cover three continuedMagazine format

Left third

‘Z’ format

Left third:-

The left third of this magazine contains far more traditional elements then that of the other two covers. It contains a Model credit, actually commenting about the artist rather than just giving the artist name. It also contains A secondary article detail, going against the more minimalistic approach of previous editions. In this sense the left third follows its more traditional role on this magazine cover.

‘Z’ format:-

The Z format follows very well on his cover, containing almost all the information, as well as the inclusion of a skyline, which contains the usual artist list the magazine sports.

The Z format also introduces us to a new feature which is the addition of a sell line for inside articles, at either bottom corner. Something that has been avoided by other issues of this magazine.

Cover two continuedMagazine format

Picture:-

The picture does not have much contrast or dynamics, which is why I think all the text has been added, to compensate and to make this particular image conform to mainstream magazine production techniques.

Perhaps making it more commercially viable as an issue.

House Style:-

Par from the unusual addition of the pull quotes and article sell lines, this follows the usual format. Of a large masthead which is clear to read, a close up stylish photo and a basic colour palette.

ContinuedAs I have already experimented with the conventional look of magazines in my pre draft work, I will shy away from this magazine for inspiration. Par from the basic colour palette which is something I believe I can benefit from some of the simplistic values of it.

VALS:- Values, Aspirations, and Lifestyle.

The values once again appeal to a young audience, this time a more conventional and mainstream one, the magazine in this particular issue is trying to open up doors and find a possible new fan base. People who buy this copy of the magazine will be being brought by the out of norm issue which may get them hooked to the contents of the magazine the aspirations, should then match a new loyal fan base.. The lifestyle may in turn be heavily influenced or lightly influenced by this magazine, either way it will leave a trend setting impression for its customers.

Contents oneThis is the first contents page I have decided to analyse. Uou find all the contents page have a simple layout, as a house style and all follow the same rules, this I will go into more detail in on the next slide.

The photo here is bright and the man is shown protruding his glasses from, his face, on all of the contents pages you find odd poses, photographical techniques or props to make a visually provoking photo.

Continued•The contents page is rather stylishly always labelled GUTS in an out of the norm attempt to pull readers.

•This contains the dateline information that is usually found on the front cover.

•The main article and information about it is put in bold, as a continuation from he front page. This is so the reader can easily identify where they’re going.

•The articles a re divided up into main ones Which are all identifiable with page numbers and sub articles which like on the cover are listed, it certainly makes the reader want to read on.

•The picture is

Contents two•It has the house style name, font and colour of ‘Guts’ •The usual date line is here. With issues number and date•The main articles are all here numbered not listed like on the previous contents page, this is the one variant to the house style.

•The picture plays with props once again to create a visually compelling, bold and eye catching picture.•I will most likely use this contents page for my inspiration.

Contents three•The same house style Dateline and masthead for the contents page.

•The main articles are divided up and page numbered•Like in the first contents page, some sub articles are listed below the main articles, if you look at contents pages 1, and three I believe the additional text makes up for lack of vibrancy in the pictures.•The picture is made black and white and made to appear hazy. This makes up for no interesting pose or prop made by the artist in the photo, all of them so far have been medium close ups.•All the contents page featured the issue number here as well.

Double Spreads

At ‘2’ it has the title and subheading quite neatly outlined to draw you further inot the article. There is no colour but their is quite a high contrast in the whites and blacks used to make the best visual effect possible. This being a very visually orientated magazine.

Here at ‘1’ the double page spread shows us pull quote featuring the artist in the picture, it is designed to be the first thing you see to make you want to read the rest of the article.

The house style reflects that of the contents page and front covers, it uses a simple layout with a simple colour palette in order to create the best effect possible.

Double Spreads

The text itself is divided up into three slightly different text boxes with different texts and varying degrees of black and white. With bold headings and clear divisions it is clear each is making its own unique impression on the reader.

Following a similar if not same format to the last double page spread this one has a large black and white photo. However this time is vibrant with the artists shown and not sombre, the message here is about up and coming artists, three of them here are written about.

Double Spreads

The text boxes are contrasting to one another reflecting the picture, but they also have the same format: one paragraph finishing almost exactly at the same place, in the same size and font as the other. It is quite deliberate and effective presentation of information, minimalistic and yet sombre, I will use this double page spread as my inspiration and hope in my research I can improve on my own skills.

The picture on this is different quite clearly as it contains colour, showing two artists in a flowery dress and jazzy clothing. The use of ligth is quite excellent as it fits in with the colour of the text boxes. Showing the girl being on the brighter side, and the man on the darker side of the picture and text box creates a dynamic contrast which is appealing to the reader.