This is the first draft of my contents page for my music which I created using Adobe InDesign and Photoshop. A contents page is a key element in any magazine as it is used to inform the audience on what is included in the magazine and encourages people to buy it.

Please click on the image to see the PDF

5 Targets to improve my contents page:

• Include another image (possibly a different model)
• Add lines to space out my coverlines and create depth
• Add a page number to the bottom of the page
• Wrap text around model
• Add a border

As a producer I need to create headlines and coverlines that are interesting and attractive to my target audience. The language I use within the coverlines has to create desire. Some coverlines ideas I have include:

1. Shocking Secrets of the Grammy Awards
2. New Releases All the best albums of 2021
3. Top 10 tips to sing like Beyoncé
4. Adeles secrets to songwriting
5. Selling Out Ed Sheeran’s final tour

A contents page is one of the most important parts of any magazine, it allows readers to know what the page number is of the article they want to read as well as giving them more information of what’s included through the use of coverlines and possibly images. The coverlines included on the contents page need to be interesting and exciting, they have to include exciting topics that attract, interest and inform the reader. I have to consider the layout of my contents page and what information I’m going to include that is relevant to the genre of my music magazine.

Please click on the image to see the PDF

My first draft of my pop magazine is currently reaching a B grade, it includes most of the conventional design features of a magazine. It provides entertainment and information for my audience. However in order to achieve a higher grade I will need to include more exciting and interesting cover lines, a pug or a plug and possibly add insets to the cover. I will also need to include something that helps to adapt my audience personal identity and offers social interaction. Another way I can improve my magazine is my moving my coverlines from the right to the left of my page and moving my model to the right in order to have a better flow and make it look more aesthetically pleasing. With my next draft I aim to create a front cover that best fit my genre and the needs of my target audience.

During my photo shoot for my front cover I felt that I conveyed my star image well through the use of costume, lighting and body language. I wanted to create an Image with my brand in mind and in order to do this I had to focus on mise-en-scene and how to portray my music magazine well. The most important part of my shoot was focusing on how I wanted to highlight my brand and how I want to portray my model which is as an empowered young woman.

I believe that the two images I have chosen are the best fit for the star image I want to convey to my readers. My model looks natural and empowered which is exactly what I want for my brand. I believe that the first image I have chosen is the best fit for my front cover and the second image would be a better fit on my double page spread or contents page.

A Masthead is crucial when it comes to branding. It is one of the most important parts of a front cover, it has to inspire and attract as well as being recognisable and memorable. It is important to think about what you want your masthead to imply, fonts, effects and colour should all be considered when choosing a masthead design as it has to fit the genre of your magazine and attract an audience.

I decided to pick the fifth masthead for my magazine as I feel it best reflects my brand. However when I come to design my magazine cover, I’m going change how tall the masthead is as well as the thickness and possibly the colour as it is quite plain and simple. I want it to best fit my branding and fulfil the interests and desires of my audience.

As a producer I need to research other magazine covers that I might want to take inspiration when come to I create my own front cover. Looking at layout, use of graphics, cover lines and colour palette I chose these covers as I feel they all flow well, the positioning of the model and the coverlines, the large masthead at the top with the models head covering it, the name of the star at the side of the page and the how the cover star is the main focus. All of the magazines have a slick, simplistic font for the masthead and the coverlines making it very pleasing for the eye. The colour palettes vary from cover to cover however for my magazine I want to focus more on the palette of the Billie Eilish Vogue cover as I like the simplicity. The main use of photo manipulation in these covers is the masthead being put behind the model along with editing of the cover star for things such as brightening and smoothing. When I begin to design and produce my front cover I’m going to take inspiration and produce something that different and stands out.

Preparation and planning ahead is key when it comes to a photo shoot. It is so important that you, the model and anyone else involved in the shoot know what is happening and what needs to be prepared. It is essential to have a detailed and organised plan where everyone knows their responsibilities and roles. A production meeting agenda allows for a productive and successful photo shoot. Having a clear idea of what your shoot is going to look like allows time to gather the correct Props, Clothing, Makeup and Accessories which will allow you to convey the correct message for your chosen genre.

My production meeting agenda has allowed me and my model to know what we need to provide for the shoot, what’s happening and when it’s happening. This will help us both have a successful and stress free shoot.

Understanding a Star Image within a particular genre is critical when it comes to creating a music magazine. For this task I chose to focus on Adele, I looked at her image within the public eye, how she presents her self on stage and in public, what her fanbase thinks about her and articles that have been written with or about her. This has enables me to think about how I want to portray my model what I want her to wear, how makeup I want her to wear, how I want her to pose and what camera angles I need to use. I want to produce a magazine that has correct connotations and denotations of a Pop magazine however it needs be different so it stands out. I want my model to be seen as powerful, courageous, sultry. To do this I will have to use a repertoire of elements that will help me create something extraordinary, something that will empower and inspire my readers.

One Direction:

Lily Allen:

Doja Cat:

Adele:

In order to understand my target audience I have to do research.  For this I have used the website YouGov, which has allowed me to look at the specific demographic and psychographics of the particular Pop Icons I am focusing on. I was able to gather information such as age, gender, hobbies and interest of the audiences of Adele, One Direction, Lily Allen and Doja Cat. I mainly focused on age range and the main hobbies & interests of their target audiences and compiled this knowledge so I could use it later on when I creating my dating profile.

Above I have created a dating profile based on the age, gender, likes and dislikes of my pop artists audiences. This is a person that would ideally be attracted to my magazine. This dating profile has allowed me to understand what I have to produce something that entertains and educates as well as something that encourages people to socially interact based on similar interests as well as allowing people to develop their personal identity.

When I create my music magazine I will know who my audience is and as a producer what I need to create in order to appeal to my audience. It has to have the correct connotations that are easily encoded and decoded, it has to be their preferred reading in addition to fulfilling the correct uses and gratifications.

When I make my magazine I will be in competition with many other magazine brands however, I now understand that I will have to have a USP that appeals and draw the attention of my target audience. It will need to be entertaining, informative and be socially interactive to make my readers feel apart of something bigger. It will have to create interest and make it look desirable. As a media creator and producer I know that features that I need to include in my magazine in order to create something that stands out from every other music magazine as well as making my readers feel positive and empowered.