More Analysis, page spread

This two page spread is an article that is giving an overview of a band, there is consistency within the page, as the main image is spread over both pages, also the theme of blood within the photograph is spread into the rest of the page due to the blood splashes in the background. The font is designed to be easy to read, this is because if the reader cannot understand what is written then the article is not achieving its target.

more analysis, contents

This contents page is from the American magazine, big cheese. the actual contents section within this page is set out in a simple fashion so that the reader can find the page(s) that they are interested in with great ease. The page is framed using pictures that are relevant to the content of the various articles they reflect.

Questionnare Results

After leaving the questionnare for a few weeks, i found that there were very few replies, however the ones that exist are useful. They are useful because they are honest responses from people that fall within my target audience.

1. What genre of music would you be most interested in buying a magazine?
2. Generally speaking, how much music content when compared to equipment content would you prefer?
3. What type of equipment advice would you prefer to read about? (E.g. guitar, amp or pedals)
4. Are there any specific types of column you would enjoy reading? (E.g. relationships, random internet garbage ET.)
5. Would live reviews for smaller or larger band be more useful?

Sdajafol, from the Netherlands

1. Older or traditional styled black & death metal, grindcore (not the gore version though, but grind as in punk inspired stuff etc), ambient, thrash metal
2. [I]Let's say 75% music content, 25% equipment.
3. All of the three. Some info on what guitar to choose for specific playing styles, maybe some other info on how to choose a proper pedal and how to combine pedals (effect loops etc).
4. Links to good guitar websites and forums would be good I think, as well as columns on how to make your band more known, draw larger crowds (like some on Ultimate Guitar).
5. A few reviews of larger bands would be good to draw attention to your magazine (i.e. if you put a band like Slayer on the cover, more people would notice it compared to when you put some no-name band on). Combine that with reviews of smaller gigs so that these bands get some attention as well.

Raz-zx from North Wales
1. Black / Death / Deathcore.... Think Terrorizer meets Zero Tolerance
2. 60 / 40 in favour of music
3. Mix it up! Bit of everything 4
. Yeah i like those ones where hot chicks write in and reveal their freaky fetishes.... with pron
5. Again a bit of a mix, don’t tie you down to one thing man. You need to have a broad spectrum if you want to appeal to the masses!

Developing other Research

As of today, i have posted a thread on the B.C Rich & Dean users forums, this is to get research from potential audience members, the thread is as follows:

Ok, so for my AS Media coursework I’m making a music/equipment magazine cover, contents & double page spread. Was wondering if you guys could give me a hand by answering these questions, because most guys that use B.C Richs I assume listen to music ranging from hard rock, to black metal. Thanks.

1. What genre of music would you be most interested in buying a magazine?

2. Generally speaking, how much music content when compared to equipment content would you prefer?

3. What type of equipment advice would you prefer to read about? (e.g. guitar, amp or pedals)

4. Are there any specific types of column you would enjoy reading? (e.g. relationships, random internet garbage et.)

5. Would live reviews for smaller or larger band be more useful?

Again, thanks & mock ups for the covers, contents & page spreads will be posted. If you would like to be on the contents page as a subsection (or if you’re in Stoke & could make a photo shoot) let me know.

From these threads ill take the responses every Friday & post them here.

Analysis of Revolver Magazine Covers

Bright colours, represent 80s trash culture,


“THRASH” written in the same style as on Metallica albums,



Black & white photos show age of the sub-genre,

Main photos show an old thrash legend (Dave Mustaine) & a “new thrash” singer (Brian Fair),


Use of almost iconic font (mast head)











An evil theme runs though this cover, as Slayer & Marylin Manson are considered dark,



“Most Controversial” because both bands have been controversial in there careers,



Dark backing for the photo shoot gives a further dark feel to the article,



Other article shows the things that have gone wrong in metal over the years.



Use of almost iconic font (mast head)

















Photo shoot mimics Godzilla movies, this is because the tour is a large tour, with a lot of premier metal bands on it,

Article font is in a comic book style, this is because Gigantour is named after the comic book character Gigantor,

Dave Mustaine is in the centre of the photo, this is because he is the front man of megadeth, the headliners of Gigantour,

Use of almost iconic font (mast head)

2 Page Spread Research

Simple title, explains the article


Black & white photo of Dimebag in action
shows that there has been a loss


Yellow font makes quotes stand out


Black & white image of the band
gives the article context


Photo of crime scene shows
location


“Police Line” shows that a crime was committed


Blood spatter effect in background shows a bloody crime

Contents Page Research

Shows the cover of this issue, shows the reader what the cover was, for reference


Fonts add to the feel of the magazine


Boxes work to separate the different sections,
e.g. the main contents & a section specifically
showing what page bands are on


Main image shows what the article
is about


Large stylised font shows the main article
by the use of the forked dean headstock

Inintial Cover Research

For this initial cover research I decided to do two magazines that I normally read, Metal Hammer & Total Guitar, & a magazine that I do not normally read, Rolling Stone, this is so that I would know about layouts aimed at audiences other than myself.


House font that is associated with the magazine

Shows other article in magazine, smaller articles, less importance

“Defenders of the Faith” – common used reference to Judas Priest

Backing is the cover of the album the article is about, shows relevance to the article

Uses iconic font of main article, instantly recognisable

Simple title, shifts most focus onto the imagery

Focus on guitars, because the magazine is mostly about equipment

Imagery seems to be a battle ground, reflects on the content of the article

Smaller articles frame the cover art












Iconic title font


Flames in the background, show destruction of the band in the article


Less article showed on cover, larger bands, this is shown by larger font


Black & white image depicts the age of the band

Introduction

So, this is the blog for my Media Studies coursework. For this I decided to do the print brief, specifically a music/equipment magazine, this is because my main interest is music, I play guitar, bass guitar & write music. Due to my interest in music & conections in the local music scene, I believe that I can complete this brief to the best of my ability.