My magazine uses a large number of conventions and therefore appears similar to many other music magazines on the market. However, it also challenges a number of these. My Main cover line is a larger font size than the Masthead. This is done as "Protege" are a larger name than "Amped" at the moment, so rather than ignoring a relatively unknown magazine the customer will identify a name they know and will then be drawn in. The cover lines are shaped around the main image, this makes the image stand out significantly more than it would if the cover lines were on top of it. The main cover line however overlaps the main image, this is to show that they are connected and stops the image appearing unrelated to the text. Like all magazines I have created a house style. The font, colour, layout and a number of other things are consistant throughout the magazine and previous issues. This makes it a lot easier for the audience to read as they quickly become used to a style of writing and presentation. Like most magazines I included information on how to subscribe to the magazine. This gives the audience a chance to save money with the offer of 33% off but gives the magazine a lot more customer loyalty as those who subscribe wont have the choice to chose a rival magazine but will automatically receive mine. I have included an editors notes section, many magazines carry this feature but a lot don’t. I felt this was important to include as it allows the audience to feel a part of the magazine as the mode of address gives the impression they are being talked to rather than simply reading.
My target audience is mainly mature men in their early 20’s. This is represented by the bands that I have chosen, such as Radiohead and Neil Young. The colour scheme is not too bright and colourful as this would lose the mature, sophisticated look I have gone for. I have also included bands and features that would appeal to a much larger audience. This means that even if someone isn’t in my target audience there is still a high chance that they will purchase the magazine as there is something that would interest most people included. My media represents the mature male audience by its simple uncluttered appearance. If it was aimed at teenage girls it would be full of colourful, scattered words and images, however, my audience tends to live a much more orderly, controlled life so their magazines would have to be the same. This has been done by keeping my colour scheme based around black and white as these are the clearest and tidiest colours. The pages have also been split up into easy to follow sections, this is shown by how the images are kept together and the main bulk of text is in another section so the two don’t interfere with each other. I have also used graphics to create a divide between sections making it a lot easier to follow.
I have attracted the audience by using a band that my target audience are likely to be in to. Seeing your favourite band’s name written very largely on a magazine will automatically catch their eye. I have also put it in white as this contrasts strongly against the background making it stand out even more. I have also connected the Main cover line with the main image through the means of comedy. Someone is seen holding a hammer and the cover line reads "it’s hammertime". This is likely to make the audience read on as the magazine seems more accessible than some other competitor’s. I have also used Straplines to show how much content the magazine has while taking up very little space on the front cover.
With many magazines such as Smash Hits going bust in recent years due to modern magazines moving on to internet sites magazines are very much becoming a dying industry. Therefore, I have included many free giveaway’s such as festival tickets and a vinyl. This is a unique selling point and something that an online site cannot give you. All my incentives appeal to my target audience, for example, the festival tickets are to Glastonbury, a festival where Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen are playing and bands that my audience are likely to be interested in. It would not make good sense to offer free Download or V Festival tickets. Regular attractive incentives also encourage customer loyalty as they will feel they are getting a lot more for their money than just a magazine. However, I have not ignored modern technology as it has been proven that this will help magazines. NME and Kerrang both have websites that create vast amounts of revenue through advertising and further increase customer loyalty. To integrate modern technology I have included a link to the magazines website for those wanting to subscribe as this would be far more cost effective and reliable than a cost or postal service.
I also found it useful to engage in audience feeback. I went ahead and asking a number of people, of their own opinion of final product. Most conflicted the Main title being hidden by the Main picture. This was easily answered as the construction of the cover is to connate that of a already well known existing magazines, most have their titles hidden behind their main image. I did as if my magazine is already a well established competetive magazine within the market. Another situation was that of my double spread, where people question the lack and use of color. Again, i wished to stick true to the house colors and keep it simple, using colors to contrast titles and important quotes, this way it will be about the text and people will wish to read it.
I’ve learnt that it’s important to follow stereotypical stylistic features of magazines in order to attract and subsequently tap into my intended market. Simple colour schemes connote that the audience is likely to be of a more mature nature whereas brighter colours suggest a younger audience. I have also made sure my magazine uses proper language and no "text talk" or slang as this would give off a childish vibe that would contradict the adult connotations I am portraying. In turn, each of these social codes that I’ve found since my preliminary task help to transmit my piece and have a much larger effect on my audience.
My magazine uses a large number of conventions and therefore appears similar to many other music magazines on the market. However, it also challenges a number of these. My Main cover line is a larger font size than the Masthead. This is done as "Protege" are a larger name than "Amped" at the moment, so rather than ignoring a relatively unknown magazine the customer will identify a name they know and will then be drawn in. The cover lines are shaped around the main image, this makes the image stand out significantly more than it would if the cover lines were on top of it. The main cover line however overlaps the main image, this is to show that they are connected and stops the image appearing unrelated to the text. Like all magazines I have created a house style. The font, colour, layout and a number of other things are consistant throughout the magazine and previous issues. This makes it a lot easier for the audience to read as they quickly become used to a style of writing and presentation. Like most magazines I included information on how to subscribe to the magazine. This gives the audience a chance to save money with the offer of 33% off but gives the magazine a lot more customer loyalty as those who subscribe wont have the choice to chose a rival magazine but will automatically receive mine. I have included an editors notes section, many magazines carry this feature but a lot don’t. I felt this was important to include as it allows the audience to feel a part of the magazine as the mode of address gives the impression they are being talked to rather than simply reading.
My target audience is mainly mature men in their early 20’s. This is represented by the bands that I have chosen, such as Radiohead and Neil Young. The colour scheme is not too bright and colourful as this would lose the mature, sophisticated look I have gone for. I have also included bands and features that would appeal to a much larger audience. This means that even if someone isn’t in my target audience there is still a high chance that they will purchase the magazine as there is something that would interest most people included. My media represents the mature male audience by its simple uncluttered appearance. If it was aimed at teenage girls it would be full of colourful, scattered words and images, however, my audience tends to live a much more orderly, controlled life so their magazines would have to be the same. This has been done by keeping my colour scheme based around black and white as these are the clearest and tidiest colours. The pages have also been split up into easy to follow sections, this is shown by how the images are kept together and the main bulk of text is in another section so the two don’t interfere with each other. I have also used graphics to create a divide between sections making it a lot easier to follow.
I have attracted the audience by using a band that my target audience are likely to be in to. Seeing your favourite band’s name written very largely on a magazine will automatically catch their eye. I have also put it in white as this contrasts strongly against the background making it stand out even more. I have also connected the Main cover line with the main image through the means of comedy. Someone is seen holding a hammer and the cover line reads "it’s hammertime". This is likely to make the audience read on as the magazine seems more accessible than some other competitor’s. I have also used Straplines to show how much content the magazine has while taking up very little space on the front cover.
With many magazines such as Smash Hits going bust in recent years due to modern magazines moving on to internet sites magazines are very much becoming a dying industry. Therefore, I have included many free giveaway’s such as festival tickets and a vinyl. This is a unique selling point and something that an online site cannot give you. All my incentives appeal to my target audience, for example, the festival tickets are to Glastonbury, a festival where Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen are playing and bands that my audience are likely to be interested in. It would not make good sense to offer free Download or V Festival tickets. Regular attractive incentives also encourage customer loyalty as they will feel they are getting a lot more for their money than just a magazine. However, I have not ignored modern technology as it has been proven that this will help magazines. NME and Kerrang both have websites that create vast amounts of revenue through advertising and further increase customer loyalty. To integrate modern technology I have included a link to the magazines website for those wanting to subscribe as this would be far more cost effective and reliable than a cost or postal service.
I also found it useful to engage in audience feeback. I went ahead and asking a number of people, of their own opinion of final product. Most conflicted the Main title being hidden by the Main picture. This was easily answered as the construction of the cover is to connate that of a already well known existing magazines, most have their titles hidden behind their main image. I did as if my magazine is already a well established competetive magazine within the market. Another situation was that of my double spread, where people question the lack and use of color. Again, i wished to stick true to the house colors and keep it simple, using colors to contrast titles and important quotes, this way it will be about the text and people will wish to read it.
I’ve learnt that it’s important to follow stereotypical stylistic features of magazines in order to attract and subsequently tap into my intended market. Simple colour schemes connote that the audience is likely to be of a more mature nature whereas brighter colours suggest a younger audience. I have also made sure my magazine uses proper language and no "text talk" or slang as this would give off a childish vibe that would contradict the adult connotations I am portraying. In turn, each of these social codes that I’ve found since my preliminary task help to transmit my piece and have a much larger effect on my audience.