For more information about what a music magazine is visits http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_magazine

What is a music

magazine?

Celebrates/dedicates to a specific genre of music (eg: rock-Kerrang, punk-

Big Cheese, country-Country Weekly and pop-

Top of the pops) and music culture

A publication

Assumes the audience knows what the

content is about and therefore creates an intimate relationship between the reader and the magazine as there is a direct link.

Entertains through images, news,

interviews, articles, crosswords,

covermounts (freebies) and lyrics

Informs music fans about artists

and upcoming gigs and music

Niche audience

What context would you expect to find in a music magazine? •Gossip-whose dating who, fashion etc•Letters pages-once more linking to the intimate relationship music fans have with the magazine•Articles-artists•Reviews-gigs, films, music•Adverts and promotion-relevant to target audience-they reflect•Tour/gig dates•Ringtone downloads•Countdowns- best album etc•Technology-the gadgets that link to music as most of the target audience are very dedicated to the specific genre and therefore would like to learn about how to get more pleasure, using technology out of their music. •Quotes•Interviews

What images would you expect to find in a music magazine?

•Bands/artists•Live performances eg: Glastonbury•Merchandise•Music eg: CD covers•People relevant to the genre of music and the article such as a band manager•Quite mature and adult images-can be scary, have mature themes and may contain nudity ( it all depends though on the genre and the content as rock magazines can be quite provocative compared to classical music magazines)•The backgrounds and props used in the images can illustrate a specific genre such as graffiti and a boom box has connotations linking to urban music and an electric guitar can be associated with rock music as well as other genres.

Music magazines have general characteristics and features that we expect to find when reading music magazines. Together they help create a professional magazine that satisfies the music

genre/culture and the target audience. Here are what we would expect: • Artist information/Band index• Bold and striking colours• Masthead• House style which creates an identity for the magazine and familiarity for the target audience• Main story/ cover line• Main image• Supplementary Images• Countdowns- albums and artists • Reviews-gigs, artists• Covermounts- CD’s, clothing, posters etc• Competitions• Adverts/promotions• Variety of fonts• Lots of content • Hugely image based• Rule of thirds which helps create a neatness to the magazine and also interest for the reader as

the cover especially looks inviting and exciting• Articles- current and upcoming artists, news• Interviews• Letters pages• Editorial• A list of all those involved in the production of magazine –eg: marketing, features etc• Crosswords• Price/issue number/date

Identify general characteristics/features you would expect to find in all music magazines?

Masthead(including slogan)

Pull quote

Main sell line anchoring the main

image

Main image (Medium Close

Up )

Coverlines

Main Coverline

Header

Flasher

Supplementary images

Barcode/Price/date of issue

Complementing and bold colours

Variety of font sizes

Capital letters in all copy-shouts at you

Real examples of general characteristics/features

Countdowns

Band index/artist information

Editorial

Contributors recognition

Interviews and bold colours Articles and images

Covermounts