Music Magazine - Target Aundience

Target Audience

   The reader of ‘Arise’ is someone interested in music between the ages of 16-25. They are a person who is passionate about R’n’B music or music in general and wish to view it as an art form rather than a source of entertainment. They will be as passionate as the magazine about creating a better view of R’n’B culture in the way they lead their lives and the quality of the music they may create themselves.

   The reader of ‘Arise’ can be in any line of employment and can lead any kind of lifestyle (married, single, family). The thing that these readers will have in common is their passion for music.

   A motivated and inspired person will be the kind of reader that ‘Arise’ has. They will have strong opinions and get them across effectively but never forcefully. Their voice is always heard but they allow others to be heard as well. They are respectful and encourage other’s passions and interests. Even if they dislike something they will voice this by offering constructive criticism. Their interest in music is a main part of their personality and they seek out good quality music and are open to any type of music. They are an open-minded and imaginative person. They believe in giving everything an equal chance to prove its worth and are excellent judges of talent and character.

   The main hobby and interest of readers of ‘Arise’ will be music. Whether it be creating music or listening to it. However they will have a well rounded interest in the rest of the world, like sports, acting and etcetera. In their free time they enjoy expanding their knowledge in any area of life as they strive to be an educated, well rounded person. They enjoy being part of a diverse group of friends and value each one of them differently. They value family and spend time being a part of one.

   All types of music are of interest to the readers of ‘Arise’ as they are open to different kinds of art. However their main interest will be R’n’B music and this will be apparent in the way they seek out R’n’B music, or anything to do with R’n’B, through the use of the internet, other magazines, films and gigs or festivals.

   Overall the reader of ‘Arise’ can be any kind of person as long as they have a strong passion in music and aim to increase its reputation as a form of artwork.

Music Magazine - Genre

   The genre I have chosen for my music magazine is R'n'B (Rhythm and Blues). I have chosen this genre as it is a personal interest of mine so I am familiar with the genre. This genre is also popular with my age group so my research of the target audience will be accurate and useful. I also hope to create a different view of R'n'B by concentrating the magazine on the music rather than the image and reputation of the artist. 

Evaluation of Preliminary task

Evaluation of Preliminary task

   In order to complete the preliminary task a school magazine front cover and contents page had to be created. It had to be aimed at an audience attending sixth form, so the age of 16-19, and had to be related to education and school. So the front cover and contents page had to be created to fulfil these specifications. This preliminary task was given to complete so that when it came to creating a music magazine ideas from the school magazine could be used and also see what would work and what could be improved on. It was also to familiarise ourselves with Adobe Photoshop and researching target audiences and planning.

   My magazine followed magazine conventions in the fact that the image dominates the front cover; the font is the same throughout the front cover and the contents page, creating brand identity, etc. There is a mast head and a banner. The date is placed just underneath the masthead. Also the sell lines are on the left hand side as this is the first place to be read. The symbiotic link between the front cover and the contents page is created by using the same font for titles and images from the front cover are also placed on the contents page.

   
   The magazine presents itself as a school magazine by the headline stories on the front cover such as ‘How to balance your school and social life?’  Also the image of someone studying and the name of the magazine, ‘Above Average’, also indicate that it is a school magazine. The audience will know that the magazine provides entertainment because there are articles about music, fashion, etc. This is something that will appeal to the target audience.

   The front cover of my school magazine was created to appeal to both male and female students of sixth form. In order to achieve this I made sure the colour scheme and the sell lines were relevant to both sexes. I also made the image relate to a sixth form student as it was of a student carrying a folder like most sixth form students would do.

   
   The main strengths of my production pieces are that it appeals to the target audience. It is simple and straight to the point. It fulfils all aspects of a school magazine.

In order to improve my practical work I could improve my Photoshop skills to improve the images on the front cover.  I could also make the symbiotic link between the front cover and contents page more apparent.

   This assignment has taught me the importance of researching a target audience in order to create a product that will appeal to them. I have also learnt how to use mode of address, colour schemes, etc. in order to draw in a certain type of audience. When it comes to completing the main task I will take several pictures for the front cover so that I will have more choice when it comes to decided the look of the magazine. I will also consider researching my target audience a lot more than in my preliminary task so that I will have more information when it comes to designing the magazine to appeal to a certain type of audience.

Above Average Mission Statement

02/10/11 Mari-Anne Foster

Above Average Mission Statement

   Above Average aims to provide its readers with the relevant information to make their personal experience of sixth form as enjoyable as possible. We also seek to change the view of an average school magazine and create a magazine that will interest young adults, as well as educating them.  We hope to achieve this by mixing young adults interests such as; music or fashion, with the more academic side of things like university open days and revision guidelines. However the main mission of the magazine is to provide students with the information and guidance they need to gain the most out of their time in sixth form.

Main aims of Above Average:

•   Encourage balance; work and play go hand in hand.
•   Encourage students to believe that each one of them can be above average with hard work.
•   Become a source of useful information, relevant to students’ lives.
•   Be entertaining and educational.

Target Audience Profile

02/10/11 Mari-Anne Foster

Target Audience Profile

    My magazine ‘Above Average’ will be aimed at teenagers of both genders from the age of sixteen to nineteen. The magazine will also be aimed at the sixth form of The Douay Martyrs secondary school so it will have to be relevant to the school and their education situation.

   

    Teenagers at this age have a range of interest and hobbies, such as; music, films, sport, fashion, etc. So this will have to be incorporated into the magazine in order to gain more attention. There could be a fashion page to interest girls and a sports page to interest boys. There could also be a film and music page to interest the majority of the target audience.

    The target audience will have certain values based around family, friends and their careers. The way the magazine could facilitate these interests is by offering advice in these subjects, such as; problems page or an agony aunt.

    The most fitting audience theory would be ‘Uses and Gratifications’ so that the target audience will seek out the magazine for a certain purpose like guidance or support in their education. In order for the magazine to attract the target market it will have to provide this and other needs such as university open days, course information and how to balance school and social life. This magazine would be used for educational purposes, guidance and support.

Front Cover sixth form magazine

Preliminary Mock Up