This is the cover design that I decided to use for my magazine. It was the most popular among the sample of the target audience which is a very important sign. I decided to listen to my audience as they are the ones who will be buying the magazine. I feel that this cover will make my magazine appear fun and will appeal to the right audience as it has a young rebellious appearance. The magazine breaks from conventions but I think that in this case it is for good reason as it makes the magazine stand out which will draw in readers. The guitar on the front cover shows everyone straight away that this is a music magazine, and the fun feel with the electric guitar helps to show the genre of music. By placing the lures around the cover star I will make the cover appear packed full to show the amount that will be inside and the value for money.

Front cover designs

From my research I started to come up with my own ideas for my own magazine. I designed three front cover options using a female cover star who would have a main feature in the magazine. A key feature that I liked from my research was having one colour that stands out on the front cover. I decided I would use this myself and so I started with only two colours on my designs which I would later build around. I asked a group of my peers who fit the target audience to give me feedback on which was their favourite cover.

This was the most popular cover as it is fun and carefree which fits the genre and the target audience. The cover also features a guitar which shows clearly that it is a music magazine. The problem with this cover was that it is difficult to create strong eye contact from the cover star. I decided I would make the cover focus more on the star so that they take up most of the page. 

This cover was the second most popular of the three. This is the most conventional cover of  magazine and it is easy to create eye contact with the cover star. However, this cover doesn't show that it is a music magazine. The audience may not be so drawn towards this magazine on the shelf as it would blend in with the other magazines on sale.

This magazine cover was least popular. It shows that it is a music magazine because of the top of the guitar showing in the picture but I think that the other magazine with the guitar is more suitable. I think that the target audience didn't like this one so much as it isn't conventional and it isn't such a strong, eye-catching image as the others are. 

Music Magazine

My main task has been to create a music magazine.
I decided to target my magazine at rock and pop fans and to aim it at the mainstream music market.
The magazine will be distributed in newsagents and music shops.

Before I started planning my own magazine I did some research into the magazines which are already available within the market I plan to aim for.

Finished preliminary products

This is my completed school magazine front cover for my Preliminary task.

This is my completed school magazine contents page for my preliminary task. 

Preliminary Task

Prior to my main task of creating a music magazine I have created a school magazine front cover and contents page. The research and skills I have developed will help me when I come to my main task.

I have included a presentation about the research and development of my preliminary task.

Preliminary Presentation 

My Task

My task was to create the front cover, contents page and double page spread of a music magazine. Prior to my main task I created the front cover, contents page and double page spread of a school magazine as a preliminary task. On this blog I will record my research, drafts, final products and evalutaion of the project.