Screengrabs of progress on my front cover

Pictures after editting

Pictures I used on my magazine before editting

Double Page Sread Article

It's about time Current had our say


None of us here at Current know what to expect each week in the top 40 as it varyiesgreatly from week to week. We still get quite a shock when we see some songs in the top spots that we thought would never even make it into the top 40.

Jason Derulo made it to number 1 in this weeks UK top 40, with ‘Whatcha Say’, jumping a massive 7 places from his spot at number 8 last week. At Current, this is one of our favourite songs and we agree with him having number 1 in this week’s chart. Having written songs for artists such as Diddy, Lil Wayne and Lil Mama since he was 12, we know there’s much more to come from him. So we weren’t surprised he was able to knock The Black Eyed Peas from the top spot, down to number 2, as it is such a catchy song and we can’t stop singing along to it.

Black Eyed Peas are down to number 2 from being last weeks number 1, with ’Meet Me Halfway’ but we are still loving this song as much as the first time we heard it. The Black Eyed Peas’ new album ‘The E.N.D’. is a very impressive album, and here at Current we have it on to get us all in the party mood. In this album they’ve changed to an electro-hop beat from their old hip hop style, but they keep getting better and we keep loving their songs. Chloe Jones from Merseyside tells us “I just love this song, it’s such a feel good song and it makes me wanna dance”.

Ke$ha’s ‘Tik Tok’ has stayed at number 3 this week for the second week, but we’re not sure if we agree this week. The song is really catchy, but it’s been so overplayed that it’s started bore us. “It reminds me of when irritating kids replay the song over and over just so they can get the lyrics right to show off to their mates,” Sian Crilly from Northwest tells us. We agree with Sian on this view, as we have had many emails and letters from our younger audience praising the song. We’re not saying you should stop sending in letters because we love them (no matter what they’re about) we just think this song has run it’s course now. We don’t see it being in the top ten for much longer.

The X Factor Finalists of 2009 have made it to spot number 4 this week with their charity version of Michael Jacksons, ‘You Are Not Alone’. It’s only just entered the charts, so we think it will rise to a higher spot next week, when it’s had more publicity, although it good enough for number one in Ireland. “I love this song, and they have sung it well. I will be going out to buy my copy this weekend.’ Joe Smith from London said. We recommend everyone to go out and buy a copy of it, as it is to raise money for Great Ormond Street Hospital.

In at number five is the wonderful Lady GaGa with her first single, ‘Bad Romance’, from her second album ‘The Fame Monster’. It’s a catchy little tune, a lot like most of her songs on her album first album The Fame. “I absolutely love Lady GaGa and this song is so good, I just can’t stop singing it.“ Georgia Graham told us. Current are thinking this could become a big hit in the next few weeks, moving 4 places from spot 10 last week, as GaGa seems to take over the clubs with her music. We will definitely have this on on a Friday here to get us in the weekend party mood.

X Factor 2008 runners up JLS are hitting number 6 with their second single ‘Everybody In Love’, which we are loving just as much as their first single, ‘Beat Again’. Beating the X Factor judge, Cheryl Cole, for the third week in a row, they seem to be doing pretty well for themselves, despite them not winning the competition last year. Beth Farlam says “This song is so catchy and I would never of expected JLS to have had a single like this. I love it.” We think it will start to drop though as it only went up one spot from last weeks number 5, but we still love it.

Then close behind the boys is ‘Fight For This Love’ by Cheryl Cole, which is her first single released from her new album, 3 Words. This song is still as catchy and fun loving as it was when we first heard it, and we think it could be in the charts for a few more weeks too. There has been many rumours of Cheryl’s band, Girls Aloud, splitting because of her solo career, but this is not the case, as the girls have said that they are just taking a mini break from the band to do other things. They also told press they have a 3 album contract, so they’ll be back soon enough with a new album. “I love Cheryl, she’s gorgeous and her voice is amazing. This song’s such a good party song aswell, it gets everyone dancing,” Lewis Williams said.

Dropping 6 places to number is X Factor’s 2006 Winner Leona Lewis with ‘Happy’, which is from her second album ‘Echo’. Leona told press that she’s fine with not reaching the top spot with her song, so long as she has her fans supporting her, and they’re still enjoying her music. She also said that she does not feel worried about Alexandra Burke as she seems like a lovely fun-loving girl and wishes her all the best. That’s what we like to hear! Kelly Baker told us “I love this song and I love Leona, she’s such an inspiration. She’s done really well for herself in the part few years.”

Britney’s back in the charts with her new song ‘3’ at number 9, from her upcoming Singles Collection. It’s quite a catchy song but does seem to get rather repetitive towards the end, but you can’t go wrong with a bit of Britney, can you? She’s been fabulous since her first hit of ‘Baby One More Time’, and she still is to this day. “I’m not that big a fan of Britney, but I do quite like this song, it’s catchy and just like old pop.” Cathryn Appleton says. This song will be in the top 40 for another few weeks probably, but we think it’s had it’s time in the top ten now, dropping 3 places from last weeks number 6.

Lastly at number 10, is the lovable hip hop trio N-Dubz with I Need You dropping 3 places from last weeks number 7. If this time last year someone had shown us this band, we would never of imagined that they’d be in the top 10, let alone that we’d all love the song here at Current aswell. It goes to show hard work goes a long way. Jack brislen says, “N-Dubz are really good, they’re not normally what I listen to, but thre recent songs are quite good.”

Publication Plan

Title: Current
Positioning statement: Bringing you the weekly charts!
Frequency of publication: Weekly
Price: £2

Distribution: Newsagents, supermarkets and music shops

Rationale: My magazine’s purpose is to inform and entertain the readers about chart music and the weekly UK chart. Interviews with artists and bands will be in my magazine, so that the audience feel as if they get to know and understand them, and their music. It will have up to date news and a bit of gossip to get some different readers to become interested in the magazine.

Style: For my style I will use colloquial language, using quite simple vocabulary and syntax. The magazine is for all chart music fans using a smart, neat presentation, with a simple layout that is not too busy. As I found that its mainly people aged between 12-25 that buy most music magazines, my magazine audience will be mainly aimed at 12-26 year old of both genders, and I will use quite simple syntax, with maybe just a few harder ones occasionally. My main image will be the main attraction of my front cover, so I won’t have too much writing around it, to focus the attention on the image.


Regular Content

· Editors letter
· The UK top 40
· Interview with chart toppers
· Upcoming gigs
· Upcoming singles and album
· CD reviews
· Gig reviews
· Last weeks UK top 10s
· Rising stars
· Future hits






Feature Content

· Download or buy music?
· What we’re listening to
· Do you really know chart music?
· Have your say in our charts
· Is pop dead?
· Who’s your favourite?
· Hopeful rising acts
· We ask the fans their favourite
· Get the music you want easily
· Charts have changed



House Style

Coverlines: Arial, bold

Headlines: Berlin Sans FB

Standfirst: Tahoma

Captions: Arial Narrow

Features first paragraph: Drop capital, 6 lines deep, Verdana, first word in capitals

News first paragraph: First word in capital to stand out, to catch their eye for the rest of the article

Body Text: Comic Sans MS

Colour Scheme: Red, blue, black

Questionnaire result tally

1. 1. Are you male or female?
Male
Female


2. How old are you?
Under 16
16-25
25-35
35-45
Over 45


3. How often do you buy music magazines?
Weekly
Fortnightly
Monthly
Other


4. How do you find out about the UK charts?
TV
Radio
Internet
Record Shops
Other


5. What is your favourite genre in the charts? (Number them in order of preference)
R’n’b
Dance
Rock
Indie
Hip hop
Rap
Pop
Other


6. Who is your favourite band?
Breaking Benjamin
Take That
The Artic Monkeys
The Black Eyed Peas
Blink 182
The Kooks
Jack's Mannequin
Muse
Paramore
Passion Pit
Mcfly
Girls Aloud
Green Day
JLS
Genesis


7. Who is you favourite solo artist?

Christina Aguilera
Bob Marley
Pink
Jason Mraz
Lily Allen
Beyonce
JME
Michael Buble
Paulo Nutini
Lady Gaga
Michael Jackson
Eddie Halliwell
Marvin Gaye
Newton Fawkner
Pixie Lott


8. What do you like to see in music magazines? (Number them in order of preference)
Interviews
Reviews
Headlines
Gig Information
Upcoming artists/bands
Upcoming CD’s
Others


9. How often do you listen to chart music?
Everyday
A few days a week
Once a week
Not much


10. Do you prefer to buy singles or albums?
Singles
Album


11. How much would you willing to pay for a chart music magazine?
Up to £1
£1-£2
£2-£3
£3-£4
More than £4


12. Do you prefer a band or artist on the front cover of a magazine?
Band
Artist
I don’t have a preference


13. Do you prefer to buy music or download?
Buy
Download


14. What is your favourite music magazine?
Kerrang
NME
Q
Moho
None


15. List three words you would associate with chart music?
Inspiring
Tasteful
Dancing
Singing
Pop
Happy
Joyful
Upbeat
New
Good
Lively
Rave
Clubs
Fun
Laugh
Indie
Countdown
Cheesy
Good
Similar
Lively


16. What is your favourite colour?
Pink
Blue
Brown
Red
Green
Purple
Orange

17. Would you buy a new chart music magazine?
Yes
No

My music magazine questionnaire

1. Are you male or female?
Male Female

2. How old are you?
Under 16 16-25 25-35 35-45 Over 45

3. How often do you buy music magazines?
Weekly Fortnightly Monthly Other ______________

4. How do you find out about the UK charts? (Tick which apply in numbered order)
TV Radio Internet Record shops
Other_____________

5. What is your favourite genre in the charts? (Number them in order of preference)
R’n’b Dance Rock Indie Hip hop Rap
Pop Other ______________

6. Who is your favourite band?
________________________________

7. Who is you favourite solo artist?
_________________________________


8. What do you like to see in music magazines? (Number them in order of preference)
Interviews Reviews Headlines Gig Information
Upcoming artists/bands Upcoming CD’s
Other__________________

9. How often do you listen to chart music?
Everyday A few days a week Once a week Not much

10. Do you prefer to buy singles or albums?
Singles Album

11. How much would you willing to pay for a chart music magazine?
Up to £1 £1-£2 £2-£3 £3-£4 More than £4

12. Do you prefer a band or artist on the front cover of a magazine?
Band Artist I don’t have a preference

13. Do you prefer to buy music or download?
Buy Download

14. What is your favourite music magazine?
________________________________

15. List three words you would associate with chart music?
______________________________________________

16. What is your favourite colour?
______________________________________________

17. Would you buy a new chart music magazine?
Yes No

My school magazine

Pie charts of questionnaire results

3. The majority of participants said they buy a music magazine monthly, but because my magazine is a chart music magazine it will have to be a weekly magazine, as the charts change weekly.









12. Most of the participants said they don’t have a preference to whether there’s a band or artist on the front, therefore I can chose either to go on my front cover.

Chart music magazine questionnaire

I asked 20 people to fill out a questionnaire based on their views and opinions on music magazines, chart music and chart music magazines. My results were as follows;


1. Out of the participants I asked 11 were female and 9 were male.

2. They were aged 4 under 16, 6 were 16-25, 4 were 25-35, 3 were 35-45 and 3 were over 45.

3. 2 of the participants read music magazines weekly, 2 read them fortnightly, 9 read them monthly and 7 read ticked other. The answers for other were ones such as occasionally, hardly ever and not much.

4. My participants show that the most popular way to find out the weekly chart is the radio, as it was chosen first 9 times. The second most popular was internet being chosen first 6 times and TV was third being chosen first 5 times. Record shops and other were not chosen first at all.

5. Out of the people I asked most of them preferred R'n'b being chosen first 6 times, second favourite was dance and indie, third was rock, hip hop and pop which were all chose first 2 times each. Rap was not chosen first at all.

6. I was given a wide variety of favourite bands with most people having different ones, Paramore was chosen by 3 people however, also Take That, Muse and Black-Eyed Peas were all chosen by two people.

7. Again there was a wide variety of favourite artists.

8. Interviews was top being chosen first 8 times, upcoming artists/bands was second coming first 6 times, reviews and headlines was chosen first 5 times and gig information and upcoming Cd's were chosen first 3 times.

9. 13 people said they listen to chart music everyday, 3 said a few days a week, 1 person said once a week and 3 people said not much.

10. Most people prefer to buy albums as 16 people ticked albums and 4 ticked singles.

11. No one chose up to £1, 8 people chose £1-£2, 8 people chose £2-£3, 3 people chose £3-£4 and 1 person chose more than £4.

12. 11 people answered that they don't have a preference to a band or artist on the magazine front cover, 6 chose an artist and 3 answered band.

13. 17 people said that they prefer to download music and 3 people said they prefer to buy music.

17. 16 people said they would buy a new chart music and the other 4 said they wouldn't.

Analysis of the magazine covers

• Colour scheme of 4 colours (white, yellow, red and blue)
• Buzz words used - e.g. plus, yeah, oh
• One main image used, centred, group shot
  
• 6 cover stories
• Banner used at top and bottom for 2 different stories
• Smaller image next to top banner, related to the article
• Plain white background
• All people looking into the camera
• Image overlaps the masthead
• Microphones are used by some of the band members
• All members are looking into the camera
• Informal mode of address
• Layout is busy and suits the genre of the magazine (Pop)
  

• Colour scheme used (Red, white and black)
• One main image used, left aligned
  
• Person not looking into the camera
• 7 cover stories
• Background is not plain, it is the background of the image, but unfocused
• Issue date at top left
• Image overlaps the masthead
• Quite easy, plain set out, and not busy, so it's easier to see everything

Codes and conventions of music magazine double page spread articles

• Image that takes up to a whole page of the article
• Drop capital at the beginning of the article
• Mini introduction to the article (Description/Standfirst)
• Bylines of the writer and photographer
  
• A colour scheme, mainly linking to the main image
• Magazine name next to the page number/issue date to remind the reader
  
• The website address to get the reader to visit the website
• Name of interviewee in a different colour so that it stands out from the rest of the text
• A border around the double page spread
• Columns used, between 2-4 mainly
• A quote from the subject, often over the photograph
• A headline is used at the top of the page
• Standfirst is always near/under the headline, and before the start of the article. It introduces the article and explains what it's going to be about, so it engages the reader.
• Use informal mode of address in the article to relate to the reader
• Short and snappy headlines so that it's easy for the reader to read.
  

Codes and conventions of music magazine contents pages

• There are usually 3/4 columns
• A colour scheme is used, similar to the front cover, so that it relates to the front cover
• The issue date is also on the contents page, to inform the reader
• One main image (main story) of the artist or something to do with music
• Several smaller images to relate to articles inside the magazine
• Seperated into subheading, so it's easier for the reader (E.g. regulars, features etc.)
• The website address, so that the reader can go onto the website for more information on the magazine
• Editorial, to connect to the readers, in the mode of address of the magazine genre
  
• Coverlines from the front cover included, to link to the front cover and remind the reader what was on the cover
  

Codes and conventions of music magazine front covers

• There is a colour scheme of 3/4 colours so that it is not too plain and not too busy
• The masthead is at the top of the page
• Use of buzzwords to attract the audience (E.g. plus, free, exclusive)
• An average of 5-10 coverlines which link to the gender of the audience
• Smaller images to attract the reader and also links to articles inside the magazine
• Main image can be more than one person as music magazine often have bands on the front of them
• Props are sometimes used in the main image, as they cover star can have a guitar, microphone etc.
• Banners are used to attract attention to what is being said
• Tagline is used as a magazine needs to have a tagline
• The price is always on the front cover, because the audience will want to know the price
• A plain background, so that all the attention is on the main image and not elsewhere
• The issue date of the magazine, so that the reader knows when the magazine was issued
• The band/singer, mostly a long shot for bands and mid-shot for singers on their own
• Cover star is lookign at the camera, to connect to the reader
• The body language of the cover images link to the genre of the magazine
• Mode of address links to the genre of of the magazine
• The masthead attracts a certain audience depending on the genre of the magazine
• Well known images to attract the audience
• The layout is appropriate to the genre and the audience of the magazine
• Representation of the main image links to the genre of the audience
  

My music magazine

For my chart music magazine, it will have to a weekly published one as it is music on the charts and the chart music changes weekly. The price of my magazine will be on average £2-£4, and it will be about 100-150 pages long, each issue. The regular content in each magazine will be the UK top 40 and an article on a successful artist and some rising stars.

Chart magazine research

Chart magazines


Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis. Among the two most important charts, the Billboard Hot 100 ranks the top 100 songs regardless of genre and is frequently used as the standard measure for ranking songs in the United States, while the Billboard 200 survey is the corresponding chart for album sales.



Billboard magazine is published weekly and cost varies from $6.99-$12.99, as it is an American magazine. In every article there is a main article on a popular singer/band, it also includes rising stars, what’s ‘hot on the charts’ and interviews with artists.






Smash Hits was a pop music based magazine, aimed at children and young teenagers, and originally published in the United Kingdom by EMAP and it ran from 1978 to 2006. The name survives as a brand for a related spin-off digital television channel, digital radio station, and website which have survived the demise of the printed magazine. The backbone of the magazine in its early years, and one of its major early selling points, was the publication of Top 20 song lyrics.



Smash hits published a one off tribute magazine this year, after Michael Jackson passed away, at the cost of £2.99. The magazine closed in 2006, after almost 30 tears, as it was victim of the rise of digital media.

My music Magazine

For my media coursework I am going to produce a chart music magazine front cover, contents page and double page spread. The target audience of my magazine will be for mainly 12-25 year olds of both sexes of, and also overall, all people who like chart music.

Codes and conventions of contents page

The contents page of a magazine has;

• The masthead at the top
• Small images of featured articles
• One large image
• Page numbers
• Same colour scheme as front cover
• Same fonts used on front cover
• Ordered (Mostly page order or topics)
• Different groups of articles (e.g real life, celebrity)
• Small copy of the front cover
• Editorial
• Issue date
• Organised
• Columns (2 or 3)
• Subscription details

Codes and conventions of magazine covers

The front cover of a magazine has;

• Masthead at the top
• Featured stories down the sides
• Central image (Main story)
  
• The price
• The issue date
• Buzz words (e.g Free, exclusive, plus)
• Image overlays masthead (Only on some well known)
• Taglines
• Colour theme (Usually about 3 colours)
• Different fonts (Usually about 2/3, not including masthead)
• Central image relates to genre
• Banners (containing a summary of information)
• The magazine's website
• Between 6-20 cover stories
• Smaller images of featured stories (Not all magazines)
  

Evaluation of my magazine front cover and contents page

For my preliminary media coursework task I had to create a front cover and contents page of a new school magazine.

I used Adobe Photoshop for my front cover, which I found quite easy to use as I have used it before, although I did learn how to do some new things on it to make my magazine look more professional. For my front cover I used Quark Express, which I have never used before so it took me a while to get used to it, but when I was used to it i found it very useful as it has a good layout for your magazine.

My finished front cover

Images used before manipulation

These are the images i will manipulate and use on my contents page.

Images used in my magazine

Draft of my contents page

Copy of draft of contents page.

Content that will appear on my contents page

Regular Content Which Will Appear In My School Magazine:

• Editorial
• School clubs news
• Comeptitions
  

Ten Feature Articles Which Will Appear In My Magazine:

• New 6th formers
• New head girl
• School dinners
• Making new friends
• Dealing with work
• School uniform
• Star of the muscial
• Student achievements
• Changes to the school
• Talk with teachers
  

List of Images I Will Use On My Contents Page:

• The school
  
• A teacher/s
  
• Students
  
• Students from the muscial
  

Draft of my front cover

Copy of draft of front cover.

Decisions for my school magazine

Title: WeatherWise
Mise en scene: A medium close up shot of the student who is the star of the school musical, centred and fairly large. Also, a smaller image of a group of Year 12's.

Coverlines:
- Star of high school muscial Kelly Baker!
- We speak to new sixth formers about sixth form life
- Changes to the school and teachers over the summer!
- Homework! KEEP OR GET RID?
- This years upcoming events and trips
- Who will be the new head girl?
- Students achievements in GCSE and A Level
- Win the new must have stationary!