Task 5

The purpose of this task was to examine and research into possible
genres that I could confidently create for my final magazine. I have
analyzed my capabilities and weighed out the strengths and
weaknesses to the possible genres, to allow me decide and which
genre I can portray to the best standard for the final magazine.
Possible Sub-Genres include:
- Rock Music
- RnB Music
- Hip/Hop Music
The strengths behind choosing a rock magazine would be because
the target audience is more obvious than Pop music. This is because
the target audience of rock music would be Caucasian British youths
between 13-21 whereas Pop music would be harder to define as it is
the biggest portion of the music industry thus does not have one set
target audience.
Furthermore, I have some interest in Rock music thus I would be
familiar with artists that you would see on covers on magazines
such as Kerrang or NME. Due to some understanding of Rock music I
would have the advantage of knowing what kind of content and
terminology that would be used for example knowing the different
types of Rock e.g. Punk Rock, Heavy Metal, Death Metal etc.
On the other hand, there would be some difficulties with me
deciding on a Rock sub-genre this is because my knowledge in this
area is quite limited. Therefore, although I would be able to know
the different types of rock it may cover all aspects of the sub-genre
for example I would not know the different parts of a drum-set or
the difference between a bass guitarist and normal.
Moreover, I do not listen to Rock music enough to have a strong
enough to know when a band fits into an era of rock music as
although I know the different types I do not understand the technical
aspects on how a band is punk rock or heavy metal etc.
With choosing a RnB music magazine I have the strength of knowing
what type of design and colours would be associated with the
magazine for example it would be more vibrant rather than dark
which would be more associated with rock music. I also have a
stronger understanding of what kind of articles would be in the
magazine due the genre of music. This is because RnB music is
more associated with females and love therefore articles related to
fashion would be appropriate since fashion is a feminine area.

However, due to not having huge interest in this sub-genre of

magazine I would find it difficult when constructing areas like the
Double Page Spread since the content is out of my field. Moreover,
due to not a depth in fashion areas such as the fashion segments in
the magazine would be hard to construct.
Lastly, with choosing a Hip/Hop music magazine I have the great
advantage of knowing what kind of aesthetic to give the magazine
due to me being an avid listener to this genre. Therefore, in the
construction of the magazine I would know what language I should
apply to the cover lines to give a direct-address to the typical target
audience.
Additionally, due to my knowledge in the genre I would be able to
know what kind of articles the target audience would be interested
for example in a rap music magazine and knowing that the target
audience would be typically lower to middle social class, black
ethnicity British youths that are aged 16-21. Therefore, an article
relating to trending footwear (sneakers) would be suitable in the
magazine since the male audience would be able to relate to this.
In contrast, the problem with the choice of a hip/hop magazine
would be that although I listen to hip/hop music it does not fully
consist of the mainstream artists. Hence, I may sway towards the
hip/hop magazine being more underground rather than reaching
the wider target audience by having articles based on commercial
artists that people are more aware of.
With the target audience of: Black Ethnicity, British Youths (16-21)
from a Lower to Middle social class I also know what kind of financial
price point to aim for the magazine. This is because these particular
people would not have a disposable income as they most likely are a
part of student lifestyle and therefore have priorities towards travel
and food. Hence, I know they would be more comfortable spending
2-3 rather than 4+.

NME Magazine

I could base my magazine on NME, which is closely associated to

Rock & Indie music. They have a target audience to British
Caucasian youths aged 16-24 year olds. The magazine consists of
general current news in music, reviews, and seasonal items such as
tour related articles or awards. In 1996 it became one of the first
magazines to have their own websites. Theodore Ingham founded
NME in 1952 with the first issue on 7th of March.

Vibe Magazine

Another option on the final magazine to be based around is Vibe.

This magazine mainly consists of RnB and Hip/Hop subgenre. The
target audience is aimed to wards an African American young
audience aged around 15-21 with the RnB areas of the magazine
more aimed to a female audience and the Hip/Hop areas aimed to a
male audience. The magazine has articles related to general
entertainment out side of music for example TV and movies but also
looks at areas such as fashion which would be more aimed to a
female audience. The magazine also consist of gossip areas and
more music related articles such as interviews and music related
lists. Quincy Jones a well known producer founded this magazine in
1993.

The Source

Finally another option would include The Source magazine, which is

solely based on Hip/Hop and therefore aiming towards an African
American young male audience of 16-21 year olds. This magazine
had started by two Harvard University students who were inspired
by the Hip Hop culture the first issue was in 1988 by Jon Shecter and
David Mays. Content includes an annual awards (for Man of the Year,
Woman of the Year and Rookie of the Year), an unsigned hype
column devoted to underground rappers who do not have a record
deal and a review system called the 5-mic albums which scales an
album which rates the album out of 5 (5 being the highest and 1
being the lowest).

My research results compared to my choice of genre

(Refer to Prezi document on Blog post named Task 5 Peer
Research).
My choice of genre was popular amongst my research with peers as
3 out of the 5 people I had asked had chosen hip/hop music. The
people who had not chosen hip/hop music included a female
Caucasian person who had said the content is too misogynistic
which makes sense as hip/hop music has a target audience of male
African Americans. However, although the people who I had asked
and that agreed with my choice of genre and were not African
American but felt that hip/hop music has more to say than RnB
music and Rock.
Personally, I think my choice of genre was popular because I asked a
total of 4 males and therefore if I was to ask 6 people next time and
3 from each genre I would have a possible split in votes thus
meaning a lower ratio for a hip/hop magazine. Also, I think my
magazine was popular because currently there are more Rock
magazines and RnB magazines that are more accessibly available to
the UK audience and hip/hop magazine are aimed to more of an
American audience therefore the niche market in the UK could be
reached through having a UK based Hip/Hop magazine.
Through the research into the genre I know the target audience will
be to: Black Ethnciity, British Youths (16-21) from a Lower-Middle
social class who have a more relaxed lifestyle. This is because
hip/hop music spawned in the Urban communities through Block
Parties which were young people would gather and have music
playing with DJs and they would have a good time in their
neighborhood. This shows that they would not have a highdisposable income as people from a high social class are
stereotyped to have more traditional tea parties compared to having
DJs and alcohol.
Conclusion of genres
In evaluation, I believe the chosen genre for my magazine should be
hip/hop and rap this is because the focus group based on genres
that was conducted show that this genre will be popular. I also
believe that I feel the most confident in this genre because of my
knowledge to the variations of rap and have a good understanding
around the development of rap in culture and society, therefore in

the creation stages I will know what would be appropriate and what
areas are expected for the end product to be at a high level.
Possible Articles
- Q&A
Which would be centered around an artist of the genre and ask
meaningful and relevant questions to there field and personal life.
This is because the target audience would be interest in the musical
aspects of the artist whereas the niche market of the target
audience would want to know personal things as they would want to
know about the person on a human level rather than just someone
they look up to.
- Review
A music magazine with reviews would allow them to reach a broader
audience because the niche market of fans of the artist who
compiled the album would want to know which songs to look out for,
or if they listened to the album wanted to see if a magazine shared
similar opinions. Plus, it also helps with synergy because the
magazine would reach an audience who may consider the buying
the album based on the review (helping the artist) and the niche
market of the artists fans would buy the magazine (helping the
magazine).
- Editorials
This would attract the target audience of British Male Youths (16-21)
but ore specifically the niche market of people who are interested in
the music industry as the Editor would have authority. Hence, the
magazine will not only focus on artists and the music but also the
behind-the-scenes areas such as the different eras of the music or
how artists break through into the mainstream etc.
- Free Flow
Free flowing article has the advantage of giving a more descriptive
tone related to the artist compared to the simplicity of the
interviewer asking the artist questions. This would attract the niche
market of people wanting an in depth analysis from an industry
view. However, this may repel the niche market who just want to
know what the artist thinks. The benefit of the free flowing articles is
that the writer can express their thoughts and give a professional
tone to their opinions thus to form an optimal article a possibility
would be to have a mixture of both free flowing and Q&A to
maximise target audience reach.

Analysis of Double Page Spreads

This double page spread shows the main image on the left hand
side.
No actual title for the double page spread, instead large grab-quote.
Free flowing introduction followed by Q&A.
Issue Date, Magazine website link & page number in bottom left
corner.
People would be intrigued by the huge grab-quote because it sets
the tone of the article of being direct and it also correlates to the
nature of the genre of having a bold attitude. The image on left
takes the whole space thus people focus on the image before the
text, also by putting it on the left hand side people would attract
people as naturally look from the left to the right thus when flicking
through pages the image automatically tells the target audience
who the article is about.

This magazine again has the image on the left but the chosen image
flows from the whole of an A4 to a slight section of the right page.
Due to the article being a review the names of the album and artist
are at the top.
Followed by an introduction and main body of the text
A caption has been applied to the bottom left corner of the image.
A rectangle has been placed in the middle of the text which has
been purposely used as people would be intrigued by why theres a
separate area in the middle of the article. This box consists of small
based around details of the album.

This article has the main image on the right.

Again a small shape in the middle of the main body of text by this
time a grab-quote, the colour allows the target audience to be
drawn towards it then thus read the rest of the article. The choice of
the quote gives the audience to an insight of what is in there.
An extra column is in this article which is related to songs from his
latest album this is because it is separate in subject matter,
therefore this is aimed at the niche market who buy the magazine
just because King Krule is in it would be interested in his actual
music than his life.