Contents pages (ideas)

I have designed three different layouts for my contents page. I think creating different styles means i have a lot more options i can only decide which layout i'll be using after i have collated the images and text that i will be putting on my contents page. I will be creating layout designs for my double page spread.

The red blocks represent text and blue represents images.

Possible drawing of picture for front page

Results from focus group with TA on titles

I had brought together a focus group to ask them questions about my title ideas. There was a group of 10 people to help me decide which title would be appropriate for my music magazine. Before I asked the questions i briefed my TA about my magazine and what i need.

I explained the concept of my music magazine, the target audience and some of the information available for readers.

The question I needed an answer to was for my Title

which title best suits the idea of my Magazine? why?
1) Taal- rhythm
2) Sangita - music
3) Note

Taal- It was mentioned that Taal is the name for a drum in Bengali. Bangladesh is also in Asia, close to India and my target audience felt as though it was be a weird name and could cause confusion during translation. Although this point is very relevant two out of the ten people voted for this name.

Sangita- This name bought up a discussion about how it would be the best out of all three because it is catchy and they felt as though after seeing/hearing that title there are no questions about what this magazine is about. After coming to this conclusion seven out of the ten people voted for this name.

Note - The title bought up many questions about how it could be a magazine that could belong to another industry other than music. Although note refers to a musical note. It didnt seem to make sense to my target audience because they thought it could be about a magazine about writing and writers across the world. This confusion led to only one out of ten voting for this name

After realising how constructive this focus group was i wanted to use them again further into the production of my music magazine. I felt as though it was helpful to receieve different perspectives and especially that of my target audience so i can create something amazing for them to purchase/consume.

The final title I will be using is Sangita.

Artist Jay Sean

Famous as : R&B singer
Birth Name : Kamaljit Singh Jhooti
Birth Date : March 26, 1981
Birth Place : Southall, London, UK
Claim to fame : Single "Stolen" (2004)

A Indian/Punjabi descendant, Jay Sean was born in Southall neighbourhood of London on March 26, 1981. When he was 11, Jay formed a Hip-Hop duo with his cousin Pritpal Ruprai under the moniker of Compulsive Disorder.

Determined to have career in music, he dropped out of Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry. He then recorded his first song "One Minute" and was signed to Virgin Records after the track fell into the hands of producer Rishi Rich.

 His debut album "Me Against Myself" was dropped for U.K. release only in November 2004. This record contained such hit singles as "Dance With You", "Eyes on You" and "Stolen". Another track titled "One Night" was even featured on a Bollywood movie "Kyaa Kool Hai Hum".

As a newcomer in music industry, Jay proved himself as the next sought-after artist as "Against Myself" was certified platinum for selling more than 300,000 copies and peaked at number 29 on U.K. Albums chart. Moreover, the set soared to number 1 on Indian Albums chart and got four-time platinum certification due to its 2,000,000 selling point.

 Jay's second album is titled "My Own Way". Released in U.K. on May 12, 2008, the album reached number 6 on U.K. Albums chart and ruled the U.K. R&B chart. During that year, he won Best Urban Act and Best Video for his single "Ride It" at 2008 UK Asian Music Awards (AMA).

He also got 2008 BMI Songwriter award. At 2008 MOBO Awards, Jay revealed that he was signed to American Hip-Hop oriented record label Cash Money Records and promised to drop a deluxe edition of "My Own Way" across U.K. and re-release it with the addition of several new songs for U.S. market.

 However, the plan for re-release album was scrapped. Instead, Jay works on new studio album "All or Nothing" to treat his fans in U.S. The first single from the album "Down" which featured Lil Wayne peaked at number 6 on Billboard Hot 100. The album itself arrives in U.S. stores on October 13, 2009.

Read more: http://www.aceshowbiz.com/celebrity/jay_sean/biography.html#ixzz3TyRauFOd

Image editing

 

 I downloaded the first image onto my ipad and used an app called PhotoEdit to create the second image. I managed to use my skills that i learned from photoshop to use this software. I felt more comfortable using this software because i use it on a more regular basis and although photoshop could possibly do this too, i preferred using something less time consuming and available on another device. I used a paintbrush to create the harsh contouring which is very common in Indian photography. I made the eyes much bolder and wider to create a much more concentrated mode of address. I also played around with parts of the hair 'blowing' it up and cloning it to make it seem natural and also more like Indian photography.

Update

I have collected results from my research on my target audience. I plan to post interiews and results from questionnaires. I have also evaluated my pictures and I now have a clearer idea of what I would like on my front page.

I have also managed to ask more media experienced people about my ideas. As I was discussing my initial ideas with teachers and artists i realised that in the music magazine industry there were not many indian music magazine actually any at all.

So I've had to incorporate stereotypical conventions of a music magazine in mine. My inspiration would have come from Bollywood fashion and movie magazines as well as R&B music magazines.

What i have learnt from Bollywood fashion magazines is that this is a big interest and is very popular with the my target audience. Bollywood movie magazines are also very popular because this is an industry that has been taken on internationally. India is known for its film industry. R&B is a music genre that is closely related with Indian Music. There are many artists that have managed to incorporate r&b with the indian culture for example Imran khan and Jay Sean.

I plan to do a case study on Jay Sean and his career so that i can understand more about this new genre.

Photoshoot (1) plans

Location:
Haggerston school Weymouth terrace

Models:

Sara Muluwerk

Time:
3.30 - 4.30

Cameras:
Canon EOS 600D Digital SLR + 18-55mm DC III Lens 
Canon zoom lens ef-s 18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6
 

Props:

Saree

Violin
Flute
Tambourine
(Make up- already discussed)
^Indian style contouring and eyeliner

 

Plan:

To take pictures for front page
Portrait images

objects will be placed in the centre of the page

- Close up

- Mid shot

- Shots with instruments and without

Health and safety:
The timing for the shoot was carefully selected after school to avoid the children and distracting them from their lessons. We used the Music room and the instruments to reflect the music magazine, we used the pros written above. The pictures will be taken in day light, as we are on the roof, for this reason we were supervised by a teacher as a precaution of health and safety. Also being in a school environment was much safer, and I plan on making the areas for my next two photoshoots in a forest road, which is a community centre, allowing myself and my model and the expensive equipment to be indoors and safe.

Title Ideas

After brainstorming and looking around for inspiration on the internet I have managed to come up with a few ideas for the magazine title. I've come up with 3 Titles which i will list below.

1) Taal- rhythm
2) Sangita - music

3) Note

For audience involvement i've decided to do a focus group made up of people who could be my ideal consumer to help me decide which name will be best. I have tried to involve more of the Indian culture so i have thought of titles that mean something in Hindi aswell.

Target Audience

I have carried out a lot of personal research for my own knowledge on my Target audience but I have created a presentation that shows who they are, demographics and psychographics.