planning and research

1. Planning & Research
Rhiya Heir

2. Central image
Masthead
Barcode
Star appeal
Cover lines
Faded colour scheme

3. Conventions of a music magazine
• Bold masthead
• Appealing colours
• Large central image
• Star appeal
• Taglines
• Cover lines
• Barcodes
• Busy front cover
• Puff/promotion

4. I have decided to use ‘VIBE’ for my research. I have chosen this magazine as I think it’s
a successful music magazine that targets a wide range audience, and it suits the genre
of my magazine, RnB.
‘VIBE’ is a music and entertainment magazine founded by producer Quincy Jones. The
publication predominantly features R&B and hip-hop music artists, actors and other
entertainers. ‘VIBE’ was purchased by the private equity investment fund intermediary
partners and is now issued every other month with double covers, with a larger online
presence. This magazines targeted demographic is predominantly young, urban
followers of hip-hop culture. In 2014 the magazine moved online only.

5. My Chosen Music Magazine Genre
• I chose to do a R&B magazine because this is my favourite genre of music, I know
about the culture and industry therefore I would be able to re create an R&B
magazine and I would also enjoy it. I understand that it would be a challenge as
R&B magazines are published at a very high standard and is completed to a very
high quality.
• Whilst looking into the R&B magazine genre, I noticed many ‘similarities’ (Steve
Neal) between them. For example when the front cover has a female as the
central image they are normally portrayed as being seductive. Not only this but the
colour scheme is consistent throughout, for example darkish colours are used to fit
the genre.

6. Targeted audience
• My targeted audience varies from the ages of 15 up to 25, these ages are fans
of R&B music as a whole (Hartley). The audience would also conform to being
social climbers (Maslow) as the magazine features the latest information to do
with the most famous celebrities in the R&B Industry. in the 21st century the
younger generation are become more familiarized with rappers and song
writers such as drake and Nicki Minaj, the two most famous singers and
rappers who are both apart of ‘Young money cash money billionaire’, the
founder is Dwayne Michael Carter, JR, also knows as Lil Wayne by his rapper
name.
• The R&B music can relate to the older teenager due to the meanings of the
songs, for example Drake is famously known for his love songs therefore the
older generation can relate to this therefore build a personal relationship with
the artist.

7. From the research completed into this media
product, I think the USP is the images on the
front cover, as they are high quality images.
The R&B magazines such as ‘VIBE’ choose
the best artists/entertainers to represent
their magazine so that they get the best
buyers. They also use both male and female
representatives, which allows a wider target
audience. For example this front cover has a
central image of drake the singer and rapper
artist. He is well known and has millions of
fans internationally, therefore this targets a
wide range audience which is beneficial as
the magazine ’VIBE’ will have many buyers.
Just because you have a male representative
on the front cover doesn't’t man it will
appeal just to girls because he's a good
looking guy it also appeals to the male
audience as well as drake has fans of both
genders.

8. To look for inspiration for my front cover I
researched into ‘VIBE’ magazine. The reason I chose
to research this magazine was because I have
similar interest into the type of music they write
about and promote which is R&B and hip-hop
music, I'm also familiar with all the star appeal they
promote on their front covers. I also like the way
they style their front cover, the main image on just 1
celebrity which is bold and appealing to the buyers,
not only this but the colour scheme they use, often
mix between bright colours and dark colours, I like
the dark colours in particular as it brings a ‘cool’
atmosphere to the magazine and makes it more
appealing, the magazine looks ‘sassy’ therefore
supports the needs and purposes of this particular
genre. They use both genders to represent their
magazine which is positive as both genders can
relate to the magazine. For example this image in
particular it portrays women as being sexy and
confident and allowing them to show off their sexy
curves this shows women are powerful, and the
readers can relate to this, and the male audience
would find it appealing.

9. The ‘VIBE’ magazine layout is very simple
and presented neatly this is an attractive
way of presenting a front cover as its not
to busy and you can actually focus on
what's going on. I have decided to have
one central image of a female character
that is appealing, the masthead placed at
the top of my magazine and have it really
bold and spread across the page so that
its attractive. And down the sides around
the pictures I will include the cover lines
and extra conventions such as the
barcode, issue date and the price I will
also include institution logos to represent
my magazine. This picture in particular will
attract the ‘male gaze’ according to Laura
Mulvey, this is because you have an
attractive female on the front cover who is
being sexualized as she's wearing short,
revealing and see threw clothing.

10. Contents page
From my research I can tell that ‘VIBE’
contents page also has a similar layout, with
a central image in the middle. The simple use
of colour just stands out and highlights a
focus on Kanye West.
It works well as the colours on the front
cover are either bright or really dark
therefore just having a blank white
background is clever as it makes the
magazine look simple and you can focus on
the image more.

11. In what ways will your media product use, develop or challenge forms and
conventions of real products?
• I know that the outcome of my music magazine will relate to other existing
magazines such as ‘VIBE’ magazine. My magazine will use certain conventions of
‘VIBE’ magazine and will use the similar layout and structure in a way that will
attract the targeted audience.
• My music magazine will challenge other magazines on the market, for example
‘VIBE’ target their audience at both males and females, however my magazine will
be mainly targeted at the female gender this is because I have chosen to use
Beyoncé as my figure for ‘Star Appeal’ therefore this will attract the female
genders. To make my magazine appeal to women I will include an eye catching
image on the front cover and will also have written about a personal experience
from a famous/iconic music artist/entertainer that young girls and older women
can relate too, to show that women are empowering and they are important.

12. How will your media product represent particular social groups?
• My magazine will represent young
women aged 15- 25.
• My representations of females in
my magazine will be positive and
will influence girls in the right way.
They will covey to ‘social climbers’
as the latest R&B singers and
rappers will be presented in the
magazine, young females will aspire
to be like them.
• My magazine will represent women
as being strong, classy, sexy and
confident. I will portray this
throughout the magazine by using
certain images and quotations.

13. Conclusion
• Due to my secondary research I’m aware of what genre I'm focusing
on, which is R&B this is because I specifically take a like towards this
type of genre of music. On the other hand my secondary research
has helped me realize the wide expansion of R&B music itself,
there's soul R&B, slow R&B and then we have todays R&B this
makes me aware that there is a wide targeted audience due to this
genre of music.
• I researched ‘VIBE’ magazines in particular this was because I likes
there specific style of there magazine I also took like towards the
‘star appeal’ they portrayed I was familiar with the stars, therefore I
was attracted straight away. This then became my magazine of
inspiration, and I did replicate the ‘vibe’ magazine however I was
original and had my own input in how I created my front cover,
contents page and double page spread.