5. How did you attract/ address your audience? (AS Re-sit)

To make my music magazine look attractive and appealing to my target audience. I used a sophisticated and calm colour scheme. A deep orange, black and white were the colours used. On my front cover I used two black male models who represented an R ‘n’ B and soul duo I created (for my magazine) ‘Males II Men’. The lighting is low-key which makes the two guys look both relaxed yet sensuous at the same time. The two young men are wearing plain t-shirts, one black one white, this was done deliberately to go with my colour scheme and to add to my magazines’ simplicity. Both of my models are looking directly at the camera thus making it look like the artists are staring and connecting with the consumer.

The cover lines I included on my music magazine front cover were placed deliberately to entice my audience. In the top left corner of my front cover I placed an orange puff of which says ‘VALENTINE’S DAY SPECIAL’ to persuade the reader to buy now, highlighting how this edition is a special one. In my main cover lines I also included a snippet of some of the exclusive things available inside.

In addition, I mentioned the freebies available inside in this case the ‘FASHION TIPS’ by Rihanna. This is a strategic device that works and this is evident in my audience research questionnaire results. People like freebies and it helps them decide whether to purchase a product or not. Using famous names like Usher and Rihanna who are both American singers and songwriters of the same R ‘n’ B music genre will particularly appeal to my target audience. On the left hand side of my magazine, I placed a ‘SPECIAL’ cover line which acts as a teaser informing the reader that there are Usher tickets on offer. 

Across the top of my magazine front cover, I included a strap line of some of the celebrity names that are 

included inside. This is also a device used to entice possible consumers.

My contents page also includes images of the duo; this will be particularly engaging to females as they may find the men attractive. I have also added some other pictures I took to make my contents page look more realistic and more versatile. There is an image of a ‘girl band’ I formed for my magazine and a ‘solo artist’ too.

My double page spread includes images of the duo so that it looks like an interesting read. Also I think that the use of various images makes my double page spread look very striking. I have used the standard large image which is in colour with three smaller images across the bottom in black and white.

The tone I used is light hearted and I generally used an informal register even though I used Standard English. If I had used some colloquial speech it would have been quite appropriate as the use of slang is recognizable in R ‘n’ B music. It is not particularly a posh upper-class music genre but one that is more urban and street.

In my magazine I actually did not mention particular places this was done for a few reasons. I had not decided whether I wanted my magazine to be for an English audience only or an American one. So, by not mentioning names I hoped that that would depict my media product’s versatility, a magazine that’s for both an American and English audience.

Selecting a suitable font was not too difficult as I had an idea of the type of font I wanted to use. I had chosen the genre and name of my magazine so I had to find the font(s) I found most suitable. I wanted a sharp and edgy type of font that looks slick to match ‘Bump ‘n’ Grind’, the name of my magazine. However, after looking at some examples of magazines of a similar genre to my magazine i.e. Vibe magazine, I decided that a block and cold font would be most fitting. I downloaded a font from dafont.com called ‘Urban Sketch Starstruck’ and this was used as my front cover masthead.

Baseball caps, hats, sunglasses, ‘bling’, tight fitting t-shirts and jeans which is the typical young, male dressing of R ‘n’ B artists. Men and young guys that try and emulate R ‘n’ B and rap artists’ especially American ones. My models were chosen on purpose, guys that have a particular strong build (broad shoulders, nice abs etc) and have a distinct if not an attractive face (or features). The models are posing in a ‘we’re in control’ manner. I also used props like microphones and sunglasses.  

Last but not least the least, the price of my magazine £3.95 is quite reasonable in comparison to some music magazines e.g. The Guitarist which is £5.50.