Final Adjustments to Beat Freak

This is my final main cover, after having a consultation with my media teacher about how i could improve this further, i was told that i had covered everything on the agenda that a music magazine needs: price, bar code, issue date etc.

Overall i am very pleased with the overall look of Beat Freak, its bright, new, funky and a breath of fresh air in my opinion. On the market we are used to seeing music magazines like NME and kerrang which is generally associated with the rock/indie genre, Beat Freak is a Hip-Hop and RnB magazine which appeals to all the Hip-Hop and RnB music lovers in the UK.

This is my final contents page, after having another consulation with my media teacher i was advised to make the Mz Frank section more clear as to what it actually is as it could be mistaken for an editors comment. I was also advised to add an editors section as these are very common in music magazines so i added one as the bottom along with a hand-written signature.

Overall i am very pleased with this page, before the final alterations i thoguht that this page in particular was the weakest but now i think its a strong as the others which i am very happy about. I really like the editors section as i think it adds alot more to the page.

This is my final double-page spread, after having a consulatation with my media teacher i was advised to change the alignment of the text to the left hand side instead of the centre, i also wanted to make the text smaller. I also added a photos section "photos: Maddie Celise" as this is very common in music magazines to add a more proffesional effect.

Overall i am extremely happy with the end result of my double-page spread and i definately think it looks alot better with the text alignment set to the left and the writing looks better smaller.

6: Who would Be The Audience For Your Media Product?

Below is a short presentation about Beat Freak's audience:

Beat Freak's Audience!

Here is a rough drawing of Beat Freaks target audience:

  

To Conclude...

Beat Freaks Target Audience are:

• Specifically Female- But Male also
• Between the age of 15-25
• Into Hip-Hop and RnB culture
• obsessed with Hip-Hop and RnB music
• Fun and Enthusiastic
• Passionate

5:How Did You Attract/Address Your Audience?

To Conclude...

I attracted and addressed my audience of young teens and young adults by giving Beat Freak a different and funky look yet still conventional so you can tell just by looking at it its a Hip-Hop/RnB music magazine. I wanted it to be eye catching, innovative and simply- a breath of fresh air. I made it look modern aswell as this would attract a my young target audience rather it looking old-fashioned and boring.

7: Looking Back At Your Preliminary Task What Do You Feel You Have Learnt In The Progression From The Full Product?

Preliminary Task Magazine Cover

Main Task Magazine Cover

To Conclude...

I have learnt so much when looking back at my Preliminary, My preliminary doesn't even look like a school magazine in my opinion- it looks way too girly and really doesn't match its purpose. It looks OK, but i wanted it to appeal to everyone, not just girls. My Beat Freak cover looks way more proffesional and you can tell its genre (Hip-Hop & RnB), the look of my main task is so much better and i am really pleased with the end result.

4: What Have You Learnt About Technologies From The Process Of Constructing This Product?

Mac

I used the mac computer above (number 16!) to produce my magazine pages using photoshop, it really helped me get to grips with the whole logging in and finding my documents. I found it difficult at first because i was so used to normal PC's but i soon got used to it and it help me learn and be patient. This helped me to produce my magazine on photoshop and it also helped me how to get to grips with using Final Cut- in order to put together the video of the Beat Freak photoshoot!

Scanner

I used this scanner to scan drafts of pictures that i had drawn for my coursework to put on blogger, my media teacher learnt me how to use it because it was abit miss leading at first and hard to get a grip of. After i learnt how to use it independantly i also scanned the hand-written (by me!) editor's signature what i put on my contents page to give my magazine a proffesional edge.

Iphone

I used my own iphone to record videos for my blog and i also photo-grabbed photos off it to put on my blog at school as school computers don't have google images.I also used my phone to look at abit of research om existing music magazines aswell. Using my iphone learnt me how to transfer images off my phone onto the Macs and/or PCs which was a great help.

LSD Camera

I used this camera to take photos on the photoshoot of Beat Freak music magzine for it's pages, it helped me get to grips with how to use a proffesional camera like this one as i hadn't had any previous experience with this type before. I also used this camera to take photos of planning for my blogger instead of the scanner as at times the scanner didn't work. It also helped me gain experience how to transfer photos nfrom the camera to the macs using its memory card which was also helpfull.

Memory Stick

I used this memory stick to transfer photos from the camera and images from my computer at home to and from the Macs at school, it was quiet frustrating at times but it was all worthit in the end and it learnt me how to manage a memory stick transfering items to and from different computers and macs.

My Home PC

This is my PC at home that i collected images and written blog extracts on. It was a benifit as i could easily go on goodle images for example without it being blocked (like on school computers!) Working on my computer learnt me how to work Blogger at home aswell as at school and it also got me used to using memory sticks.

Photoshop

I used photoshop to produce the Beat Freak pages, it wasn't as hard as i thought it was going to be as i have allready had past exprerience using photoshop. I mostly self-taught myself and didn't really recieve any help on using this programme in particular. It was perfect and did exactly everything i imagined for the look of Beat Freak, i am really happy with the end results.

Slideshare

I also used slideshare to make slideshows for my blog. It was an alternative way rather just writing out in an essay style and i think it is a more interesting way of displaying work. Slideshare was quite hard to get used to, especially on the school computers as they don't have flash player however in the end it did work- even though it was a confusing and slow process.

Youtube

I used YouTube to transfer videos from YouTube onto my blog which i hadn't had any previos experience doing. I also know now how to transfer videos off my iPhone straight onto YouTube.

Blogger

I also used blogger to write out my blog, I again didn't have any knowledge on how to work Blogger. I soon got used to it int he end and now i find it really easy to edit posts and change how my blog looks for examples.

Image Chef

I used ImageChef to produce my advertisement images, i didn't actually know about ImageChef untill i searched on google "billboard images". It was an effective and usefull method in displaying how i would advertise Beat Freak and i am really pleased with the images it has produced and would definately use it again in future.

To Conclude...

I have learnt how to use all of these items correctly, safely and in order to create something successfull. These items have learnt me methods, techniques and they have also learnt me how to be patient. In the end they have all worked together to produce something i am extremely happy and satisfied with.

3:What Kind Of Media Institution Might Distribute Your Media Product And Why?

Advertisements

Television Adverts
Beat Freak music magazine could be advertised on the telly, this could reach young adults and teenagers whilst they're watching their favourite programmes on telly. Channels such as MTV, VIVA and E! This types of programmes would appeal to my target audience as its chart music that these channels play as well as reality TV programmes that would appeal to young males and females.

Bus stops

If my magazine was advertised at a bus stop it would definitely target my specific market as teenagers that are too young to drive or are in the process of taking their driving lessons will be catching buses regularly and come across this on their travels. People will also see it when driving past or walking past as it is visible to oncoming cars down the road or passers by. I think it would be even better if the billboards where on particular bus stops next to shopping centres,cinemas,arenas and nightclubs as these type of places attract young people (my target market).

Food/Drink Cartons

Advertising beat freak music magazine on food packaging such as milk cartons would be beneficial because it targets people shopping - possibly young parents who have children or maybe even young adults living on their own at uni for example.

Mobile Phone Apps

Advertising Beat Freak as a smart phone app/alert would be a really good idea to target everyone with an iPhone. Because its a really good/popular phone it would be very very successful for Beatfreak to have an official app that alerts people when the next issue is out for example and possibly give them opportunities to enter competitions and meet other Beat Freak fans.

Sandwich board

Having Beat Freak being advertised on a sandwich board on a busy high street for an example and possibly have the person wearing the board selling the mags would be a really good way to advertise. Because young people love to shop, it would also be a good idea to have the person standing outside a popular store like HMV. This would really target people who would love to read Beat Freak and entice them to buy it.  

News Paper Advert

Having a local newspaper advertise BeatFreaks' launch or something like a free competition entry with vouchers would be another way to target people in communities for example. People who buy newspapers could have children/grandchildren or be a young person themselves would persuade them to but Beat Freak.

Stadiums

Advertising Beat Freak at stadiums where bands are playing for example would also be really good to target music lovers. People going to see the latest RnB sensation will be standing waiting for the act to come onstage but be interrupted by a Beat Freak advertisement. They could also be a little store outside the arena selling Beat Freak mags and t-shirts.

Billboards

Advertising Beat Freak magazine on a large roadside billboard will attract people of all ages who can drive. It will also be very big so it can be seen from a long distance so when people are on their travels this will catch their eye and make them want to buy it to read on their travels for example.

Busy Billboard

 Advertising Beat Freak in a busier environment will also attract more people as more people will be around it. People who are into music and the music business will also be in that particular environment and because of the cheap price they might go out and buy it and think "why not?". There could also be a little shop on the roadside selling mags.

Celebrity Endorsements.

Beyonce & Beat Freak

Photographing Beyonce with a Beat Freak magazine could do wonders for Beat Freak magazine, it would make people who are huge fans of Beyonce want to buy it simply because she reads it and she is holding it. Beyonce is one of the biggest RnB women ever and it would be amazing for her to endorse Beat Freak as a product and maybe even be on a TV advert. She is also a really good role model for young teenagers- especially girls as she is a genuine person, successful, down to earth and has a great image. She would be a perfect celebrity spokesperson and she could also model a t-shirt for example.

Shops

I could also market Beat Freak in local well known shops like:

WHSmith

I would like to see Beat Freak music magazine in WHSmiths as i think it is an incredibly popular shop which appeals to a large amount of people- especially my target audience of teens and young adults. I also would chose this shop because WHSmith sell and distribute a huge variety of products from fizzy drinks and snacks to stationary and of course- every type of magazines out on the market. WHSmith would be a first option in where to market Beat Freak music magazine.

HMV

I would also chose HMV to market my product Beat Freak. I think it would be a very intelligent decision as HMV appeals to people of all ages who love music and having a music magazine on sale that's so different compared to NME and Kerrang!, it would definitely reach out to Hip-Hop and RnB music lovers in HMV. 

I would display the first edition of Beat Freak in a stand in HMV similar to this one on the right. I would design the stand so it would be eye-catching, just like the Beat Freak cover itself. It would be at the front of the entrance as soon as you walk in, this would demand potential customers to have a look and hopefully purchase as you wouldn't be able to avoid it or miss it. I think having them separate to other magazines on a stand like this one would be extremely beneficial as it is the first ever issue so it would make people recognise that its a brand new music magazine that's different!

Spar

Spar would also be a potential distributor for Beat Freak music magazine, i think Spars generally appeal to everyone in communities especially young teens for example purchasing sweets and fizzy drinks on a daily basis on school breaks. It would also be easier for people to walk around the corner to buy Beat Freak from their local spar instead of driving to the main street of their town to all of the high end retailers like HMV for example, that's why Spar would also be as good as HMV to distribute.

GT News

A local News Agent

Both GT News and a local New's Agents would also be good distributors for Beat Freak Music Magazine, both of these smaller companies/shops would also target people in out-of-town areas. It would save them having to travel far to purchase one when they can simply walk up the road to buy Beat Freak. Both of these stores would be perfect for that.


To Conclude...
Beat Freak Music magazine would be distributed in a vareity of ways shown above. It would be advertised in a large amount of methods like TV adverts all the way to Beat Freak iPhone apps to target every single person out there in the UK who would enjoy and be interested in buying Beat Freak. It would also be endorsed and promoted by celebrities to hopefully progress it to be an International Music Magazine instead of just UK based, like having american Hip-Hop and RnB artists like Beyonce as shown in the example earlier. Beat Freak music magazine would also be distributed and marketted by Shops in the UK which target young, enthusiastic Hip and RnB lovers like HMV for an example.

2: How Does Your Media Product Represent Particular Social Groups?

Mz Frank Social Group

Below is a slideshow of people i based the character Mz Frank on, these were my inspirations.

Nicki Minaj

I chose Nicki Minaj because: i really like her unique hip-hop/crazy/girly style and i really wanted to bring her kind of attitude through to Mz Frank. She also has a hard, gangster, thug attitude but she's also a really nice, genuine person under all that exterior. She is a good role model and extrememly talented, she raps and sings and she also has that little bit of sex appeal so she appeals to men aswell as women. She was the number 1 person i based Mz Frank on simply because of her thuggish attitude but feminine looks.

Cher Lloyd

Cher Lloyd also inspired Mz Franks Character, i chose Cher because she is young, vibrant, energentic and she also likes to rap & sing just like Mz Frank. I think Cher's energentic personality and hip-hop yet girly appearance really relates to Nicki Minaj's style but of course Cher is younger and a new female RnB artist in the UK and of course she is really unique which is why i like her and this is why i was inspired. I also chose her because of how she dresses, she brings a hip-hop edge with the bandanas and baseball jackets but gives it a twist with big flamboyant hair, cute make-up and heels.

Tullisa: N-DUBZ 

I also thought of Tullisa out of N-DUBZ when creating Mz Frank, i thought of her because she is very feisty, talented and knows what she wants in life. As you can see in the photo to the left, she doesn't care what anyone thinks and likes to pose in an angry, hip-hop style which i really like. She is down with the "hood" yet really genuine and a nice person. She loves to sing and she dresses hip-hop but again with a girly edge just like Nicki Minaj and Cher Lloyd. She also likes to speak openly about her life which is also something i like about her. 

To Conclude...

1: In What Ways Does Your Media Product Use, Develop Or Challenge Forms And Conventions Of Real Media Products?

Magazine Name

My music magazine name “Beat Freak” can be seen as extremely un-conventional. Unlike any other music magazine on the market, the name of my magazine can be taken as an insult in everyday life. The work “freak” is normally viewed as a word that can offend somebody if it is used in a particular way. But however, being a “Beat Freak” is a phrase that means somebody that is a complete Beat (music) obsesser and loves it so much it’s a bit “freaky”! But obviously this is meant in a cool way. I chose this name because I conducted a small questionnaire and this was the most popular name my target market preferred and it was also one of my favourites. I think it’s unconventional which

Mis-en-scene of images
I think the mis-en-scene of my images follow the codes and conventions of music magazines with a hip-hop/ RnB genre. This is because I feel that my character Mz Frank looked very glam and “gangster” in a way because of the bright hip-hop clothing and over the top make-up on the main cover, However, on the contents page & double –page spread Mz Frank had a much toned down look which was very natural and something that everyday teenage girls can relate to. I wanted to show different sides of Mz Frank which I think I achieved. I also wanted the other characters such as “Aston” on my contents page to have a cool look with abit of gangster swagger to him, I also thought his “pretty boy” dress style was very appropriate as I didn’t want Beat Freak to have an overall “chavvy” look.  

5- Fonts and Style
I think my fonts used on my main cover are abit unconventional as I tried to make them look all stylised and different to one another yet linking them all with a colour scheme. Other music magazines like “NME” use font variations but I think my cover is extreme compared to the other music magazine styles. I wanted all of the fonts to have a cool effect aswell to draw the audience in because it looks so unconventional and different to anything they have seen before.

Written Content
I think the written content of my music magazine is unconventional in a slight way because not only has it got conventional subjects like: Reviews, features and interviews with artists. It also has: Horoscopes, Fashion sections and personal gossip-type news about today’s musicians/singers etc. I wanted to include sections from magazines like “Bliss” so it would be more appealing to more people.

Music Genre And How Your Magazine Suggest It
I think Beat Freak music magazine does suggest the genre of Hip-Hop/RnB and Chart Music just by the look of it. For example, rock magazines usually only use a limited colour scheme like black &red or black & yellow, with my magazine I have used 7 bright colours. I wanted it to look bright, funky and modern and I think I have achieved that. I also involved a couple of music notes above the masthead to also get across to the audience it is a music magazine. I think the photo of Mz Frank is perfect for the genre with the large hoop earrings, bandana in the hair with a moody/pouty look.

Layout
The layout of my magazine is mainly conventional. This is highlighted on the main cover with two columns down each side of the main image, on the contents page with the column of page numbers with the pages. In addition to this, on the contents page the photos are arranged at angles with the page numbers on them which is slightly unconventional and unusual which I wanted. Also the double page spread is a conventional page with photos of Mz Frank, however the “fact file” part is unconventional and something I’ve never seen before.

Beat Freak Main Cover Inspiration
Below is a cover of Billboard magazine that i really liked the look of and i wanted to take the look of this and translate it to my magazine in Beat Freak. I really liked how the masthead involves colour inside it, i did this with my mast head by putting colours behind it so it just wasn't a plain black masthead. I also liked the seperators, and the two columns down either side. I thought this magazine cover in particular was very unusal and simple but very effective, i wanted to give the same feel to my music magazine cover which i think i have achieved.

To Conclude...

Overall i deffinately agree that Beat Freak music magazine follows the codes and onventions of a Music Magazine. However, i wanted to give the look and style of the music magazine a funky, bright new look and something abit different in terms of colour schemes, text styles and the genre. Thanks to my research i found a huge gap in the UK music magazine market of magazines specialising in Hip-Hop and RnB alone. Existing music magazines like NME and Kerrang just specialise in the rock/indie/punk genre of music whereas i wanted to create something new and different that specialises in the Hip-Hop and RnB genre to the UK music mag industry. I wanted to create a new, fresh magazine but at the same time conventional and aswell as a brand name which i think i have definately achieved.

Alterations Made

Main Cover 

Contents Page

Double Page Spread

  

• • I added the price onto the main cover and also the editors name above the bar code.
  • I added the website name at the top of the contents page along with a facebook, myspace and twitter icon.
  • I added a lipstick print to my double-page spread.

Audience Feedback

After completing my magazine pages, i printed them out and handed them to a variety of people in my media class. I then asked them the following questions:

What do you like about the pages of Beat Freak?

What don't you like?

What would you do to improve the pages?

Person 1: Kelly Eastwood:

What do you like about BeatFreak?

"I really like the colour scheme and how it shows all through the magazine, all of the pages link in a way. It looks very bright, busy & proffesional. I also like the use of pictures on the pages."

What don't you like?

"errrmmm.. i like everything really"

What would you do to improve the pages?

"I don't know, everthing looks really good so.. nothing!"

Person 2: Jamie Staniland

What do you like about BeatFreak?

"It all looks like a pro did it, decent colour scheme and better than mine!"

What don't you like?

"Some of the photos are bad quality, some parts of it look abit childish and wouldn't really appeal to particular people"

What would you do to improve the pages?

"Thos critisms were abit picky but i wouldn't change it!"

Person 3: Mr Carr (Media Teacher)

What do you like about BeatFreak?

"I like the columns on the main cover, I also think the effects of the font sizes and styles look really good together and the spacing a photos are good and have ownership of the page."

What don't you like?

"ermm.. I've noticed you need a price on the magazine cover and the double page spread's background it abit plain."

What would you do to improve the pages?

"Put a price above the bar code on the main cover.

Alterations to Beat Freak

• To include a price on the main cover- £1.-99 special price including a free t-shirt.
• Possibly change the background on my double-page spread.
• Possibly change the photos.



Facebook Feedback

Below is a video of Heather, Kelly & Hairett discussing what they liked about Beatfreak and what they would improve!