Additional Independent Research Task : Further Independent Music Magazine Covers

Once you have completed Research Tasks 3 and 4 you could complete additional, independent research into how the front covers of other independent music magazines appeal to their audiences.

If you choose to do this, you could start with a selection from the list of independent music magazines below.

These all have print and online editions.

When you go to each magazines website, you will be able to find front covers of previous issues if you search around.

I have chosen 5 independent magazines here that target a range of audiences. You could find others if you wish BUT remember that they must be independent.

If you choose to do this task, present your work in a post on your blog with the following title:

Additional Research Task : Further Independent Music Magazine Covers

So Young 

"So Young is a creative platform fuelled by the vibrant and underreported creative scenes within alternative music and the visual arts. 

With a community spirit, we aim to bridge the gap between some of the newest talents within illustration and the thriving underground guitar music scene. At its core, So Young is a printed publication and somewhere to discover your new favourite bands. Striving to do more and shine a brighter light on those the mainstream has failed, So Young now interlinks a record label, live shows and provides a creative platform to champion music and art from the underground up."

Under The Radar

"Under the Radar Magazine is an indie music Magazine that prints five issues a year, is distributed across North America and internationally, and bills itself as 'The solution to music pollution' The independent Magazine was founded in 2001 by publishers (and now husband and wife) Mark Redfern (a writer) and Wendy Lynch Redfern (a photographer) and is known for in-depth and characterized interviews with bands large and small, as well as their accompanying unique and stylistic photo-shoots. It offers intelligent, and sometimes humorous, articles that go far beyond a band's major influences, often accompanied by exclusive photo shoots."

Shindig!

"Shindig! is a music publication put together with genuine understanding, sincerity and utter belief. We bring the scope and knowledge of old fanzines and specialist rock titles to a larger readership."

Metal Hammer

"A hardcore magazine that is full of the brooding menacing attitude of its subject matter. Metal Hammer is the essential reader for the passionate metal-lover.

Covering all varieties of metal music from thrash to death, technical to traditional heavy, Metal Hammer never lets you forget that you’re reading a metal magazine as every page has all the attitude and style of the bands it covers. Inside you’ll find all the latest metal music news, coverage of the most extreme live gigs, albums and merch. Where Metal hammer really shines is in the in-depth interviews in each issue examining a huge host of different, infamous bands both established and new."

Blues and Soul

"Published 5 times a year, Blues & Soul Magazine covers the latest UK and US urban music info, including; News, charts, reviews, event and clubbing info + our signature world renowned in-depth interviews and influential artists past and present."

Research Task Four : How Does 'RnR' Magazine's Front Cover Appeal To Audiences?

In Research Task Three, you analysed how the front covers of The Wire magazine are designed to appeal to audiences.

You are now going to repeat this task for RnR magazine.

TASK

Select one of the front covers of RnR magazine below. (scroll down to find these)

Add this to a PowerPoint slide and then make notes around it explaining how this front cover would appeal to potential audiences. 

Remember to use magazine terminology in your notes - masthead, main image, main coverline, coverlines, copy, colour palette, typography, etc.

Repeat for a second issue of the magazine.

Create a post on your blog titled:

NEA Task 4 : How Does 'RnR' Magazine's Front Cover Appeal To Audiences?

Take screen shots of the slides you have produced and add them to your blog as images.

I have shown you how to do this in class.

Deadline

The start of our lesson on Friday 29th April

IF YOU ARE BEHIND WITH ANY OTHER POSTS MAKE SURE THAT THESE ARE ALSO COMPLETED BY THAT TIME. 

Front Covers To Choose From

Research Task Three : How Does 'The Wire' Magazine's Front Cover Appeal To Audiences?

In Research Task Two you were asked to find out as much as you could about two independent music magazines; The Wire and RnR.

Through this research you should have learnt more about these magazines.

TASK

Find one image of a front cover of The Wire that was published from January 2023 onwards. Choose a cover which engages you. 

You can do this by accessing the magazine's library of back issues.

DO NOT CHOOSE THE MAY 2024 ISSUE.

Add this to a PowerPoint slide and then make notes around it explaining how this front cover would appeal to potential audiences. 

Remember to use magazine terminology in your notes - masthead, main image, main coverline, coverlines, copy, colour palette, typography, etc.

Repeat for a second issue of the magazine.

Create a post on your blog titled:

NEA Task 3 : How Does 'The Wire' Magazine's Front Cover Appeal To Audiences?

Take screen shots of the slides you have produced and add them to your blog as images.

I have shown you how to do this in class.

Deadline

The start of our lesson on Tuesday 29th April

IF YOU ARE BEHIND WITH ANY OTHER POSTS MAKE SURE THAT THESE ARE ALSO COMPLETED BY THAT TIME.

Research Task Two : Independent Music Magazines

Your set brief tells you that:

"You work for an independent media production company. You have been given the task of producing the front cover and contents page of the first two editions of a new music magazine that is being launched by an independent publisher."

What is an independent magazine?

The independent print magazine is characterised as being published without the financial support of a large, mainstream publisher who control the publication and its distribution.

Mainstream magazine publishers include Bauer Media.

An example of a music magazine produced by Bauer is Mojo.) Bauer Media holds the top spot in terms of total annual circulation. In 2020, they had a total circulation of 126.08 million. They publish a wide range of consumer magazines across various genres.

Mainstream magazine publishers will have numerous magazines under their control - a bit like the way in which companies like Reach plc, News UK and DMGT own multiple national newspapers.

How are independent magazines different?

Independent magazines are defying the predictions of many that print magazines are a fading relic of the pre-digital world.

Independent music magazines tend to focus on a particular genre of music and/or target a niche audience.

Two independent music magazines which are published in the UK at present are The Wire and RnR. 

TASK

Create a new post on your blog with the title:

Research Task Two : Independent Music Magazines

In this post you should explain what an independent magazine is.

You must also provide evidence of research into two independent UK music magazines which are currently published; The Wire and RnR.

See if you can find out as much as possible about these two magazines.

Research Task One : How has the UK consumer magazine industry evolved?

Research Task One

1. Make notes from the information found at this link to help you produce a summary of the ways in which the UK consumer magazine industry has evolved in the last twenty years.

2. Create a post with the title,

Research Task One : How has the UK consumer magazine industry evolved? 

3. Use your notes to write a response to the question above. Your response must not include 'copy and paste' and should be a minimum of 250 words.

Using Your Blog

Your blog is the record of all of the work you undertake in relation to your NEA.

This will be accessed by the moderator at the end of the course when your mark is submitted.

In your lesson on Friday 19th April, you will learn how to use your blog. This will include things such as the design and layout of your blog, how to make and edit a post and how to add a link from your blog to my blog so that you can access work that you are required to complete.

NEA Set Brief

INSTRUCTIONS

You will be given a set brief for your NEA

Your NEA must not reproduce an existing media product.

You must work individually on your NEA but others may act in or appear in the production and/or may operate lighting, sound, recording or other equipment under your direction.

Your NEA must only use original footage, images and/or text within your production. You must not use any found images in your NEA production

SET BRIEF : Magazines and online

Requirements of the brief

You work for an independent media production company. You have been given the task of producing the front cover and contents page of the first two editions of a new music magazine that is being launched by an independent publisher and two pages for the working website for the magazine.

The web pages must promote the new magazine to its target audience and enable fans to interact with the content.

Summary of brief requirements:

• Statement of Intent (approx. 500 words)

• Music magazine covers and contents pages: Two pages for each of the first two editions.

• Magazine distribution method: Content must be suitable for retail distribution.

• Number of web pages: One homepage and one linked page.

• Cross media production target audience: A primarily 16–25 year old middle market audience that likes to be entertained.

There must be a clear sense of branding across the two elements of the cross-media production.