Font selection for music magazine

Font selection 

For choosing my fonts to use for my music magazine I used DaFont.com. I looked at a range of fonts from sans serif to serif, for my front cover text, contents text and feature article text.from my research i know that i must have a range of fonts that differ but some must be continuous so that my magazine stands out but also has a sense of continuity and house style to create a certain look for my magazine

Front Cover Fonts

For my front cover Masthead font  I chose to have a serif font, below I chose a selection of fonts i liked from DaFont.com and put them all together to compare and see which ones I liked best. From my research work I know that the mast head is key in selling the magazine, that it must be different, large and stand out.

My favourite fonts for my masthead are the 4th and 5th fonts down. The font I have chosen to use for my mast head is LEVI BRUSH, I chose this font as it stood out and looks unusual.Also that this style font looks loose and free hand, which I can relate to the genres of my magazine and the style, as the music and artist topics in my magazine which focus on serious music commentary, music on a personal scale. Indigo is the name of my magazine, however when using the fonts I experimented with a mixture of capitals and lower case. The styles/looks I chose were:

• INDiGO
• iNDiGO
• INDieGO 
• INDIEGO 
• INDIgo
• INDI-GO
• INDI-go 

Cover Line Fonts 

For my cover line fonts I chose three different fonts to use for my cover lines of my magazine. From looking at professional music magazines I know that there can be between 2 and 3 different types of fonts used for the cover lines of magazines. 

The fonts I have chosen for my cover lines are EVER AFTER, CHAMPAGNE & LIMOUSINES and ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES. I like these three fonts the most as they are similar yet different.They wont look to similar on my front cover. 

Contents Page Fonts

when choosing my fonts for my contents page I know that from my research some of the fonts from the front cover are continued to give a sense of house style and continuity. Therefore I have put the two fonts I chose for my masthead as options for my contents page, I also used fonts from my cover line selections. 

For my contents fonts I have chosen are, EVER AFTER for headers, BIKO for the body text and use LEVIBRUSH as the title contents on my contents page. I have chosen to use the same fonts and to introduce a new font as I learnt this from researching into music magazine and looking at the fonts that are used. 

Feature Article fonts 

For my feature article fonts I must chose two fonts, one for the headings to ensure they stand out from the rest of the text. The body text should be sans serif as its easy to read and clear, the headings text could be either a sans serif or a serif font. These are the options for my feature article fonts: 

For my heading font I like two of the fonts I chose for my initial options, the fonts I like are 'TRASHHAND' and 'FLORENCE'. I like these two fonts as the stand out and are serif fonts and could be use for headings in my feature article. For my body text I know that from my research I know that the body text should be a sans serif as it is clear and easy to read. For my body text I like two fonts from my original ideas are, 'GRAVITY' and 'FLORENCESANS'. I like these two fonts as they are simple but are easily read and I think are the best choices for body text. 

Planning original images

Planning original images 


When planning my front cover image I came up with two ideas, my second idea is what i will use if  i am unable to use my first idea due to problems that could effect when and where i take my photographs.

Front Cover Image 
Idea 1 -

• Background/location - Taken outside, next to a tree to relate to the name ‘The Birds’. Girls stood next to or sat in a tree, the girls will positioned around the tree as it relates and links to the name of the band and has the element of nature running through. 
• Lighting - A natural lighting, as due to the image being taken outside I will have to  try to not get too much shadow. 
• Shot size - the shot size will be portrait and on a straight or just slightly low angle, as if the girls are higher up or looking down on the image, this relates again to the name of the band. 
• Costume and props -  The girls (‘The birds) will be wearing ‘hippy’ type clothing, element of nature running through the images.
• Body/facial expressions/positioning within the frame  -  the girl will be positioned around the tree, their facial expression will express their personalities. 
• Intended connotations -  The outside / nature theme relates to the band’s name ‘The birds’ and their outlook on the world.

Idea 2 - 

• Background/location - Taken on a white lighted background, for the models to take up most of the image. 
• Lighting - Highly lit background and models partially lit so there is still some shadow but none that is unflattering. Using the three point lighting system.  
• Shot size - The shot size with be portrait, on a slightly low angle. 
• Costume and props - The girls (‘The birds) will be wearing ‘hippy’ type clothing, element of nature running through the images. 
• Body/facial expressions/ positioning within the frame - The girls will be posed – one with their hands like birds and another showing the rock symbol. This will express the personalities of the band. 
• Intended connotations - The way the girls are positioned expresses the personalities of the band members. 

Contents Images 

Below is a grid I produce to present my ideas for my contents images. 

Feature Article images 

My feature article images will have a similar link/theme to the main image on my front cover. As throughout my article there is a theme/ link to the bands name 'The Birds' and nature, as this makes a more interesting look and link to the band being interviewed.  

Below is a grid i produced to present my ideas for my feature article images.

Media theory

We have explored Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs Theory (1954) and The Uses and Gratification theory.

Hierarchy of Needs Theory - 
The hierarchy of needs theory states that human behavior reflects a range of needs, these needs are ranked in order of  basic needs  to higher aspirations. The unsatisfied needs are those which motivate our behaviors, when one of these needs had been fulfilled such as the need for food , the next need appears and wants to be fulfilled.
Marlow stated that these hierarchy can be dynamic and reversible:  For example that one person may feel the need to only have expensive pairs of shoes whereas someone else my not, Marlow stats that the needs are not always present in the same order in everyone.

Above is Marlow's hierarchy of needs (1954)

The Uses and Gratification theory - 
Another theory we looked at is The Uses and Gratification theory. This can be used to analyse advertisements and lifestyle magazines. The theory suggests that audiences actively use advertisements and magazines to meet some of thee needs as stated in Marlow's Hierarchy of Needs Theory.
McQuail, Blumber and Browm (1972) defined four major areas of the needs, Which the Media activily seek to please.

• Diversion : An escape from our routine and daily problems, it can be used as an emotional release 
• Personal relationships : A sense of companionship, feeling a part of a group
• Personal Identity : Reinforcing our own values or knowledge, through comparisons with other's values or knowledge. ( this could include values or knowledge from the media producers and of celebrities).
• Surveillance : The need for a constant supply of information about what is happening in the world.

 Both of theses theories are relevant as we can use them to analyse and look into music magazines. For example when looking at a front cover there are certain elements on the front cover that can relate to The Use and Gratification Theory.

In the lesson I looked at this magazine front cover, from looking at this i found some points that can be related to the theories above. For example the pull out quote "We were one of the greatest bands ever" can apply to The Uses and Gratification Theory as its past tense meaning that this can apply to the 'Personal Relationship' part of the theory as those who were there at the time the band 'We're one of the greatest bands' many feel a sense of companionship. Also there is a sense of personal identity as the pull quote makes readers wondered what has happened to them, as it states they 'We're' one of the greatest, why are they not now? this reinforces the readers own values and knowledge of the band.

Planning Ideas for music magazine

Planning my ideas for Music magazine 

Below is an Examtime mind map to present my ideas about planning for my music magazine.

by hlea41

Research into music magazine industry

I have spent sometime researching into the music magazine market and industry. I found that the music magazine industry is in decline due to people not wanting to buy music magazines as often. This has been show to be because of online music magazines and news that are free and easier to access  , according to ABC (audit bureau of circulation figures).

Below is my prezi I created on research into the music industry an a variety of different music magazines.