POP Music background

My Chosen Genre is…	I have chosen to focus on POP magazines. POP stands for Popular music that is targeted at the mass audience rather than a specific style of music.
When it began?	POP music began between the 1920s and 30s, where it became a very popular genre.
Where it began?	POP music began and became popular in the US to begin with and later became very popular in the UK and a variety of other countries.
Similar genres?	POP music is associated with mainly Rock music, indie music, classical and jazz to begin with in the US. As POP music got bigger, it became associated with many other music genres; POP music is popular music released in the music industry, whether it be indie, rock, hip hop and other music styles that become popular through artists or bands.
Examples of successful artists/bands in this genre?	Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Britney Spears, Cher, Lionel Richie, The beach boys, Lady Gaga and The Carpenters are examples of people successful in this genre. These artists are also in a variety of other genres too, for example R&B or Dance and so on. Many artists in the POP music genre aren’t specifically set to this genre.
Record labels in this genre?	Walt Disney Records, GMA Records, London Records, Hollywood Records, Polydor Records, EMI Records are examples of Record Labels in POP.
Kind of people its popular with?
Associated fashion trends?	An associated fashion trend created from the POP music genre is mainly colour. Wearing bright colours, such as pink, yellow, orange and blue is associated with POP music, as POP music is a mix of different music styles so it is shown through the variety of colours people wear. As well as this, for the younger generation, POP music is associated with wearing ‘cute’ clothing, for example dresses, shorts, t-shirts with superhero logos and is mainly targeted at girls. Fashion trends for POP are mainly targeted at girls to wear bright clothing that are cute and preppy.
Other information on you genre	POP music has become criticized over the last 10 years as it is more based on becoming the same style rather than what people find to be popular. The main reason felt by a wide range of people is that this type of music is only popular as the media decide, such as music channels and radio stations what to play unless it is a specific music genre channel. The top radio stations decide what music they want to play to their listeners and this is one way the media decide the music played and what they want to become popular. Its hard to escape the popular artist whether you like them or not, you’re going to hear there songs either way, from being played on the radio, to the internet and even shops. As well as this POP can be looked at, as the music the media want people to listen, including the music videos of the music being a specific way, for example, quite sexualised and inappropriate for younger viewers. In addition, analyses have been concluded that POP music has become more and more similar, from the lyrics to the beat; it’s all copycat. However, POP music is very uplifting and ‘feel good’, when listening to POP it takes all the negative aspects puts it into a song and when having a bad day or listening to it can make you feel more positive about yourself and the negative things. POP music is more related to Dance music now and can produce positive messages not just negative.

Production Diary

Week 11

This week I spent most of my week focusing on my front cover and contents page for my final production. I made flatplans that gave me more of a range of ideas of how to lay the pages out to fit what my target demographics would like more. I am spending as much time on my front cover and contents page to try to make it look original, fit my target audience's wants and fit all the required conventions of a magazine. Next week, I am planning to keep focus on my front cover and contents page still, as well as start to think and complete research on my double-page spread, which I will produce ideas for.

Flatplan Draft 3

Third Flatplan Draft

FRONT COVER:

Here is another draft flatplan for my front cover that I have made with other ideas that I have, as well as ideas I have taken from my research on other music magazines relating to my POP music genre. I have specifically looked at Billboard magazine that has given me a range of ideas which I would like to use in my final production, for example, in this flatplan I have decided to put all the taglines in one place which is down the left hand side. This is an idea I have taken from my research seen in my mood board of 'Magazine Front Cover Ideas' I have produced and I think it would be a great idea to use for my final production. I believe it would be better than placing taglines all over the front cover, possibly making it harder for the audience to read, especially if the main image covers most of the white space and is colourful. 

Like in my other flatplans, my masthead and logo are always at the top of my front cover as it allows them to stand out and its where I believe and the criteria thinks that the title of a magazine should go. 

I have included many conventions on my magazine including; masthead; logo; taglines; images; barcode; headline and competition. 

This draft is one of my better flatplans as I think it shows the conventions clearly and if I brought it to life, by adding in my text and images, would make the magazine look professional and reach my target demographics.

CONTENTS PAGE:

Although in the contents page there doesn't look like much is going on and therefore can look quite boring, I think that actually these ideas shown in the flatplan are quite interesting and different. In the background it says 'main image covering most of the background' this shows that my plan is to produce and image that will take up most of the background, this image will relate to my audience, ideas and research to focus on the theme of my magazine. My plan is to then fit the page listing of the magazine against the image to make it look professional and fitting my research. I think that if I carried out this idea for the flatplan and used it for my final production, I think it could make my magazine look more professional, while fitting my research, my audience and the criteria needed for the magazine. 






DOUBLE-PAGE SPREAD:

Although the contents page may look quite different to this flatplan of my double-page spread and my front cover, however I still feel this matches the theme of all. I wanted the contents page to be different than the rest of the flatplans in this blog as it allows it to stand out to show the contents included in the magazine and to get people interested and more people attracted to it. 

With this double-page spread, I plan to have my image across the top of the page, with the headline above it. This is a idea to attract the audience to everything included on the magazine, this is the actual text, the image and from the headline. From all the other flatplans made, I feel this is my favorite as it is meeting the conventions, as well as being different then most magazines.

Production Diary

Week 10

This week we completed a variety of different activities for our final production, including a mock test, flatplans, mise-en-scene and my colour chart.
Earlier last week we had a mock test where we had to pitch our final production, draw up a mock flatplan then evaluate it. This week I received my results, gaining a B; I looked over my mock exam to see where I could improve and what I did well. Once I had done this, I took a picture of my mock flatplans of my front cover and contents page and uploaded them to my blog as my first drafts for my final production. I have now uploaded a second draft of my flatplans where it shows a computer version included labelled features and some colour ideas. Next, I want to produce a draft including text and tagline ideas, as well as using my original pictures I have taken and place them into my flatplans.
This week I have also produced my first colour chart for my final production, showing colour ideas for my music magazine. The colours used, show a mix of feminine colours, masculine colours and neutral colours; I have done this to try and target my chosen demographic, which are both male and female, as well as showing the music genre I have chosen, which is popular music, through my chosen colour ideas. This week I also looked at Mise-en-scene, which is French for everything you see in a scene from looking at settings, objects and people, this is looking at images such as magazine or in films. I have produced two write-ups showing mise-en-scene in films and in music magazines.

On Friday, we are having a workshop lesson, where a specialist teacher is to come into our lesson and teach us how to use Photoshop and the variety of features in the software. This will help me understand the software more to use for my pictures I have chosen to use in my magazine to make it look as professional and realistic as possible. Within the next week, especially after Friday's lesson, I hope to use Photoshop to start editing photos to make them suitable for my magazine, as well as produce a draft of my final magazine layout, including my pictures and text on them.

Colour Chart for Final Production

This is my colour chart I have produced for my final production; I have used a wide range of colours in my colour chart to show a variety that I can use for my magazine. These colours reflect my popular music genre I have chosen for my magazine. They also are quite neutral, with some colours being masculine and others being feminine, however, the majority of the colours are neutral and target both males and females.

Mise-en-scene in Music Magazines

Analyse how Mise-en-scene has been used in the following student production pieces:

The Reign:

The student uses a main image of an actor on the front cover that takes up the majority of the page; only one other actor is used in a smaller size along the bottom of the page.  The main image reflects the theme of the magazine 'The Reign’, as the actress shown is showing body language that appears to be fierce. She reflects the slogan on the magazine as well 'claiming the crown' as she is trying to stand out and get the audience to notice her. The use of the bubble gum, where she is blowing a bubble, represents a fierce attitude, where she doesn't care about what people think about her. In addition, the use of her outfit reflects her attitude as well by showing a sexualized image, as she is wearing a cropped top, showing off her skin, as well as the type of pose she's doing reflects it all. The actor at the bottom of the page shows a different attitude, where she represents herself as happy and wild. This is shown from her poses, such as when she is grabbing her hair.

The setting is plain, which allows the actor to stand out; it is one colour down the page and suggests it has been taken in a studio. The colour is a golden type colour, which reflects the theme and title of the magazine 'The reign' and gives the audience a feel of royalty and a 'Crown'. Even with the actor in the smaller images, they've done the same thing of using plain backgrounds, to allow the actors to stand out themselves and get the attention.  


The lighting is set to capture the actors in the best way possible; in the main image the lighting is placed on the background to make the attention focus on her. If the lighting would of focused on her, it would of changed the view of the actor and made her seem more innocent and less of an attitude. Whereas in the smaller images of the second actor, the lighting is focused on her and less of the background, by doing this, it allows the actors personality and attitude to show through.

When analyzing the magazine I noticed how, the student has created a reflection off the main actor. In the image, the actors pose has been shadowed on top the side of her; the shadow shows her the right side of her again, rather than reflecting all of her, to create the shadow affect to reflect her attitude and the theme of trying to be on top. The main image is a direct shot, which connotes the actor's attitude and wanting the audience to focus on her.  The way the student has presented her magazine, through the colours, actors and theme seems to direct at a girl audience ages 17-21. This is because the images on the front cover are all female, as well as the word 'fierce' reflects on girls and the saying 'Girl Power'. The magazine doesn't appear to focus on a male audience, as the terms used reflect a female attitude opposed to a male's. 

Rap Realism:

Similarly to 'The reign', 'Rap realism' has also produced a magazine where the student has produced one main image on the front cover. The actor shown is a direct image, with the actor both looking and pointing directly at the reader and the audience. The image connotes a stereotypical view on the actor; through the way the student has presented the actor on the front cover. This creates a negative viewpoint on the actor and a negative person to use on the front cover on a magazine. The other actor used on the front cover is in smaller images along the bottom, this also produces a Stereotypical view on the actor, through his posing being 'street-like'. 


The setting draws to the view of the stereotypical viewpoints, as the background behind the main image is graffiti. This as well, buts a strict view on the rap music genre, as the student has made rap seem about people acting or being badly behaved and having a bad attitude. 

The lighting is spread out across the page, focusing on his hand pointing directly at the audience, parts of the background and his eyes. The student has made part of his face (below the eyes) darker to represent a bandana across his face; this reflects how it is creating and fitting into the stereotype. In addition, the student has also done this to focus on his eyes and the expression of them; the actor’s eyes are staring directly at the audience to connote dominance and power, as well as to show a bad attitude that is suggesting people need this in the rap business.  

The way the student has set out their magazine, from a Marxists point of view suggests it is aimed a young males aged 13-18, specifically in the proletariats class, the working class in the Marxist hierarchy. This is because the stereotype of rap genres has been brought out in the magazine as people from the 'gang' life and people with bad attitudes. In addition, the magazine seems to actually want to target at these specific groups because of how many stereotypes they show through the magazine they've produced.

Flatplan Draft 2

Second Flatplan Draft

FRONT COVER:

Here is a new flatplan for my final production's front cover which I made to give me a variety of ideas and layouts which I could use for my magazine. Although on this flat plan there doesn't look like much, if I started to produce my magazine and placing the images and text onto it, I think it would look professional and match the criteria of the magazine. This is because it would still include all the conventions needed for a magazine, such as taglines, masthead, images and so on. 

The flatplan appears to show a lot of white space, however this flatplan was an idea made from using a specific type of image, a close-up image, which would mean most of the space on the front cover would be taken up already. I think this would be a good idea as it focuses on the magazine and from my research, many magazines chose to do this to focus directly on the artist/s on the front cover. 

In my flatplans and in my final production, I will always make my masthead be at the top as it matches the criteria and conventions of being a magazine and in general it stands out to the audience as it is the first thing you see apart from the main image.

CONTENTS PAGE:

This is also a flatplan I produced for the contents page, which is similar to the front cover as it would be the choice if I chose to use the flatplan above for my final production. In all of my flatplans for my front cover I have made flatplans for my contents page which match the same theme of each flatplan draft to show the final production idea and how I would need to use the same theme/uniform to fit the criteria, conventions of a magazine and also to reach my target demographic I am aiming for, seen through my research. 
This contents page looks simple, however it contains all the conventions needed in a contents page, including a title; image; page listing. I have also chosen to place a subscription at the bottom of my page, seen as well on the front cover flatplan. I think this is a good idea as it contains all the conventions although it looks quite simple and it reflects my research for my target demographics. 



DOUBLE-PAGE SPREAD:

This is my last flatplan for this theme which is my double-page spread that will include the feature of my magazine. It matches the theme with my other flatplans in this post which will aim to target my chosen demographics as well as fitting the conventions of the magazine. By keeping it to the same theme, It will follow my research to show the genre of my magazine and fit with my audience, while also fitting the criteria and conventions needed for a magazine. 

I plan to have the image and headline on one page, with the image covering the majority of it, with my article written on the second page with a smaller image including on the page. This will allow me to show the criteria needed, to show a variety of different images used.

Font Chart

Double Page Spread Mood Board

This is a mood board I have created looking at ideas of double page spreads. I have decided to do my research based around popular and well known artist in the industry, which makes them link to my genre, as they are all very popular and this is what POP music is about. I have included artists, such as Rihanna, Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga, as they are well known and fit well to my research.
The magazine double page spread's shown in my mood board, use all the conventions, such as a large image of the artist and an article, written in 3 columns, which is essential feature when writing an article. The images in the mood board, tend to show a close up of the celebrity in the picture shot, to show where there focus is. These are the main double-page spreads that gave me clear ideas of what my plans are for my final production.

Flatplan Draft 1

First Flatplan Draft 

FRONT COVER:

This is my flatplan I have produced for an idea of how I would like my final production's front cover to look like. I have chosen it to be this way, as I feel it is different to the way most magazines lay theirs out, as well as what conventions they include on their magazine. I have chosen to use a variety of features on my front cover, including images, taglines, masthead and so on. I have also chosen to use a logo to represent my brand of my magazine and use it beside the masthead, which will be the name of my magazine, to attract the audience and to get my name and logo remembered, so it can be identified by audiences.

The colours shown are not necessarily colours I will be using on my front cover, however I might chose to use some as they link with the genre and attract people. In the flatplan however, the colours are just used to clearly represent the different features on the cover, likewise with the contents page.



CONTENTS PAGE:

This is my flatplan I have produced for my final production's contents page. Similarly, I have tried to keep with the same ideas as the front cover. The features shown on the contents page have been used in order to portray an interesting magazine, as well as to get audiences interested in it by showing a taste of what is inside my magazine. Likewise with the front cover, I have chosen to use the logo feature on my contents page as well, as a way of getting the audience to remember the name of my magazine and brand myself. I haven't decided yet what colours I plan on using, however I want to use colours that are bright to attract the audience, yet neutral to both male and female, instead of just using masculine or feminine colours. The colours shown already are some ideas, as they attract both males and females because they have a bit of both.

DOUBLE-PAGE SPREAD:

This is my flatplan I have produced for my final production's double-page spread. Like I have done a written about in all my flatplans, I am doing all one theme together, for example for one theme I am including all 3 flatplans (front cover, contents page and double-page spread). This is because I want to show how my magazine would look like in its layout if I keep to the same theme throughout. As well as this, it makes the magazine fit the conventions needed and to look more professional, as the contents page, front cover and double-page spread are uniform. 

For this double-page spread, I plan to have one page being a large image of the artist with a timeline of their journey at the bottom, then I would plan to put the article which will be an interview on the over side of the page. To meet the conventions and criteria of a magazine, I plan to keep the headline at the top of the page to stand out by itself and catch the audiences attention.

Flatplan for final production

These are my first drawn up drafts of my front cover, contents page and double-page spread Flatplan. I have tried to take up as much space as I could, while still making it organised and clear. I plan to produce a draft of my Flatplan on the computer next to bring it to life more and show my progression through my production.