This is my first contents, and I have to say I am not happy with the layout or the colour scheme. It doesn’t show the content of my magazine effectively and the image at the bottom is far too large and doesn’t fit with the house style of the magazine. The image of Slipknot on tour was not one that I took myself; I took it from an article published buy rock fest on Slipknots 2012 tour dates. Here is the web site, http://www.gorockfest.com/artist-news/slipknot-tour-dates-2012-announced. I am planning to change this contents page completely, however I do think that they layout of the text is effective and I may keep this however I think that more text is needed and the images need to be made smaller.

This is my second contents page and I have to say that I am a lot happier with this than the first one. There is a better layout as far as text and image are concerned and I continued to use the same layout of text as with the first contents but I changed it slightly with the Kerrang Tour placing that on its own and not in a group. However there is a small amount of space at the bottom of the page, I haven't yet decided if I should put something in it or if I should leave it blank. I am going to take a look at certain things that should go there and then decide.

This is my third contents page but I am still not happy with the layout. All of the numbers are mixed up and the number boxes have turned out all different sizes which really doesn't look professional. The numbers being mixed up is going to lead to confusion, it would make it hard for people to find anything in my magazine because there is no order. I have also decided that placing 3 of the interviews above the drowing pool image isnt a good idea because they are not easy to spot and people may miss them and then they are not able to find what they want in my magazine. Also the fact that some images contain the names inside the border and others dont makes the page look very unprofessional. There are a couple of things that I am going to change on this contents page and this includes the layout and the number boxes.

This is my fourth magazine cover and the layout changes that I have done work better than my previous
contents page. I have changed the layout and decided that each imaged used should have the page number and the name of that article on the image to prevent any confusion and also it is something that I have seen in magazines such as 'Kerrang'. I changed all the number boxes and I made sure that they are all the same size and I the contents page looks a lot more professional because of this. I also put the numbers all in order so that my audience are able to find what they want in my magazine very quickly. The way that it was organised before was suppose to be sections but because I didn't have the space to include the title of each section it just looks like I had put them anywhere. I have changed the size of the biggest image on there so that I am able fit the text in a large vertical line. However the amount of images on the contents page still works well because there is a mix of gender as there are males and females on the page which gives it the 21st century twist.  

This is my seventh magazine cover, I have decided to get even closer to the image, this makes it look like she is looking directly at the audience and it seems like she is making direct eye contact with them. The image its self is shown better when it is close up rather than further away with all the extra space on the cover that can't be covered with text. I have placed the list of artist at the back of the model however I am not fully convinced that this is the best place for it. I'm thinking that it would be better in another place. However I am much happier with the improvements of my cover now than with the previous ones.

This is the cover that I am very pleased with, there isn’t a lot of left over space and the text fits in with the image and nothing is to overpowering on the cover. The image is one that looks like a 'Rock Chick' and with doing a close up of the image you can see this much more because you can see the detail and the fact that she is moving makes it a unusual image that you would find on a front cover as most models pose. This is my best front cover and I think I will most likely use this as my final front cover.

Double Page Spread

This is my double page spread. I have chosen this layout is because in my research on double page spreads each magazine had a large (A4) image with text on the next page. This proved to be the most popular layout form for a double page spread. 

I chose to ask basic questions for my interview as I wanted to focus on the life style and the music more than anything else, and the responses that were give fitted well with the image of Rock that I am going for.  The colours and the fonts and the images are all linked to the Rock image and this is what I am trying to achieve with my magazine. The questions and answers are in different colours to try and give it sense of being less formal and the colours fit with the entire scheme of the spread. The amount of text seems little when you compare it to the images, but this is the most popular layout at the moment. 

I have changed my double page spread slightly, I realised that my font was too big as a size 14. When I printed it of it was oversized and looked silly, it would also possibly put of my audience from reading as large font is associated with people with difficulties reading. I have added a couple of extra questions to fill up the space that was empty because of the shrinking text. I have also moved the name ‘Mutiny’ on the pull out post image so that it has her name on it, it is also written in the house font of ‘Rock Sounds’ magazine making it recognisable and different from other pull out images that other magazines do. I have also put a border around the other image as it makes it look more professional and makes it look separate from the text.

The final interview on my magazine is;

When did you first realise that you were famous?

I was having a coffee with my mum and ‘Captain’ came on in the coffee shop, I started jumping up and down because I was so excited.

How long did you have to work before you were recognised by a label?

It was about a year and a half of playing gigs at the weekend and doing local music competitions. I had a couple songs on BBC 1 undiscovered and after that things just went from there.

Are you finding the difference with being famous hard to cope with?

Its just different, I cant walk down the street now without someone asking for my autograph and people looking at me. It is something that I think I am going to take a while to get used to.

How is balancing music and your old life?

It is a bit hard sometimes, I’m missing out on a lot, like my best friends birthday. I missed that because I was on tour, and a Skype call really isn't the same when they are having an awesome party and your missing it.

How is your fist tour going?

My tour is amazing, I love being on stage every night and having people there that know my music. Every single crowed that I have played have been singing along and have got involved, that is the best bit. I have met so many different people I have met ‘My Chemical Romance’ and ‘Limp Bizkit’

How are you finding the industry as a whole?

It is completely different to how I expected it to be, it just changes so much and it is hard to keep up. It is something that I just cant keep up with, I am kind of getting to the point were I don't care about what magazines say and what people find out about me. It is just utter crap. The fact that the papers and magazine like to take a story and manipulate it to make me seem like the bad person really annoys me, they are just trying to make money out of people at the end of the day, and that it is.

We hear you have a little issue with Lady GaGa?

Yes, I really do. What has she done besides wear meat? She hasn't done anything for charity and craves attention with what she wears. I know that my wardrobe isn't exactly everyday but I wouldn't wear a dress made of meat, that’s just disgusting. Plus, when I met her she was incredibly rude to me and just seemed to look down on me, I really cant be bothered with that attitude.

Who have you been collaborating with on your album?


Oh my gosh, so many. I worked with slash, which is incredible! I have also worked with Hayley Williams and then I did vocals for Eminem, which I wasn't really to keen on but once I heard to song I thought I could really work well with this. I have a couple others on my album, but I don't want to ruin it for you guys, if I tell you what's on the album, you wont be as interested.

So when are you back in the U.K?

My tour date finishes on the 11th of June and then I’m having some time in the studio getting ready for what ever is next. My album ‘Cannons’ is out on the 29th of May and playing download this year as well.

Double Page Spread Analysis

I did this post before I started my magazine, however I forgot to post it so when it comes to doing my evaluation I will post each section together again so that my blog makes sense.

Kerrang

In this double page spread the rock (almost alternate/emotional) influence on the magazine is almost instantly recognisable due to the layout, set up and and the way in which the article is expressed. 

The article is a 'World Exclusive' which suggest that it is special and is unique to those who read Kerrang. In the article its self it is also emphasized that the band has 'invited' the magazine into their recording studio and into their lives to see what they do on a daily bases and to give the readers of Kerrang an insight into being rich and famous and get information about the 'celebrity lifestyle' this increases the forum and fan base for the band. 

The majority of the double page spread is images, and there is a small amount of text on the second page. Each one of these images has been edited to suit the style of the band and there music. My Chemical Romance are an alternative rock band with almost a Gothic feel to their music and this is reflected in the images used in the article. Every image is in black and white matching the style of music that the band produces. The used of the red text on the article also fits in the theme of the band and red is a colour that is associated with anger, and dark emotions.

There a few different fonts on the page with again fits with the theme of alternate that goes with the bands music. The title has been set at an angle and in a different colour and a different font to the rest of the article and then there is the red text under it with is suggesting informality and it makes it entertaining to look at and gives a certain mode of address. 

The actual article is significantly smaller than the rest of the text on the page.  it is split up into different sections, the text on the far right is information on their new tracks and album and the main article is about touring and their life. 

Everything on this page links with the style of alternate rock music that the band produces and through editing images and changing fonts they can make the double page spread as entertaining to look at. 

NME

The colour scheme for this double page spread is very simplistic and monochrome as only blue, black and white are used. This makes the article look very clear cut and the colours encourage vibrancy within the article and the blue gives it a tranquil mood which is turned into image. This colour scheme conforms to the stereotype of 'Indie'.

The image of 'The Teenagers' fills the left page, this shows the reader who the article is about as most people look at the image before the text as it is more appealing and the target audience also value big images. The image is a high angle shot image and it gives the impression that the band are quite laid back and relaxed. They are dressed quite casually which links in with the relaxed theme. They are making direct eye contact with the camera which can be seen as relating to the target audience (16-23) and they make the type of life style that they live easily obtainable to anyone. This is also linked to the layout of the article, the relaxing image is linked to the colour scheme of blue and the layout of the text isn't very structured, it is in two vertical columns with quotes highlighted in the middle.

Second Set Of Magazine Covers

This is my first magazine cover with the name 'Rock Sounds' I have had to change the name because I recently discovered that there is an American Music Magazine called 'Rock Sound' so to avoid and issues with copy right I have changed the name slightly. 

This cover is slightly different, I knew that something wasn't right with the other covers that I have done and I had been trying to figure out what it was, then I noticed how much space there is around my model. In all the covers that I looked at for example the NME one that I have posted below there is a main focus on the model and very little open space like I have on my cover. So to chance this I cropped the top of the image and changed the logo of the magazine as well as inserting the date on the date line and moving all the cover lines closer together. However as far as I am concerned this still is not right. I am going to crop it so that the model is the main focus of the image and remove a large amount of the extra space as well as change it back the the logo I decided but change the name. 

My First Magazine Cover.

This is my first attempt at my magazine cover, I have changed the name to Rock Sound and I intend to keep it as this. 

I originally chose this image because I thought that it was a simple effective image which attracts the attention and will sell my magazine. However, after adding detail and the quotes I realised that it is the wrong sort of image for my genera, the way she is looking into the camera and the smile makes it seem like it is either a beauty magazine or something along those lines. The image gives of a completely wrong impression, I want an image that is different and is going to stand out from all the other magazines on the shelves. I decided that using this cover would not be the best thing for my magazine, however I am keeping the name and the cover lines and the captions the same as I think that they are effective. 

This was my second magazine cover, I changed the image with to one that looks like she is singing, it is an image were she isn’t in a fixed pose and isn’t looking at the camera which gives it the unique look that I am looking for. I thought that keeping the title, cover lines and captions in the same place would make the cover look right. This is better than the first cover but the image and the cover lines ect don’t fit together, I am going to change the positions of the text and see if I can make it work. 

This is my third magazine cover, I moved around the title and put the logo in the middle than rather than in the left corner, I know that normally people look at the top left hand corner as that is the easiest place for people to notice it as it is the common way that people stack magazines in shops. However since this is the first issue I thought that it is important for people to see the name of the magazine as well as the logo. So I thought that by putting the logo in the middle and having the name going each side of the logo. I am not sure on whether or not to keep this yet because I am finding that I don’t like the positions of the cover lines as I cant seem to get them to balance with the image and make the cover look even. I am going to have another go at seeing what I could do with the cover.

I have changed the layout of my name to this. Rather than have a logo and a name separate on the front cover I have decided to join them together and created a logo that would be recognised by the fan base of the magazine. It is going to be positioned in the top left third of the magazine were it is easily seen and wont change from this position. The idea behind changing the layout of the name of my magazine is to try to create a house style for my magazine. 

This is my fourth magazine cover and I have used the new logo and  changed the layout of the cover lines on the front to try and make the  image balanced and make it look like a front cover. However  there is something about this cover that doesn't work,  it just doesn't seem to be as effective as some of the other covers that I have looked at. I am going to carry on trying out new ideas and see what I can come up with to make it more eye catching.

 This is my Fifth magazine cover and I am beginning to think that it is looking like a magazine cover. I  have chosen not to put the bar code on the front of the magazine as the magazines I researched didn't have a bar code on the front they had it on the back. So I have decided to follow this as the bar code really doesn't look attractive on the front of the magazine and takes up space that is needed for other things. I changed the position of the data and issue on the front because I think that it looks better at the top, it is a little above were the date line usually is but I still might change it. I brought it list of artist featured in the magazine back and put it under neither the model as I think that it balances the cover out and makes it look even with the amount of text. There are still small things on the cover that I am not happy about but I am going to move on to my contents and the double page spread and think a little about my final cover for a little bit longer.