MoodBoard

This is a moodboard of how I would like my target audience to look like and these are some of the intrests I'd like them to have.

Audience Research.

Audience Research.

Audience Research.

Audience Research.

Audience Research.

Audience Research.

Audience Research.

Audience Research.

For my Audience research I ask a couple of my friends for their advise using social networks such as Facebook and Twitter. Here is the feedback I got from them.

Textual Analysis of Q magazine.

Denotation:

This magazine cover consists of a medium long shot image of a man kneeling over his guitar. It looks like the picture has gone through post production after the shoot and the background has been cut off, leaving the plain white of a sheet and other images and cover lines filling the page. There is a masthead behind the mans right hand shoulder and multiple cover lines just below the masthead. There is also a text box visible on the left side of the man and a bar code too.

Masthead:

Q magazine has always used a Georgia font 'Q' as their masthead, it is always written in white above a red square on the top left and corner of the page. It is very simple and only one letter so it's easy for the audience to remember. Also in the music industry the letter q reminds me of the band queen which may suggest that the magazine is targeted at rock lovers.

Character:

The model on the front cover is famous late American electric guitarist Jimi Hendrix.

Composition:

He has been directed to kneel and pull on the guitar strings. He is also pulling a face which shows that he is pulling the strings with force. This is stereotypical of ho violent and rebellious rock stars are.

Costume:

He is wearing a navy blue with gold stitching high ranking sailor type blazer which has been customised and has fur added to it, he is also wearing a lot of gold jewellery and brown pinstriped trousers. This shows his wealth.

NVC:

He looks very aggressive in this image, and he looks forceful on the guitar. Almost like he is pulling with passion on the strings. This gives the audience the idea that he both loves and hates his career or the fame it has brought him.

Lighting:

Like all other magazine covers I have looked at this cover also uses high key lighting to give warmth and a sense of security to the audience. 

Setting:

We are unaware of the setting but because the image has been cut out I think it was originally shot in front of a green screen in a photographic studio. 

Cover lines:

The main cover line just like in the 'Billboard' magazine is bolder than the rest. It is placed directly under the masthead and is written in black and in Arial Black font. All the text on this cover is written in black but it is the font that changes. Under the main cover line that reads 'Wild Thing' there is a brief written in Arial. There are two smaller cover lines and an image which isn't of the main model under the main cover line, This allows the readers to relate to the other musicians featured in the issue. The smaller cover lines also suggest that there is gossip and entertaining articles the audience would be interested in. 

Text Box:

The text box which is usually used on the contents page appears on the cover of the magazine. It gives readers information on what reviews the magazine has inside.

Target audience:

Having analysed all of this,it seems like the target audience for this magazine would be males aged between 16-35 as it focuses on the dark side of rock stars. 

Textual Analysis of Billboard magazine.

Denotation:

The magazine cover consists of a medium close up shot of a womans face being supported by her left hand exposing her wedding/promise ring. We cannot really see the background of the image as the womans hair has been blown out and left in loose curls that make it look bigger and fuller and covers most of the page. In the image the woman is looking directly at the camera as if she were directing to the audience. Across her forehead there is a title and a masthead. Like the 'Vibe' magazine there are only three main colours used, these are light blue, yellow and white. However the masthead has an extra colour of red is it. There are seven cover lines on the page and a bar code is also visible on the bottom left hand corner.

Masthead:

Billboard magazine uses a very distinctive masthead, It uses the Candara font and has three coloured circle fillers, these are blue, red and yellow. The typetography is very colourful and stands out which suggests that the magazine may be aimed and a more youthful and pop audience. This tells us that it's aimed at people who listen to pop music and are lively.

Character:

The model for this cover is the English/Sri Lanka singer M.I.A.

Composition:

The photographer has directed M.I.A too look directly at the camera and rest her head on her left arm exposing her ring finger a bit more than the others, giving the audience a glimpse of her wedding ring. In this photo she looks very calm and natural which goes against the sound of her controversial loud music.

Costume:

We can see that she is wearing a denim jacket but it is not clear, the only other costume she has on would be her make up which is subtle and natural. We can also see her wedding ring which may also be considered costume.

NVC:

her non- verbal communication is very calm and inviting, she looks shy and a bit fragile too in this shot.

Lighting:

There is high key lighting in this image, as there are no shadows cast on her skin and her face looks flawless and well lit.

Setting:

This image seems to have been taken in a photographic studio.

Cover lines:

the main cover line is in reference to the model in the cover as it reads 'Exclusive! M.I.A. on her new album, trufflegate and the art of controversy.' I say this because I know her name is M.I.A. and it is the boldest coverline on the page. The cover lines are in the same font as the masthead but just blue instead of white, (this may be the magazine's house style). By having this cover line in bold it draws the attention of the readers and tell us who the woman on the front cover is. The other cover lines are placed on the right hand side in a column. their titles are also written in blue but unlike the main cover line the briefs are written in white. These short coverlines give us an insight to what other major articles the magazine is focusing on in the issue. There is also a circled coverline above the main cover line which may suggest that it's being brought from a past issue and is updating the audience. All these coverlines tell us that the magazine is packed with gossip and entertainment.

Title:

The title placed above the masthead is a reminder of an event the magazine are hosting in New York. It targets those interested in music and advertising and gives a website readers can look up if interested. 

Target audience:

Overall, having gone over all these points it seems that the target audience for this magazine is teenagers aged between 15 and 20 who are interested in pop music and gossip about musicians.