MAGAZINE KEY CONCEPTS

CODES AND CONVENTIONS

In a Front Cover we expect there to be;

A Main image of the featured artist or celebrity. The main image usually tends to link in with the main feature article of that certain issue of the magazine. The image is usually a studio photo, rarely an images shot outside, it is a mid shot or a close up. Furthermore the image has direct address.
A Masthead which has a trademark or an unique font, it usually a Symbolic, Acronym, Abbreviation or a word (sometimes 2). The masthead fills the width of the cover and it at the top of the front cover. The main Sell Line is the largest text in the cover, it anchors with the image on the front cover. It has a sub line in a smaller font size providing more information about the featured articles for the reader. Sell lines which is placed reasonably on the front cover to attract the audience attention and to make them pick up the magazine up and look inside. Few sell lines are a word or 2 words long, some of them are used to intrigue the reader, these all represent a story which in in the article. They are positioned down the sides, it frames the image that the main image is not covered. They are all in the same font so that it can create a distinctive design. Pugs - Barcode, Issue Number, Price and Date, they are usually positioned on the top left corner of the front cover. Plugs- - this makes the magazine not only focus on the main feature artist but also other people featured in the magazine, the plugs also supports few sell lines on the front cover. Plugs also makes the reader get intrigued into the buying the magazine due to competition etc Win tickets, albums etc

CODES AND CONVENTIONS

In a Contents Page we expect there to be;

The layout to be set out in columns.

Another main image to represent the main article. There are also other images in which link into the contents page lines. The date and the issue number is usually featured with the masthead of the magazine on the top left of the contents page. Features List has a long list of what will be featured in this certain issue which the reader wont be able to get in another other issue. Reviews are another column for the contents page which makes the reader get more choice on what to read in the magazine.

Editors Note appears sometimes at the bottom of the page with an image of them, thank the reader on reader their magazine, furthermore they tells the reader on what this issue has in store for them.
Subscribe Section is featured so that the audience can be informed about subscribing to the magazine. Pages Numbers are used to help direct a reader to a certain page which they are interested in. It usually anchors with the contents lines. Usually the subheading will have a small sentence below it to explain the reader in detail of this certain article. Social Media Icons, in which the audience can see that the magazine has social media platform to interact with them.

CODES AND CONVENTIONS

In a Double Page Spread we expect there to be;

Title of the page, which is usually creative or is a quote/word from the article itself.
A full double page spread article (usually an Question and Answer Interview), usually the double page spread article is dedicated to the featured artist on the front cover. Image/Images of the artist. (usually at the bottom of the page, there is a photographers name to which the magazine gives credit to.) There is the logo (masthead) of the magazine and the page number on the top left of the page. There is usually a link, website, or a QR Code to which the reader can access to further information of this article. To promote the artist there will be many social network icons asking the reader to follow them on twitter, like them on Facebook etc Furthermore in a magazine we expect there is be features like reviews on gigs, music albums and songs. There is also features about the to downloads and chart information. Adverts throughout the pages are featured for a purpose. Depending of the type of magazine it is and its genre, different products are advertised which appeal to similar target audiences as the magazine. E,g, Pop music make up, perfumes, clothes, Hip Hop headphones, trainers, Film Magazine DVDs, cinema posters etc

AUDIENCE
Audiences read magazine as they believe that the traditional print format of a magazine is the best way to experience a story as well as having the feel of a magazine in your hands and actually reading it. Audiences read magazines as they mostly depend on the magazine to p rovide them with the best, honest and reliable article and review of the artists. Usually people read magazines for information and entertainm ent. Audiences read magazines to gain information as they like to be updated with the latest news and update of a specific topic. In a music magazine, the readers will gain information about latest music albums and single coming out, furthermore they are informed on latest ac tivities of their favourite bands/artist. They may read a magazine so that they can be informed about upcoming and breakthrough artists which c an gain interest for them, which is a advantage for the artist as well. This proves that audiences read magazine to gain more information about th eir interest. Audiences may read magazines for entertainment. The audience may find reading a specific part of the magazine interesting and fun for t hem as its something that the audience would do in their free time, or if they were relaxing. They may also read magazines as it build their perso nal identity and personal relationships with other readers as well as the magazine. Some topics are very controversial amongst the readers and friendsh ip groups, in which to find more information they would read a magazine to get more information for entertainment. The audience expect there be many things in the magazine. People expect there to be latest news of the music industry, popula r and new music artists and bands. They would expect there to be a freebie, in which increases the readers, sometimes to increase readers, th ere are special editions of an issue, for example a band is featured on the main issue however there are other front covers with a band member on the front cover, this is a good advantage for the readers to collect the magazine and keep them if they are a dedicated fan. People still read magazines even though there are many new technologies and new gadgets surrounding them in which they can ac cess internet and get similar material as the magazine as well as being cheaper. Magazines are tangible and it builds a sense of realism when r eading off a magazine however if you read from the computer or a phone it isnt as realistic. People prefer a physical copy than an article online. People currently read magazines due to the freebies, there are some readers in which they are interested in the freebie e.g. Free Download. Furthermore they may read or buy magazines as their favourite artist may be featured on the front cover and would like to read about the article on them and then keep it and create a collection of magazine.

REPRESENTATION OF R&B MUSIC

Iconography MaleIn R&B music magazines the men are usually topless. The images of the magazine are usually in grey scale/ sepia tone which adds a sensual tone to the magazine. R&B male stars usually wear jewellery such as 1 chain and an earing. They do not flaunt their jewellery. They are very casual. For example Trey Songz. He is usually pictured with minimal clothing on. This is because a lot of R&B male artists target young teenage girls. Their jeans are slightly hanging low so you can see their boxers. They would normally be wearing a designer belt which might be a form advertising for that particular brand. Sometimes they wear a white vest top. Their jewellery are normally minimal. They go by the term Staying true to your roots which means they havent forgotten whe re they have come/ grew up from. Some artists such as Usher were not as rich before they became who they are so if they were wearing loads of jewellery and flaunting it then they would be going against that term. FemaleFemales wear clothing which is very minimal. They are usually portrayed as the soft type people in magazine with a bit of a attitude. Nowadays there has been a lot of gender stereotypes being broken with the females being seen as more powerful than the men. Also they want to be seen as more independent and not relying on men. Normally they have their stomach on show and with that they wear jeans and sometimes a jacket that grabs attention. The reason they have minimal clothing is because to male fans they are meant to be seen as objects of desire. Their minimal clothing is sometimes very glittery and glam and standing out. Their hair is always styled in a dramatic and eye catching way. To show power some females wear red lipstick in their videos. To show off legs females wear very high heels however for choreographed scenes they wear highly designer trainers such as Jordan's or Nike. They normally wear big hoops and chains. Females also stick to roots as well as showing of wealth with the jewellery.

REPRESENTATION
Artists: - Chris Brown - Usher - Beyonce - Rihanna - Ciara - Nicki Minaj - Alicia Keys - Jay Sean - Nelly - Timbaland, - Keri Hilson - Ne-Yo - Trey Songz - Justin Timberlake

Albums: - Girl on Fire (2012) - Unapologetic (2012) - The 20/20 Experience and 2 of 2 (2013) - Nothing was the same (2013) - Tattoos (2013)

Mode Of Address - The mode of address is a mixture of both formal and informal language. The sociolect used represents and constructs the target audience by speaking to them like a friend would, which helps them to identify with that social group.

Award Shows: - BET - Brits - MOBO - MTV Music - VMAs - BMI - Grammy Awards

The attitude of R&B is all about Diva and coolness. Male artists have a smooth and cool attitude however female attitudes are fierce and diva-ish attitudes.

Ideology - Using particular artists such as Usher rather than for instance Soulja boy will makes my magazine more exclusive and ambitious, this is because Usher has always been seen as a very popular motivated young man with a house, a family and an inspirational career; he isnt like most of the R&B artists out nowadays that are seen for their attitude and reputation.

INSTITUTION
Magazine publishers makes money by making sure that their magazine sells well with a good readership. Without the readership the magazine publishers would not know the actual selling to the customers. Furthermore the magazine publishers make money by business or companies to advertise their products in their magazine which means the publishers make more money. They are attempting to retain their audience by making their front cover as attractive and bold as possible for readers to buy. They attempt to have popular music artists are very controversial on social network sites. As they are the main topic everyone talks about, they have a good chance of featuring the artist into their magazine to appeal to the readers. With social Network pages, the audience can still be connected to the magazine, on the other hand they try to keep a certain house style of the magazine so that it can be recognisable on the shelves for the readers to pick. They try to add more freebies to get more reader to buy the magazine due to the freebies e.g. Free Mp3 Download and Posters. Further they include Competitions so that the readers can participate in which they would have to buy the magazine and read the full details. Many magazines have wider assets such as TV Channels, Radio show, Stages, Award Shows and Festival Stages. Each of these assets make sure that the reader is still connected to the magazine even if they are not reading the magazine due to no time, this is why there are radio stations and TV channels of the that certain magazine to help the reader by up to date and keep a sustained audience also it also makes their magazine more popular. Examples of which a magazine is a multi-platform success are Q Magazine and Kerrang. They both have a TV Channel, Radio Station, Subscription is another way to retain readers, in which it also includes discounts, free items for those who subscribe, they get more information of an issue before hand, this is a great way of the readers staying.