Formal Proposal

Title of the magazine The title of my music magazine is going to be ‘Your Country’ this is because it firstly contains the personal pronoun ‘Your’ which means my magazine is really speaking to the reader as opposed to just dictating. Similarly it can help me to create the intimate feel that music magazines and their audiences have. There is also no current music magazine with this name. Also it provides me with inspiration for coverlines, sellines, flashers and slogans as I could use the “your” pronoun for features such as “your news” and “your exclusive”. It sounds feminine, catchy, friendly and quite classic with connotations of sophistication but then with the bright and fresh colours and also the images used there can be a modern, traditional and funky mix to satisfy the target audience who like the latest news as well as the history of country music.

Chosen genre I have chosen country music as my genre because firstly I absolutely adore it and along with my family have been to country music concerts. Similarly I follow the music and listen to it regularly therefore I feel that I have enough knowledge, alongside some thorough research to be able to produce a country music magazine for a female target audience. It seems there is a gap within the British market for a country music magazine like mine, especially in terms of age group as there are magazines such as Maverick and Up Country however these seemed to be aimed at an older demographic from the research I have completed. Therefore it seems that there are country fans who need to be satisfied and the genre of country kept alive within Britain. Similarly across the world country music is becoming more and more popular amongst other genres such as pop and RNB. For example Taylor Swift and Jason Aldean have each performed songs with other genre influences. Also one country star has sung with pop stars such as Rihanna and Lady Gaga which can represent country music’s diverse cross over into other music forms. Jennifer Nettles from band Sugarland with Rihanna and Lady Gaga

Target Audience My target audience is white British females aged between years old. This is challenging the stereotype of a ‘classic country fan’ as they are normally females aged 45 years old. However I feel justified in choosing this audience because statistics can support that year olds do enjoy and follow country music and also with country music stars starting younger and similarly country fusing with pop, rock and RNB it seems appropriate that there is a magazine aimed at my target audience as they are enjoy other styles of music and are interested in younger and upcoming artists.

Initial Ideas for my front cover For my front cover I plan to use a medium close up of my main cover star as this is not only a convention used in most magazines, it also will allow the target audience to see who is the main feature in the magazine is this month as well as show the mise-en-scene which can showcase the classic country and western look with a modern twist. Similarly my cover star is a new country star and so by using a medium close up it can show emotion and introduce the new artist who most fans of country will recognise as they are dedicated and will want to find out more about this new artist. The image can connote power and femininity and present the changing face of country which the audience may be able to relate to and also is admirable. I am similarly going to use supplementary images as my questionnaire and focus group revealed that supplementary images really help add to the whole vibe of the magazine and illustrate the contents drawing the audience in. I will most likely use medium close ups, however when shooting the images I can experiment and discover what works most for my magazine. These images will include males as I still want to attract the males also as they can still gain from the contents. I will use fresh, summery, feminine and bright colours for the masthead, sellines and coverlines as my research revealed this is what my target audience like similarly they can denote the new country star and show a positivity and happiness. I can then use these colours to create a house style throughout my magazine and therefore create a consistency.

Initial Ideas for my Contents page For my contents page I will continue with my masthead from the front cover and similarly use the words ‘contents’ to identify the page. I will similarly use similar colours and fonts as on the front cover to ensure a house style and a neatness. I will use an editorial in order to provide the reader with an insight into the magazine and also add a personal touch. It also follows the conventions of music magazines such as NME. I will use a dominant image of a medium long shot of the cover star to show her style and glamour which is a desire from the target audience. It will also showcase how this issue is really focusing on her as well as the latest news, gossip, fashion and lifestyle. I will also use supplementary images of fashion and maybe scenery in order to provide the audience with an indication about what the magazine contains. It can make the contents page look busy and therefore can excite the target audience who are ready to get stuck in. Overall I imagine the contents to look modern and edgy to reflect the new young artist and the changing face of country music overall.

Initial ideas for my article. My questionnaires and focus group revealed that the readers would like an interview with a big star so for my double page spread I am planning to do an interview with a new female country star as it can allow the target audience to really get to know her. It was also something I had considered prior to my quantitative and qualitative research as an interview really allows for a personal touch which in country music is one of many aspects that country music fans love. The interview will take the form of questions and answers. Questions can include about her style, musical inspirations, recent musical success and the changing face of country (RNB and POP fusions and females). I will continue to use similar feminine and classy colours such as pinks, reds and purples with a darker variety as the questionnaires revealed that the readers would like darker colours on the double page spread. I will use of a main image on the left hand side of the page almost like it’s a poster the audience can take out and treasure. I will use supplementary images in order to provide the audience with more of the star and her style. I may use an image where my female cover star is looking in the mirror like she is almost looking twice as she is shocked and ecstatic about her success. It can also represent fame. I will use page numbers also to continue with codes and conventions and aim to make my magazine look as realistic as possible.

Initial ideas for photographs I have chosen to use one main image for my front cover as not only did the questionnaires and the focus group reveal this, its also a convention I found being consistently used in all magazines and especially in country music magazines. I am going to use a medium close up for the main image on my front cover as this is a shot that will help introduce the upcoming artist through the body language/pose and the mise-en-scene showcasing her personality. Also the questionnaires revealed that the readers would like supplementary images on the front cover, contents and on the double page spread as they feel it can give that little extra something to make the magazine unique and successful. For the front cover supplementary images I plan to frame and use medium close ups of other country stars including males and props. For the contents page I will have another main image central to the page, and this will be a medium shot that can show again a bit more of the upcoming artist (the cover story). Similarly like the medium close up on the front cover the medium long shot on the contents can provide the reader with a little bit more of the star so its almost like its teasing the reader who is excited to read about this new star. It can consequently engage them. For the double page spread I will use a medium long shot of the cover star that will dominate one side to the page. Due to it being dominant on one side of the page means the audience get a close up and can really see the artist for who she is through the mise-en-scene such as her costume and make-up and also through the atmosphere the image creates. It links to how country stars have no barriers between them and their fans as they are real and genuine people with a passion for country music. I will use a simplistic background for the front cover (white) to make the artist stand out and also to add a femininity as white can connote softness and an elegance. Similarly its simple and can show how the music is what is important and also it can make the masthead (maybe pinks, reds, purples) really bold and eye-catching. For the contents page and the double page spread I will use a similar background to the front cover as to create a house style and to create a consistency in the mise-en-scene. However I may work more with the lighting to make a darker atmosphere which can link to the intimacy that the audience will get from the interview. It can also add a maturity and it was also what the questionnaires revealed would be a great.