Evaluation.

Evaluation.

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This is a PowerPoint final evaluation of my overall project. You will see that it is written in a bulk note form and that question number 7 is missing. My reasoning for this is because my final evaluation is presented as a 16 minuet film evaluation I have constructed. However due to the program I have created this on I have had a few difficulties attempting to upload it. I did attempt to upload to YouTube so I could link the video through HTML however because of the length this was not possible. I have a hard copy of my evaluation saved to a disk which I will hand in for final evaluation.

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Beginning of deconstruction

Dps dct

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Article.

The most important section of a feature page is the article. Looking into the different double page spread features a common and popular article consists of a Q&A with there chosen artist. Because I have chosen one of my close friends within the music industry I held a personal Q&A session with him about his profession. The constructed a perfect Q&A providing my audience with appropriate information on Alex Mountford in a professional and easy to read conversation style.

Here is my finished product for my article.

Alex Mountford

So Alex, you’re a 16year old local singer song writer from the Isle of Wight. Pretty young to make a determined career choice, what made you decide the music path was right for you?

I’ve always really enjoyed playing guitar/writing songs since really young. I got my first guitar when I was 8 and my passion developed from there. The reason I started to take it seriously was from my music teacher pushing and encouraging me to develop a true passion for music. I started to listen to other small Indie artist and took a real shine listening to NeverShoutNever. His music is really uplifting and I can really relate, he inspired me to put my music out there. You never know who might enjoy it if you never let it get heard.

Would you consider NeverShoutNever as is your hero (role model)?

Christopher Drew (NeverShoutNever)? Yeah defiantly he’s the reason i started really. Also I was lucky enough to attend his show in Brighton a few weeks back. I was determined to get a ticket to his first England tour and to top of the day I was lucky enough to meet him in passing just before the show. We got talking and I managed to get him to take one of my CD’s consisting of a few completed tracks of my EP. It’s so amazing to meet your hero and find out they’re such a lovely genuine person.

So you’ve been writing a long time what's the name of your first completed song? -What inspired you?

My first proper song that I took seriously was Atlantic Anti Romance the first time I showed it to an audience was actually as a monologue piece for part of my GCSE drama course, it still needed some work to it then but when I performed it to my small class of 12 they seemed to respond well. It gave me a really positive attitude towards my music career and I just loved performing my own music. The song was inspired by a of course a girl, but I’m not one to tell

First gig you played?

Ummmmm, i guess it would have been an open mic, although the first proper gig i played? I really can’t remember; probably the Live/Wired semifinal. That was over a year ago now I was only 15 although the adrenalin was amazing I was nervous about my performance I didn’t want anything with my set to go wrong considering I was up there for about 20 minutes going solo.

Best gig you've played? -Why?

The best gig by far was the Live/Wired final, everything was so professional, it was great to work behind the stage and get a feel of the industry. Especially everyone there to support, I have a huge fan base they’re all so supportive and some really close friends always happy to come along. The audience responded really positively to me and my groups of high school friends were crazy enough to make banners with pictures of myself on which they threw onto the stage at the end of my set, despite coming second I left on such a high when one of the judges got a message from the lead singer of the Kooks saying they liked my sound and that they think I have some true potential.

How do you spend your free time?

I tend to go to a lot of gigs, whether it’s artists I love or just supporting the local music talent on the island, I have been lucky to perform in some bigger venues off the island which has been great and also introduced me to more people, making new friends and connections is a brilliant way to promote your own sound. I’m also keen on sound engineering and attempt to get involves with as much backstage technology as I can  just to open more doorways down that career root. I’m always writing, coming up with new lyrics for possible tracks. However most importantly I love chilling with friends, my band, we spend our free time just being teenagers really!

Your backing band? When did you decide to include more instruments? What are they like, do you welcome their ideas?

My backing band at the moment is Dom Hough on drums, Toby Bracegirdle on bass and Sam Matlock on lead guitar; they’re all great! But the band is ever changing so hopefully I’ll tie down a line up soon. I’m always welcoming their ideas, especially Sam Matlock who in a way is helping me "produce" the new EP, he’s got a good head when it comes to music so that’s all good!

Your new EP, is this what are you currently working on?

Yeah, I’m currently working on my second EP actually which will have the new instruments from my backing band and hopefully a big new fresh sound! Keep my fans on their toes.

What’s a strange fact about yourself?

Ha, I’m addicted to energy drinks! It’s hard to believe I went through a stage of keeping all my empty cans and bottles. I think the obsession got to over 60 before I figured it was time to get rid of them. It hurt to part so I took a picture just so I can keep it as proof if the question ever arises.

What is your favorite energy drink?

I must have tried every single one going, at the moment there mostly from the Relentless origin, although it varies in between the Relentless and Monsters.

What’s most played on your iPod?

Umm, I don’t know if there’s a button to see? But it would surprise you! It’s either Sway (grime artist) or NeverShoutNever or some generic punk pop artist! I’m that mainstream. It differs from my own genre but I can’t help but love to listen to the mainstream current pop charts. I enjoy listening to music different from my own so that it’s not what I’m constantly surrounded by. Also music being my life I have to keep myself open to many different genres and styles to keep my sound new and fresh.

Plans for the future?

Gig a hell of a lot more. Get my recordings out there! Have a real good time! Meet new people and enjoy whatever life throws at me. (Let’s hope it throws a record deal).

Double page spread deconstructions.

This is a deconstruction for a double page spread of "NME" magazine. Another rock music magazine I've been looking into to create my media product. This shows me an easy way to successfully present a double page spead on a feature artist.

Completed contents page.

Construction.

Presentation1

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Constructive Criticism

The top image is what I considered to be my completed contents product. I handed this over for some constructive criticism from my tutors.

-The one mentioned by both was that the space wasn't used efficiently. Although there is a background image used to cover the space because I've reduced the saturation it seems dull. Also because the image isn't grasping action it's dull with minimal movement. This is reflected upon the page.

- The editors not too formal and also not bold enough to connect with the audience.

-Spacing and layout isn't clear the images at the top of the page look messy and misplaced. Especially the one referring to Alex Mountford and Band stand.

-Including the Facebook logo is good and fits with the codes and conventions needed for this page however it would be nice to see ways the audience could contact the company directly
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-The contents section is too small, the font size should be increased to fill the page more vertically or add more articles and page numbers to fill the remaining space above and below.

This image below is my new and improved contents page after taking on bored the constructive criticism.

Image choices.

This image was chosen to compliment a "band stand" article. I thought that this image would be appropriate because of the use of instruments and the setting shows that they are performing at some form of gig. This symbolises what it's advertising. This is a low angled 'MS' which i have put some shadow manipulating on and also increased the contrast this makes the facial expressions seem much more powerful. Also the white in the background make the image positive and encouraging for the reader instead of threatening.

I added this image to include another image from my photo soot with the band. There is only one difference between this image between this and the cover image is that Eloise is standing. This makes it much more authoritive. Also because the colours aren't as bright because I didn't want this image to grasp all the attention and be directed more towards the one which is representing the double page spread article.

This image was chosen because it's the same one on the cover representing Alex's double page spread. It's a high angled shot not showing facial expressions but because the contrast is high the colours really stand out against the dark background making this image a focus point.

I included this image to fill apace and support the article features I wrote about. This is a low angles "MS". I chose this one to include more images from this photo shoot and show the true potential of colour use which i toned down in the saturation of the other background image. It's a very stereotypical "band/artist" stance.

Beginning of contents construction.

Contents construction

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Alex photo shoot number 1

Alex photoshoot.

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Photo shoot with Tobias

Tobi photoshoot.

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FLAT PLAN

Contents

Next was to begin my contents page. I've decided to stick with my colour scheme on this page although looking into "Kerrang" and "Q" magazine contents pages it proves it's no longer a necessity to stick to the implied colour scheme once past the front cover.
I first decided to undertake some research in contents construction as shown in these contents deconstructions to find out which codes and conventions work best and which to include in my contents page.

My completed front cover.

Front Page Construction. 4.

I had to do some manipulating on my bar code as i noticed towards the end that the black band which runs across the bottom hid half of it. Once this was sorted I added some more vital information underneath it. Issue number; Date and price. I decided my issue number should be quite small to show it is a recently starting out magazine and stuck with the current date. I came down to a decision of pricing my magazine at £2.35. I felt this number fitted nicely between the results I gather from my results of the questionnaire. It could be seen as a high price for a magazine, however I feel I can get away with it as my target audience. Because my target audience are between the ages of 16-24 they are notorious for there substantial amount of disposable income. I would place these people within the C1/C2/B British Social Grading Scale. Placing them within the working (heading into the upper) class. This means they are supplied with a suitable amount of income to spend on a magazine priced at this price. 
It's not shown on this image but as you will see in my finished image at the top I have included information on where to find the double page spread on Alex Mountford. I included this so my audience are intrigued to find out more.  I stuck with my colour scheme once again of red and black. I placed the text at a straight horizontal angle to differ from the other interesting angles I have been including, as to not over do it. Also after sme strong consideration I decided to take out te page number asthis isn't following the forms and conventions of a frontcover. These will be placed on my contents page.

Front Page Construction. 3.

Next I got to work on including more red to fit with my colour scheme of RED, BLACK, BLUE. I inserted my tag line which I created using the glowing tool, under logos, it creates a warm look to the words and also fits with my colour scheme. 'TURN IT UP' I placed it underneath my mast head following the ideas of my flat plan, I edited on this slightly putting it at a slant making it interesting and also bringing this layer right to the front placing it slightly over my title. I also bought my title layers forward so the sparks are seen exiting the page over the black band at the top of the page.

In my sweet spot I included a competition. Because I want my magazine to be southern based (including small upcoming local bands) I thought of an event close to home which is widely popular for a mix of audiences. 'Isle of Wight Festival' - Which its self supplies us with an eclectic mix of acts and attracts all genders, ages and ethnicity's. I took the idea of placing it in a circle from an NME magazine featuring Lilly Allen I researched into looking for ways to place information on the cover page.

 


As you can see I adapted on this idea sticking with my colour scheme "Red". Like the circles from the NME magazine I thought it worked well to try out diffident fonts and colours for the text. I did this to keep the cover interesting and also once again more reason to stick with my colour scheme.

Next I inserted images of another artist in the bottom right hand corner, these images are ones I took during a photo shoot down the seafront and also some from a gig i went to watch of his about a month ago. I placed them in slanted positioning again and thought it best to to include one of him playing. This supports my genre of "Indie Rock". So far looking at my magazine it gives of the impression of a Rock magazine with the aggressive Central image and the sharp excitable masthead. However my double spread feature is going to be on Alex Mountford who brings the magazine more into the "Indie" side of things. As you can see for his acoustic guitar, this instrument is seen more as an "Indie" style. However what I like about this image is that the expression on his face is so powerful and engaging it brings us back into that strong "Rock" aspect. Mixing the two acts on the page together combines the genres how i intended and hits my target audience appropriately.

Next I added in my cover mount - a free poster. I added this text underneath my Central image text to imply that, that image is the one the audience will be receiving in poster form. I chose bold fonts once again sticking to my colour scheme of red and black to make this eye catching. I also chose a different font, colour and size for the word "FREE!" This is becasue it's an obvious buzz word for the cover. The idea of gaining something 'free' is appealing to my target audience as I have gathered from the results of my questionnaire. Making my magazine that tiny bit more appealing.

Front Page Construction. 2.

Here you can see I have added bars at the top and the bottom of the page, I did this to fill blank space and inserted names of featuring artists/ bands and other features which can be found within the magazine. Once again I chose for these to be black to fit with my colour scheme and to fill up the space more efficiently, however to keep the magazine looking interesting I added small shines to each bar.

Front Page Construction. 1.

To create my front cover I used the Same program which I made my mast heads on.

-Gimp, i decided my magazine was going to be a standard A4 size so all I needed to do was insert an A4 template and work from there. Because I had previously created my masthead on gimp it was easy to just insert the previous mast head I had created as a layer on top of my central image. Once I had inserted it onto the image I did some further manipulating, slightly changing the shape to create a slant on the word. I did this to fit with the sloping of the people in the central image and also to make the sparks from behind the 'M' stand out more on the page by enlarging them also bringing the letters 'M,E' forwards seeming to jump off the page. Personally I found this interesting to look at and it's something new from the mastheads I have seen from previous research. All other mast heads I have looked into are flat and bold. Keeping mine bold to attract attention it's also something new, fresh and interesting for my target audience to look at.

I also included a bar code as this is a necessity for the magazine. I placed it in the bottom right hand corner following the ideas from my flat plan.

From previous magazines I have seen that they inserted the name of the band which is featured as the central image across the middle. So following this trend , also introducing my central image I created some simple yet strong word art for this band. I left a black box around the buzzing letters to create more of an impact for the white to contrast against. The reason I chose the box behind to be black is because from research black fills up more space making an area look smaller, as a result it makes the cover look busyer and more full, rather than large empty gaps which the eye will subconsciously be drawn to immediately. Lastly I placed this word art at an angle. I did this simply to keep the look of the magazine interesting and so that it didn't cover any of the faces of my central image band.



Centural image.

After some further analysis of the two images decided on the 1st image.

I decided this image was probably more appropriate to use as the Central image for my front cover because the facial expressions are more serious and all of the eye lines are directed towards the lens. This picture was also much more interesting to view because of the levels used within the band. Also allowing more space around the image allowing me to include more on my front cover. This image it's self is a LS which is a risky move because most shots from other magazines I have looked at consist of MS or MCU as there centural image however I feel if i work carefully to fill all the existing space this shot could work well. Another reason I chose this picture is because it was brighter than the other due to my use of flash and there was more colour involved. However I still felt the image it's self needed some light editing.

As you can see I have edited and manipulated the image to make it brighter and more eye-catching. I did this by editing my brightness and contrast on the image and playing with the curves of colour, this makes the colours within the image stand out and brighter so they're more likely to catch the eye, also making the shadows within the clothing and facial expressions slightly more visible bringing out the aggression within the stances and face. I also like that the red of Eloise's shirt stands out making a statement within the band. You aren't able to see too well that i have used the posterizing tool on this image. I only intend it to appear very slightly and it worked well to achieve a solid white background. This goes against my research of not allowing any blank space on the page, however if I use my masthead appropriately at the top of the page I should be able to pull it off without having to much blank space left over.

Centural Image Photo Shoot.

This was my first photo shoot. From looking at other Rock magazine covers (Kerrang!) It has shown that a large percentage of them consist of a band as there cover artists rather than a soloist.

As a result of my research I felt it quite appropriate to feature a band on the cover as my Central image. This is a positive move for me because as you can see from the examples I have looked at from Google Images having more than one subject to feature the page fills the space more appropriately. The less blank space and the busyer, more interesting the magazine is to looks the more likely it is to attract attention. Once again resorting back to my target audience and how the age range is stereotypically seen as a buzzing, busy generation have busy cover will appeal greatly.

BAND PHOTOSHOOT (We Are the Nations Kidz!)

The band I photographed go by the name of "We Are the Nations Kidz!". I specifically asked each subject to wear natural colours -This is because flowing the "Indie" theme of an individual style, I wanted to differ away from the aggressive colours which are stereotypically seen in Rock magazines and focus slightly more on the "Indie" side of music. So grays and blacks were acceptable. However because my overall genre is "Indie-Rock" I thought it important to include a small aggressive aspect rock implies. I asked the members to express aggression through there facial expressions. Also to support this aggression I dressed Eloise in a red checked shirt, this encourages aggression; notices her as the main character and fits with my colour scheme. You might notice that each member's eye line looks straight into the lens, this is because I made sure they were so they're looking straight out into the audience. This works well and effectively and also every magazine I've researched so far includes the subjects eyes looking straight out, I felt this had a stronger impact on myself as an audience member.

You may notice my band doesn't contain any black subjects of anybody from another ethnicity than White British. This is because of the low black population on the Isle of Wight. The Isle of Wight is made up 97% of a White British population.

I took 24 images altogether and worked carefully on my positioning and camera angle for each. In some of the images you will see the band are placed in different levels and positions. I did this so I had ore of a variety to choose between when analysing what would work best as my central image. You may also notice on some of the images i used a flash and on others I did not. I made this distinct choice to take some with and without to see how well the shadows on the clothing and facial expressions effected the entire image now being able to see which ones work appropriately for the emotion I'm trying to create through the image.

All my camera angling is from below. I had made a subconscious decision before the photo shoot that this was what I was going to do. Simply because as you can see from my several draft cover pages I have an excessive amount of space above the subject. I also did this because from the deconstructions of other pages I created I found most of the models looking down onto the camera from a higher level. I felt this worked well from the other magazines. A you can see the majority of my shots are wither "LS" or "MCU" I did this because throughout my research I have found most of the images are "CU" images. I wanted to deliberately differ away from this to give my magazine an individual quality and to stand out from the rest. Also to the neutral colour on the clothing is important to the genre of my magazine so i felt it important to include it within the image.

Last but not least my images are set on a school field with the building behind, there was no artificial lighting and all wind movements within the hair is natural however I felt the wind worked to my advantage creating interesting images. I chose this location to represent the name of the band "We Are the Nations Kidz!" the word "Kidz" fits appropriately with the theme of school and education this is appropriate for my target audience as it is aimed towards those still within or just leaving a higher education background.

From these images I selected the two I thought came across impressive showing off all the aspects I had previously spoken about. Looking at these two images I feel they have the potential for my covers central image.

Cover Drafts.

 

I created a flat plan for my front cover. I decided I wanted my Central image to contain a band to represent this is a music magazine. I didn't want any instruments involved because I wanted it to be clearly obvious it's a band from stance and fashion of the band. I added other things which are vital to a front cover page such as: Title, Bar code (issue number & price), and final after referring back to my research I filled up sections of the space (e.g sweet spot) with appropriate features, images, cover mounts, buzz words. Not all of the text will be positioned straight, just to make the overall image interesting to view.

Mast Head Designs.

Presentation on draft mastheads.

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The title.- VOLUME

From the research i undertook on Kerrang! I felt it extremely important to get to work on a relevant name for my magazine. Inspired form Kerrang! I felt it mostly important for the title to relate to the idea of music. From here I created a mind mind map of all words and sounds I felt could appropriotly express music when thinking of the three words - Music, Indie and Rock.

As you can see from my mind map I have created different sections which all contribute appropriately to a music magazine however not all of these seem appropriate for title material, some wouldn't make a strong enough impact. I wanted something hard hitting but welcoming at the same time. Like my target audience I wanted it young and buzzing with life so they could easily relate, something new and exciting for them to learn from. As young people still learning and experiancing new ideas, intrests and sitoations. I scanned over the map several times narrowing down my choices each time until I decided eventually on 3 separate words I felt held the right intensity to draw in an audience from the moment it is printed in the mind. I decided on these words seperately for individual, relevant reasons.

Sound- Stands for everything music is. It's a brief way to describe any genre any tune or any piece of music. Sound is something which you can't escape in everyday life, there is no such thing as scilene. Showing this throughout my magazine holds a strong impact on the sound of life its self.

Volume- When i read this word aloud i felt my voice increasing with it. This is what I intend for my magazine. I want to crate such an impact that everything within it is full and volume. Also keeping in mind the generation I am intending to aim my magazine at. Volume is important within there day today life. Teens and young adults are steriotypicly seen as a louder and very opinunated geration.

Encore- In tradition at concerts or gigs this word is chanted to an act after leaveing when the audience can't get enough. "can't get enough" is the effect i'm trying to create for my target audience with the magazine.

My finel opinion on the subject resorted down to asking the 10 people from my questionairre which fell into my age range, which title responded best to them personaly and I stuck with whichever rates highest.

Kerrang!

After deciding on my genera I thought it best to take some further research into similar products to the one I am attempting to create. One of the most successful Rock music magazines in the United Kingdom - Kerrang! (published by Bauer Consumer Media) seemed a good place to start. On June 7th 1981 Kerrang! commenced publication. When Kerrang! Was first released there was no knowing what a success it would become. It's first appearance was as a one off supplement within the 'sound newspare' the supplement focused on the genre New Wave of British Heavy Metaland the rise of other hard rock acts. As the Magazine was as a supplement was owned by the same company 'United Newspapers' who then in 1991 sold it to EMAP. Now currently as of 2008 Kerrang! has been owned successfully by 'Bauer Media Group' and that still stands. When the magazine was first created the name was chosen through careful research. Kerrang! is an is onomatopoeic and refers to the sound made when playing a power chord on an electric guitar.

Indie rock.

My results gave me a clear target audience to aim for so then I decided my next step was to define a genre for my audience to take an interest in. From my results it was obvious Rock and Indie music are the most popular. I looked into the two separately.


Rock


The Rock genre generated from the highly popular 'Rock and Roll' which was at it's peek in the 1950's ten years later the new high mainstream style of Rock was known worldwide. Rock has centred around the electric guitar, usually as part of a rock group with bass guitar and drums. Like pop music, lyrics often stress romantic love but also address a wide variety of other themes that are frequently social or political in emphasis. The meaning behind the lyrics tend to reach out a magnormos amount towards the age range of the target audience I'm aiming for.


When attempting reaseach on the individual term of 'Indie' there was nothing to spesific everything related showed that 'Indie Rock' was the way forward.


Indie rock originated from the UK quite recently towards the end of the 80’s and has slowly begun to flourish into the 1990’s. Indie rock is a sub-genre of alternative rock; the term “Indie rock” is challenged within the music industry because it’s a new term to describe a genre. It’s popular to use the term “indie” to describe any rock music produced by artists working within the network of independent record labels. Some may argue that indie rock is a distinct genre of rock music with a specific type of artist. Indie rock artists are known for maintaining complete control of their music and careers, releasing albums on independent record labels and relying on touring, word-of-mouth internet promotion and airplay on independent or college radio stations. However, in the 2000s many acts with a musical style identified as "indie" signed to major record labels or their subsidiaries, and began promoting themselves through more traditional media outlets. This has led to a further blurring in the meaning of the term.


As a result I have decided the genre Indie Rock covers my two most popular choices within my questionnaire and is a good choice for me to cover and represent in my new music magazine.




Aim.

To make my magazine different from the others I have researched I have decided to aim it at collecting new music material, rather than exposing already excising bands and artists to the public. I intend for it to be a place which new young musicians can have a chance to be recognised with interviews and join in with participating competitions (gigs) held by the magazine. Also providing advertisement positions for other gigs available around these location. I feel this is a strong place to start as there i defiantly a gap in the market for "New music", all current magazines express the success of those already existing and welcoming in the bands/artists who have just end the charts. Working with artists/bands who are more subtle working there way up helps promote them to my Target audience.

I understand that this being the main subject of my magazine wouldn't bring in a large audience. So I have decided will include information on other large scale music events which would open my audience out such as festival goers and those intrested in new album releases while still opening up the world of new music talent.

I have considered where my magazine would be distributes. Because I am targting small bands/artists I can't vary out to much location wise keeping them all rather close together as community bands this would mean having a rather niche audience not globalising my magazine or even distributing it around the country. I've decided it would be kept very local basing around the Southern coast of the UK. 

-Isle of Wight
-Southampton
-Portsmouth
-Bournemouth 

-Brighton.

This way all bands interviewed are local and can be found easily and all venues holding gigs are accessible to my viewing audience, also this magazine gives small local venues a chance to be noticed for bands to play at and further promotion.

Of course I will include other well known bands of which the target audience will be interested in to grab attention but the main intention is to promote new bands and solo artists around the south coast yet to own a record label.

Results.

Presentation questionair.

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Questionnaire

I created a questionnaire to try and help me establish a target audience and genre for my magazine which I feel will work and sell positively. Finding out the opinions of the public will help me to create my music magazine in a way to please my selected target audience.

Please circle the appropriate answer. 

What is your gender?  

MALE / FEMALE

How old are you?

0-10 / 11-15 / 16-20 / 21-25 / 26-30 / 31-40 / 41-50 / 51+

What music do you listen to?

Jazz / Indie / Pop / Classical / Rock / Country/ Rap

Do you currently buy music magazines?

YES / NO

(If previous answer is no) Would you consider buying a music magazine?

YES / NO

Would it encourage you to purchase a magazine if it included a free gift? (Cover mount)

YES / NO

(Please state what cover mount would personaly intrest you.
.................................................................................................)

How much would you be willing to pay?

£1-£1.99 / £2-£2.99 / £3-£3.99 / £4-£4.50

How often would you buy a music magazine?

Every day / once a week / once a fortnight / once a month

Which primary colour attracts your attention most?

RED / BLUE / YELLOW

Kerrang- Deconstruction

Q- Deconstruction.