5- How did you attract/address your audience?

In order to attract a particular target audience, it was indispensable for me as the creator of the product to gain a wide understanding of what it is exactly that this demographic of individuals seek in a music magazine. In order to gain this knowledge, I approached numerous people who fall within the category of the target audience (see question four) and made notes on key features that these individuals were unanimously seeking.

It appeared to me that what the audience were seeking was a high quality: in terms of writing, information, and musicians, rather than to be bombarded with unnecessary facts. The individuals questioned were also extremely enthusiastic about gaining the opportunity to discover and to learn more about bands and musicians who do not necessarily gain a wide amount of exposure from existing music media products.

With this knowledge at the forefront of my intentions, I set out to create a product which would address these features and appeal to an intellectual audience who value quality over quantity.

In order to attract potential readers, the layout of the front cover needed to be striking, whilst also being definitively separate from every other magazine on current news stands. The distinctive qualities of the minimal design scheme, solid white background, striking colours (emerald green, darkened pink) and bold, brazen fonts when addressing certain features such as the name of the cover star, are all conscious attempts to create a salient front cover which appeals to an audience seeking an alternative from the majority of magazines currently on sale.

The badge, a popular convention of music magazines, aims to attract potential readers as it 'jumps out' of the page, the text, imperative sentence '10 new bands you must hear', implies that the magazine offers necessary information and thus is worth purchasing simply for this.

The list of bands on the left hand side of the page also attracts attention as, upon viewing that a favourite band is featured within, an individual may purchase the magazine.

The striking appearance of the cover star (black make up, green dip-dyed hair, black clothing) also capture the attention of individuals. However, upon viewing the double-page spread, it is immediately apparent that the artist is not wearing the same bold make up, nor does she adopt the same expression of fearlessness. This was a conscious decision to create a character to whom readers can relate; an individual who exhibits paradoxical qualities. On the one hand, a bold, brazen musician, and on the other, an approachable young person who is passionate about her creative interests. The aesthetic of the artist encourages people to not be afraid of exploring different aspects of their persona, and this is reflective of the target audience.