October mock exam: Music Press (print and online)
Pre-release briefing notes
We are loudproductions.com
We are a new media production company with serious attitude. We’re passionate about music and reckon there’s a major gap in the market where young people are simply not engaging in music magazines.
We also recognise that today’s dynamic 15-24 demographic wouldn’t be seen dead buying a magazine in WHSmiths, so we’re looking to launch a new online music magazine that our target audience can interact with on the web and on the move.
The key decisions: title, slogan, genre, features and design are still to be decided – and that’s where you come in. We want you to pitch an online music magazine that will fill that gap in the market and show that we are genuine players in the music press.
We are loudproductions.com
Preparation tasks
1. Research the following magazines online: NME, Mojo, Q, Vibe, The Wire, The Situation, Kerrang!, B&S, The Source, Rock Rap Confidential, BBC Music Magazine. What style of music does the magazine focus on? What artists are featured? Who do you think is the target audience for each magazine? How can you tell?
2. Find the following print music magazine covers on Google images: NME, Mojo, Q, Vibe, Kerrang!. What key conventions appear on every front cover? What artists are featured?
3. Brainstorm ideas for your music magazine: title, slogan, genre, features, USP etc.
4. Come up with five creative ways you could promote your website to the 15-24 age range.
5. Think about the design of your website – what would it look like? What colours would you use? What artist would feature on the homepage? What different sections would appear in the menu bar? Feel free to sketch ideas out or mock it up on Photoshop.
