Print
You should create four pages from a music magazine – specifically:
- a front cover featuring the artist/band promoted in Task One
- a two-page interview with the artist/band
- one page with content relevant to the magazine and the target audience.
The magazine targets a mainstream music audience.
The front cover and interview can use some images from the same photoshoot but other original images should also be used that offer some visual variety.
The interview should be used to promote the tour and the music track. It should also reinforce the brand image of the artist/band and integrate some reference to the footwear manufacturers who are sponsoring the band/artist.
What do you need to produce?
1) The front page (A4 portrait) for a new, original music magazine aimed at a mainstream audience that you have created:
Title and masthead - DY (Discordant Youth)
Selling line (slogan) - ( Rising star/Revolutionising what it means to be young/sadness induced musical fervour) - Discordant Youth
Cover price - £12.99
Dateline - monthly magazine 2025 June 4th
Main cover image and at least two further smaller images related to the content of the magazine
At least 5 cover lines - Fashion and music interlinked / Fashion on a budget / DY investigates depression amongst Teens / How MCR saved thousands / Culture is evolving hear from Dua Lipa
2) A double-page spread feature interview with your artist (A3 landscape - i.e. two A4 pages next to each other):
Content that is appropriate to the conventions of the genre of magazine being created Original copy (at least 400 words)
Each page to use original images as illustrations (the main cover image must not be repeated but can come from the same photoshoot)
Internal pages should reflect the design codes and conventions of the genre of magazine being created
3) A single-page with content relevant to the magazine and the target audience (A4 portrait):
This could be a contents page or alternatively a one-page tour poster advert for your original artist or band.
Make sure you have original photography here - NOT from the same photoshoot as the other pages. The contents page would help with this.
Print brief - overall minimum requirements
A clear house style should be used in the presentation of all pages
A minimum of 7 original images should be included in the submission.
All copy should be original and a minimum of 400 words should be submitted. Absolutely no use of AI in any way at all is permitted for the written elements of the print brief.
Work should be presented on pages that are an appropriate size or in proportion to the size of paper used by magazines
We recommend that all of the above should be A4 portrait page size (with the double-page spread doubling up to A3 landscape).
Task:
1) Find at least five music magazine front covers (either current or former magazines as many have stopped their print editions) aimed at a similar target audience to your project (mainstream music audience) and research music magazine key conventions. For each one, pick out one design idea, convention or image/text style that you could use in your own print work. A few examples to start you off:
2) Find at least five double-page spread features from music magazines on Google images. How are they designed? How are text and images displayed? What design tricks can you borrow from your examples?
3) Find at least five magazine contents pages - ideally from music magazines - from Google images. How are they designed? How are images used alongside text? How are page numbers displayed?
4) Find at least five music artist tour posters from Google images. How are they designed? How are images used alongside text? Which UK venues would suit your artist or band? Some examples:
5) Read at least three example music interview features from newspapers and magazines to learn the format, writing style and content for a music magazine interview. You may wish to use the following to help you:
'I'm an alchemist': Nova, the unknown MC with the Scottish album of the year (900 words)
Rapper SL: ‘When I was coming up, there was nobody else on my level’ (500 words)
Davido on his song ‘FEM’ becoming an #ENDSARS anthem: “It’s amazing to see” (1,500 words)
Tom Vek tells us about his surprise album ‘New Symbols’ (1,300 words)
Interview: 'There's something to scream about': Bring Me the Horizon's pandemic political awakening (1,600 words)
Planning and sketching
1) Plan the content and cover lines for your front cover:
Title : Discordant Youth DY
Slogan: ( Rising star/Revolutionising what it means to be young/sadness induced musical fervour)
Cover image: Cover price - £12.99 Dateline - monthly magazine 2025 June 4th , main artist, title on the magazine, cover lines
Main cover story/main flash: From rock bottom to the top
Additional cover lines: Fashion and music interlinked / Fashion on a budget / DY investigates depression amongst Teens / How MCR saved thousands / Culture is evolving hear from Dua Lipa
Additional two smaller cover images: other artist and electric guitar as smaller images
Font style / colour scheme, additional design aspects: colours like purple, green, black, white, orange, teal
2) Plan the images you will use for the front cover - use the elements of mise-en-scene (CLAMPS). One main image and two smaller images required to meet the minimum content in the brief.
Myself as an artist posing in a parking lot or darker more urban area, wearing streetwear and using flashlights or ring lights to make the artist pop out
3) Plan the content for your inside page feature:
Subject of feature: Mental Health
Headline: Searching for connection
Subheading: CONVERSE & THE BEN RAEMERS FOUNDATION SHEDS LIGHT ON MENTAL HEALTH
Main image: Artist sitting down with fist up to face in contemplation or Hands through hair
Smaller images (need minimum of four across the three pages)
Font style / colour scheme, additional design aspects: Red/Black/White - guitar + Extra artist
Another artist or Actor from music video as a feature + My music artist possibly orange and teal colour scheme or more black and white to fit the brand identity green and purple more colour schemes associated with indie rock
4) Write the 400 word interview feature you will use for the inside page spread. This must be 100% original and written by you. It may help to use a Q&A approach to this interview.
ClueS, the newest up and coming artist and a vanguard for Young men's mental health, shares his story of being isolated in his youth and advice on feeling alone in our world filled with people and talks on the Ben Reamers foundation from converse highlighting its effect on him and others as a msuic artist
Q. Why did you get into music?
A. Music was a gateway for me to really understand but also express the need for human connection in everyday life yknow? Its hard for us to go on in life on our own and I thought it was important for me to show that through my music
Q. Was there a time in your life when you felt you didn't have that connection?
A. I- There... Its a hard topic to talk about and the whole reason I started making music, when I was younger, probably around 14-15, I felt like I had lost everyone who cared about me and went into kind of a spiral of depression. Only after I found my Best friend at a music festival of my inspiration and passion for music, Panic at the Disco!, was I able to feel real again.
Q. How did that interaction change you? was it something that happened overnight or?
A. In the moment I couldn't really tell what was happening, no one really does when they're in that state, Music at the time was the only thing I could rely on, but when me and my best friend started meeting up more often after the festival, I just felt more alive, like a light switch flicked on in my head... I felt seen.
Q. Is that why you chose to support the Ben Reamers foundation?
A. When I found out that converse wanted to sponsor me in support of the Ben Reamers foundation I was ecstatic, I could finally support and bring awareness to mental health that is such a struggle to deal with, especially with young men, and so being able to be a part of that is a privilege.
Q. What's one thing you would say to young men struggling with mental health?
A. Live life a step at a time, No one expects you to feel or get better straight away, understanding that you can take it slow helps bring you back and gives you chances to find people who care about you.
5) Plan and write the text for your contents page. This will need to include a range of features and interviews that are not related to your artist but that do fit your target audience and brief (mainstream music magazine).
Will do Tour poster
-Main image of artist
-Strong colour grading
- Shapes like stars - possibly with inky stars, lines or geometry
- Props like guitar or something else in the background
6) Research and select the font or typography you will use for your magazine. This is a critical element of your print work - the brief requires a consistent house style running through all of your pages.
(ALL from Dafont)
Mom's typewriter
Typewriter
X Typewriter
Old Typewriter
Roman
ROMANICA
7) Produce an A4 sketch of your front cover design and scan it/upload a picture to your blog.
On paper - will add later
8) Produce A4 sketches of your inside page feature with clear layout of where headline, subheading, images and text will appear on the pages. Scan or upload a picture to your blog.
On paper - will add later
9) Produce an A4 sketch of your contents page design and scan it/upload a picture to your blog.
On paper - will add later
10) Finally, create the pages in Adobe Photoshop or InDesign so you have the documents ready to go in terms of adding your text and images. This will need to include:
A4 portrait for front cover
A4 portrait for contents page
A3 landscape for double page feature
Photoshoot
1) Who do you need to photograph for your front cover and inside page images? Remember, you need seven original images across the whole print production.
The artist (myself) , Band member / actor
2) What camera shots do you need? Write a shot list or draw a storyboard for your photoshoots. Make sure you plan a variety of camera shots you will look to capture - medium shots, close-ups etc.
Low angle, Medium Shot, MLS, OTS, Close up, posing
3) Plan the mise-en-scene. What costume, props or make-up will you require for your photoshoots?
Guitar, Glasses?, Headphones, Earphones, Baggy jeans, Converse, Hoodies?, Long sleeves
4) Finally, note down the time and date for your photoshoots. This may be inside or outside school (or a combination of both). You will have Media lesson time for this after the mock exams.
03/02/25
06/02/25
08/02/25
09/02/25
Statement of Intent:
1) Once you have completed your print research and planning, go back to your statement of intent and make sure you have included the print brief in your final draft. Then, submit the final draft statement of intent to your teacher. The due date for this will be confirmed by your coursework teacher.
Music Video:
For my music video I have decided to use Wake me up when September ends by Green day and have created the original artist ClueS for the brief who will be sponsored by the shoe brand converse which will be featured in my music magazine called Discordant Youth. In my music video I will use locations such as parking lots, parks, studio and inside of a home to emphasise the genre and to be able to juxtapose grittiness and more light hearted places. with shots at the start that establish the footwear sponsorship but that also vary in shot type and movement throughout my video such as medium closeups to establish the emotions of both actors and conveying emotion through subtle cues that could only be seen with a closeup. Moreover I will use handheld to convey more emotionally distressing scenes while using a tripod for more stable scenes to again convey emotional stability. Shots such as medium shots and longshots will be used to create the atmosphere of joy and happiness but possibly also loneliness through the actors actions. My use of past vs present will allow for the creation of meaning in conjunction with editing to create a VHS style while high key and low key lighting will be used to contrast the happiness of youth against life's uncomfortable reality. The genre of alternative indie rock will be used to appeal to a mainstream audience through the videos connotations of youth as it will bring nostalgia to older audiences but will also be relatable to younger viewers going through a transition from being a kid to adulthood. Further representation of city youth especially London which will have stereotypes that may not be present elsewhere in the country. The brand identity will be established through the artist's logo fading in and then out at the start of the video and will ultimately display the conventions of Alt / indie rock through the narrative, simple costume such as street wear or casual and editing that matches the tempo of the music. My video will aim to appeal to audiences through personal identification with the content and intent behind the video while also aiming to challenge the viewpoints in society that we all just move on and grow up after being young but that it is in fact hard on everyone.
Print / Magazine:
My music magazine is called Discordant Youth. For the magazine I will use the front cover to promote my artist with selling lines and a main cover image that will target a mainstream music audience through colour schemes and buzz words that emphasise the relevance of alt indie rock in today's music. I will use low and high angles within my photoshoots for the magazine to create the imagery of how overwhelming it can be to go through youth and the expectations those have younger and older than you further challenging the stereotype that once you become a legal adult you are ready for the world in front of you. I will also have an interview within the magazine that promotes the music tour and album through the questions asked while also giving attention to the footwear sponsorship and its implication for growing the brands identity. The magazine will provide the gratification of diversion in exclusive content through magazine photoshoots for fans of the artist while also providing surveillance through providing information of the background, life and thoughts of the artist and how they ended up in his position of creating music. 'Fuelled by Ramen' would be the record label and the magazine would be published by wasted talent LTD as both have the features of wanting to innovate, inspire and connect with a global influential youth audience in an authentic way which supports my magazine's whole premise of supporting and highlighting youth in today's society.
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