Ammendments For Final Product

Front cover:

As mentioned in my pitch feedback, i changed the font of the masthead and main sell line to make them sharper and stand out more from the rest if the fonts. I also added a line above the main sell line saying 'exclusive interview' i had to put this text in two different colours so the words were not hidden by the background image, i think the two-tone font provides a cool, edgy effect for the cover. I changed the leading between lines to make them look more together. On the bottom, instead of having a circle banner i changed it into a puff with a plus sign graphic to make it look more tidier, modern and sophisticated.

 Contents:

Firstly i added more contents to my magazine and changed the sizes of all the fonts so they weren't too large. the 'number one' box was made small so it only took up one third of the width of the page instead of a half, making the picture of Steph wider didn't work as well as i expected so i increased the size of Liam's image and places it next to the image of Steph. The captions on the images needed a white background to make them more visible and easier to read.

 Double page spread:

I made lots of changes on the double page spread so that it didn't look too boring and 'wordy' i increased the size of one image an made a clipping path on photoshop so the text wrapped around the image slightly. I also used the wrap tool on the quotes to make the text around it look neater and more squared. I realised that i needed to change the page number as before it said page 6, however on a generic magazine the even numbered pages come first. I still had half a column of white space left so i decided to add a reader feature to involve the audience more into the magazine.

rough cut

Double Page Spread Draft

to start with i added the title of my face with the subheading. In the bottom corner i added the page number and logo and in the top corner i emphasised the exclusivity of the article to make the readers think they are getting something special

i used the rectangle frame tool to add two pictures onto the second page

i copied the article onto the page and put it into columns

i added a quote in the red font that has been used throughout the magazine, this attracts the audience's attention and draws them into the article

i moved the quote as i thought it looked more effective in a different position and added a smaller photograph to the bottom of the page

i added one more quote to one of the pictures and captioned the bottom picture with the names of the band members

I am quite impressed with the way my article has turned out. When i produce the final cut i will use the wrap tool correctly to make the text around the quote look neat. I think i will also need to make the text smaller as it is large compared to other music magazines. The bottom picture is the most effective so i may make this bigger, as for the top picture i will cut out my models from the background and use this image on the first page with the text wrapped around it, this make look better and less black and white than it is now.

Second Draft Article

Hi guys, lovely to meet you. How do you think you've settled in the new music environment? Is it what you expected it to be like?
Brad: Hi M magazine, it's great, we love it!
Liam: Yeah, it's all so surreal, i have to keep pinching myself!
Brad: It's not how i expected at all, i thought everyone would be really stuck up but they've all been so nice to us.



It all happened so fast, first you were the number one band on Facebook, now you're about to release your first album.

Liam: We started our band in early 2010 and made a Facebook profile connected to YouTube to try and gain some fans.

Brad: And then the next thing we know people are ringing us up to sign us to their labels.

Liam: It was all a blur, i never expected to be in London's biggest recording studios!

So you're signed to Calling Records now, how does it feel to be working with one of the best recording labels in the country?

Brad: It was a hard decision on who to sign with, but we've definitely made the right choice.

Liam: They help us organize our schedules, which we're really bad at!

Brad: They treat us like superstars though, it's all too good to be true.



You are kind of superstars now though! What is it like to get recognised in the middle of the street?

Liam: It's mainly girls, they come running after us shouting our names.

Brad: I never realise that it's us they're screaming for to be honest, I'm not complaining about the attention though.



Boys will be boys! Tell us about your new album, Back Then, where did you get the inspiration from?

Brad: We write all our own songs, it's usually based on something true that's happened to one of us



It's great to see something original and new on the music scene. How is the production methods different to the ways you used to use as an independent band?

Liam: We did everything from our own homes

Brad: We set up a recording studio in the spare room of my house and it all started from there

Liam: When we recorded the song I'd edit it on a freeware software that came with my computer

Brad: Then we'd upload the track to Myspace and use Twitter and Facebook to advertise it, it's so simple and a great way to get noticed!

Modern technology has definitely come in handy then!

Liam: Yeah, if it wasn't for the fans that kept on supporting us and paying for our singles i don't think we'd have been spotted by Calling Records

Brad: And we definitely wouldn't be here today, that's for sure.



It just shows how great things like this can happen to almost everybody if you broadcast your talents! When should we be heading down to the shops for the album?

Liam: Back Then is released in the shops on 14th April

Brad: So make sure you're down there! We're also launching a UK tour but the dates aren't confirmed yet.



Cool, we will definitely be there supporting you two! Your music is very unique from others, how do you keep it so original?

Liam: I play the guitar so we try to use that in the songs

Brad: Yeah, it sounds different to all the 'electrified' music you hear these days.

Great! Something new and different has definitely proven to be a winner for you then!

Brad; Yeah, totally, i think our fans just like to hear something new and fresh

Liam: It’s always nice to hear something a bit different from the usual stuff.

Brad: It’s definitely worked for us, we shall certainly be keeping the originality up!



I've had a great day chilling with the boys and i can’t wait to hear their new album, Back Then, you can pick it up in shops after APRIL 14TH, or you can try your chances at winning one AND live convert tickets to see the boys from our website: http://www.mformainstream.com/. You can also check out extra juicy pictures and gossip. Good luck everyone!

Contents Page Draft

 I designed my contents page on InDesign, i started with the logo and page title and a rectangle box the for the chart.

I used a range of font sizes and colours in the box to attract the attention and follow the house style of the magazine.

I used the rectangle frame box to add the image onto the page and resized it until it looked suitable.

I made two more frame boxes for the smaller images.

I added page numbers to the images in a large font and a brief title to the main image.

Using the text tool i added headers to the content of the magazine and increased the weight of the border to make them stand out

I added another small picture in a gap on the centre of the page and flipped the image so the page number could be seen clearer

I started to add the title and brief description of the articles under the appropriate header.

I filled in the gaps of the article content and added the logo and page number it the bottom corner of the page.

I am quite impressed with my rough cut contents page, however i think i may change the layout slightly when i make my final piece, i might also add lines to separate the two columns of text and make them look more clear. I think the background colour of the rectangle box is too dark for the rest of the page so i will make it a lighter grey than it already is. There is also a border around the main logo which i will need to remove. The title of the page looks quite boring so i may need to add something relevant to the background to make it look more interesting. Compared to other music magazines i think there isnt enough content, if make the text smaller i will be able to add more articles to make my magazine look better value for money.

Front Cover Draft

I followed my flat plan to help me construct the first draft of my front cover: i started by adding the main sell line to the image and a sky line and a header for the other sell lines. 

I built up the sell lines around the image and added a bar code font to the bottom corner.

I added a circular graphic to make more text stand out and the page look more interesting.

The text in the circle is rotated to the left, this also helps it to stand out from all the horizontal text.

I added the logo to the top right hand corner of the page and used the lasso tool to bring the image in front of the box.

I added a final sell line to the right side so it didn't look bare and added important information on the bar code: date, issue, price, website.

Underneath the main sell line i added a brief explanation of the article.

When i make the final cut of my magazine i think i will change the sizing of the logo so the font fills the square better. I will also resize some of the text as it it too large for the page. Also i will change the gap between each line for on the sell line description to make them look more together, i won't do this on the album reviews sell line as the three names should be shown as separate. On the circular banner i will decrease the size of the text, this will increase the emphasis on important words such as 'plus' and 'free'.

First Draft Article

Two-Way: the hottest double act in the music industry


When M magazine were offered the chance to interview Two-Way there was no way we were to turn down the chance of meeting the newest band on the music scene. So there I was, sat in one of the poshest hotels in London waiting on their arrival. They entered the room in a bright and cheery mood and instantly made me feel comfortable with them. First Brad came up to me and greeted me with a hug, then Liam, the shyer one of the pair gave me a warm and welcoming hug. They settled down on the large, comfy sofas of the glamourous hotel and our interview began.


Hi guys, lovely to meet you. How do you think you've settled in the new music environment? Is it what you expected it to be like?
Brad: Hi M magazine, it's great, we love it!
Liam: Yeah, it's all so surreal, i have to keep pinching myself!
Brad: It's not how i expected at all, i thought everyone would be really stuck up but they've all been so nice to us.


It all happened so fast, first you were the number one band on Facebook, now you're about to release your first album.
Liam: We started our band in early 2010 and made a Facebook profile connected to YouTube to try and gain some fans.
Brad: And then the next thing we know people are ringing us up to sign us to their labels.
Liam: It was all a blur, i never expected to be in London's biggest recording studios!

So you're signed to Calling Records now, how does it feel to be working with one of the best recording labels?
Brad: It was a hard decision on who to sign with, but we've definitely made the right choice. 
Liam: They help us organize our schedules, which we're really bad at!
Brad: They give treat us like superstars though, it's all too good to be true.

You are kind of superstars now though! What is it like to get recognised in the middle of the street?
Liam: It's mainly girls, they come running after us shouting our names.
Brad: I never realise that it's us they're screaming for to be honest, i'm not complaining about the attention though.

Boys will be boys! Tell us about your new album, Back Then, where did you get the inspiration from?
Brad: We write all our own songs, it's usually based on something true thats happened to one of us


It's great to see something original and new on the music scene. How is the production methods different to the ways you used to use as an independent band?
Liam: We did everything from our own homes
Brad: We set up a recording studio in the spare room of our house and it all started from there
Liam: When we recorded the song i'd edit it on a freeware software that came with my computer
Brad: Then we'd upload the track to Myspace and use Twitter and Facebook to advertise it

Modern technology has definatley come in handy then!
Liam: Yeah, if it wasn't for the fans that kept on supporting us and paying for our singles i don't think we'd have been spotted by Calling Records
Brad: And we definatley wouldn't be here today, thats for sure.

It just shows how great things like this can happen to almost everybody if you broadcast your talents! When should we be heading down to the shops for the album?
Liam: Back Then is released in the shops on 14th April
Brad: So make sure you're down there! We're also launching a UK tour but the dates aren't confirmed yet.

Cool, we will definatley be there supporting you two! Your music is very unique from others, how do you keep it so original?

Liam: I play the guitar so we try to use that in the songs
Brad: Yeah, it sounds different to all the 'electrified' music you hear these days.


I've had a great day chilling with the boys, visit our website www.mformainstream.com for more pictures and juicy gossip. Also for the fab chance to win tickets to see them live in concert AND a signed album. M.