Representation in Music Magazines

Task: You need to research the musicians referenced in the cover lines on your copy of MOJO magazine. Create a research page outlining the different artists. Print this out and tag into your exercise book.

Task: Answer the questions below.

1. Consider what the choice of artists mentioned in the cover lines tells you about the magazine and its readership. How is the magazine using the artists and their fame to sell the magazine to their target audience? How do the artists help to drive the appeal of the MOJO product?

2. How is representation being used to sell the MOJO magazine product? Read the notes below to help you write your own answer.

In the exam you need to understand how the producers have chosen to construct a version of reality that represents events, social groups and ideas to fit their purposes:

• MOJO wishes to attract a target audience that shares its reverence for ‘classic rock’ so constructs a version of reality that represents musicians as authentic heroes, striving for excellence, e.g. in the photo of Bob Dylan looking towards the distance.
• In contrast, We Love Pop wishes to attract a target audience of young female teenagers so constructs a version of reality centred on social media, appearance and romance.
  
  Question: How and why have stereotypes have been used, including anti-stereotyping/counter-stereotyping:
  

• MOJO’s selection of a cover photograph of a young, white male may be to fit the stereotype of rock musicians – this will enable instant recognition by audiences
• MOJO’s anti-stereotypical positive representation of older people as popular musicians, e.g. the artist from CSNY on the front cover. This may reflect the anti-ageism of an older audience
• In contrast, We Love Pop’s front cover addresses stereotypical female teenagers as loving pink and concerned with (heterosexual) relationships, fashion and gossip.
  
  
  
  Question: Which social groups are under-represented or misrepresented:

      • MOJO’s front cover only represents white male musicians in photographs under-representing female musicians and black musicians - why might this be the case when you consider the magazine's target audience?
• In contrast, We Love Pop’s front cover only represents young adults and appears to exclude older 

people.

Analysis of June's MOJO front cover

Successful media students must understand how conventions are used to create meaning for audiences. You need to be able to analyse your own set product as part of your work on music magazines and being able to compare it with other types of music magazines.

Think carefully how you would use the Media Theoretical Framework to analyse your copy of MOJO.

• Language - deconstruct the magazine front cover using media terminology (the conventions of magazines are all written in your book).
• Audience - explain who the audience is and what uses and gratifications they get from reading this magazine (use the handout which looks closely at audience appeal to help you use the correct media terminology).
• Representation - how is appeal constructed through the content in the magazine? Find out more about the artists featured and consider why they would appeal to the readership of MOJO using your own knowledge.
• Industry - who is generating a profit from the sale of the product and how is that a successful business model in the current context where magazine readership has been declining?

Task: Today's work is all about Media Language. Complete the task included on the handout here. You can print this out, or create your own Microsoft Word document to complete the work.

Music Magazines Mojo Media Language by Mrs Downie on Scribd

Creating Media: The Brief

Be clear that you understand what you are being asked to create. Here is the official brief for your production, so you can start planning your ideas.

Pre-production planning is an important stage and today you are going to be thinking about tailoring your product to the correct 14-18-year-old target audience. You are going to ask your prospective readers directly what it is they want from a music magazine.

Task: Create a questionnaire, using Survey Monkey, to define what your target audience needs are. Ask them questions that will help you make creative decisions about anything from artists to cover price. It will mean you can justify your decisions ahead of making your magazine.

You will need to use the data from your survey in your research and planning work, so this is an essential part of your NEA portfolio.