Ready Steady GO! Double Page Spread

Ready Steady GO! Contents Page

Magazine Layout

Internet Readership Figures.

Over the past year, magazine sale figures have dropped dramatically because of the recession which means launching a new magazine would need to include lots of free items like button bages and free CD's.

Sale figures for various magazines such as Mojo (-6.2%), Metal Hammer (-4.3%) and Q (-10.7%) have dropped dramatically because of the recession.

Launching a new magazine would be tough and I would need to start the magazine at a low price such as £1.00 but also putting in free posters, bages, stickers and strictly for my magazine skinny ties for Rudies, Teds and Mods. Since all this has been included in a magazine I will need to keep the price low as well to attract potential buyers.

The information above was taken from the website below.
http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=1&storycode=45844&c=1#

The fonts above are candidates for the front cover of my magazine. The font colours will be: Green, Black or Red to go with the colour scheme on the cover because the colours will be retro like Italian standard colours or Great Britian standard colours.  These font above are the main candidates for my front cover.

The Treatment

The Magazine: Ready Steady GO!

Target Readership: Ready Steady GO! Is a Retro magazine that is being published in respect to the 60's TV show Ready Steady Go. The RSG reader should be interested in Punks, Teds ,Mods, Rockers, Hippies and Skinheads but other 60's-80's era fans could buy it too. Parents of the readers will fall into the C1/C2 socioeconomic grouping and as such younger RSG readers will often rely on their parents for finance. The readers have grown up in a new music age with Rap, Drum 'n' Bass and Indie dominating the charts and buyers expect some form of magazine that respects the Psychadelic eras. The average RSG reader is enjoying the new music, also the old but are unable to see their bands. They need to know that their subculture whether Mods or Rockers is still very much alive.

Form & Style: Ready Steady GO! Is a magazine which contains interviews with legends such as Pete Townshend, Neville Staples and Johnny Rotten. It will also contain information on how to dress according to your subculture (e.g. Rudeboys- Sharp suits and Pork Pie Hats) Front Covers will include the Issues 'Band of the month.'

This will be the front cover but with headlines and sub-headings layered onto it. The magazine will use colours such as: Red, Blue, Green and White as these are retro colours and associated with Mods and Lambretta scooters.  Cover lines show the magazine to be vibrant and dealing with issues that the retro crazed buyer would want to know about. It will include competitions and special offers. The front cover will be spaced out with plenty of headlines but room to read each one to show we want the reader to be able to see each headline with ease. The Magazine will sell at a reasonable price of £3.00 making it affordable and desirable.

Themes & Typical Features: Ready Steady GO! Will have many regular features such as Band of the month, Subculture fashions along with advice on how to act, where to get such fashion items and Competitions.  This magazine will be mainly for boys but will also appeal to girls who are interested in retro bands. This magazine will be able to publish stories submitted by the reader about encounters with any retro band stars or just general retro mayhem (e.g. Hippie gang fights Skinheads.) The writer will use language that appeals to the reader but none of the usual young peoples magazines that try and be too young and informal with their language.

Potential Advertisers: A range of brands will advertise in the magazine each week, particularly those with an interest in retro fashion such as Ben Sherman, Sherry's of London, Fred Perry, Warrior Clothing etc.

Editorial Team: The editorial team will be made up of experienced writers from the age of mods and rockers and such. The team will be made up of 30-50 year olds, however the reader will also be asked to contribute their ideas. The aim of the team is to bring fresh ideas to the target audience whilst also having reliable experience.

Contents Analysis

'Q Contents'

The Q contents page is crammed with lots of informations, captions and headlines. The colour scheme on the page is red, black, white and blue. It all goes together but there is too much information in one place. There are many pictures but the ones that stand out most is the picture of Girls Aloud and one below of Jeff Buckley. There are smaller pictures on the page like Sting and The Police. There is also, obviously, the contents and some articles last for a good 4 pages.

'The Big Cheese Contents'

On the left hand side of the contents page is a sort of cast list and production team like from a film. It includes the issue number and information about the magazine.  An image of Ozzy Osbourne takes up just more than a quarter of a page while the contents only have the top right corner of the page. The colour scheme is a sound red, black and a bit of blue. It all goes together on the page because they are all dark colours. There is also a message from the editor of 'The Big Cheese' at the top of the page which helps the reader trust the magazine.



Textual Analysis

'Q Magazine'

October 2007.

The Masthead is big and bold in the top left hand corner. It is white with a red background. This helps it stand out. The font is in gold and black so that also helps it stand out. All the main headlines are in gold so you can see them and take them in and read on. the white background helps the magazine because you can clearly see all the headlines and pictures. The front cover is layered as such so that the main headlines are ontop of the musicians and then the musicians are on top of the Q logo.  The headlines colours go with the musicians clothing such as the dress and a tie. 

'Q Magazine'
November 2008

Q Magazine features Rock legend Angus Young in his trade mark school uniform and black Gibson SG Guitar. This is the only musician on the front of this issue. Young is layered over the black text which is telling you that they interview Angus. The background is a pretty bland grey which is overpowered by the big red background of the 'Q' logo. Although bland, it helps Angus Young stand out with his red school uniform. The main heading is in a silvery colour that stands out because it is big and not layered ontop nor behind anything. Angus Young is layered ontop of the heading 'AC/DC Rock examines Angus Young.' This doesnt help because those that listen to AC/DC but don't watch them, they wouldn't know who it was just by looking at him. The magazine doesn't include any other headings or captions about any other musicians or band than AC/DC.

Action Plan for Music Magazine

3/1/11 :-  Textual Analysis of Magazines- 2 covers, 2 contents, 1 DPS

10/1/11 :- Audience Questionnaire and Analysis
              - Poll to decide Magazine Name

17/1/11:- Internet research into institutions + Readership Figure

24/1/11:- Colour & Font Analysis
             - Treatment Sheet

31/1/11:- Photoshoot
             - Layout Designs

7/2/11:-  Drafting of Pages


21/2/11:- Audience Feedback & Evaluation


Deadline:- Friday 11th March 2011