Focus Group - Questions & Answers

20 Questions relevent to helping me find out how to put together my music magazine.. 10 peoples answers aged between 16-25.

1-What would you consider to be your favourite..
a-music genre

 pop/rock
 Pop
 Pop, Electro
 Pop Punk
 Any music genre! I like a lot of different types of music
 New Rock
 Rock(according to my I-pod)
 Pop and indie, anything not ‘chavy’
 Pop, Electric pop
 Mainstream pop
 
b-artists/bands?

all American rejects, blink 182, H.I.M, Skillrex
 Olly Murs, Lawson, Little Mix, Plan B, Robbie Williams, Maroon 5, Rizzle Kicks, Marcus Collins
Lady Gaga, pop artists
 All Time Low
 The script
 Dragonforce
Pink Floyd, Killers, Elbow, Bob Dylan, Dropkick Murphys, Coldplay, Queen and Eminem.
 Olly Murs, Florence + the Machine, Paloma Faith, Marina and the Diamonds, Sscouting for Girls
 Olly Murs, Professor Green, Plan B, Maroon 5
 The Saturday, Ellie Goulding. Olly Murs, Cheryl Cole, Rhianna, Amelia Lilly
 
2-Which artists would you most likely be interested in reading about in a Music magazine?

H.I.M
 Olly Murs, new artists
 All types of top chart artists
 All Time Low
 Any but not too much mainstream
 Dragonforce
 Bob Dylan, Pink Floyd, Eminem, Jon Fratelli, Brian May, Ok Go, Coldplay.
 Olly, Florence, Paloma.. New and up and coming artists too like those from the X-factor and BGT like Amelia Lilly, Jahmene, The lovable Rogues, Marcus Collins, Misha B
 Those in the top charts, Maroon 5, Professor Green
 Rhianna, The Saturdays, Those who are in the charts at the moment
 
3-What types of information/articles about artists and the music industry in general would you like to read about in a music magazine?(eg; top charts, artists personal life, awards ceremony, TV reality programs ect.)

Well. If H.I.M made a film, I’d like to read about that so I could watch it!
 Top charts and artists personal lives, events and festivals
Top charts and the life of artists
 Tour Dates, albums, stuff like that, personal things about my favourite bands/artists, tour
 dates
top charts, artists personal life, how they got famous, what they think about music and relationship with fansI’d like to read about their personal lives and how they got to where they are now
 Artist's personal life, what they're doing next and where they may take it.
 News on reality programs, honest opinions, top chart hits, what happening most recently with artists, new songs, articles about famous pop artists, tour date
Top Charts, Favourite/top artists personal lives, tour dates, reality programs on at the time 
What’s happening in music at the moment like with top charts, awards ceremonies, news about festivals

4-On a scale of 1-10 how interested would you say you are in mainstream, top chart music?

3
9
10!
3.
4
5
About 2!
8 or 9:)
9.5
9

5- Do you watch reality TV programs? If so.. Which ones?

Nope!
Yes! Life On Murs and also shows like X-factor and The voice now and again.. OH and I’m a celebrity get me out of here
No, don’t like them
Nope, not really
Nope
I do not watch reality TV
Narp
Yes! X-factor, BGT, Strictly Come Dancing, The Voice, Got to Dance, anything I like that’s on at the time
Yep, X- factor mainly and BGT and I’m a Celeb’
Yesss, X-factor, Strictly, Dancing On Ice, BGT

6- Do you use social networking sites? If so.. Which ones? How often?

Yes! Twitter and Facebook.. Twitter like all the time, Facebook once or twice a day, I also use Youtube alot
Facebook but not very often
I use Facebook a lot, post lots of statuses
Both Facebook and Skype, quite often like Every day!
Yes! Facebook and twitter very often
I use Facebook and Twitter on a daily basis
Facebook, and I check it at points through the day
Yep.. Facebook and Twitter, I check them both daily but use Twitter the most, it’s the most intresting!
YEH - Facebook allot, twitter sometimes.. Have a you tube account if that counts too
I use Facebook and Twitter daily, I also use skype a few days a week to talk to family back home

7-Do you read music magazines? (if yes.. Skip to 7A, if no skip to 7B)
 
NO
Nope
Yes, sometimes
YES!
Nope
No
Narp
Nope
No
Not really
7A- If so.. which music magazines do you read and what do you like about them?
kerrang and metal hammer because it tells me information about my favourite bands and up and coming artist too
I like NME and read it sometimes cause I like the fact it covers new artists, legends and mainstreem music however Its too expensive to buy every week
7B-If not.. Why not? What would encourage you to start reading them?
I just haven’t got the time, I normally use the internet BUT if they came with full albums I would pay extra for the magazines!
If it had more artists on it I like, more specific genres, cheap price
Not that interested in music, perhaps if they were really cheap
i do not read music magazines because i don't think that anything in the music magazines would particularly interest me especially if it did not include bands that i like, i would be encouraged to start reading them if i got told about bands i liked being in the magazines via adverts
If I'm going to pay for anything, it'd be to listen to the music rather than to buy a music magazine... I can find other stuff out on the internet
Can’t afford them, never really thought about it, usually use the internet.. Perhaps if there were more advertisements, they were cheap and discussed the artists that I liked then I might be tempted!
Can’t afford them, cheaper to use the internet, should include more freebee’s and more mainstream artists and bands
I am a student and its so expensive, its much easier and cheaper to use the internet, they would have to be cheap, with lots of top artists information in them and perhaps a few free poster o make me want to buy them

8-How much would you be willing to pay for a music magazine?

About £3.50
up to a pound, though maybe 2 pound if they were really interesting with Free things inside
About £1.80
£3.50 at the most
£1
I would pay about £2.50
A couple of quid
a couple of quid, up to £2.50 depending on its content
Up to £2 if it had decent content
Couple of quid, if it was decent and I could afford it at the time

9-Are you still in education?(how many days, college, sixth form)

Yes I am, I do ICT at college
5 days a week, sixth form
Yes, college, 2 - 3 days a week, I do a music course
Yes, I’m at college 2 and a half days a week
Sixth form
I am still sixth form 5 days a week
Sixth Form, full-time
At Sixth Form college, 5 days a week
Yes, at college 2-3 days a week
Yep, I’m at University studying Art

10-What would you say were you’re main interests and hobbies?

Nerdy things, computers, card games and stuff
lots of Sports, FOOTBALL, music
I’m very interested in Mainstream music
Music is my main hobby, I don’t have anymore really
animals, reading, walking, listening to music, facebook, watching tv, spending time with friends
my main interests include playing games and watching films with or without friends as well as going bowling, swimming and paintballing
Films, games and music and stuff
Acting, Dancing, Music, singing around the house! Performing arts generally, comedies, TV.
Partying, Music, Cadets, I like football Rugby and boxing but having fun mainly
Shopping, Partying, Music, Watching Tele, Art - obviously!

11-Do you have a job? If so.. What type?(full time, part time catering, business ect.)
I do part time and I’m a waiter
not employed at this moment in time
Nope, I don’t have a job
No job
No job
I do not have a job
Erm... I work 1 hour a week at the school gym for 500 vivos if that counts
Nahh!
Yes, Part time building work cause I need the money!
Yes, part time bar work

12- What colours and types of images would you like to see on a music magazine?

Black, White, Red and Green
pictures of the main artists in the music magazines, lots of blue tones
Err, just lots of images of top chart artists and people like Lady Gaga
No particular colours but live shots of the band with posters available
I dunno but green and pink would be nice
i guess i'd like to see a lot of red and demonic images on a music magazine
Sorry.. I don't really know
Colours and themes fitting with its main features, interesting pictures of top chart artists and my favourite artists,
Blues, reds, bold colours, range of images of mainstream artists, live shots, exclusive images with interviews
Pinks and purples! Well, colours that suit the genre and artist at least! Lots of live shots and exclusive images of top artists would be good!

13- Would you prefer to read a weekly, fortnightly or monthly music magazine and why?

Monthly, because its more cheaper usually and I read slow, also nothing much happens to an artist untill in about a month when perhaps a new song comes out
monthly, because then it has a lot more included in it that you want to read about, a lot can change over a months time, your more excited waiting for it to come out, more desirable and rare as if you get it every week its more of the same thing and not as exciting
Perhaps fortnightly cause I struggle to afford weekly magazines
Weekly so I didn’t miss anything
Monthly, I’m not that interested in reading about music
I would like to read a music magazine weekly because it would give me something to look forward to every week
Fortnightly because it'd give me time to be bothered to read it
Weekly, if it was intresting enough! I like to keep up with the gossip and whats happening at the moment rather than a few weeks ago
Weekly, if it was good enough and cheap enough so I can keep up with the gossip
Monthly, just because it would give me the time to save up the money!

14-Which would you rather read- formal writing, informal writing or slang/text speak writing?
More formal writing, things like text speak can be hard to read
informal because music is more informal than formal, informal writing makes it feel more personal, like the magazine is talking to you personally, more relaxing and more fun too! The genre I’d like to read in a music magazine is more informal and will therefore will relate to the genre more
Informal with some text speak if its relevant and not hard to read
More informal, its more friendly
Formal Writing
Informal
Informal
Informal - its more friendly and makes a magazine more personal yet its still easy to understand!
Informal, its more personal and understandable
Informal cause it makes it more personal as if a magazines actually talking to you yet is still easy to understand unlike text and slag speak - that’s just annoying

15-What would you consider to be your main favourite..

a-films?
Kick Ass and Batman
Casino Royal, Johnny English Reborn, bad boys, hang over 2, batman, dark night rises, the 5 year engagement, Ice Age and other comedies
The Justin Bieber Film, street dance,
sc-fi and superhero things, stuff like that
Harry Potter, Hunger games
Stay alive
2001: A Space Odyssey, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Johnny English Reborn! & other comedies alike
Action films, Comedies like Johnny English , Bad boys, James Bond, Pirates of the Caribbean
Ice Age, Shrek and Madagascar! Pirates of the Caribbean and Harry Potter too

b-TV Programs?
The Big Bang Theory,
Benidorm, An Idiot Abroad, Futurama, Mrs Browns Boys, Russel Howards Good News. Soccor AM, The big Bang Theory, some Reality programs
I like soaps and TV dramas like Casualty and Holby City
American Sit coms
big bang theory vampire diaries, grimm, CSI, bear grylls born survivor, once upon a time, air crash investigation
Brianic
Red Dwarf, Homeland, Big Bang Theory, QI, Have I Got News For You, Family Guy, American Dad, Never Mind the Buzzcocks
Futurama, Alan Carr’s Chatty Man and Loads of Reality programs
X-factor, The big band theory, American Pie, Family Guy
Reality Programs and Soaps defiantly! I also like south park, Simpsons, family guy and American Dad

c-radio stations?
Capital, BBC and Viking
Capital FM, Viking FM, Yorkshire radio, talks sport, bbc radio 5 live
Kerrang
Capital FM - has more of my favourite music on it
Capital FM
I don’t have a favourite radio station
Capital, Viking, Radio 1
Capital FM
Capital FM and Viking FM
Capital mainly!

16- Mainstream or Indie?

Indie
Mainstream
Mainstream
Indie
Mixture of both
Mainstream
Not sure
A bit of both!
MAINSTREEM
Defiantly mainstream

17- What types of magazines or books other than music magazines do you enjoy reading?
Comic books, gadget guides, Harry Potter, Fitness Mgazines
gossip and celebrity magazines in general, soap magazines and sport magazines aswell.
Commic books
fantasy books like harry potter, vampire diaries, twilight
I enjoy reading Fantasy Adeventure books
TV guide
Fashion and gossip magazines in general
Sport Magazines
Harry Potter and also gossip and fashion magazines now and again

18- On a scale of 1-10 how confident would you say you are with yourself?
 
5 or 6
sometimes 8, sometimes 5 depending on how I feel on the day
8 or 9
7 or 8
7
I’d would rate my confidence as 6
7
Sometimes 2, sometimes 8! Dependant on my mood on the day
9
8.5

19- When reading a magazine do you read through more articles or just mainly look through the pictures/images?

Look at pictures then read all the articles that look interesting
I read the articles in detai
Mainly look through the images then read some of the interesting articles later
A bit of both
Look at the pictures first and read the articles later
If I'm interested in the article I read it but the pictures and titles grab my attention
Look at the pictures then read some of the articles I’m interested in
Read all the articles in detail that I’m interested in after looking through the images
I look at the pictures first but do read most articles in detail later
Read the articles in detail after looking through all the pictures because I paid for the whole thing so I may as well read it

20- Honest opinion on the following artists..

-Olly Murs..
One of the better mainstream artists
One of my favourite artists, I like many of his songs, I think he’s got a fantastic voice and I love his personality.
Love him
Don’t mind Olly Murs sometimes
Good
Alright
Hot, love his songs!
Ace
I haven’t heard of
He’s Amazing!
-Marina and the Diamonds..
Don’t really like her
she’s very attractive, she’s got a beautiful voice, one of my favourite artists
Okay
 Really like some of her recent songs
Some of her songs are alright
Alright
Mesmerising, unique, always seem to find myself having a rave to her songs!
Not my cup of tea
I haven’t heard of
She’s good
-Paloma Faith..
Sorry, Never heard of her
Beautiful voice, love her songs, I like her style
Not heard of
Pretty and amazing, lovely singer
Don’t really know her
Never heard of them
In. Love. With. Her. Both her and her songs are amaze balls!
Don’t know her that well, her most recent songs are ace though
I haven’t heard of
Beautiful Voice
-Florence + The Machine..
Not bad
Fantastic voice, fantastic performer too! Quite an inspirational artist, amazing live
Okay
Shes not bad, like her more recent songs with Calvin Harris
One of the better top chart artists
Pretty Decent
There simply is no one better. She is my inspiration and my life.. How could anyone not love this beauty?
She’s rather Awesome
I haven’t heard of
Got some great songs
-Marcus Collins..
Don’t know him
good performer, he’s good live, good style and I like how hes got a good vocal range
Good
Not my thing
He’s ok, not that keen
Never heard of them
Pretty Decent, loved him on the X-factor!
Was mint on X-Factor, like her new songs
I haven’t heard of
Such a cutie, loved him on the X-factor, Shame he’s gay
-The Lovable Rogues..
Don’t know them that well but they seem pretty ace
seem good but don’t know that much about them.
The lovable rogues are great!
Quite good
Not heard of
Never heard of them
The next big thing! Love them, there ace.
Proper Awesome
I haven’t heard of
Class Act

Double Page Spread Research

Q Music Magazine^^^^

Spin Music Magazine^^^^

NME Music Magazine^^^^


Codes & Conventions:
-Dominant Large image used-> Usually takes up at least a whole page. Often uses direct address with the artist looking directly at the camera/its audience thus capturing there attention to read the article. If direct address isnt used then these large images are often action shot or live performance shots giving the audience a representation of there personality, style and the type of artist they are. If no other images are used then this one image is usually eye catching, mesmirising and boldly noticable (Usually displayed on the left however many go against conventions and put them on the rights, others bleed over the whole double page spread) Relates to the article.
-Smaller images- Often placed around the text/article on the other side of the double page spread. They usually emphasis and complement the point of the article. Often live shots or snipits of the artists music videos, usually more action taking place in the smaller images. Eg; the large image will use direct focus and be taken in a studio whilst the smaller photos are often taken out and about at events, festivals, locations ect.(often posisioned on angles to make them more intresting, personal and to reflect an artists personality)
-Quotes-> Directly from the artist or the person the article is about. They add belivability to an article as the artist has said these exact words, gives the article a personal touch making the audience feel like their reading exclusive information from the artist themselves. (as if there talking directly to the audience). Quotes are often used as headlines in order to define a belivable overview of the article, capturing the audiences attention to want to find out more. Quotes are always displayed in speech marks. They are sometimes used by pictures to summerise the point of them and break up an article into readable sections (often inlarger font or different colour in the middle of an article.). Quotes are usually shocking, misleading or controversial to capture an audiences attention to read the full article.
-Artist/Celebrities name-> This is usually made clear within an article either as part of a heading, subheading or description. This is made bolder to establish the point of an article and to establish them as important.
-Stand First-> Is used as a description of the artist/celebrity that introduces them in order to make in clear and establish to an audience exactly who this person is so there able understand the importance  and point of them and the article itself. Not all the audience will know who the artist is especially with new up and coming artists.
-By-lines-> These are often put under images to give credit to the photographer and writer.
-Headline->Usually short, straight to the point, audience immediatly know what the article is about. It usually sums up what the article is about. Predominatly uses shocking quotes and unanswered questions the shock the audience and capture there attention to make them want to read on to find out more. Other articles are dedicated to the artist/celebrity and therefore use there names as the headline to attract their fans
-Qwerky sections-> these go against normal codes and conventions but are elements that make an article atand out for being different or is used as a motif for familiarity of a particular brand eg; Extra Large page number- unusual, extra large start letter of artists name placed behind text- unique to Q magazine, image edited to look like an arist is in the main text/headline or is part of it- displays an artist personality uniquely, captures audience attention.
-Informal Writing-> Articles are usually wriiten in this way to relax the reader, as a form of direct address and to make them sound more personal, up-to-date and intresting.
-Colour Scheme- Usually complements the style of the issue and the magazines genre,  predominantly using the same colour scheme that runs through the whole magazine.The colour scheme is uaually simple and doesnt overpower the sricle, the colours used often complement the meaning behind the article and very often reflect the style, personality and genre of the artist. More often than not, the name of the artist is complemented by the colour scheme.
-The Text/ Article Writing Itself-> Conventionally uses an 11pt font size with an Arial font as its easy to read and relate too. However lots of magazines use fonts that complement and connotate their particular genre. The articles use a drop cap which clearly notifies the audience as to where to start reading. Articles conventionally uses colums, normally around 2-4, which make it easier to read and apear neat and tidy on the page rather than all over the page. The article is usually displayed on the right hand side or just the opposite page to the main large image.The page number, magazine name and text usually use the same font throughout the magazine.
-Page Number and brand name- Conventionally the page number is displayed in a small font at the bottom corner of each page (the side nearest the edge that people turn the page with) with the brand name usually at the bottom right hand corner of every right page. This means the audience can easily find the page and are constantly reminded of the brand that brought them the articles(more likly to remember them and buy the magazine again) becasue they are always litrally at the audiences/readers fingure tips.
-Spash's and Image description-> Images used in articles usually have descriptions placed at the bottom of the picture(conventionally right hand corner) which help the audience understand the meaning behind the image. These descriptions are often placed in a splash format or contrasting colours to the pictures in order to make them noticable, stand out and clear to read. Splashes are often used at the sides and top corners of pages to highlight important information, competitions, facts and teaser eg; 'live' or 'Exclusive. There used to highlight information that is in the audiences intrest or to hightlight things the writer wants the audience to notice in order to entise them into reading the magazine.

Contents Page Research

NME Music Magazine^^^^

SPIN Music Magazine^^^^

Q Music Magazine^^^^

Codes and Conventions of a Contents Page:
-Masthead- Usually consists of both the Title of the page and the Brand Name/logo. The Brand name usually comes before the title reinforcing the brand who brought this magazine to its audience, often the first thing they read(right to left from the top). Though some magazines choose not to put there brand name at the top but place it at the bottom right hand corner like on the article pages(along with the page number). Traditionally the title used is 'Contents' however many use other definitions like 'Inside this Week' or 'Features' which is usually unique to the brand itself. Using titles in the masthead like 'this week' reinforces that the information in the features is recent and relevent and reminds the audience to keep up with the issues each week. Masthead is always made prominant, bold and clear to clearly emphasis to an audience what the point of this page is(find out more information.) Conventionally use contrasting colours to the background which make it stand out.
Colour Scheme- Complemetary of the Genres connotations (Eg Black=Rock, Red=Mainstream). The colour scheme complements the style of the issue, on the contents page it usually follows the brand colours for continuity and familiarisation. The colour scheme used for an issue is usually followed through the magazine including the contents Page. Usually uses contrsts colours to make it stand out, noticable and clear to an audience where to find the features/articles/coverlines there intrested in.
-Layout- Each Magazine will have a particular layout on its contents page than is different to other magazines but is used in every issue of that brands magazines. Features and articles are predominatly displayed in a list. Those with a younger target audience often use more images and a boxed layout wheras those with an older target audience tend to use more writing with a listed layout. Some long running magazines will change the layout of there contents page now and again to keep it fresh, up to date and to suit the target audience more. (Eg; NME used to have alot more writing and lists on there contents page but changed it too a boxed layout to suit its young target audience and weekly readers) The more popular, well-known and regular readers a magazine is the less complex its worded list of features/articles will be as an audience will begin to familiarise with its layout and be more intrested in its specific features. The newer a magazine is the more likly the layout of its contents page will have more words as people havnt familiarised with its style and layout yet.
-Sub headings/Catagory headings- These are used to break up lists of features to make it easier for an audience to find the type of article there isntrested in, makes it quicker and simpler for an audience. These Category headings usually split the features up into regular features in the magazine and special one of features. These are usually displayed on the left hand side of the page above the group of features that fit the catagory heading. The most special, intresting and one of features are usually highlighted by use of a different colours background or writing or a different font or size.
-Images- Main articles are usually highlighted by images, these images are usually an insight into a particular article/feature but only give of limited information which makes an audience want to read the full article. Some Contents pages use more images than others depending on the brand and its layout. Each image has the page number clearly marked on the corner or next to its image in contrasting colours to its background to make it clear to an audience where to find this particular article. They also include a description which is placed at the bottom of the image to give the audience a clear insight into the meaning behind the image. The descriptions most often use rhetorical questions which leave the audience with unanswered questions about /artistswhich draws them into wanting to read the whole article to find out more. Most music magazine contents pages include one main image which is either of the aritist on the front cover or the main article. Younger target audience magazines tend to use more images than those targeted at older audiences which tend to use more writing. Theres usually 1-7 images on a contents page.
-Issue Number- Normally positioned at the top left or right hand corner of the contents page. Usually in smaller writing that the masthead and main headings. It normally next to the magazine title/Masthead.
-Issue Date-This is ually positioned along side the issue number or below it. These are together on he front page and on the contents page too.
-Website/Contact Details- Usually posistioned alond side/underneeth the the issue date and issue number or at the bottom right hand corner of the page. More well-known magazines are more likly to put up contact details as they will have a website they want there readers to check out or want to allow audience feedback. If there is a competition on the contents page or subscriber box/section(usually displayed in a splash format) then contact details will often be placed within these. Contact details allows an audience to gain more information and enables the brand to increase popularity.
-Page Numbers- These are conventionally displayed on the left hand side of the list of the features, next to each one. These are usually in bold as the point of a contents page is to find articles easily and emphasising the page numbers allows an audience to find them easily - its conventional. Images used also have page numbers the there referenanced from next to them, hese are usually placed in the bottom or top right hand corner of the image in contrasting colours and in the same font that the features were written in.
Font- Conventionally uses an 11 pt on the list of features. The page numbers are usually a couple of font sizes bigger with the mast head being at least twice the size of the majority of writing.