Introduction and aims

I have decided to showcase the R&B and Hip Hop genre for my music magazine coursework. The demographic for the magazine like most magazines of its type will be between the ages of 15-25. Obviously there will be leeway but a 10-year age group I personally think is ideal for capturing the entire audience. The target market is young men, generally African American but trying to reach out to other ethnicities and age groups as well.

To find inspiration for my magazine I have researched a variety of music genres, I have concluded that R&B and Hip-hop is the magazine type that I will be going for. It is a very specific genre especially towards its target audience, I will be focusing like most magazines on a specific artist and probably have the front cover made up predominantly of 1 photo. Considering the target audience will be in the C.2, D and E class of socio economics this will mean that the topics will seem very relatable and interesting.

The model I plan to use will resemble artists like Eminem; because of race the iconic front cover shot will have to be photo shopped and bold to emphasize the importance and equality especially in music. Clothing will have to be basic, stereotypical of performers from breadline backgrounds. One particular theme I will try to include throughout the magazine is the emphasis on grass roots and the American dream, which although has floors will still provide inspiration for the target market.

The contents page and double page spread of my music magazine will be influenced by magazines like “Vibe” and “The Source”, they will be bold, regimented but still artistic in their own, hip hop kind of way. I want the magazine to not just cater for the majority of R&B listeners. I want it to reach out to the alternative audience such as females and whites and Asians. Overall, using the skills I have acquired in the first few lessons. My aim is to make my magazine as engaging and exiting as existing bestsellers.