The most Popular acoustic magazine in the UK:
ACOUSTIC
Acoustic is a British glossy publication that deals only in acoustic music. It was originally bi-monthly, but is now a monthly publication. It features reviews, guitar reviews, artist interviews, guitar lessons and tricks, vintage guitar advice and many other things. Many of it’s columnists are famous guitarists and musicians.
It is published by Oyster House Media Ltd, who publish Specialist Magazines, such as music and boating. They are also an Event Organiser.
It is one of the very few music magazines that is dedicated to Acoustic music, and is the only one in the UK.
The target audience for Acoustic is males around the age of 30 to 50.
Other acoustic magazines and guitar magazines:
Magazines Analysis:
Having decided to do an Acoustic Magazine, I will analyse one of the same genre to help with my production. I will look at a front cover, a contents page and a double page spread. They will be from the same issue.
ACOUSTIC
Acoustic is a British glossy publication that deals only in acoustic music. It was originally bi-monthly, but is now a monthly publication. It features reviews, guitar reviews, artist interviews, guitar lessons and tricks, vintage guitar advice and many other things. Many of it’s columnists are famous guitarists and musicians.
It is published by Oyster House Media Ltd, who publish Specialist Magazines, such as music and boating. They are also an Event Organiser.
It is one of the very few music magazines that is dedicated to Acoustic music, and is the only one in the UK.
The target audience for Acoustic is males around the age of 30 to 50.
Other acoustic magazines and guitar magazines:
- Acoustic Guitar (one of the main American acoustic magazines)
- Guitar World
- Guitarist
- Total Guitar
- Bass Guitar Magazine
- Guitar Player
- Classical Guitar
Magazines Analysis:
Having decided to do an Acoustic Magazine, I will analyse one of the same genre to help with my production. I will look at a front cover, a contents page and a double page spread. They will be from the same issue.
Front Cover Analysis:
This is a front cover of an issue of Acoustic Magazine. I will look at its layout and typical front cover codes and conventions.
“ACOUSTIC” is the magazine's masthead. It is always the same size and font and usually always the same colour.
This is the feature that will enable regular readers to recognise the magazine, but will also allow new people to know what the magazine is about. It is big and bold in order to attract people.
The main colours used on the page are black, white, red and green. These are quite dark, masculine colours, which can indicate that the target audience for the magazine is men.
Another thing that suggests the target audience is mainly men is that the images used are of men. If the images are of men, they make it easier for the reader to relate to them.
The text on the front cover is clear and easy to read as it is large and bold and does not blend in with the background. Also, all the text is in capital letters helping to show the importance and exclusivity of the cover lines.
The feature image links to the feature article. The image is of Kris Kristofferson, who is a recognisable man, not just as he is an inspirational musician who has made his name in the acoustic world, but he is also an actor. This will therefore attract and interest many different people. He is wearing dark clothes, and is against a dark background, yet his face is soft and friendly.
The image is the first thing that the eye is drawn to when looking at the cover as it is the biggest thing on the page and is positioned in the centre. It also jumps out from the page as it over laps the name of the magazine and everything else is positioned around it. The fact that the image overlaps the mast head shows that it is a very well known magazine as it will still be recognisable to its target audience and does not have to worry about a bit of it being covered.
The headline for the main article is the largest of all the cover lines. His name is in large, bold font, the biggest font on the page, other than that of the Magazines Title. This will ensure that readers know what the main article is. Written above Kristofferson's name is ‘Closer to the Bone’, which is the name of his new album, giving a good insight into what the article will be about.
The use of different colours here is effective by putting different emphasis on each word and by making it stand out evern more. It also suggests that the article will be in-depth as closer to the bone leads you to believe that the interview will be personal and thoroughly detailed. There is a quote from Kristofferson, once again providing an insight into the article. It is the second thing that catches the eye.
There are many cover lines on the front cover, and this seems to be common on most of Acoustic's magazines. All though there are many of them, they are neatly set out and are very easy to read. They are a brief summary of what this issue of the magazine includes and allows readers to instantly know what the magazine will include from a distance without having to browse through the contents and pages.
The cover lines have been structured into two main columns. Each column is on either side of the cover image, which helps to centralise it and emphasise how it is the main image of the magazine for that issue.
There are two banners on the page, one running along the top of the page and at the bottom of the page. They are used to inform readers of more things that are included in the magazine, other than those already listed in the sub-stories.
They contain relatively small writing, but are on a bright background in order to make them stand out. The banner at the bottom stands out more as it has a picture on it, which spills out onto the rest of the page.
There is a pug of a Free CD for the readers. It is introducing ‘Malta's Finest’ Acoustic duo to the readers. The magazine is suggesting music to the readers by a band that is not very well known in the UK.
It is in a circle to help differenciate it from the other cover lines and to also make it more noticable to readers.
Underneath the name of the magazine is a puff, saying “The UKs only dedicated acoustic guitar magazine." This lets the target audience know that there are very few other magazines who specialise in their wanted genre and that this magazine should be the best one to buy. The puff also shows that this is the main acoustic magazine and therefore what my own magazine would have to compete with.
Underneath the name of the magazine is a puff, saying “The UKs only dedicated acoustic guitar magazine." This lets the target audience know that there are very few other magazines who specialise in their wanted genre and that this magazine should be the best one to buy. The puff also shows that this is the main acoustic magazine and therefore what my own magazine would have to compete with.
At the bottom right hand side of the page is a rectangle that contains the barcode, the price of the magazine and the issue date. Although it contains necessary information, it does not belong itself to a large section of the front cover so it is put out of the way where it does not attract attention away from the other main features.
The price of the magazine is £3.95. I find this price rather expensive, but it is targeted at adults who should not have much difficulty in paying this price, where as I am a student with no job. However, the price is reasonable considering it is a monthly magazine.
The logo of the magazine's publisher is also featured in this rectangle, "Oyster House Media". This acts as a little advertisement for this company.
Contents Page Analysis:
Although I am creating a one page contents, I can analyse this for inspiration.
The page is set out in a way that is very easy to understand. There are page numbers next to all features in the magazine, in order for the readers to easily flick to their wanted pages.
The contents is also in the same layout that is continuous throughout the whole of the magazine – the house style- and is simple and easy to understand. This simple layout is important in music magazines as readers do not wish to have to concentrate in order to understand a magazine that they have just paid good money for.
The colours of the images are fairly mixed due to their variety. However, the other colours used are all quite bland, rather masculine colours, such as the black and grey writing.
The only bright colour used is for special things such as their “New techniques section” and the “Acoustic competition”.
These things are highlighted in bright red to signal their significance and importance.
There are several pictures to represent their relevant features, which also help to make the page more appealing to look at.
They act as an extra aid to knowing what the magazine will contain as some of them have a small paragraph telling the reader about the article.
The features are all separated into matching topics. For example, all the new music is in its own box, and so are the guitar techniques. This makes the pages look neat and organised, so it is therefore easier to understand.
The largest picture is for the main article, taking up half a page. Once again it is of dark colours.
There is a paragraph underneath the page number and name of the man interviewed, that gives the reader a taste of what the article will include.
Double Page Spread Analysis:
I will look at the layout, design, use of images in this double page spread to help me with the development of mine. One of the main things I need to assess is the writing style for when I come to writing my own article.
The article is of a woman, Rosanne Cash, so the colours used here are more soft and feminine. There are even some pink coloured flowers used in the photograph.
There are two images of Rosanne used; one that is the background image, taking up more than one page, and a small one of her with her guitar.
The main image shows her in a strong and powerful stance with her arms crossed and a stern face, showing that although there is a woman in this man dominated magazine, she is making her place.
The second image shows her in a much happier pose. Also, her head spills out of the photo, overlapping onto the white background, making her stand out more.
The title of the article is in very large, bold font, and it is relevant to the article.
Underneath the heading is a small paragraph that acts as a small introduction to the article, saying who Rosanne is and what she will be discussing.
Throughout Acoustic Magazine there is a continuous page layout that is simple and clear. Even for special articles and interviews there is a base design for the pages.
Although the text it is not presented as a typical interview with written questions, there are many sections with large quotes from Rosanne. There is also a quote from Rosanne taken out of the article and enlarged, separately in its own box.
However, it is again presented differently, with a little introduction from the writer so the readers know what the quote relates to.
There is a lot of writing in the article. It is neatly presented and easy to read, despite being in a small font. Her and the writer talk about her musical influences and inspirations, her writing process, what guitar she plays and why. The style of the writing is very formal. This is because it is aimed at an older audience, so includes large words and long sentences.
There is a separate box on the right, in which Rosanne is just talking about her father, who is an acoustic legend.
The box includes a small image of her Dad, Johnny Cash, which is in black and white, masculine colours.
Conclusion:
From looking at this Acoustic magazine and other ones, I have noticed similarities:
They are often of the same dark colours, with simple layouts, and a strong, more intellectual writing style, showing what their house style is.
They contain similar features, such as guitar and gear reviews, new music features, album reviews, guitar techniques and many varieties of articles and interviews.
