Evaluation

In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

I aimed to make my product in alliance with media conventions, however in order to find my unique selling point and fill a gap in the market, I have in some cases challenged or developed these. For example, a convention of print production is the layout of the cover. One of the most important features is the large, distinctive title positioned at the top of the magazine as it enables brand identification on the shelf. As incorporated into my brand, this title often also acts as the logo for the magazine. On the front cover I have also conventionally printed headlines of articles and features included in the issue, allowing the customer to gain an overview of the magazine at first glance. As well as being printed in eye-catching colours, the size and font of these individual headlines also relates to the importance of the article. This is a principal feature of magazine production, as the articles most relevant to the demographic can be printed to stand out more.

 I have also used stylistic language features to draw the reader’s attention, for example rhyming in the headline “Did you say exercise or accessorise?” is relevant to the story but also makes it fix in the reader’s mind. At the top and bottom of the cover, block colour banners are used to highlight other bands featured and the ethos of the magazine: “from mainstream to unsigned”, which enables it to incorporate a range of different genres such as indie, rock, pop and acoustic. Conventionally, similar banners are used to highlight special features, such as competitions, as well as conforming to this with the circular block featuring the title “WIN! The 50 best albums of 2008”, I have also extended this to incorporate it as a convention of my own brand to feature these particular aspects in this place every issue. This way, the audience is able to see immediately which of their favourite bands are featured in some way in the magazine. The barcode is an insignificant but necessary part of print production, therefore I have printed it in the bottom left hand corner in accordance with the convention, which is based on the idea that magazines are read from top right to bottom left.

 A major convention of magazine print is for the cover photograph to relate to the biggest article in the magazine. I have complied with this convention, however I have unconventionally featured a newer artist on the cover and as the topic of the biggest article. This challenges the stereotype of the most famous artist being featured on the cover because it conforms to the idea of the magazine, which is to incorporate mainstream and unsigned bands alongside each other. Mainstream artists are featured, as presented in the block at the bottom of the page, however the focus is on new and upcoming artists. My brand would aspire to become the first source for finding new exciting artists or other music related qualities.

Typically, I have presented a basic colour scheme, of purple in relation to the title, throughout the magazine but adapted it for particular articles. This colour could be changed for each issue, or kept the same to further enhance brand identity. The contents page uses bold vibrant colours and fonts. I felt it was important to conform to this convention as it makes what is essentially a list, much more interesting. To enhance this, the page also presents a few images to draw the audience’s attention to particular articles. However I have aimed to maintain an easy-to-follow structure to enable readers to turn to a particular article of interest if they choose to. Overall, the language in the text is friendly and conversational with humorous aspects at times, aiming to relate to the core demographic.

 

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

The media product I have created is able to represent a range of social groups through its print mode and incorporation of both mainstream and unsigned artists. The main article about “Titania Cameron” presents a Peaches Geldof, socialite type character but represents her as very down-to-earth and easy to get along with. This challenges the stereotypical representation of socialites, who can often come across simply as party-goers with too much money and no aspiration.

The brand is also able to represent unsigned artists as important contributors to the musical world. However, although the magazine aims to present these artists on a level with worldwide famous bands, this does not take away from the achievement of these mainstream artists. Such artists are hailed above all others, and unsigned or less known musicians are left with a question mark as to what may come next.

 

What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

A media institution such as Conde Nast publications might distribute my product as it currently does not distribute any similar product. It may wish to compete with IPC media who distribute NME, probably the biggest competitor of my own brand. On the other hand, IPC media may distribute my product as there are some clear differences and through controlling the distribution of both NME and my own products, IPC media would be able to maintain these differences in order to develop two different demographic. The two magazines could be linked in that they advertise for one another as similar to the link between Vogue and Vanity Fair.

 

Who would be the audience for your media product?

The core demographic of my product is females between the ages of 16 and 25. However, due to its versatility, the brand may be able to appeal to a much wider audience. I have intentionally not over-feminised the product so that it remains able to appeal to male audiences. This is important as males are conventionally the biggest consumers of music magazines. I have tried to challenge this stereotype by targeting my magazine at females, but in doing so have found it essential that I base articles around other topics such as fashion and celebrities, as well as music.

 

How did you attract/address your audience?

Once the audience was established, it was important to develop every aspect of the product to appeal to this audience. Through research of similar print products, I was able to establish certain conventions of these magazines. Based on their success, I tried to incorporate these although in some cases felt it was necessary to develop them further in order to create a slightly different variation on music print production and fill a gap in the market. I anticipate that my product has a unique selling point in the way it includes both mainstream and unsigned bands at an equal level, but also embraces other topics of interest such as fashion and TV, thus making it more appealing to the female market.

What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

Through the construction of this product I have built on my skills in Photoshop CS3 and gained a better understanding and knowledge of how certain aspects work. I feel I have improved my skills in manipulating and enhancing images in Photoshop in that I no longer make the mistake of over-editing photographs to the point where they no longer look real. I have also learnt the importance of the placement of text, particularly on the front cover. However, I feel my biggest improvement was in photograph taking. For the first time, I fully planned a thought out every detail of the photograph, as far as the equipment available would allow. This made editing on Photoshop much simpler and allowed me to concentrate my skills and not over-edit the pictures. Finally I have learnt how to use and edit an online blog, in order to present my research effectively.

 

Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

The preliminary task was a good exercise for practicing and converging my skills in Photoshop and also in how to prepare effective research. I feel the layout of my final product is far more effective than the preliminary task as this enabled me to learn from my mistakes. However the themes of the magazines also play a part in this, as a school magazine for sixth form students would not look anywhere near as professional as a music magazine to be distributed nationally. Partly due to this, and partly due to my improved skills, I was able to create a more professional look to the full product and ultimately, a product that people would want to read.  

Product

Reader Profile

The typical Flux reader is a fashion conscious young woman with an interest in the world around her, as well as a love for music. Although passionate about music, Flux readers don't define themselves by the music they listen to. This is why the brand is so versatile and displays an array of different music genres,  but never to extremes. This suits the personality of the demographic. Flux readers base their love for music on its versatility but are not interested in extremes such as heavy metal or classical music. Instead, they listen to a middle range of rock, pop and indie music and although interested in mainstream artists, also recognise the talent of unsigned or less popular artists.

Flux readers have the confidence to develop and individual style and music taste but seek guidance on upcoming artists and the latest fashion trends. They enjoy listening to music, alone or socially, and are keen festival and concert goers. Flux readers are average to high earners, but would not generally waste money on overpriced goods. However, they are happy to invest in quality and this is reflected in their 

taste in music as well as clothing and other consumer durables. They consider Flux an investment in quality and use it as a guide for a range of different aspects of life with music, of course, at its core.

I have created a mood board to represent some of the likes, dislikes, hobbies and thoughts of Flux readers.

Firstly, both Carnaby Street and Portobello Road are famous shopping destinations in London. However, they each offer a very different style. Carnaby Street could be described as the very top end of high street stores, where although prices are fairly high, none of the stores carry massive designer status. On the other hand, Portobello Road is particularly famous for its market which offers a wide range of unique items, with plenty of vintage stores. The inclusion of these photographs represents the diversity of the demographic who whilst value quality and follow general trends, also love a bargain and aim to be unique.

Similarly, I have included photographs of a busy city at night (Times Square, New York) and a beautiful sunny beach to show the two extremes of travel. Flux readers love to travel and see new and exciting places and this is represented by the inclusion of these popular destinations on the mood board.

Inset into the image of the beach is a photograph of  a live gig, this is very relevant to the demographic who regularly attend such events. I have also included a photograph of the Glastonbury festival in 2008 and the Reading and V festival logos. Festivals are ever becoming a more important part of music culture amongst young people and so these are very relevant.

I have also included a photograph of Peaches Geldof, who could represent a role model for many young female music fans due to her involvement with the music world. Peaches also starred in a reality TV show on MTV, where she created her own music magazine. A series of 6 15 minute shows ran on the MTV website. These documented her processes in making a music magazine and the problems and successes which occurred.  However, this photograph is also relevant because she is pictured holding a bag with the quotation "Eco Chic". The environment, although not the most prominent issue in a Flux reader's mind, is of importance and so finding a way of helping the environment and being "Chic" is ideal.

Finally, I have represented other important brands such as Myspace and Facebook which are regularly used by Flux readers and considered an important means of communication and social networking. The Limewire logo is also presented because as my research showed, many young people use file sharing as a way of obtaining their music. I have also pictured the Starbucks logo, as this brand is hugely popular and relevant to my demographic. Finally I have included images directly related to music such as an iPod, which most young people own, and an electric and acoustic guitar, to represent different styles of music, both of which my audience is interested in.

Observations from Textual Analyses

From my research, and generally through recently reading music magazines, it is clear that there are some frequent conventions which occur. Considering the success of the publications they are featured in, both within and outside the music industry, I will aim to include these conventions effectively.

The following features are conventional of some magazines in general but specific to music publications and will be used in my own publication.

• The name of the magazine, large and distinctive, positioned either in the top left hand corner, or centered across the top of the cover, which acts not only as the title of the publication, but also as its logo. 
• Brief article details running down the left and/or right hand side of the cover.
• Distinctive colours for all text on the cover to highlight certain features and catch the reader's eye. (these are not necessarily bright colours, but must stand out)
• Text size and font relates to importance of the article and relevance to the demographic.
• Stylistic language features are used to draw the reader's attention. (for example, alliteration, superlatives etc.)
• Block colour banners or shapes are used to highlight special features such as competitions.
• The barcode, often including the price and date, is located in the bottom left hand corner as this an insignificant feature and magazines are read from top right to bottom left.
• A basic colour scheme or theme is presented. (includes colour co-ordination)
• Photographs featured on the front cover related to either the single biggest article in the issue or an small selection of favourite articles detailed on the cover.

In my research I have found other conventions, not presented on the front cover and will aim to include these in the alternative pages of my magazine.

• The contents page uses vibrant colours and generally features a few images related to articles in the magazine. It is important for the contents page to be quite bold and colourful as it makes what is essentially a list, more interesting for the reader. However, it must also be fairly easy to follow, so readers can flick to a particular article of interest if they so choose.
• The numbering of pages links to the contents page and is therefore an important basic convention.
• Advertisements, competitions and features regarding the previous and next issues often follow the contents page directly but are also featured throughout the magazine.
• The main articles or interviews in the magazine are easy to read, with visual aids to attract attention. The language used is friendly, conversational and vibrant with different levels of humour depending on the brand. (Language relates to the core demographic)

Case Study: Q

Background and Ownership
Q was first published in 1986 and at this time subtitled, "The modern guide to music and more." It was originally to be called Cue, in the sense of cueing a record; ready to play, but the name was modified to prevent it from being mistaken for a snooker magazine. The name Q is also more prominent on newsstands as a single-letter title and therefore more appealing to the demographic.
The contemporary Q draws reference from the world of sport, comedy, film and politics but centers itself around music. However, whilst music is an important passion, Q readers don't define themselves by the music they listen to. They are labelled as "open minded experience seekers" and the magazine therefore works to represent this audience. It may be due to this, less extreme approach that Q has captivated its audience and become the UK's biggest selling music monthly magazine, delivering the world's biggest artists every month.
Q is owned by Bauer Media, which recently took over Emap publications, and who also own other music brands such as Kerrang! and Mojo. However these are more specifically targeted at specific niche audiences, whereas Q appeals to a wider demographic. More recently, Q has become available across other platforms such as TV, Radio and online as well as holding the annual Q Awards.

Style/layout/mode of address
Q consists of approximately 180 A4 pages and presents a glossy, full colour cover which indicates the cost of £3.90. This is more than most music magazines, however, Q is a larger monthly publication whereas many music publications are weekly, and therefore carry less content. Q is designed to offer a comprehensive account of music rather than the simple news and profiles available in weekly music publications.
The cover is centered around a main image of Kings of Leon surrounded by splinters of glass. This is cohesive to the main article headline 'Kings of Lean Breakthrough' as they appear to be breaking through the glass. Aside from this, the cover simply features the classic Q masthead and a few other article references which highlight band names such as The Killers. This layout makes the cover visually stimulating and allows the reader to focus on simple, bite-sized chunks of text centered around the powerful, eye-catching image.

Content and approach to music
Q's approach is primarily focussed on interviews and reviews but also includes features such as 'The Hot List' which details the top 10 music related essentials of the month, 'The Best & Worst of 2008', 'The Best Tracks of 2008' and '50 Best Albums of the Year'. It approaches music as a means of inspiration and enthrallment which can excite and entertain us, but not define who we are.

Editorial content: 'Opinion-leaders' and reader interaction
Q tends to avoid purposefully dictating the taste of the target audience. Instead, it lays out the views of the magazine and offers audiences the opportunity to agree. However, certain artists dominate editorial copy. This is shown through editorial 'hierarchies' which are evident in various features throughout the magazine such as 'The Best & Worst of 2008'.
Near the end of the magazine, reader interaction opportunites occur in features such as 'The Quiz'. This is a regular feature whereby the previous issue's answer's are pubhlished are published alongside the current issue's quiz. A feature like this encourages the reader to identify with the magazine. This is also relevant in the 'Mail' section which gives the audience a means to contribute through expressing their 'thoughts from the month'. This inspires a feeling of ownership for the reader and empathy for other readers who may share their thoughts.

Promoting the industry and other products
The publication is able to assist in the promotion of certain artists and their music by drawing attention to them within the editorial content. This is especially relevant in the review genre as magazines are often able to create a 'must-have buzz' through 'rave reviews'. This can affect an artist's popularity and status therefore indirectly contributing to the sales of their music. Q can be 'rewarded' by companies and retailers for this. For example, in this issue, a 'rave review' of The Killers' live tour may be linked to the full page, glossy advertisement for their new album on the back cover of the magazine. Similarly, the illusive 5 star rating awarded to Miles Davis' 5oth anniversary album may encourage him to associate with the magazine in the future, or otherwise his record company to advertise in the publication.
In addition to the relationship between content and advertising, are the other brands and retailers who are keen to assosiate their products with Q's demographic. Technical products take up a large percentage of the magazine's advertising space with brand names such as Samsung, HP, Sony and Nokia. In particular Nokia have closely targeted Q's audience with a music-related advert detailing features such as 'unlimited downloads. The magazine also features adverts for Jameson Irsish Whiskey as well as Jack Daniels and also a Budweiser advert, but in contrast contains advertisements for Oral-B and Shockwaves. The publication also features numerous watch advertisements, of which all of them are male-orientated. These different types of products portray the publication's versatility. Major advertisers in the magazine such as X Box, who have taken out 3 double page spreads, are especially eager to relate their product to the age and lifestyle of the Q reader. Other relevant brands such as Play.com, HMV and Zaavi have also taken full page advertising spaces. These relate to the editorial content in that they allow the audience to obtain their music and inform them in terms of their interests.

Results of Audience Questionnaire

From my results, I can see that NME is the most popular amongst the magazine I detailed. The small percentage forKerrang! readers, shows that this publication is perhaps too extreme for my audience. NME is more appropriate because it is less genre-specific and covers a wider range. Q also does this, but is a larger monthly publication and also may not be so appealing as it is more expensive.

Rolling Stone proved more popular than I expected, suggesting that the audience is interested in television and politics as well as music. Top of the Pops and Mojoreceived the lowest percentages showing they are far less popular with this demographic. In the case of TOTPs this may be due to its younger target audience.

This question proved very useful to ask as the results clearly show Indie as the most popular music genre. This may be because it is becoming increasingly popular amongst the youth of today and includes everything from major main-stream bands to unsigned artists. 

Rock and R&B also received fairly high percentages. These may be less popular than Indie because they are slightly more extreme. As expect Jazz, Blues and Classical music were not very popular with this age group, with the Classical genre receiving no votes. Pop music also has a fairly low percentage and this may be because in recent years it has become assosiated with Disney music and therefore children.

The results of this question show that if a magazine were created which was better suited to the audience's tastes, they would be more inclined to buy or read it. Audiences can feel neglected in that their particular tastes are not represented in music publications, which can have a tendency to be too genre-specific. 

The results of this question show that almost half my audience watch MTV more than any other music channel. MTV is probably the most versatile of the music channels and therefore I can see that I must bring this versatility to my brand. 4Music received a quarter of the votes showing it as also very popular. The question also enforces the theory concluded from the previous question, that the audience is interested in less extreme genre and thus music channels.

The results of this question are as I expected. However, the people from within my target audience who completed the questionnaire mostly attend my school. This may suggest that they are generally in similar financial situations to one another and in a less affluent area, the results of this question may be very different.

Nevertheless, as the results show, many people do own iPods or MP3 players and therefore most likely consider music an important part of life and something from which they can gain enjoyment. An MP3 player allows us to listen to music anywhere, anytime and so music can be played whilst we are doing other things.

The results of this question link to the previous question. Most people listen to music everyday, and if not, most days. This links to the previous question in that owning an iPod or MP3 player makes music more accessable and therefore we no longer have to be at home, or in the car, in order to listen to music. - It can be taken everywhere with us.

This question was designed to help me decide how often my magazine would be published. The results show that of those who do read about music, more do it weekly. However this percentage is not significantly larger than the monthly percentage and so I would not make a decision based simply on these results.

Quite a large percentage said they rarely read about music, however this may be due to there being a gap in the market of which I hope to be able to fill.

Although all these features are vital in the format of a music magazine, I was interested to find out which is most highly regarded by my target audience. From the results, I can see that interviews are vital in a music magazine but so are the other features. Therefore, I must ensure to include a mixture of all these, with the focus set around interviews.

Here I can clearly see that when considering which non-music-related features to include I must ensure I include some fashion-related articles as half the people questioned chose this as their most important feature aside from music. Celebrity gossip and television are also both quite highly rated so these may be worth including, especially when either are music related.

Audience Questionnaire

As a part of my research, I asked 20 people within my target audience to fill out an Audience Questionnaire. This is essential in helping me to gain a better understanding of my audience and build up a reader profile. I have detailed the questionnaire below and explained my purpose in asking each question.

1. Which of the following publications are you most likely to read?
This question was asked so I am able to analyse the publications my target audience is interested in and so gain a better understanding of what they are looking for in a magazine. These publications, although all music-based, have different depths of focus on their individual genres.

2. What genre of music are you most interested in?
By asking this, I can gain further understanding of my audience and know which genre it would be best to base my own publication on.

3. Would you buy a new music magazine based around this genre?
This question is related to both question 1 and 2. Through genereal knowledge, I am aware that many young people choose not to buy music magazines because they aren't relevant to their favourite types of music. By asking this, I am able to see that if an appropriate publication were related, audiences would buy it as it would be relevant to their interests.

4. What television music channel are you most likely to watch?
This question is indirectly related to my product as it gives me an idea of the types of music the audience are interested in and how they choose to receive music through other platforms.

5. Do you own an iPod or MP3 player?
This question is aimed to show that most people in my target audience do in fact own an iPod or MP3 player and therefore enjoy music and are able to listen to it anytime, anywhere.

6. How often do you listen to music?
By asking this, I can show the importance of music in the audience’s daily life. It is expected that for many, listening to music is a daily activity, even if it is not the sole activity at the time of listening.

7. How often do you read about music?
The results of this question will help me to decide how often a new magazine should be published.

8. How do you generally obtain your music?
This question, helps me to gain an understanding of the demographic in terms of how their personal music is obtained. I expect free downloads to be fairly common amongst these.

9. What criticisms have you found of any music magazines you have previously read?
This question simply helps with my ideas and thought processes.

10. What music related feature do you feel is most important in a music publication?
Although all the possible features are important parts of a music publication’s format, I am interested to know which of these is most highly regarded amongst the audience as I will ensure I focus on this feature in my publication.

11. Apart from music, what other features do you feel it is important to include in a music publication?
The main focus of my publication will be music. However, the audience is able to express their other interests through answering this question and I can then include articles on these in the magazine.

12. What would you consider an appropriate name for a new music magazine?
This question simply helps with my ideas and thought processes.

Music Magazine Textual Analysis

The New Musical Express, known as NME is probably the most popular music magazine in the UK. It was first published in March 1952 and has developed significantly whilst influencing the music genre, ever since.

The cover pictured displays Kate Nash and Jack Penate, two famous artists who are known to be friends. This is represented by their body language and smiley, welcoming facial expressions. This expressions also connotes summertime which links in with the summery style of the cover which uses bright colours and bold fonts. The contrast of the pastel colour the artists are wearing and the much brighter text creates a distinctive and eye-catching cover and draws the reader's attention. The use of the different colour also helps to highlight different articles through separating them and making them stand out. Conversely, amidst all the colour, some articles are details with simple black fonts against a white background. These stand out equally, as they contrast with the other colourful features. The inclusion of red text in some areas creates the typical NME brand through grouping red with black and white.

In typical NME style, the cover presents a somewhat unorganised array of text spread across the page with the main headline written centrally across the artists. The traditional black, white and red NME logo acts as a marketing tool in creating brand identity. The bar code, as an insignificant feature to the reader is also conventionally placed in the left hand bottom corner. However the inclusion of the NME website in this section may draw the reader's attention. The inclusion of the website helps build up a larger fanbase for the brand.

A variety of interesting language techniques are presented on the front cover. For example, the use of the superlative "sickest" in the headline "The sickest gigs ever" employs a type of play on words through using language recognised by the demographic as a colloquial way of saying cool or crazy, when in reality, the word "sickest" does in fact refer to its literal meaning in terms of most disgusting. Alliteration is also used in the headline "Rock n Roll Riot". This feature is separated from the rest of the cover with a block blue background and more distinctive font with the inclusion of the NME logo. These details create a separate graphic therefore specialising the feature and drawing attention to the further relevant information to the right of the graphic.

Music Magazine Textual Analysis

Rolling Stone is a United States-based music magazine that is published every two weeks. It was founded in San Francisco in 1967. Throughout the 1970s the magazine became known for its political coverage but later changed its format in the 90s to appeal to younger readers. This meant that it often focused on young television or film actors and pop music and it was therefore criticised for emphasizing style over substance. In recent years, the magazine has resumed its traditional mix of content, including in-depth political stories, as well as television stars. However it continues to focus on these features over music as represented in a recent issue which features the young stars of American reality TV show, The Hills, on the cover, rather than a recording artist.

The cover features Britney Spears who headlines with the main title "Britney Returns". The image used represents this as it is not provocative and reminds the audience of the way Britney used to be in terms of innocence and youth. This gives a positive media image which is enhanced by the simple concealing clothing she wears. In contrast, she is pulling down her jeans slightly to reveal a tattoo which hints at her recent lifestyle and the way she was represented in the press. Her new image is presented boldly on this cover and the simple clothing and innocence is reinforced by her smiley expression, which contrasts greatly with recent press coverage of the singer which featured her drunk, knicker-less and bald. 

The cover is employs a conventional layout through listing featured articles at one side of the page. The use of alternating colours helps to separate each headline and make it stand out and is also conventional of magazines. Another convention used on the cover is the location of the bar code to the far right bottom corner. A magazine's bar code is conventionally placed in this position because it is the least significant feature for the reader and is therefore not required to be in a prominent position, noting that magazines are read from top right to bottom left. Again, the magazine has followed conventions in allowing the cover model's head to hide a part of the title. The magazine is prominent enough in the music industry that it is easily recogniseable without the title needing to be fully visible.

The magazine also uses colour-coordination to enhance the overall image of the cover highlight its quality. For example, the yellow font co-ordinates with Britney's hair and luminous skin whilst her t-shirt is co-ordinated with the background colour and the shadow colour chosen for this issue's title. The title is also shiny and silver which highlights the glossy feel of the issue and topic of "Britney's Return". The wording "The Hot Issue" is also colour co-ordinated with the yellow text but is encompassed in a red box. This pillar-box-red is typical of Rolling Stone, whose logo is this colour, and often the title on the cover. The use of it as a box around this text is to dramatize and amplify the use of "hot".

The text outlining the articles uses imperatives which means that only essential words are used. This maintains reader interest and relays the most important information in the most efficient way possible.  The magazine's contemporary use of language is also represented on the cover with the use of the adjective 'skanky', which is a word likely to be used by the core demographic and therefore very relevant and well targeted at the audience.

Research - Fanzines

Definition: a fanzine is a nonprofessional publication produced by fans of a particular cultural phenomenon for the pleasure of others who share their interest. Typically, publishers, editors and contributors to fanzines receive no financial compensation. Fanzines are traditionally circulated free of charge, or for a nominal cost to defray postage or production expenses.

Rock Fanzines: The Rock fanzine was born in the mid-1960s. Science fiction fans began to recognise a shared love of Rock and Roll. An example of this is the American fanzine, Crawdaddy! which preceded both Rolling Stone (a United States-based magazine devoted to music, politics, and popular culture founded in 1967) and CREEM (a monthly rock 'n' roll publication first published in March 1969, "America's Only Rock 'n' Roll Magazine"). Crawdaddy! is regarded as the U.S. pioneer of rock journalism, and was the training ground for many rock writers, just finding the language to describe rock and rollmusic, which was only then beginning to be written about as seriously as folk and jazz.

Mod/Punk Fanzines: Mod or Punk fanzines were also very popular in the 70s and 80s and included features specific to either one, such as fashion and music. In fact, the publication of a fanzine in New York actually introduced to word "punk' by naming it so.

Local Music Fanzines: In the UK, there were also fanzines that covered the local music scene in a particular town or city. Mainly prevalent in the 70s and 80s, all music styles were covered, whether the bands were playing rock, punk, metal, futurist, ska or dance. Featured were local gig reviews and articles that were below the radar of the mainstream music press. 

Examples are: Bombsite Fanzine (Liverpool 1977), City Fun (Manchester), 1984 and Town Hall Steps (Bolton).

Content: The diversity of content is one of the most striking features of fanzines. Whilst, as I noted in my introduction, there is a perception that fanzines deal with one particular band or personality, the majority of fanzines are exactly the opposite of this. In fact, the majority of music fanzines do not even limit themselves to just covering a variety of music. It is commonplace for a fanzine to also include articles on films, books, short stories and pieces on the zine producer's life. Art and drawings are also an important part of many fanzines.

Fanzines on the Internet: The Internet poses significant opportunities for fanzines as an area where small-scale publishers can have as good a chance as professionals to be recognised for the quality of their work. At the same time, the electronic media has been suggested as meaning the end of the Fanzine's personalised style.

Sources: Fanzines: Their Production, Culture and Future by Phil Stoneman and Wikipedia.