Evaluation

Evaluation from c williams

Final Piece

Drafting and Planning: Further Improvements

Before handing in my completed magazine I have worked on a few features to give them more life and excitement, as before i believed they offered nothing to my page. 

In a previous blog post I spoke about the changes I had made to my contents page images and social media links. Following that I have updated this further to not only create coherence but also ensure that this feature matches the overall house style of my magazine. I also spoke about the addition I had made in the form of an editors note. I have changed this slightly. 

• I changed the font colour from pink to white on one of my stories "ELISHA Q&A - All of what you've been dying to know." I think this now brings this area of my contents page together as one piece.
• I have added faded out pink boxes behind the text of my stories. The transparency adds a colour feature on the page but also acts as a accent, due to it making the text stand out more as it doesn't blend in with dark background of the images. The use of the pink also reflects my main colour used in my magazine. 
• I have added a small white star in to the boxes, the small addition ties in with the other stars used on my contents page. 

• As I said I have only edited this slightly, I have done this by changing the colour from black to pink at the beginning and end. This makes the feature stand out more and also adds a pop of colour to the bottom of the page. This looks better in my opinion. 

Drafting and Planning: Finished Article

This is my final finished version of my double page spread article. I have implemented the changes my teacher recommended by adding a sentence about her first single she has released, this gives the 'critic choice award nominee' have some context behind it. I think this final article matches my magazine well, as it discusses my artist, her background and also her music. It is suitable for my target audience as the register I have used has been carefully thought about. 

Youngest Brits critic choice award nominee at 17, 5.5 million and counting combined followers on social media and YouTube, signed to a record label at just 15. She is already taking the music world by storm and her debut album 'Exhibition' is still months from being released... and if you still don't know who these stats belong to then where have you been. Since the release of her first single ‘Home’ this young star really has set the music scene a light with her unique blend of pop and country, brining them together to create a musical masterpiece.

Pearl Rey the 17-year-old singer who is taking on the best of country and pop never expected to have such a big success so soon into her career full filling her hidden passion. Born Pearl Kiely, she never saw herself heading in the direction of fame and fortune, as she left school with a collection of amazing grades. But grades aren't the only thing she picked up in the summer of 2014. "I spent the summer gigging in Birmingham before being scouted at gig for new home grown talent. I was given a immediate record deal and began working on my original work, Before I knew it I was leaving my initial dreams of becoming a teacher to become a signed singer."

Pearl started her life in the heart of Birmingham before she began touring around the country with her also musical family. She settled back into life in Birmingham in 2011 to begin her GCSE studies. Birmingham is now where she takes a great deal of inspiration along with that of her family. "My father and grandfather are both huge country fans. I was introduced into the genre  by accident at the age of 4. I was mesmerised at the first note. I grew up watching them gigging around the country but I never saw myself up on a stage. My mother also loves country but she also offered a beautiful pop tone to her music and that's what i now take inspiration from. I bring together my fathers country spirit with my mothers pop background"

We asked Pearl Rey all about her upcoming debut album, she replied with "This project has become my life over the last 2 years  believe or not. Its took the last 2 years and heap load of hard work to produce this album. I know 2 years is a long period but I took my time finding my sound while giging up and down the country. I saw it as the best way to find the sound that reflects me perfectly.  The album is full of hits that bring together both the pop and country genre. If you dont get one then you get the other come through in every song. I think combing the two will create a unqiue sound that all can enjoy, the combined sound reflects me as a person but also as an artist. I am the music."

Away from music we spoke to Pearl about what else in her life that is her love. “Where do I start, Birmingham is my home town and I love it but Birmingham City Football club has a piece of my heart. I have my own season ticket and have done since I was born. Despite people recognising me in the street I still sit with the fans as I always have. They all know me in the stands and I trust them with my life. I think if I ever came into trouble id be safer at the St Andrews than anywhere else. " She sure does have more than one strong passion. Pearl isn’t just one layer deep, she is more than what meets the eye.

Pearl admits she has another new and interesting project to accompany her one her journey to music supremacy. “Last summer I got a phone call, from a surprising company. I was approached to work on a side project. For now the majority of the details will remain secret, well at least until after the album release as that’s my main priority but its sure to be a surprise. Let’s just say it defines me and my freedom and enlightenment of music. I feel so glad that my music finally reaching out to people but when this project is revealed my full message will be made clear.” We are surely intrigued but I guess we will just have to stay peeled and watch her project come to life.  

We got talking to Pearl about her past before music became to the forefront of her life. We spoke about everything from her past school life, to relationships and family. She opened up and revealed all by saying “When I came back to Birmingham to study for my GCSE’s I didn’t always have the best time. School became a place of hell for me as I encountered mass bullying from people I thought were my friends. During my 3 years I so wanted to leave and move to a new school but I thought that would let them win. So that’s when I put them to the back of my mind and put all of my determination into my school work and it paid off. I left school that summer with grades I was proud of, including 6A*s. It was then I realised no one could get in the way. That summer was the best summer I’ve ever had because I left school and I left them behind. The funniest part is if they read this article and realise I’m talking about them. They were my friends and now they are nothing more than strangers in the street who I had to spend three years with.”

However Pearl isn’t as innocent as she seems, she spoke about her wild side and the behaviour that has created a storm with the fans. “I like coming out of my comfort zone and that can sometimes create a bigger reaction than expected.  I want to be an idol to young girls and also boys, but not for fame and fortune but to show them that you can be yourself and succeed. If that means doing the unexpected then why not? I used to hide from trying new things but not now. I recently just did a skydive in aid of charity and I’ve just booked to do a bungee jump and helicopter ride in Australia, all of which is a big deal to someone scared of heights. The new challenges are what make me thrive to express myself."

After hearing about her trip to Australia, we asked just how she fits her adventures around her already busy schedule.“My record company have been quite relaxed allowing me to record when I feel I’m really in the mood. They want me to still focus on being young and they see the wait as just a bigger impact for when it finally does drop.  Music is only ever at its best when you’re in the mood. If I was to record not at 100% it just wouldn’t be pretty.”  Pearl has also just moved into a new house of her own to strengthen her new found independence. She tells us of extreme happiness to have her own living space. “I’ve already had my friends and family around. Moving out of home was big decision, I’ve never lived one my own. I didn’t even know how to use the washing machine until a few days before collecting the keys [laughs] and I’m still getting grips to the cooking but my mum is always a call away. She’s made that very clear. I’m apprehensive of what is to come without the comfort of my parents but it’s exciting” She is moving out of the family home, the small home town girl is growing up. 

Before we finished we asked Pearl all about her Brit nomination. “I believe I’m the youngest person to be nominated for the award, which to me is more amazing then winning it. Not going to lie I would have loved to win it but with my best music not released yet, I think the true me wouldn’t be presented. I’ve worked hard to get to this point and nomination shows me it’s all be worth it. Of course I don’t do it for the awards but they show people are taking the time to listen and appreciate my sound.” We also spoke about her ever growing social media following, who watch her steps from all across the world. “Knowing people are supporting me from half way around the country is such a huge inspiration. The numbers having just been growing and growing it’s crazy how me, an ordinary girl from Birmingham has fans from a far as Australia – that’s another reason why I’m going on that trip later this year, that I spoke about earlier. I wish I could meet them all, but that’s impossible but It’s important for them to know I appreciate each every fans support” Wow a small town girl who has grown past her English roots and is now reaching bigger heights. 

As for what’s next after the album, Pearl is going on Tour. She is definitely one hard worker. An album release and a tour in all in a short amount of time. “It’s going to be an amazing experience. I know I’ve toured before gigging but this time it’s different. Before I’d be supporting doing covers in little clubs and bars but now it’s all about me. How big headed does that sound {laughs.} What I mean is, this time on a wide UK tour performing in some of the best venues in the country performing my own material for the people I care about the most. My fans! They are everything and I wouldn’t be here today doing this interview let alone realising an album without them.  I owe them a lot and that’s why I want to make them a big part of this tour.” We asked what she meant by this and she replied “You’ll have to watch this space.” The future surely looks bright for this young star.

Drafting and Planning: Implemented Changes

Changed Contents Stories. 

 These are the changes I have made on my contents page.

>>>> I have changed the page numbers for my stories - I now have a 100 pages. This matches the typical number of pages in a monthly magazine.

>>>> I have made the font of my text smaller as well to make for more space on the page to add a new feature and more stories.

>>>> I have added 3 new pages in the 'WE OFFER MORE...' section - this adds more features to my magazine that could potentially keep readers coming back. I have also changed some of my stories

>>>> I have added boxes around my feature sections as proposed. It separates them but also makes them stand out. I have made sure that I have included music notes and star accents into each both linking in the music genre.

UPDATED CONTENTS PAGE:

IN EVERY ISSUE:

Page 15 

TOP PICKS

1,2,3.... Our music thoughts. 

Page 23 

POP QUIZ

Your questions answered.

Page 30

ACCESS ALL AREAS

The day in the world of an artist.

Page 37

A NonStop MONTH

A guide to the next month of music

Page 44

A list of A to Z

Your best of Top 10’s  

Page 59

ONES TO WATCH

A list on the unique and promising 

INSIDE THIS MONTH:

Page 6 FT COLLAB - stay tuned for this show stopper

Page 8 ELISHA HERMES Q&A - all of what you've been dying to know

Page 12 THE ROAD TO BRIT SUCCESS - the 2017 music storm.

Page 14 LEAVING THE PAST BEHIND - Pop country flow 

Page 18 MELANIE & DUNDO - Online Duel takes place 

Page 20 MAGGIE'S MARK - The legacy left behind

Page 26 C|HARLIE - A bad boy here to stay

Page 24  FELIX BROS - A new found focus for the future 

Page 32 OUTFIT 101 - What they've been wearing, look just like them

WE OFFER MORE:

Page 64

WE REVIEW: ALBUMS
Who and what did 2016 have to offer when it came to albums

Page 66

WE REVIEW: TOURS 

Who and what did 2016 have to offer when it came to tours

Page 72 
LIVE REVIEWS
A first look into Live.

Page 78

COMPETITIONS

Lets have look what we have to offer in this months issue 

Page 82 
PAPARAZZI PHOTO BOOTH
Have yourself a selfie with the stars 

Page 95
SUBSCRIPTION CORNER 
Subscribe to not miss out! 

Images and Social media links 

<<<< I have changed one of my images to make it fit in the space provided. The image of my two artists (Felix Bros) I have put them over lapping. 

<<< I have changed the numbers around for my two images. As it looked better if the number 8 came before the number 24 

<<<< I have put the two stories in different colours. I have put my female artists font in pink, and the boys in white because I have been told to be careful using the pink on the male artists. 

<<<< I have changed my social media link area. I have put the media logos on top of a green background with a pink boarder which works with my colour scheme. It is in a square shape now to fit the space that was available. 

Editors Note 

>>>> I have added a editors note onto my contents page, which a commonly seen in teenage pop magazines. So adding this has made my magazine look more realistic.

Hey, Nonstoppers!
Last year was an amazing year for music. With the introduction of so many. Were left with the question of can 2017 beat that. This year were going to bring to you all the brilliant new artists on the block in the coming months - there's a lot to stay peeled for. But for this months issue  we bring you one of 2017 shining stars… Pearl Rey. (Image in the top left hand corner.) We’ve gone bonkers for this issue and we’re sure sure you will to. Make sure you check out this weeks ‘we offer more’ section for your chance to win a signed Polaroid camera from  C|harlie 
Love Cait x

Drafting and Planning: What I'm going to do next?

My final hand in of course work is on the 16th of March 2017. I have till then to improve my magazine. Here are the steps I am going to take to do this.

• Change the overall layout of my contents page: 
• I have changed one of my headings from 'ON THE COVER' to 'INSIDE THIS MONTH' - This shows that this section of stories if specific to the issue. 
• I am going to move my Images around to position them better, so a correlation is made between my artist features and my stories for the specific month. I am also going to make two of them smaller to fit the space available. 
• I am going to try and increase my page number count to 50 from 40 (this will only be possible if I change the page drastically enough)
• From looking into my research into similar products, I am hoping to add a editors note section as this is a common feature on contents page for magazines of a similar genre. 
• I have added boxes around each heading and its stories that come with it - this defines them and also separates each section. 

• On my double page spread I need to look at my article again. My feedback arose a problem with something I have wrote about my artist being a critics choice nominee which is true. I am going to change this, to make it more realistic. 
• I am going to make "Exhibition ‘ is available to Pre Order now ready for release on March 21st'" on my page bigger. This will make it more clearer and will not blend in with the image as much, so people will be able to identify it and not miss it. 

Drafting and Planning: Final Draft Personal Feedback

Following the hand in of our final drafts, we received personal feedback dedicated to the work we have completed and the improvements that need to be made. Our feedback was based on the mark scheme that out final course work will be marked on - this will then gives us an idea of how realistic are magazines look.

This is the feedback I got (I will go on to explain each one and how it relates to my work):

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Yes
4. Pop Music
5. No - unable to link cover lines to 'on the cover' 
6. 38 pages?
7. Yes
8. Yes
9. Yes
10. Front Cover  

• Apostrophes!
• Photos - musical mise-en-scene

         Contents Page

• Other features

         Double Page Spread

• How can she be a critics choice if she hasn't released anything? 

< My interpretation of my feedback > 

1. I have submitted a front cover, contents page and double page spread, so i have met this criteria 
2. I have included 5 images - all use different camera shots
3. I have all of the essential conventions - Price/URL/Date line/Barcode
4. My music genre is clear. My teacher immediately could determine my magazine genre is 'Pop'
5. On my contents page I have a section called 'ON THE COVER' my teacher is unable to link what stories under there to the cover lines on my front cover. 
6. I currently have 40 pages in my magazine and not 38.
7. My double page spread numbers (14 and 15) correspond to what I have put on my contents page.
8. My point size is a suitable size. 
9. I have some syntax, grammar and/or spelling errors which need rectifying.
10. The image on my front cover currently does present a musical artist to teacher. The musical mise-en-scene is not coming across. / I need to add more features to my contents page - for example live reviews and subscription possibilities. / My teacher poses a very good question, which I need to think about. This involves looking at my article and editing accordingly.