20.Readership Profile...

Add caption

19. Final Music Magazine...

Here is the finished result of my music magazine. A front cover, a contents page and a double page spread:



I then researched further into the Japanese and another trend that they have in the media are the use of mascots to create moral and a representation of support for different people or objects that they want to advertise. For example, in America they use mascots to represent famous football teams and use them as something for the fans to look at as a representation for  their hometeams. In Japan mascots are very cartoony which is relative to the anime style that Japan is very well known for:

The more popular animes and mangas in Japanese are very well known in their cartoon style to be very childish and girly to create an innocence within their style of animation and storylines that are incorportated into the animes. For example, a very girly and innocent anime that is very popular is Fruits Basket:


In this screenshot of Fruits Basket, mainly female characters are dominant with most of them expressing child-like and melodramatic expressions. A common expression is used with the central female in the image with the baby-blue dress with the big eyes, the sharp chin and the 'D' shaped smile. Then on the left of her, the other girl still has the sharp chin and the 'D' shaped smile, however in this case she is expressing the melodramatic happiness with her eyes closed with is also a common expression that is used in anime.

So when it came to the final draft of my music magazine, I wanted to incorporate the Japanese style much further by using the technique of a mascot instead of over-using the 'Japanese sun' with the red and white background. I then researched into popular Japanese mascots:



A common feature that I discovered in my research of Japanese mascots is that they incorporate a lot of the common features in animes. For example all of these mascots represent the childish innocence that a lot of anime characters have. However, instead of using people for mascots, they use animals or their own creation of an animal. For example (top image) a monster-like creature is used, but a basic square/'D' expression is used, but instead of using big round eyes, it uses small round black dots to create a cute but very simple expression. Then the second mascot(s) were used for the Olympics when China were the hosts of the event. They used anime techniques with the childish expression on their faces, however their poses also add to it by putting their hands out to represent the desperation for a little competition as if they are saying 'Bring it!'. Then the yellow mascot looks like they are running, so they represent the athletic side of the sport. However, due to it being a worldwide competition they then use the panda mascot with their hands on its heart to represent the unity of the Olympics, of how the world is coming together. Once again, they have used cute animals to conform to the common features of the Japanese mascots.

After all of my research I then created my own mascot on Photoshop. I used the common feature of an animal so I chose a bear to make it look like a teddy bear so it represents a bravery of a bear but in a cutesy and innocent way. I then decided to use the common expression of eyes closing in anime, so I made it look like my mascot was closing its eyes. I then incorportated Japanes text inside its stomach to make it much more oriental.

I then added it to my magazine cover and contents, but for the contents I changed the mascot to red to make it co-ordinate with the colour scheme well:

Then with the added research of Japanese mascots, I then incorporated the idea heavily into another idea I had for a double page spread. I then researched into Kerrang!'s double page conventions and that merged with the Japanese mascot I then created my second double page:

However, I then asked people I know which double page spread they liked the most, and they liked my original design rather than the 2nd one due to it looking more professional and having more conventions. They also commented on the headline on the second double page spread being very cheesy and they didn't understand how it related to the article. I then took these comments on board and it also made me think that the panda mascot I used looked a little too childish, so I then changed my double page spread with the second idea but incoporporating conventions into the second double page spread design such as as pull quote and adding introductory text so it filled up dead space. Here is the final version:

18. Music Magazine Article (Interview)...

In this article, I did an interview with a J-Pop/Punk artist. She is very conformed to Japanese society so with the use of a J-Pop magazine in the UK it would press onto questions that weren't the typical of asking about the music. In the genre of pop/punk a lot of the artists backgrounds are a heavily influence of what their material, so I used questions about a hard background in my interview to press onto that. I also used questions that truly indentified the artists real feelings and attitudes, even if she is famous internationally, with a genre of music that is very underground compared to mainstream music. I also wanted to highlight through this article the reality of the music industry, when it percieved heavily through their own media devices that it's full of fame and fortune when it really isn't.

MEDIA STUDIES MAGAZINE INTERVIEW

Outside, we can hear the foreign tongues, even if we are playing on their side of the playground. Everything is as we expected, the lights are bright in the bustling streets of Tokyo, well, from the bird’s eye view from where we’re stood. We’re here a little early, when we could have been fashionably late like a lot of other musicians we interview. However, in the five minutes we’re due to start Mitsuki Tragedy enters the room, with an honest attitude that is rarely seen in this business.


You’re new album Crystal Hearts is quite a hybrid of cultures and music genres. Was the process difficult when writing and recording the album?

It was actually quite difficult. I mean, I’ve only started learning Japanese, so when I wanted to put in some Japanese lyrics I had a lot of hurdles. Many people are very fussy when it comes to pronunciation so I tried at first to pronounce the words correctly before singing them. Then once I had the songs written, which took three months when it should have taken one, I then started to record the album. I had a talk with the producers and I decided that I’d have three of the songs that were very American pop/punk, whereas another three would be cutesy Japanese pop, that I’m largely known for. I had to have the perfect balance. So then the rest were a mixture, so I could create something new and stand out with it.


When you say ‘standing out’ do you mean standing out Lady Gaga style?

I can see where that is heavily perceived, but I don’t want to be too out there like Lady Gaga even though I do have a lot of respect for the girl. The way I want to stand out is dress in what's normal and fun in Japan to what may be misunderstood in the UK and the US. I really hate prejudice and how people don’t understand individuality, so with my style I want to drag them away from that.


Is the theme of individuality and prejudice expressed in the album?

There is one track called Say Whatever It’s Words that does express that message. I purposely sang this in English and Japanese to create a unity with two different audiences with the same message. I guess it’s a complex way of uniting people.


Did you ever, growing up, face prejudice for the vast difference you have with music taste?

The main genre of music I listen to is alternative, pop-punk stuff so growing up in the UK, there are so many stereotypes. Where I live, there’s mostly what we call ‘chavs’ and they think they’re the biggest thing in the country because most of the music they listen to is mainstream. So when some classmates discovered I loved rock music, they instantly called me ‘emo’ and would call me names for the way I dressed. Then when I started listening to J-Pop that’s when they really started to hurt me. They would then call me ‘preppy’ thinking I was listening to all different types of music for a way to get everyone to like me.
 Despite going through crap in school, are you happy where you are? Do you feel like you’ve won?

On the inside, I do feel proud of where I am because despite what’s happened I’ve continued to fight hard and I’ve come out with the best results I’d ever have. However, even though I do feel like I’ve proved the bullies wrong, I don’t feel like I’ve won. I didn’t choose this career for the sake of making people feel lower than me, I did this because I enjoy doing it. I don't want a reaction.

 When you grew up with your love for Japanese culture, did it feel like another home to you? Or a different world?

It was a bit of both, because Japan is so different to the UK in terms of culture and language, so yeah it does feel like a different world because I feel like I have to nip myself when I’m here in Tokyo. Then again, it feels so natural to me, because I love this place and I’m comfortable in it and I feel like myself so it does feel like a second home. The UK will always be a first home; I could never forget where I come from.

Being in a different country and having the time of you’re life, we bet that time does rush sometimes. Does touring feel like it’s only going to be for a week or it does it feel like the months passing by?

Oh the best part about this is the touring. Each show feels like the first one, so I feel adrenaline all of the time. A lot of Red Bull is required for me so I have the hyper attitude that the fans love to see. The last tour back in 2009, I was touring for three months in Japan, but because I was excited for each show, looking back on the whole thing it did feel like a whirlwind. It went too fast for my liking.


But we bet the flights can be tiring?

I think, in a year, I take round about ten flights back and forth between Japan, the US and the UK to do promotions. But then again, I spend most of my flying sleeping so it doesn’t feel that long. I remember I had a long flight straight from Washington to Tokyo, it lasted for ten hours, and I was nearly crying with happiness because I hadn’t slept for three days.


This is quite a hectic life with flying and promoting. Do you have any time for family?

As much as I love the life I’m having now, that is the only negative aspect to it. I only get to spend Christmas with my family, so I only see them every year which isn’t right in any case. I try to call them as much as I can, but my family tell me not to because of how much the calls would cost. I bet they don’t want me to waste my money on phone calls so can I buy my Mum a new car instead! Or pay off the mortgage! (Laughs)


So there’s no boyfriend?

I wish I could say yes, (laughs) but no.


Have you ever met anyone on your travels and wanted to make something of it?

I have met one or two guys who have been amazing. But I wouldn’t want to drag them into a hectic lifestyle. As much as they’d be over the moon with dating someone like me, really in the back of their minds they’d want someone who they could spend every weekend with and have a normal relationship. I can’t give them that.


Would you ever give up your music for something special?

No, because in life everyone has more than one boyfriend or girlfriend, whereas there’s only going to be one music career. And which one would I take? Obviously the music. I’d rather spend my younger years enjoying the world and then looking back on it in twenty years and being in love with someone.

17. Analysing Technique of Music Review

Analysing Technique of Music Review


Analysing Technique

16. House Styles...

House Styles Analysis

15. Exploring Ideology...

I was asked to find an interview with a music artists that matches with my music magazine target audience and highlight what their values are, how they serve to represent a social group, how they compare to other artists in their genre, and their ideology is reflected in their promotional material. Firstly, I have chosen Hayley Williams because she is part of the pop/punk genre and represents one part of the hybrid in my magazine.

 Hayley Williams - Ideology

From the highlighted text Hayley's ideology includes:

• Despite just being at the beginning of her career, her voice defies her as a powerful artist.
• Through promotion of touring with other major po/punk bands they are setting a high standard for themselves so they are popular straight away and make a stamp in their preferred genre.
• She's realistic and knows what she is doing and what her goals are.
• Hayley is very poetic and has expressed through tattoos, and conforms to the pop/punk genre well with this part of her personality.
• She's grew up with the same goal of being in the music industry for years.
• She wants to stand out with her gender in her genre of pop/punk. One of her values displayed is that she wants to stand out as a powerful female in the pop/punk genre and with that give out good morals to her target audience.
• Hayley is a very honest and realistic person, and doesn't conform to other artists. The common answer, when pop/punk artists are asked for their influences, they always answer with old seventies bands. However, Hayley admits that she listened to the newer generation of music, so her influences are very modern.
• There is a kind of "social group" with the whole Pete Wentz 'protege' with his DecayDance label and the bands that they contain. Hayley doesn't seem too bothered that she isn't part of it so one of her values is not following the crowd and just standing out in her own way. She is very honest and truthful with admitting that.
• With her values and individual persona and attitude, she stands out quite easily, therefore her image is very useful when it comes to promoting her band Paramore into different cultures. In this interview the band explains that they are touring in Japan, which has a very different culture. Hayley wants to have her ideology reach out to an international scale.
• Hayley Williams wants to get the best out of everything she does and she wants to be pushed to the limit so she gets the best sounds possible with her album. This highlights that she has values of never quitting and always having to be strong.

14. Music Magazine Flat Plan...

6C - Flat Plans

However, the final version of my magazine may have a different layout due to the probabality of changing my ideas to create my music magazine well.

13. Music Magazine Photoshoot...

These images will be used for my music magazine. A large quantity of the images conform to the genre of J-Pop well with the use of costume and poses. However, due to my magazine being one genre of music but a hybrid of two cultures (Western/Japanese) one or two of the images use different costumes to conform to the Pop/Punk genre with the use of glasses, to add an immature humour, and the use of costume with chequered shirts and dark colours for an 'emo' look. All of the images relate to each other with the feminine and cutesy poses to create an innocence to my artist, and to also be a good role model for the target audience.

12. J-Pop CD Covers...

   J-POP CD COVERS

From research in my last blog, it is seen that Hikari Utada is one of the most iconic and famous music artists in the Japanese music industry. Her CD artwork and cover highlights this vastly. A close-up shot is used to highlight her beauty and draw more attraction with her audience to look up to her and create her 'iconic' character that many Japanese artists portray. Utada's eyes are big and dark, therefore they run along with the stereotype of Japanese beauty well. The image is also very airbrushed to make her look all the more flawless. She also goes along non-conventions due to the lack bright colours, because in this CD cover there is only black and white. The airbrush also makes Utada look a little cartoony, as if she has walked out of a Japanese anime.

However, in comparison this CD cover for girl duo, Puffi Ami Yumi runs along the stereotype of Japan very well. Japan is very well known all across the world for its animation (known as anime) and has become an important part of their culture. With the use of animation with the use of pattern on this CD cover it runs along the conventions very well. Feminine colours are also used to reach out to a female-based audience. A mid-shot is used in this case to capture both of the members so they have an equal space in the image and have equality. However, the slight angle of the image also creates a feeling of attitude. Their hair is also very dark red, and not Japanese black, therefore it looks like they are reaching out to a indivdual audience.

                         

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

11. J-Pop Magazine cover analysis

J-POP MAGAZINE COVER ANALYSIS

Before I create a magazine cover for my J-Pop/punk magazine, I will research the conventions on a J-Pop magazine cover. Pop/Punk isnt pressed on as much in Japan, therefore the only source of research I could find was one that revolved around J-Pop. I will research the conventions of a Japanese pop magazine, but I will also research the conventions of a traditional pop/punk magazine and then combine these for my final music magazine.

J-POP MAGAZINE COVER - The most well known part of Japanese fashion all over the world is associated with the girly look that the females incorporate. This heavily includes girly items of clothing such as frills and dresses and other wacky accessories.

This magazine cover goes along with the Japanese trend very well, with the use of bright and feminine colours in the text, and it also runs along the common conventions of a magazine with only using one or two colours. In this case they are pink and yellow, apart from the masthead to make it stand out from others in the market.

The feature article photo of Britney Spears is taken with a soft effect to create an innocence and run along the femininity of typical Japanese female 'idols'. However, the slight glance from the corner of her eye also suggests some sexual references, to run along with her famous image.The feature article photo also runs along with the photography rule of thirds, so Britney's head is put correctly in the top third of the image. Secondary leads are also used but with the main article to make it the only thing that they weant their readers to read.

However, this magazine doesnt run along with the common conventions of anchorage. Where most magazines have most of their articles on one side of the page, this one has their secondary leads spread all over the page. Most magazines also use kickers and cover lines to display other important articles, however, this one doesn't, it only displays the article about Britney Spears. This then ensinuates her character of being an 'idol' even further.

The masthead is also not right in the centre on the top of the page, but it is allocated on the left of the cover. The shapes and images within the masthead are cute and girly, so it runs along the Japanese traditions, but it also makes it much more eye-catching so there is really no need in allocating it to the middle of the page.

Japanese books and magazines and not read from left to right, but they are read from right to left, therefore they are read backwards. This is why it doesnt typically place the barcode on the left hand side but on the right hand side of the cover. When I create my magazine cover, I do have to take into consideration the traditional use of conventions within the Japanese market, therefore I go along with it very well.

POP/PUNK MAGAZINE COVER ANALYSIS

In comparison to the J-Pop magazine, this pop/punk magazine uses a lot more conventions and a wider variety of techniques on the magazine. Firstly, the feature article photo is draped all across the page and is taken at a high-angled shot, therefore it makes their comical emotions even stronger, and enhances their beauty. More than two colours are used this time around with the use of yellow, blue and black.

Secondary leads are not used for just one article in comparison to the Japanese magazine, but this cover uses it for other articles, therefore promoting more than one feature of the magazine so it looks like it has a lot of material inside of it. The use of framing of the text at the bottom is cut around the picture to avoid it being covered, and it is seperated into two different colours so the different articles can be identifies. Only band names are given therefore it makes it look like the readers should know who they should be, that the readers have to be part of the music scene to capture the idea of the magazine. The fonts that are used on these articles are very scribbly, as if they have been hand-written making it look much more suburban as if it was grafitti on a wall so it relevates itself with a teenage audience very well.

Magazines in America and the UK are read normally from left to right, so the common conventions are used for putting the anchorage towards one side of the page. It is commonly placed on the left hand side of the page, but in this case it used on the right hand side to create some variety for itself and seperate itself from the rest of the market. However, the masthead looks as if it has been stamped upon the cover with the use of its font, highlighting attitude in the magazine. Its what they want from their audience.

A graphic feature is used on the cover in the form of a circle to create excitement that not only do they recieve this magazine, but also get a FREE CD so they gain more appeal to the audience. The feature article photo also appeals to the audience also, because it creates fun and immaturity within the emotions that are portrayed on their faces. Hayley Williams then portrays herself once again as the frontwoman of the band by pushing her way through the rest of the band and with the use of thirds in the image, her bright hair is in the top third but it is also in the middle to make it eyecatching.

With the anchorage of the main article, in the biggest text is just the name of the band Paramore, therefore people are drawn into just that straightaway. Cover lines are also accompaning the main-heading, so it adds extra information so the readers know what they are reading.

In both of these magazine covers they reach out their audiences of teenagers well with the use of text and bright colours because texts to attract them. The conventions of barcodes and where they are allocated along with the anchorage of the page so it follows the cultural aspects of the magazine. However, with my creating a Japanese magazine cover, I need to use Japanese text, but as I dont know that much Japanese, I will only use it for the masthead or the main article heading for my magazine, and then accompany it with English text.

10. Photoshop Practise Task...

PHOTOGRAPHY PRACTISE TASK
Before we started to work on our college magazines, we went through a practise task to learn how the program Photoshop works. This is an image editing program that I will use throughout the course for my music magazine and many other parts of the course.

For the practise task, I was asked to create a perfume advert, with the use of a background, a perfume bottle, text and a photo of a model to promote the perfume. This is my final result:

9. J-Pop/Punk

J-POP/PUNK

The music genre of my magazine is based on the sub-genre of pop/punk under the main title of rock music, however, with my music magazine I still want to press onto this genre of music, but also explore this musical genre in another part of the world. Japan is the second most succesfull part of the world with music. J-Pop is one of the most popular genres, however J-Pop/Punk also has a large popularity.

I have decided to use this genre of music within my music magazine, because it is something very different, and I have a personal love for Japan. Secondly, I am a big fan of pop/punk music and I wanted to explore how it is percieved in a different culture with my music magazine and this will also help me to see what magazine conventions are used in another culture as well.

NIGHTMARE

Nightmare are one of the most famous J-Pop/Punk bands in Japan and have recieved commercial success with their released albums and singles. They came together in 2003 through highschool friendships and soon gained popularity by playing in local venues, creating a popularity. Once they recieved their commercial success in Japan and became signed, they moved onto larger venues, eventually landing sold out gigs. After a few years of touring and releasing popular music, the band then donated two of their songs (one of them called The World) and they were used as the themetune of one of Japan's most legendry animes, Deathnote (the first 19 episodes).

They have released 11 albums in total since 2003:

Ultimate Circus (December 25, 2003)


Livid (November 25, 2004)


Anima (February 22, 2006)


Gianism Best Ofs (June 21, 2006)


The World Ruler (February 27, 2007)


Nightmare 2003-2005 Single Collection (January 30, 2008)


Kyokuto Symphony ~The Five Stars Night~ @Budokan (February 27, 2008)


Killer Show (May 21, 2008)


Majestical Parade (May 13, 2009)


Gianizm (January 1, 2010)


Historical ~The Highest Nightmare~ (October 20, 2010)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nightmare_(band)

Their style of music in the Western world would be considered as typical pop, however due to the heavy use of electric guitar riffs and powerful drum beats, Nightmare are considered as rock and punky pop in their home country. Nightmare's lyrics are also very poetic, like a lot of Japanese lyrics are, so they conform well the the typical Japanese style of music and lyrics.

Nightmare conform with their image to the pop/punk genre well, but also keep up the typical style that Japan has. Each member is equal within the group, therefore all of their articles of clothing are very similiar, whereas American pop/punk bands seem to have a frontman/woman to reach out to a specific audience. Nightmare all wear dark colours to conform to the 'emo' title, and heavy accessories and wild hair is also used to highlight the culture that they come from. They do not look like a typical 'put-together' American band, but they are from Japan, the other side of the world, a different perception of their style within a different culture.

HIKARI UTADA

Hikari Utada is one of the many popular music artists within Japan, and one of the most famous too. She is also an international star and has achieved a lot of success in America and Europe. She will be one of the many influences of my musical artists with reaching out to different cultures with her music.

Utada (stagename) came to the spotlight in 1998 with her first album First Love. She is one of the most honest acts within the Japanese Pop circuit due to her having a different aim with her music than other female artists. While many want to be percieved to their fans as 'idols' Utada is more focused on the sound of the music rather than the image she puts across. This is heavily shown in the image on the left. Where most female Japanese acts would wear wacky fashion to stand out, Utada wears simple jeans and t-shirts, so her music stands out rather than her as a person.

Utada's first compliation album Utada Hikaru Single Collection Vol.1 set a record for her. Due to the exceptional success of the album in Japan, it became the best-selling album of 2004 in Japan, and it made Utada the only solo or group artist to reach number 1 four times in a year. She is also famous for promoting her songs on the Kingdom Heart's video games, so this has helped her to promote her music to a gaming audience also, due to video games being a craze in Japan.

Once again, in typical Japanese style, Utada's lyrics are written poetically, for example in the chorus of her song First Love:

You will always gonna be the one

And you should know

How I wish I could have never let you go

Come into my life again

Oh, don't say no

You will always gonna be the one in my life

So true, I believe i can never find

Somebody like you

my first love

In conclusion, Utada conforms to the J-Pop scene, due to her poetic lyrics relating to heartbreak, which is something every teenager faces, so her target audience is also teenagers.

 

THE J-POP ICON

Referencing back to Utada and her trying to break away from the female trend of being an 'icon' with their music, it is a common thing in Japanese pop/punk acts to create a character within themselves with their fashion to create someone that their fans strive to be like, so of course, they are percieved as an 'idol'.

 

One example of an icon within the Japanese music circuit is a band called Lazy. When they were signed they were originally a traditional hard-rock band, however their record company envisioned them to be icons, therefore they changed their music to become poppier, and transformed their whole image. Gone were the typical rock pieces of clothing and these were replaced with monikers, costumes and well-balances singles. This transformation then created a dislike in the band, eventually leading to their break up.

 

From that, as well as the fun and brightness that Japanese music has, it does have its downfalls within the music industry. From Lazy's story it seems that many artists may not be writing and expressing what they truly want to in songs. They are all conformed to the target genre that the record companies want them to target. Pop and pop/punk in Japan are the most popular genres of music, and the rest of the world recognises Japan through that sound. However, it does seem to come at a price, so these artists have to sacrifice their creative preferences with their sound and create a different one to attract a specific audience.

8. Magazine Conventions

Magazine Conventions

7. Research For My Music Magazine...

MY MUSIC MAGAZINE RESEARCH
For my music magazine that I have been asked to create, after the practical task of a college magazine, I then decided to research musical arists within the pop/punk genre for my artist on the front cover. The reason for this research is that music magazines always have a main act or artists that the magazine issue revolves around, if that being an interview or a poster special. In a previous post blog, I posted a slideshow of different bands that are stereotyped into the pop/punk genre. From that slideshow I used bands that I used in there to help me with my research for a cover star. What will their style be? What will their attitudes be in like in interviews?

Due to many pop/punk bands being male dominated I decided to create a female solo artists to make a point that females can create pop/punk music as well as the males. Firstly, I looked at how they dresses, so I researched females within the pop/punk circuit.

                                                                 Hayley Williams

 Hayley Williams, the frontwoman of the pop/punk band Paramore, is one of the most influential and popular female musicians in the world within that genre of music. One of the most famous parts of her is her bright orange, that hightlights her wild personality. She follows the stereotype of an emo within the pop/punk genre due to her pale skin, wild hairstyle, and bright clothes. However, due to the pop/punk genre mainly male dominated, Hayley tries to highlight how much females can also be part of the genre. In this genre she is wearing a tank top, a skirt and some tights, to get into touch with her feminine side. It colour co-ordinates with her style to stress that her wild attitude is all over. She also adds a little sexual hint to her, by briefly looking over shoulder, but also pulls the peace sign to highlight her friendly nature.

 In this image of Hayley Williams, she is smiling sweetly to make her look innocent and uphold the 'girl-next-door' persona, so she is a suitable role model to young people due to more them listening to pop/punk music. Once again, the more drawn part of the image is the bright hair colour of Hayley, therefore it shows that she is always the centre of attention. This also highlights her popularity within the pop/punk genre. She is also smiling sweetly to add an effortless beauty to the shot to send a message out to her audience (preferably female) that they don't need to make too much of an effort to look good. She is wearing the minimum so it also shows that make-up doesn't have to heighten anyone's beauty.

 This picture on the left is the perfect example of the character that Hayley portrays when she is on stage. A large part of her image is filled with the colour orange, her hair, her make-up and her microphone. This creates an image of Hayley so when the colour orange appears, the audience connects that with her. She is wearing bright make-up to break down the barrier with her audience. They are not just watching her perform on stage with her band Paramore, but they are also having a party with her performance of music. She also wears simple black and white colours, so it doesn't take away the attention of her bright orange hair. Also, from this image, the hair compares itself to her vocals, powerful and wild. Her mouth being posed wide open also stresses this.

 I really wanted to use this image, because it would help me heavily when it came to the creation of the double page spread in my magazine. Yet again, just like she was on stage, she is wearing plain-coloured clothes so it doesn't take the spotlight away from her hair. The layout of the page also goes along with her image being associated with the colour orange, the background is orange and some of the text is too. Her style is casual in this image, so it once again says to the target audience that they don't have to make too much of an effort to make a statement with their style. In Hayley's pose, she looks really attractive, but then she pulls a face to add to the childish humour that she has, a common personality trait in pop/punk bands.

I really wanted to use this image to show Hayley's style, because it portrays a good message to the audience that they don't have to dress up for important events such as interviews, because it's really all about the music. In this image of her being interviewed, Hayley has her hair tied back and is wearing casual clothes as if she is just going to spend the whole day at home. This image also highlights how small Hayley is to other people so her attitude and personality runs along the saying: 'Big things come in small packages.'

Taylor Momsen

 Taylor Momsen was part of the mainstream circuit at the beginning of her career, with acting parts as Jenny Humphrey in Gossip Girl and being one of the final girls to be Hannah Montana before the part was eventually given to Miley Cyrus. In my opinion, now that Taylor has grown up, I believe she has wanted to change her image to a whole new level, and I believe she has accomplished that very well. At the beginning she was like a Barbie, plucked to perfection, but now her style is much more grungy and messy. In this image, Taylor is exposing her slim figure with a messy chequered shirt, tank top and shorts. Her hair is also long and messy to add to the grunge persona of her image. However, she still keeps up her Hollywood status by the stereotypical wearing of sunglasses while walking through LA.

 Taylor, like her everyday style, wears very little when she performs on stage. In this image on the left her hair is messy once again, but she is also wearing a flimsy red dress, the colour represenatation symbolising lust, to add sexuality to her image, but it could also highlight the anger she may have being portrayed as 'Barbie' type. The strap of her dress also drops off her shoulder to expose her a little more, so it creates the transtition from the 'girl-next-door' to a sexy woman. Her thin frame also adds to the persona that many females have in the pop/punk genre due to them all being very thin due their wild movements on stage. Taylor is also resembling her hand to a gun to her head in the image, so this represents the controversy in her lyrics, but it could also be a negative influence for her audiences, just in case there are girls listening to her who knew her from Gossip Girl.

 In this image, Taylor looks a little cleaner and prepped up for the sake of a photoshoot. Instead of her long blonde hair being wavy and messy, in this image it is sleeked over her shoulders and straightened to highlight her beauty. She is also a model as well as an actress and a singer, therefore the long hair also highlights her tall, skinny frame as a model. However, her grungy style is still displayed in this image with the frayed edges of her jacket. Taylor has a signature part of her style (like Hayley Williams with her hair) but Taylor Momsen is known for her heavy use of stockings and heavy eyeshadow, and many times she has been called a 'raccon' because of it. I believe it conforms to the 'emo' genre within the pop/punk circuit because it is the heavy use of the colour black.

 In this image Taylor is posing once again, to highlight the fact that she is a model but she also portrays many other things. The dark use of colour with the prop of a sofa creates an 'emo' style within the picture and it accessories well with her dark use of colour within her style. She is wearing red lipstick and a red dress to heavily imply her sexiness, despite her only being seventeen. Then again it goes along with her age very well because girls at that age experiment a lot for their own individual style.

Despite her sexual and skimpy, grungy style, Taylor Momsen doesn't want to be see as a 'whore', as she has been labelled that by fans due to her style. In this image, I think she is trying to get away with that name but still wnts to maintain her style. In this image, she looks 'emo' once again with her heavy use of the colour black with the use of her heavy eyeshadow and jacket. Her hair is also long, blonde and grungy to add to her style. But in this image it highlights her face, so it shows her natural beauty not her sexual beauty. The picture is also in black and white to make her look sophisticated and a 'slut'.

                                                                     Cassadee Pope

Cassadee Pope is well known for being the frontwoman of the pop/punk band Hey Monday, which came to the fame and fortune thanks to the pop/punk phenomenon, Pete Wentz, from Fall Out Boy. Her band was signed to Decay Dance a few years ago and have recently released a second album. In relation to Hayley Williams, Cassadee Pope is also known for her trademark hair (in this case brown and blonde), and her just as powerful voice, therefore a typical thing for the fans to do is compare them. I do believe there a lot of similarities between the girls so they do relate to the female style of the pop/punk genre very much. Cassadee Pope's style is very casual, for example in the image above. She is wearing a bright blue hoodie, skinny jeans and a pair of sneakers. Her style may be natural to her, but it may have been heavily influenced by her mentor in the music business, Pete Wentz, due to him wearing a lot of hoodies when he is seen. However, even though Cassadee is wearing something casual, she is still trying to look pretty through her modest, sweet 'girl-next-door' pose. She is trying to send out the message (her female fans preferably) that you don't have to wear loads of make-up or stylish clothes to look beautiful. Let the natural beauty come out.

 In this image of Cassadee, it is easy to identify that she is heavily influenced for her presence on stage by Hayley Williams.. She is stood up strongly, her head leaned back so her powerful vocals can soar and amaze her audience. However, due to her not wanting to be compared to Hayley Williams as a 'wannabe' she adds a much more girly look to her onstage fashion. She is wearing a casual look once again, but has added feminine colours and a waistcoat to highlight her curves to make herself look more girly and attractive to males in her audience. She has also aimed to have  the waistcoat as a signature piece of clothing to identify her with. She has mentioned this in an interview.

 Cassadee is around a lot of male attention when she goes on the road, therefore of course she would want to stay in touch with her feminine roots. Where the other members of the band are wearing dark colours to look masculine, Cassadee wears bright colours. Not to make her stand out as the frontwoman but to also show her girly side. That she is still herself even though she is around a lot of guys when on tour.

 The Decay Dance label is a business but it also seems to be like a family. All of the acts that have been signed to the label are all very close friends and spend a lot of time together when they see each other, on tour and off. Cassadee has a good friendship with the person who gave her fame and fortune, Pete Wentz. The image on the right implies that they are very close, and their comical expressions ensinuate that their friendship is not just business but very personal too. This image on the left of Cassadee Pope and Pete Wentz implies that even though Cassadee is always working on tour, she is still herself and has fun whenever she can. She wants to show that the fame hasn't gone to her head.

In photoshoots, such as the one on the right, Cassadee doesn't make too much effort, therefore she is promoting to her fans that they don't have to make too much of an effort to stand out as an individual. That means her target audience are teenagers due to them all having a phase when they try to discover themselves and try to create their own sense of style. In this image on the right, Cassadee pulls a face to conform to the immaturity that all people in the pop/punk genre have.  Once again, she is just wearing a simple top and jeans, but in this photoshoot she has added a little jewellery to add to her style especially for this photo. The heart is also used to show how much of a heart she is and that she is a real person and hasn't been caught up in all of the hype that Hey Monday have recieved.



My Conclusion

From the research I have undertaken with the females within the pop/punk genre, I have decided what type of person my cover star will be for my magazine. Hayley Williams and Cassadee Pope have a lot in common, they have a simple style with a feminine touch to show their girly side, and also have a lot of presence when their on stage with the use of bright colours and make up. However, I also like the grungy style of Taylor Momsen, because even though she fits in with the pop/punk genre, I do believe she is trying to heighten the stereotype of its fashion by creating her own. She also has her own morals, not caring of setting a bad example eg. when she puts a hand as gun to her head.

Therefore my cover girl with have a signature part of her style, like Cassadee Pope and Hayley Williams, but it will defy the stereotype so her stule will be quite grungy. She will have a good presence when in interviews, expressing her honest opinion, not caring what people think, but then again she does come across good morals.

Many pop/punk artists mainly reach themselves out to the Western World audience (Europe, UK and US), so I want my music artists to reach out to the Eastern World, so her some of her style will be influenced by cultures from countries such as Japan and China.

Her target audience is for teenage girls throughout the world, but mainly to the Eastern world to reach out to an audience not many other pop/punk acts have done. Her style will be relevant to her target audience but it will also be outrageous to make an impact. My music artist incorporates a reflective representation by creating a replica of the Japanese fashion scene, but she also incorporates an intentional approach by her concentrating on creating an impression of the Japanese style, because she hasn't experienced it to see the true style of it. She is only acting out what she sees and inteprets.

My Music Artist for My Music Magazine