Tuesday, 30 October 2012

Why do music fans buy magazines instead of getting the information of the internet?

A music magazine is a magazine centred around the music industry, including a variety of articles about important happenings in the music industry. Music magazines typically include:
  • Reviews of albums/artists/concerts/songs, both famous and undiscovered.
  • Important music news
  • Posters of bands/artists
  • Interviews with people associated with the music industry
  • Exclusive photo-shoots
  • Gossip about bands/artists
  • Information on upcoming music events
People buy music magazine for the interesting, (generally assumed to be) quality articles about their favourite band or reviews new album that has just been released. The main controversy centred around buying music magazines is why people don’t just get the information of the internet where it is easily accessible and free? The magazine/print industry is under a lot of strain because of the ever-increasing popularity of social media and the Internet where all the information normally included in a magazine is available at a click of a mouse, free of charge. Also with the majority of the population constantly using smart phones with Internet access, you can also access the information on the go, just like you could with magazines.

Reason music fans would prefer to buy a magazine rather than find the information on the Internet:
  • The design of a magazine is more attractive and appealing, instead of reading a whole lot of text placed in a standard fashion the magazine is strategically placed to look interesting and make the reader want to read it.
  • Reading a printed magazine seems like a more enjoyable activity than looking the same information on Google. Surfing the web is very common activity in most people’s lives and most jobs require using the computer and the Internet, so reading all the information from a magazine differs from the normal task of using the web which is generally viewed as a tedious, bland activity.
  • Also magazines provide all sort of information all in one place, so instead of having to search around, you only have to open the magazine and all the information you want is at your availability
  • Since you have to pay for magazines it is generally assumed that you are reading good-quality information and it is not just any joe bloggs writing there opinion.
  • Writing article in print press has more legal rules about the truthfulness and reliability of the information being said, so is therefore assumed to be more believable than a blog on the Internet, which doesn’t have as many legal restrictions.
  • Being a dedicated music fan, buying the same magazine each month or week can bring satisfaction to the consumer that they have continued to be loyal to the magazine. Also there is an attraction for fans of a certain musical artist or band to buy a magazine purely because it contains information or and article about them, maybe because they feel they need to prove there dedication to the person(s).
  • Finally the Internet doesn’t have the added bonus of posters to stick on your wall, due to it being a purely on screen experience.

It is solely the preference of the consumer as to whether they would like to buy a magazine or read it on a digital device, but unless people are in a very comfortably well-off, buying a magazine seem like a expensive option when you can get it for free on the internet.

Tuesday, 16 October 2012

Can’t Be Tamed (Music Video) Review


Today I will review the music video ‘Can’t Be Tamed’ by Miley Cyrus. The whole video has a very eerie, spooky fell to it, relating to the lyrics of the video, and departs from Miley Cyrus younger ‘Hannah Montana’ image, while saying with the usual pop genre. It is aimed at the age range of teenagers, and t is unlikely that any parent of pre teen fans of Disney Miley, would bar them child from watching this. The video includes very provocative clothing and actions, again showing a more adult, grown up Cyrus, but still with a (old) teenage vibe. The theme of ‘Cant be tamed’ centres around Miley being a species of a aggressive, exotic animal being unveiled, representing her unveiling of her new, older, raunchy image. The song is a massive contrast to another of her recent songs ‘When I Look At You’ which displays her as a innocent young g girl, very unlike the rebellious appearance she portrays in this new video. The black feathers outfit she wears in the majority of her video, as well as her dark, dramatic make up also enhance this. There is a clip of Cyrus with displaying a more natural look, a big contrast to the other scenes, implying to fans of her previous image that she hasn’t fully gone. Overall this songs tune may be similar to her previous work, but the lyrics and video are a very dramatic change.

Exam Guidance

Exam Guidance

We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together Review

Taylor swift worked together with Max Martin and Shellback to create the song We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together. This song is the first single of her upcoming album Red, being released in October. The poppy song is a big contrast to her previous county style songs, but never the less is still catchy and continues to carry one with the typical ‘diary of a teenage girl’ love song style that she is most famous for. It has been liken’d to the style of Avril Lavigne, especially with the speech insert after the bridge, where Swift talks to the listener like they’re best friends having a conversation over the phone, helping the reader to feel a connection to Taylor and relate to the song. I was surprised that this was here first choice of song since from her new appearance and cover artwork, she looked as if she was truing to display herself as more a mature figure, and depart from her lovey-dovey teenage girl image. Even though the title is probably one of the longest song titles I’ve ever seen, the song is probably one of my favourites of her’s and is continuously stuck in my head.

Kerrang Muse Spread



Classic examples of popular music magazines.

Music Genres

Ed Sheeran + Review

Ed Sherman’s debut album was released on 12 September 2011, quickly becoming number one on the UK Albums Chart, selling 102,000 copies in its first week. The album is contrast to the other pop albums that usually dominate the charts, with its acoustic indie folk genre. The album contains a variety of songs from gentle love ballads to a fast pace R&B rap. All the songs on + display hints of Sheeran’s personal life, and are no doubt written about real events, for example ‘You Need Me, I Don’t Need You’, describes Ed’s journey to stardom and the managing issues along the way. The most unique quality of the album is the non-artificial, authencity of the album, unlike the dubsep, auto tuned stars that engulfs teenage music nowadays. With his messy ginger hair, ‘britishness’, self written love songs and guitar playing, that album + has become extremely popular with teenage girls all around, providing him to sell out multiple venues on his tour. This album has certainly made sure that he will never return to his homeless days sleeping on friends sofa, and his eagerly awaited second album should do the same.