Task5

Specific research into a style model for my magazine (VIBE)About

VIBE was created by Quincy Jones in 1993.The music magazine that featured R&B artists was shut down in 2009, following this an independent company ‘IntermediaStudio’ took ownership and released an issue monthly. According to wwh.com Intermedia Studios said they "feel privileged to purchase and resurrect such a storied brand. “ The publisher of VIBE is Len Burnett. The parent company is Vibe Media based in New York. At their ten year anniversary they published a book on hip-hop culture. Total circulation currently stands at 301,408.

Target Audience

The target demographic of VIBE is for young urban artists whose interests pursue R’n’B (rhythm and blues) and hip-hop cultures. The magazine includes features of these artists such as ALICIA KEYS, WU TANG CLAN, MARY JBLIDGE, NOTORIOUS B.I.G and EVE.

Contents

The magazine has consistent features in order to withhold sales as customers may buy the magazine for certain features which from independent research prove popular. Well received articles include: Revolutions music reviews, Vibe confidential a celebrity gossip column, Next which are profiled up and coming artists, and also provides double page spreads of designer clothing complementary to the hip-hop and R'n'B theme for instance JAY-Z Roc-A-Fella clothing line, NELLYS’ Apple Bottom Jeans. They would also cover exclusives on anniversaries, national holidays or following a major event. Mark Shaw is the magazine artistic director a lot has attributed to him, alongside other writers: Erica Kennedy and Sacha Jenkins.

Covers

Vibe magazine is well known for having MARYJBLIDGE a black American R’n’B singer on their covers. Famous covers are of TREYSONGZ, BRANDY MARSHA AMBROSIUS MARIAH CAREY AND SNOOP DOG. VIBE often releases covers of celebrities’ debut appearances also.

Other modes of VIBE

VIBE has also released books on anniversaries of special features which are more hip-hop based, with over 150 images in the hardback books. Vibe Vixen is an affiliated magazine geared toward the female audience of the original VIBE. It includes fashion tips, clothing, beauty and dating for the ‘urban minded females’. However Vixen suggests that the initial magazine is not balanced in gender contents as the hip-hop culture is prominently African American and male dominant and so raises the question as to whether the audience of VIBE is too selective. They also aired a few episodes of a late night talk show presented by Chris Spencer, in Los Angeles in 1998 attracting young urban audiences. There are also DVD’s and CD’s on the same platform as VIBE, as well as apps available on the Iphone and Ipod. VIBE has a YouTube channel, VIBE on Demand and is accessible via online.

References from the recently updated VIBE website

Subheadings which include: News, Photos, Videos, Music, Music TV, Styles, Vixen. There is links to social networks that attract young audiences who are involved in networking such as Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, YouTube, MySpace. There is also the brand name and link of NEWERA, which demonstrates VIBE’s current, modern significance. It looks very professional with the background being a black material appearing as a branded clothing and white and yellow as the text showing its underground and modern themes. It is very visual as it is online and so grabs the audience attention with the many features it has.

GOOGLE IMAGES

I have chosen the genre of music R&B/HIP-Hop as it is a new and fresh style and full of culture and expression. There are many subgenres I could focus on and I currently listen to this music in my free time and so know about the style and conventions of R&B/Hip-Hop music. Artisits within this genre include, CHRIS BROWN, OMARION, MIGUEL, TREY SONGZ, FRANK OCEAN, MARSHA AMBROSIUS as well as KAYNE WEST, JAY Z, YMCMB, LUDACRIS, WACKA FLOCKA FLAME, WALE, BUSTA RYHMES and MAYBACH MUSIC GROUP.

Interview - 50 Cent being interviewed about Jay Z : http://youtu.be/FcfyPSxbSkM

There is a lot of colloquial and slang words that people who are not familiar with hip-hop

would understand. It is of Nelly talking to Westwood about JayZ: a rapper talking about a

fellow rapper. The rapper is quite mellow and calm in the interview showing his lifestyle.

He is talking about the issue of a supposed competition between JayZ and Nelly and their

image and representation. He answers with clarity and has consistent good response,

easing to relate too, and so it converges the stereotype that all hip-hop artists are

unapproachable due to their fame, their ability and their view from so high up.

In this front cover magazine for VIBE there is a masthead that is in orange, this colour is interesting as

it combines enthusiasm, succession attraction and

stimulation. Alongside this the main image of rap artist’ Nicki

Minaj’ pose reinforces the use of orange. The colour is used

throughout the main cover with th orange in the cover lines, her nails

and in the barcode. The main image is a medium long shot, her eyes aren’t not level to us as it is a slight low angle shot but they are looking toward the reader enticing them with her raised eyebrows as if asking a question. The use of a white background and her silver clothes is effective as it shows

serenity and no tension, there are no specific dark spots and so

everything is light and ‘pure’. The strap lines relate to Minaj, ‘WHY IS DRAKE SO ANGRY?’ ‘Drake’ being in capital letters shows that there is drama and evokes the reader,

her reference to NOTORIOUS K.I.N.G relates to the audience as they would know what the article

would be about by this small phrase. The barcode is in the

bottom left which is unusual as it is usually in the bottom right.