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Magazine

Interview

Welcome Allen. Allen you are the claimed to be the ‘next big thing’ in R&B music.

(Laughs) I wouldn’t say that.

So you’ve got a new album coming out soon, tell us a little bit more about it?

The album is called ‘The Wake Up’. It is being released January 29^th. It features two of R&B’s biggest artists Jay Z and Kanye West. I also start tour on 7^thMarch which should be great.

What is you favourite track on the album and why?

Well it’s got to be Monster!! This is the one I recorded with Kanye. When I was recording music before I got famous he was the artist I inspired the most. Working with him was just amazing. He is such a great guy and hopefully I will record more tracks with him in the future. Not only that I feel this track is the track that my fans will inspire as it is about my journey of how I became famous.

So you said Kanye inspired you the most. Was there any other artists that you were inspired by?

50 cent also inspires me. But the reason Kanye inspires me the most is because his songs always having a meaning to them or are about his life.

How did you first get noticed and become famous?

Well I was making albums before I became famous but wasn’t doing anything with them. I then began to put a few of my tracks on to you tube. At the start they were only getting a few views but the more tracks I put on the more I got noticed. Then I got an email from Jay Z and he said he was interested in my music and gave me his contact number. At first I thought it was a prank. So I rang him and he said how felt about him giving me a record deal. Of course I couldn’t say no!

Wow. So 2010 was a great year for you. So how are you dealing with all the fame?

Well I have only really started to get noticed. As I have only just got into the charts last week. At the minute I am enjoying the fame. Haven’t had much paparazzi yet but I’m I have it all to come (laughs).

Where have you performed in the past?

I didn’t really perform before I got signed. But when Jay Z signed me on I was an opening act for a few artists. I performed at the O2 Arena and Newcastle Metro Radio Arena.

Out of the two what Arena had the best atmosphere?

I have got to say O2 Arena. This is the one I am most looking forward to when I do my tour in March.

You said that you were an opening act. Did you perform your own songs or did you perform covers?

Jay Z felt for my first performance it would be best if I done covers to see the audiences reaction. I agreed as I was a bit nervous about performing one of my own songs to start with. Once he heard the audience reaction he said I have got to perform my own song for the next performance. Again the audience reaction was amazing.

Does this mean you write your own songs?

Yes I write most of my songs. I write a song and see if Jay Z likes it, he normally does but sometimes he adds a few of his ideas. The track I done with Jay Z and Kanye West, we all put our ideas together to come up with the tracks.

Except for your album is there any other way you fans can gain access to your music?

A few of my songs are already on Itunes and once my album is out my album will also be on there. I also have a website so my fans can write to me and ask me questions. I have songs on my website which they can download. Some of the songs on my website are exclusive and are not on my album.

For people trying to become artists what advice would you give them?

Erm well just keep trying to get noticed. Try a few gigs and clubs and pubs got to start somewhere. Or just keep putting songs on you tube and with luck you might get noticed.

Is there anything else you would like to say?

Thank you for having me. And to all my fans buy my album and come to the tour it will be great.

It’s been great having you here and I hope your album gets many sales. We also hope your tour goes very well. Best of luck for the future.

Questionairre

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Focus group

Questionnaire results

The main things I found out in my results was that my gender was mainly females so I will need to make it appeal to males also as I am aiming at both genders. It also showed my that my target audience were ranged between 13-22 this was what I was aiming for. By having a wide range of target audience I will need to add different times of things that will attract all ages. I will do this by making my magazine look really mature. The main music type chosen was R&B which is the type of magazine I am doing. Pop was also a popular one so I will add some artists that are aimed at pop as well as R&B, this will make it appeal to a wider range of audience. My target audience want a new artist so my main article will be about a new artist, this will be and interview about different things that will appeal to a wider range of people. The main colour scheme was sliver, purple and black this aims at both genders and will attract both genders. Also these colours are unique and will catch the audience attention as it will stand out from competition. All of these questions will help me decide on my magazine. If I follow all of my results then my magazine should they stand out to my target audience.

To improve my questionnaire I could have asked about the hobbies they had as then it could have help me to decide what topics I could put in my contents page so it makes them want to read about it.