Nme front cover analysis

1. The Masthead Is in
bold display front
in the same place
every issue. The
bold font is used
which draws
attention to itself,
informing the
readerships easily.
The colour red of the
masthead follows
indie rock
conventions. Red is
loud and attention
grabbing. Also
primary colours are
used to attract male
audiences which the
target audience for
NME. Also the
colours red white
and blue represent
British pride.
The main sell line
‘The Record that
changed my life’
emphasises how
Indie music can play
a big role in
someone's life.
When the
readership see this,
it could affect their
opinion on how the
record will be
accepted by them.
If the magazine are
saying how good
the record is, the
readership will be
influenced to agree.
The text front of the
main sell line is
written in a script font
which makes the
relationship with the
readership more
intimate and personal.
This helps the
readership connect
which can encourage
them to purchase the
magazine.
The sell lines follow the convention of being
placed left hand third as that is where the
audiences eye first go. The sell lines are listing
indie rock bands which emphasises the music
genre being indie rock. The sell line revealing
content about what is inside, tells the readership
the bands are included, letting them know if
they will be interested be what’s inside.
‘They’ve picked theirs… what's yours?’
uses direct address in order to connect
with the audience connecting with
them and drawing them in
encouraging them to buy the
magazine and have their own opinion.
The skyline informs the readership about
one of the artists that will appear in the
magazine and tells them If they will be
interested with what is inside. Using two
different colours help them stand out and
draw more attention to them
The Puff is in bright red which sticks with the indie
rock colour theme of the magazine. The colour is
loud and grabs the readerships attention. Red also
follows the colours of the British flag. The shape is
different therefore draws more attention. The
content of the puff interests the indie audience.
The barcode and the price is hidden small
in the corner to make it harder for the
readership to see at first. If the first thing
the readership see in the price it may be
off-putting .
If the readership want to buy the magazine
they will have to look for the price.
The puff provides information that will entice
the readership to look through and encourage
them to buy it.
The is enough shared information to grab the
readerships attention as it tells them what they
are able to find out inside the magazine.
The puff uses Buzz words such as “ultimate”
which will also grab the readerships attention
and excite them.
The puff also says “all the free gigs” which tells
the readership that the magazine has all the
information that the readership will need to
know about gigs and they will enjoy it. Using
the word gig is also a work used often within
Indie music genre. The indie audience
appreciates knowing about gigs as they
regularly attend them in their spare time.
The statement suggests that the target
audience are fans of music gigs and will like the
other music information provided in the
magazine.

2. The title of the magazine ‘NME’ is
written in acronyms which suggests
a more modern and quick to read.
Making it easier for the readership.
NME stands for New Music Express
which straight away tells the readers
that the magazine contains new
music
The masthead is written in uppercase
bold display font which is stereotypes
more for males suggesting the target
audience is mostly males.
The typeface is written in a clean tidy
font suggesting the readership has a
clear interest in the real music instead
of bubble-gum pop.
The red suits the bold font as the colour
red also gets the readerships attention.
As well as the colours red, white and blue
featuring representing the like between the
British flag and the British bands that
celebrate the British music heritage.
the magazine features the colour black.
The colour black helps support a masculine
feel to the magazine exaggerating the male
target audience and a more serious tone to
the magazine.
The colours also support the fact that the
magazine is an indie rock and alternative
rock magazine.
The main image is of Alex Turner who is the
lead singer of Arctic Monkeys which is a
popular Indie rock / alternative rock band.
Alex turner is wearing a black shirt and his
style suits the magazines genre of music.
Alex Turner also has a red rose on his black
shirt which is related to an English rose
emphasising the British theme of the front
cover.
His facial expression is staring straight into
the camera giving direct address giving him
the effect of looking at the audience.
The Vinyl is an important prop as it is a
conventional prop within the indie genre.
It is a convention of music
magazines to list bands and artists
on the front of the cover as it makes
the readership feel like they are
getting more for their money. The
list like structure suggests the
number of bands featured is
endless.
The list also encourages them to
look inside and purchase the
magazine.
The whole magazine layout follows typical
magazine conventions such as the sell lines
and masthead being played in the correct
area on the page.
The extra sell lines placed on the right
are smaller suggesting the lower
importance how ever the use of different
colours still draws attention to them.

3. The masthead is in bold display
font appearing in the same place in
every issue. The bold font used to
draw attention to itself being able
to easily inform the readership
what it is. The orange colour of the
masthead is a stereotypical colour
for this genre of music because
similarly to the genre orange is
loud and bold and attracts the
target audience of mostly males
The main sell line ‘ the reinvention of
Mark Ronson’ This will interest the
readers because Mark Ronson was
normally categorised as hip-hop but has
now made the change to more indie,
which will interest indie listeners. This
reinvention would interest the readers
too see his new style and genre and if
they will enjoy it also depending on the
magazines review of the reinvention of
Mark Ronson.
The colour of the sell line is also in
orange, matching the masthead. Again,
the orange is bright and bold which Is
successful inn catching the readerships
attention. The font is also in bold display
to catch the attention of the readership. It
is important for the main sell line to catch
the readerships attention as it tells them
what the magazine contains and is the
readership will like it or not influencing
their decision in purchasing it or not.
The sells lines keep conventions as they are placed left hand third. This is because everyone's
eyes start reading left therefore the readership will first see these sell lines. All three sell lines
are the name of a bad in bold then underneath what the readership can read about them. This
also influences their decision in buying the magazine.
The skyline is in a black banner with white writing
which is successful in catching the readerships
attention. Buzz words like ‘free’ and ‘special’ are
also used to get the readerships attention. The
target audience is directed to page 16 for
something special. The size and placement
suggests importance
The bottom sell lines are all still
names of bands and artists that
will feature in the magazine
enticing the readership even more
telling them the bands they like
feature in the magazine
The collectors issue makes it more
personal and special for the readership
as it is limited edition.
The collectors edition is only for the
loyal buyers of this magazine.
The name of the magazine ‘NME’ is
written in acronym suggesting it is
modern and non nonsense, and inside
the magazine will be the same.
Modern music straight to the point.
Underneath the acronym title, the full
name is underneath in small print in
case anyone who isn’t a regular
reader of the magazine doesn’t know
what the acronym stands for. ‘New
Musical Express’ telling the reader
straight away the magazine contains
new music.
When the readership see the lists of
bands as sell lines it makes them think
they are getting more for their money
encouraging them to buy the magazine.

4. The typeface of the masthead is bold,
solid and clear. Suggesting that the
target audience is mostly males
because of the bold font. It is
uncluttered and not fussy which
suggests the target audience has a
hard-core, pure interest in music and
not bubble gum pop.
The orange colour of the masthead is
stereotypical indie colour. Yellow,
black and white are also stereotypical
colours for indie magazines. Orange is
bold colour similar to the indie rock
genre.
Mark Ronson is the main
image of the front cover which
conventionally takes up most
of the page. Mark Ronson’s
hair and outfit suit the indie
rock style because of the
greased back hair and denim
jacket. He also has the typical
Indie style hair cut for males.
He Is using direct address
making it more personal to
the readership.
Mark Ronson is also holding a
broken trumpet which is
linking to the text of the sell
lines. ‘No more trumpets’.
Because the trumpet it broken
it is showing how it is no
longer needed by him as he is
changing to a more indie style.
The broken trumpet
represents his determination
to change style, how
committed he is to this.
The black shirt Mark Ronson is
wearing emphasises the rock
side of indie and also the male
target audience of NME/
The Black colours on the cover also
create a more serious and masculine
tone to the magazine. The colour
black also implies indie rock and
alternative rock.
The barcode is following
conventions being hidden away in
the bottom right corner. This way it
will be harder for the readership to
find it so the price doesn’t put the
buyer off.
The list like structure of the sell lines
of artists suggests a never ending list
and the readership is getting more for
their money
The skyline using the colour pink on the name of
the band to draw attention. The different type
face also draws attention to the band. Having a
magazine about that band inside emphasises the
genre of the music the audience likes.
The pug provides information that
will entice the readership to look
through and encourage them to
buy it.
The magazine front cover follows
general layout conventions such as
the main image taking up the
majority of the page and the main sell
being places in the bottom left of the
page.