The document analyzes the contents pages of two music magazines, NME and Q Magazine. The analyses note that both magazines use color schemes and images from cover stories to draw readers in on the contents pages. Band indexes and categorized listings help readers easily find articles of interest. Advertisements also aim to increase subscriptions. Overall, the layouts are designed to attract audiences and guide them to compelling magazine content.

1. Analysis of 3 Music Magazine
Contents Pages

2. Contents page NME (SEPT 2009) ANALYSIS
The masthead on the The date is required to
contents page follows colour show when the issue was
scheme of cover and the published.
same ‘NME’ is used.
The subheadings and
Main image is related page numbers continue
to the article below. the colour scheme of black
The two are anchored white and red. The
together by the same subheadings match the
image which is related masthead.
to touring and live
music. Contents with description
and page number give
The band index lists all audience insight into each
the artists featured in feature in the magazine.
this issue. The page
numbers are a different Advertisement for
colour to the band subscription on contents
names because they page suggests that the
need to stand out so magazine is so good, you’ll
that readers can easily want to sign up to receive it
see where to turn in the every week before you’ve
magazine. opened it.
Editors introduction to contents of
magazine gives the reader and
The image has been put
insight into what is featured in the
in a frame with a drop
magazine. Readers should feel that
shadow to make it look
they can trust the editor as they
like a photo that has been
have a major role in completing the
dropped on the page.
magazine.
This relates to the The contents page is laid out into 3 columns which
nostalgia of live music contrast one another so that they are clear and easy to
follow.

3. ANALYSIS OF CONTENTS PAGE 2
(Q Magazine, October 2008)
The masthead on the
contents page follows colour
scheme of the cover.
Image from main article in this
issue is also the main image
The features of this issue of on the contents page. It is
the magazine are separated accompanied by a page
from regular contents so that number, title and pull quote to
the audience are attracted to make it more appealing to the
them. target audience.
The list of monthly features is
much shorter, which suggests
that the magazine focuses on
new music and current news. This section lists the reviews
of albums, gigs, DVDs, books
and other medias related to
music. There is a puff to make
the target audience believe
The layout of this contents that the critics in Q magazine
page categorises all the are reliable and at the top of
contents to help the target their game.
audience find what they made
the purchase for. It is effective
because it makes all parts of
the magazine look important.