This magazine focuses on music and has a readership of 550,000 people with a median age of 29. It has a younger, affluent audience and aims to provide coverage of good music across all genres through its reviews. The editor's mission is for the magazine to be a beacon for music of substance by guiding readers through the best music each month. The magazine uses simple, dark front covers featuring a single artist in medium close-up shots against an uncomplicated background. The covers focus on red, white and black to keep the design sleek and avoid being too busy or colorful to appeal to their target audience.

1. Magazine research

2. • Publisher: Bauer Media, a German
publishing company based in Hamburg,
with a worldwide readership.
• Circulation: 89,450
• Readership: 550,000
• Median age of reader:29
• % of male readers: 68%
• % of female readers: 32%
Q magazine has a younger and affluent
audience, and they aim to provide good
music, whatever the genre. It is the UKs
biggest music magazine and its influence is
key to shaping the views and opinions of
both readers and artists.
The mission
‘Q is a Bastian for music of substance –
guiding its readers through just the good
stuff in all forms of music each month via
its unparalleled access and Q Review, the
world’s biggest and best music guide.’
Paul Rees- Editor in Chief

3. Masthead
Selling line
Secondary lead/
sub image
Feature article
photo
Kicker
Cover line
Headline
Anchorage
Barcode
Date line
banner
Menu strip
Kicker
The style of front cover is very
dark, all three covers feature a
simple, straight angle medium
close-up, or close up of the
featured artist. The
set/background is
uncomplicated, no extravagant
costumes or obscure makeup.
They seem to focus on using
red, white and black, again
keeping it simple and not
overcrowding the page with
colour.
I think this style would appeal
to their audience because it
seems sleeker and more stylish
than magazines that aim to
please a younger audience by
using bright and busy front
covers.
It is very informative of what is
inside, making the perhaps
more important stories stand
out more by making them
larger.
Black and white
photo, older,
representing age
of band/artist.
More modern photo,
contemporary style. Rain
used and more dramatic
lighting
buzzword
Kicker

4. Masthead
Selling line
Feature article
photo
Headline
Anchorage
Kicker
Barcode
Dateline
This special edition front cover differs
from their regular edition front covers.
They break their pattern of featuring
only one artist in the photo, and instead
have a collection of artists. They stick to
their usual colour scheme, red and black,
they also use grey, and they have
coordinated the artists outfits to centre
around dark colours, but different styles
and patters are used to suit the artists
individuality. Hints of pink are thrown in
through the women’s dress and lipstick.
The pink of the
woman's dress and the
woman’s lipstick
highlights the fact that
they are women among
men. Emphasises the
importance of
recognition of women
in music.
The selling line is very bold in itself, “The UK's
Biggest Music Magazine is a very bold
statement and one the feel worthy to make.
Nothing much else on the cover, all the main focus is on the
headline, and the photograph. Nothing else to distract the
readers eye from them.

5. Masthead, black,
white and red. In
keeping with the
colours of the front
cover. Keeps it looking
professional and
stylish.
A smart and suave font, in keeping with the feel of
the magazine, and also is very representative of the
audience and their age.
Main feature photo,
U2, photograph is
representative of the
bands style, genre,
mood, single/album. Still
orientates around a dark
colour pallet, to follow
the theme of the rest of
the magazine.
Feature photo. Smaller,
less important.
Secondary. Again, done in
a style that actively
represents who the band
are, yet still follows the
magazines original
themes.Feature photo, more contemporary than other photographs,
emphasises how modern this artist is compared to the others.
Buzz word, draws the readers in,
makes them interested and
intrigued. Buzz words are used to
make the reader feel more
involved and as if they are the
first to be experiencing this
information.
Informative about the
contents while still being
sophisticated and stylish. Clear
and concise in its layout.
A contents page is used to
inform the readers of what's
inside and on what pages they
can find it. Q magazine still
manages to maintain its style
while still being professional
and informative. The
prolonged use of the colours
red and black are reassuring
and familiar to the reader,
making it flow easier and not
seem random.

6. Headline
The use of the
name as the
headline informs
us of who the
article is about,
lets us decide
whether we will
read it or not.
The font is bold
and stands out,
black which is in
keeping with the
rest of the
magazine.
Anchorage. This sentence is provocative,
picked from the text, which in context would
make sense. Using a quote like this with no
further explanation, and no way for us to
understand except to read the article, means
we are intrigued even more into reading. It
entices us to keep reading.
Masthead. Letting us know what section
of the magazine this is and the tone it will
carry. In this case, we know that this will
be an interview.
Main feature photograph.
Shows us what the artist
looks like now. Again, very
dark colours used in clothing.
Tattoos
featured
in the
photo,
important
to the
artist.
Piece of the
text picked
out,
provocative
and
encourages
further
reading.
Feature photograph. Smaller, showing what the artist
looked like at his peak, how people who listened to him
would have seen him. Lets us see the change in
appearance, style. The photos are however similar, with
the same lighting and similar pose used.
Questions asked in
bold, stand out more. Artists answers in finer
font.

7. • Mojo magazine was originally
published by Emap, but since 2008
has been published by Bauer media.
• Circulation: 91,678
• Readership: 218,000
• Mean age of reader: 37
It’s the largest UK music magazine in the
world, it delivers iconic photography and
world class journalism. It is the brand for
people who are obsessed and serious about
music. Their audience is slightly older than
most, as they heavily feature artists and
bands that todays younger generation have
never heard of or are not interested in. That
being said, they do also cover
contemporary and modern artists as well.
They feature both mainstream and
alternative music, covering all bases to
please a wider audience.
The mission
Mojo is an educator, a living archive
and a trusted source of musical
excellence. Mojo provides
its audience with an authentic,
independent, and emotional
connection to the music. Its also
the last word on what’s good, for music
that is timeless, and where to go next.
Mojo is loved
by its readers, the music industry, and
by musicians alike, because it engages
them on the
subject they love the most.

8. Masthead
Selling lineBuzz words
barcode
Main feature
photograph
Banner
Headline
Anchorage
Kicker
The front cover main photograph is in
black and white, perhaps highlighting
the age of the artist. The other
colours on the cover focus around the
colours that Bowie was fond of, even
incorporating part of the background
into his image, creating his iconic face
paint. The words and headline are all
done in the same colours to tie the
whole cover together. I think as a
front cover, this appeals to their
audience as it reminds the readers of
who he once was, and brings back
feelings that they once had. It’s a very
simple front cover, its clear who the
focus of this issue is and we are drawn
in by the bright colours, loud headline
and suggestive kickers and sub-
headlines. Uses simple, smooth font
to get the point across. Buzz words
are used to draw the reader in.
More modern
group
More
kickersLess singular focus
Still simple colours
Not a
complicated and
random layout

9. Special edition
Selling lineMasthead
masthead
Anchorage
Main feature photograph
Kicker/buzz word
Menu strip
Feature photo
Feature photo
Feature photo
The special edition has a
more complicated and
colourful layout to
correspond with the
main feature of the
magazine.
Less of a smooth font,
instead a more fitting
font is used to match
the layout,
photographs, colour
and style of the front
cover.
Feature photograph is
grainier, older, showing its
older and setting the tone
for this issue.
Very 60s/70s style font,
hippy and flower power
feel.
The language used is very out
of date yet in keeping with
the theme of the issue. E.g.
Far out.
Still very dark
colours used with
only flashes and
random
interjections of
colour.

10. Feature photograph,
smaller, part of a
collage, important or
significant photograph.Masthead, large
and in same
font, never lets
you forget the
brand.
Feature photograph, smaller, comic
book piece, ensures that there will
be some of this inside, gives a
sneak peak of what to expect.
Feature photograph, older,
smaller, black and white, well
know cartoon/puppet character.
Feature photograph,
smaller, part of collage,
representative of what’s
inside.
Feature photograph, older
photograph of band, showing what
they used to be like, hints that we
will be seeing more of them inside
the magazine.
Largest feature
photograph, like a
background for the
collage like
background. Collage
type background could
be representative of a
certain time period or
era that the magazine
is focusing on for this
issue.
Contents, page
number, information
of who and what’s
inside.
Contents sheet lopsided, gives a homey,
handmade feel to it, seems more
natural and less mass produced

11. Main feature
photograph, done
in black and
white, this is
representative of
how this artist
feels about
himself, gives a
more dramatic
effect and inflicts
an emotional
response.
Straight angle shot of artist, shows whole face, we feel
a connection and we can see emotion, feeling and
expressions in their face . It makes the interview seem
more personal to us.
Masthead, ensures we know
what to expect from this page,
we know that this will be an
interview.
Tattoos shown, but almost hidden behind his back, and
others barely noticeable underneath shirt, as if he is
ashamed of them, uncomfortable, again we have an
emotional response to the way he is holding himself.
Heading, lots of
emotive
language, certain
words picked
out. The heading
essentially sets
the tone for the
rest of the
interview.
Dark, bold
writing,
representative
of a bruise,
which is
mentioned in
the headline.
Blues used to
represent
tears.
Washed out with
light, as if he is
going towards the
light. Near death
experience
changed his life.
Kicker, piece of the text brought
out, eye drawn to the small sub
heading.
The dark and dim colours are
connotative of the tone and feel of the
article. Also playing on the word bruise
by using bruise like colours.

12. • Published by IPC media, a British based
publication company that sells over 350
million copies of various magazines a year.
• NME, standing for New Musical Express.
• Circulation: 33.875
• Readership: 325,000
• Median age: 23
• Female: 26%
• Male:74%
Readers of NME are obsessed with music and
use the magazine as a way of experiencing and
discovering new artists and groups. Readers
have a very strong relationship with the
magazine and completely trust the brand.
“I can trust it”
- “Its full of facts that we should all
know but don’t BUT we do now
thanks to NME”
- “Honest no-holds barred reviews”.

13. Masthead
Kicker
Selling line
Feature photo
Kicker
Buzz words
Bar code
Headline
Anchorage
Main feature
photo
Secondary lead
The front cover uses a
straight angles of the
featured artist, ensuring that
we know they are the main
focus of this particular issue.
The colours in this particular
front cover contrast
beautifully. The use of the
white masthead over the red
hair makes it stand out even
more, and also having a light
baby blue background makes
the red of his hair stand out
more too. Everything is
enhanced and brought out
more with the use of colour.
No complicates set or
scenery is used, again
making the artist the main
focus.
The headline and anchorage is very
important to the audience, as it exposes
what they can expect from the magazine.
The use of a provocative and unexplained
quote intrigues us and we want to find out
where this quote has come from. Also, the
use of the phrase “Gerard sees red” is
cleverly used to correspond with his hair,
making both the sentence and his hair
colour stand out and seem more important.
Kickers, buzz words and secondary leads are all
used on this front cover to advertise what is
inside the magazine, but also to attract the eye
and entice the audience. If the reader sees
that inside there are interviews, tour line-ups
and poster inside, they will be more inclined to
buy it.

14. Masthead, ensuring we know the brand we are reading.
Bright red, in keeping with the rest of the page.
Headline, bold, large writing,
informative and clear as to
what this page is about. Set
to the side of the page
making it seem slightly more
abstract than those that
place it in the middle
Colour scheme contrasts with
masthead, so the page all flows
together nicely. The word
‘regulars’ implies these things
appear in every issue, seems
very informal, addressing the
fact the audience knows they
appear every issue. Smaller than
main lead, implying it is less
important
Black, colour in keeping with the
rest of the page. Larger than
secondary lead, more important.
The word ‘features’ shows that this
is something that changes every
week, so in effect it is more
important than the regulars.
Buzz word. Posters make
people interested, make
them buy the magazine
because of promise of
freebies.
Red, contrasts with the rest of
the page. Smaller out of the
way, suggesting that it is not
the main focus of the page.
Very small text, relevant
but not overly important,
informative of what’s
inside the magazine.
Feature photograph,
representative of what’s inside.
Small, not drawing attention away
from all the information but still
eye catching.
Kickers, informative of what’s
inside, provocative headline,
let people decide which
stories/pages they are
interested in.

15. Main feature
photograph. Very
dim and dark, a lot
of brown used, very
drab colour. Implies
that we may be
about to read a
intense interview.
Straight angle shot
meaning we are
forced to have a
connection.
Headline, contrasts
with the image of
him holding a beer
as it would suggest
he is not in good
health, yet it also
relates to the phrase
when drinking,
suggesting he spent
a lot of time drinking
Beer can mean we instantly judge
him, assume he is an alcoholic. Or
it could be a way of introducing us
to the type of person he actually is,
and lets us know what the
interview may be based around, or
the kinds of themes and routes it
will take.
Anchorage, we gain a little
information about who he was
and who he is now. We
understand what the
interview will be about.
Large font letter, bright and
attention grabbing. Based in
the same colour area as the
photograph
Piece of text picked out, bigger and bolder.
Provocative quote, makes us interested to keep
reading, it lets us know that this interview will be
personal and deep. A quote like this sets the
tone for the rest of the interview.
Feature photo,
smaller,
representative of
who he used to
be, how he used
to act/behave.
Allows us to see
difference, how
he has changed
The colour of the word can
be compared to that of the
beer. Brings the image
together, and also implies
that the beer is or once was
a good thing to him
Ironic lighting,
almost angelic
despite the fact
he is holding a
pint. Saying he’s
good now,
reformed, tried
to change his
ways.
Dim and dingy setting,
perhaps representative of
the place he was/is in
mentally and physically.