This document analyzes the contents page of a magazine called Mixmag. It summarizes that the contents page uses futuristic fonts and imagery of a chalkboard to portray Mixmag as a professor of dance music. It lists upcoming articles in an unusual format from page 8 going up by twos, indicating many double page spreads. It also promotes a free music track and the magazine's website to encourage further consumption of Mixmag's brand across different media platforms.

1. CONTENTS PAGE ANALYSIS
BY JONI SOMMERVILLE

2. 1 2

3. PAGE 1
As the background of the page is black, the use of white writing
on top connotes imagery of chalk on a chalkboard, one you’d
find in a classroom. As though it wasn’t a contents page but a
lesson into all the aspects of dance music. It suggests that
mixmag is a professor when it comes to dancemuisc and the
industry. The font of the word ‘Contents’ is rather futuristic and
abstract, in comparison to the other fonts used. This is done to
grab the attention of the reader. The date is also presented to
the right at the top so that readers know that it is the most
current issue to date.
The contents list itself has the title of ‘cue’ which is a pun
because its used to signal the beginning of music but its been
cleverly used here to signal the beginning of a contents list.
Unusually the list doesn’t run from page 1-80 for example. But it
actually begins at page 8 instead, and generally goes up in twos
from there which tells us that this issue has a lot of double page
spreads inside it. At the bottom of this column there’s an
‘Industry insider: charts and analysis’ which we presume is a
review, this will prove to be helpful for the readers because it’ll
give them the “who’s who” in their music taste.

4. PAGE 1
This extreme long shot has been used to encourage readers
to engage in a party lifestyle. The rainbow of colour and edit
of high key purple lighting presents a whimsical, psychedelic,
and dreamlike atmosphere. From the busy mundane lives of
the readers this acts as a form of escapism for them. In their
spare, time they want to be attending festivals (we
understand they’re at a festival due to the large inflatable
puppets) and having fun with friends. As those are their
hobbies.
108 in the corner refers to the page number that this picture
is featured in and thus it becomes easier for the reader to
find what they’re looking for/learn more about the picture.

5. PAGE 1
At the bottom of the contents page is a freebie, a gift for free from the magazine.
This gives the reader more incentive to buy the magazine because they’re getting
more for their money and it adds a more personal touch as though the magazine is
their friend doing a favour for them. And so more faith is put into the magazine. In
this case it’s a track from the group MAJOR LAZER, again this constantly promotes
the consumption of dance music and the more that they feature and promote music
is the better of a magazine they’re becoming. Even more so artists want their music
to be heard as much as possible and so by releasing a track to the readers for free,
the readers are then more likely to tell their friends about it so they’re more likely to
buy the album, go to the concert etc.
The dateline and website feature at the bottom to show that this is the most current
version of the magazine. As well as the website moves readers onto another media
platform; e-media and so the consumption of mixmag as a brand increases.

6. PAGE 2
As the contents continues onto another page it aims to show that the magazine is
jam packed with cool articles and information. At the top mixmag is in the largest
and brightest white font as it is the logo and magazine name so it needs to standout
and be clear for the readers to remember. Unusually the cover of the article itself is
printed underneath- this could be reinforce the magazines image so that it
remembers the issue quickly. As studies show that repetition makes the mind
consume and remember more. The different subheadings discuss other aspects of
lifestyle such as fashion for example. This tells the reader that mixmag has almost
become a lifestyle, they are the know how when it comes to image and that in order
to fit in you must read/consume mixmag. They even have a directory- tools used to
help the reader so that they feel confident within their new/current lifestyle. Again
the dateline is repeated to emphasise how trendy and current the magazine is, it
can also inform readers if they need to pick up the new issue (promoting the
purchase of mixmag) if it’s “out of date”.

7. PAGE 2
This photo collage reflects the layout of the individual picture on page 1. As each
picture has the page number attached to itself, mixmag cleverly uses images that
will conjure up curiosity to so that they’re more like to read the article. The images
themselves don’t necessarily reflect the codes and conventions of a music
magazine, aside from the bottom left one pictured: white opaque smoke to give
ravers a more fantastical experience, and a laptop-dj set up blasting techno music.
The top image looks as though it should b featured in a modern art museum which
suggests that mixmag readers are into creativity and are of a cultured background.
The most interesting image remains in large at the top as it is the one that will draw
the most attention. The colours used throughout the images on this page aren’t very
bright, aside from the one in the bottom left. However visually it reflects a night club
setting as the colours generally are quite dark with bright spots.
The website line is repeated to further encourage readers to engage onto mixmag’s
e-media platform.