analysis

1. The masthead of NME is always placed in the top left hand
corner, where it is visible. The main colour used is a bold
red with white outlines. The font is bold and in
capitals,which is straightforward suggesting that the brand
is very bold yet simplistic. As it always positioned in the
same region continuously it is maintaining its brand identity.
The name of the magazine and the acronym ‘NME'-which
stands for NEW MUSICAL EXPRESS suggests that the
magazine is modern and up- to-date portraying that the
magazine is always in style to suit the period.
The main sell line is always positioned in the 3rd left on
the magazine, where the font is in bold colours and in
large size, in order to catch the attention of the readers.
As we instinctively inspect writings with a larger font as it
is more eye catching. The main sell line uses a statement
to allure the readers to really ponder on the statement
and makes us curious to thinking how did they conquer
the world, effectively influencing the readers to wanting
more knowledge on the statement.
The band featured signifies that the magazines also
highlights alternative-rock music and bands. The
main image itself suggests that they belong to a rock
category based on the neutral facial expression also
represents the strong sense of masculinity. The
members are staring right at the camera giving direct
address to the audience. The positioning of the band
shows the leader singer at the front and rest of the
band are aligned based after the lead singer. The
dark costumes highlights that the band is all about
rock music as rock music uses dark and dull colours,
and the singer with the grey/white toned hair
emphasis that the genre is all about experimenting
with music and their image, to show that they are not
afraid of standing out rather than blending in. The
mode of address is formal which can suggest an
older target audience.
The layout is very simple and spread out, it's not
busy or heavy on the eyes allowing the readers to
take in every feature visually, this can also suggest
that the target audience are not fussed on fancy
covers but something more straightforward.
The font used for the main sell-line is a serif font, which is
specific to the band rather than NME and this has been
done to give the band a sense of identity in this issue and
how this issue of NME focuses on MCR. It is also used to
make it recognisable for MCR fans.Black text with white
highlighted is specific to the band as the colours are
associated with the bands so it gives the band their own
identity.
The image composition is unusual and the band has
been positioned this way to show importance of each
of the band members, as it shows hierarchy as the
lead singer is at the front but it also pays attention to
rest of the members indicating that the fans of the
bands like different members and not just the lead
singer, so the image then visually attracts the reader.
The lead singer at the front is wearing a military style jacket, and the connotations of this is that
perhaps it is suggesting that they are militant in their expression of music?Or that they feel like are at
the top of their game. Another could be that they are on a mission to produce good music like going to
war with other bands and competing with the rivals for the attentions of fans worldwide in recognition of
their music. They are all wearing black so it suggest the dark angst genre of rock. Their makeup is very
subtle and natural and their hairstyles are very casual. One of the members has a lip-piercing which
can indicate mixing of two genres
The main sell-line is always positioned in the ⅔ of the
page and the rest of the sell-lines are placed on the left
and right hand sides of the page.

2. As the masthead is so well-known it is given
brand identity, which can relate to Blumler and
Katz theory as it is based on identity, so the fans
of My Chemical Romance are able to recognise
that they are on the main image, and for most
people MCR are looked at as role models, who
reflect similar values and aspiration as the
reader so the TA can identify with the brand.
This sell line uses the phrase”WAR ON EMO”
to initiate a spark of debate or conversation
between the readers. As the sell-line features
a well-known celebrity who always features
on gossip columns this would entice readers
to read further on as it makes them very
curious. Linking to Blumler and Katz theory of
social interaction.
Other artists are also featured, which is a
common convention to lure the audience as
having on listed names would draw curiosity
from the readers, as they would feel that
they are receiving more for their money.
The barcode and price is a common convention
that is always positioned in the bottom left, as
the TA would have to search for the price
Another sell line to capture the interest of the
audience is the new release of an album, as more
reader would be curious to know the inspiration
behind the album. Using a quote from the interview
attracts the readers as the words used are
“...drugs, getting drunk and dancing all night” this
capture the sense that the band is very lively and
fun on a night out so it's something most of the
readers can identify with.
The highlighted lines are placed under the
masthead so it is easily seen by the reader, it
used to promote an article inside the
magazine so readers already have an idea of
what will be featured. The colours used are
also bold and contrasting emphasizing the
visibility of the sell-line.
The colours featured in the background is
predominately a pale blue almost a greyish tone.
This reflect the genre of the band, which is
alternative rock so colours are less bright, but more
dull. The colour scheme of NME suggests a
celebration of British bands and British music
heritage.
The colour gives of a blue tone which represents
masculinity and makes the group more serious as
portraying them as a macho group. The black is seen
as dominate inside the magazine which helps
indicate that the band is alternative rock genre. The
colours represent the connotation we would assume
for the genre of music so it links in with the
stereotype readers have in place for alternative rock
genre.
The content in the skyline is used to attract the
readership by promoting the freebies of free
posters that would attract the audience as they
love getting free items. The colour contrasts
against the masthead so it stands out and the
colours of the text stand out against the dark
background, making it visually pleasing to look at.
In addition the images of the posters enhances the
visual of the front cover.The freebies will tempt the
readers as they getting more for their money with
‘MASSIVE POSTERS’ emphasising that it would
be worth the money in terms of quality of the
poster.
The layout of the front cover is very simple
following conventions that can be found in
other magazines. As the masthead is always
positioned on the top left corner where the
readers will first notice the magazine.

3. As the magazine
has a very dull grey
colour as the
background the puff
contrasts and stand
out making it more
noticeable to the
reader.
A small banner is used to entice readers as it
provides a source of information inside the
magazine. The position is placed near the
masthead so it is visible.
The main sell line is placed in the middle third of the
page and is capitalized and bold to make the sell-line
stand out. The pink shade emphasizes that the band
has a female leader, making more of an impact on the
readers that are female as their eyes will immediately
set on the vivid colour. The use of alliteration “GUNS,
GODS” make the sell-line seem more interesting and
en-captures the reader's attention. The band is giving
direct address to the audience meaning that they are
enticing the audience to pick up the magazine. The
usage of the words guns and god could be metaphoric
as to how guns are the music that is the ammunition
competing with other albums to reach the top, so the
reference is much more meaningful. God could link to
to their religion and how that has contributed into the
production of the music and how they prayed to god for
constant music sales.
The masthead of NME is always placed in the top
left hand corner, where it is visible. The main colour
used is a bold red with white outlines. The font is
bold and in capital that is straightforward suggesting
that the brand is very bold yet simplistic. As it
always positioned in the same region continuously it
is maintaining its brand identity.
The barcode and price is
convention that is always
positioned the same
region of bottom right
where the readers would
be less likely to look.The main sell-line is drawing the reader in sub-
consciously based on the word play and statement
featured such as “Everyone else has fallen for them. Will
you?” this would make readers curious as why do
people enjoy this band making them more intrigued to
find out, as it is an indicator that there will be an
interview inside based on the sell-line so readers and
fans of PARAMORE are more drawn to find out what's
inside the magazine. The colour pink is emphasized to
show that the band is led by a female so it connotes that
band holds a sense of feminism showing that females
can be leaders as well which in lure in more female
readers as they would feel more comfortable with a
female leader of a band. The fact the colour of the main
sell line has been colour picked from her lipstick – this is
a symbiotic link. Paramore are an American band, the
question ‘everyone has fallen for them, will you?' is an
indirect reference to this. Indie rock music and NME tend
to feature British bands, by using an American band on
the cover, they are taking a risk. This is also reflected in
the way that every other band and artist featured on the
front cover is British.
The puff indicates that an article inside is talking about
Mumfords and Sons and comparing them to Muse, this
done to lure readers as this leads to Blumler and Katz
theory of social interaction as the quote sparks
debates.
The placement of the main sell line is that it is
centralised rather than left to right. The purpose of
this is the fact that a feminine colour is positioned in
front of Hayley – the lead singer, which makes it
stand out more, and to show her role of importance
in the band that she is at the top
of the hierarchy. The colour pink shows how the
band is centralised around her.

4. The masthead of this typical design is a convention
that always occurs indicating brand identity. The bold
colours is also symbolic to the genre of music they
represent the indie-rock and alternative rock genre as
the colour red connotes, strength, leadership,
willpower, rage, action, vibrancy, radiance, and
determination. Which we can definitely see based on
the main image of the group PARAMORE as the
colour signifies rock as rock is way most musicians
release their frustration and rage.
The sell-line uses a daring quotation or statement
most likely from interview of a band to draw readers
in as to knowing what the articles inside would be
about, it always sparks curiosity as to 'how did the
group conquer America' so the readers are intrigued
to find out.
A list of artists and bands are featured is a common
convention used in the magazine to make readers
feel as if they are receiving their money's worth of
entertainment and news. It will also attract fans of
followings artists to read.
Dull grey toned colours indicating that the genre
of this band is indie-rock or alternative rock as
dull colours are associated with the genre of
music.
The iconography of the costume is dark black
clothes that is symbolic to the genre as it
represents alternative rock.
The main image uses a triangle formation the rule
of thirds is visible in this image. Hayley is at the
front and the rest of the band are positioned more
or less symmetrically behind her this is to show
the lead singer at the front to show the hierarchy
in the band. But also to show that as she is the
most important in the band she has to stand out
the most so positioning her at the front would
draw the reader’s eyes directly to her.
The neutral and fierce expressions portrays that
they are in a rock band, as the lead singer also
represents femininity she positioned in the front
as eye candy because she is attractive, so it
attracts female readers to want to read the
magazine. The vivid hued hair also indicates the
rock genre as they are up for experimenting with
their image and looks and that's the impression
we receive while looking at Haley's profile.
This sell-line, highlights the articles featured inside the magazine and
describes who the artist that would be featured based on the
capitalisation of the name. As it lists his profession its sparks reader's
interest as to how he managed to change his profession so successfully
tempting readers to find out.
A skyline is used and positioned above the
masthead using bold black using a sans
serif font. The sell-line is also added ‘Rock
star,label boss,actor...now lecturer’ the
sell-line is used to promote an article
feature inside the magazine and the
positioning of the skyline gives and
advantage as the readers eyes are
immediately focused on the bold dark text
that contrast against the colour of the
masthead and are then therefore drawn in.