2. Header at top, conventionally used in
some magazines, matching colours to the
rest of the magazine.
This is another example of breaking
conventions as another cover line covers
the masthead promoting the cover.
This cover line breaks
conventions as it cover
the masthead, which is
rare to see. The 15 is in
big font to draw
attention to it and is on
the left hand side so
would be visual on a
shop shelf.
This is technically the main cover
line but also includes the
model/celebrity credit. It will
sometimes affect audiences
judgement to purchase it so must
look appealing. Again it keeps with
the few colours on the front with
keeps it looking professional.
Lots of cover lines in a list
is conventional but not
usually this tightly put
together. They are made
sure not to cover any of
the image and tend to
take up the left hand side
as that what most buyers
will see first. It
interchanges in colours
that follow this editions
colour scheme.
The bar code is a simple thing put
on every magazine, so it can be
bought easily. It serves no
aesthetical purpose but is a
feature on all magazines.
Big masthead as expected, all
magazines make sure they get their
brand exposed. After exposure
magazines like this usually cover up
some of the title with image, as the
audience know what the title is and
want to see the main image more.
The main image is vital to the magazine
as it is what will draw peoples attention
to it. In music magazines artists are
usually featured on the cover and will
attract the target audience which for this
would be from teens to late twenties.
This image is a Mid- Shot which is one of
the most common shots seen, it shows
the waist up and therefore the body of
the person on the front
Next to be barcode is the date of
publishing, which is conventionally on all
magazine covers and also a link to their
website. This is a feature that tries to make
use of the technological age we live in.
As usual there is a couple of cover
lines on the right as well, also not
covering the image. Again it sticks
to a colour scheme of only a few
colours which keeps it looking
professional.. In this case star
appeal is use d as famous bands
are listed; attracted the audience.
3. This magazine breaks
conventions as the masthead
is small and only takes up the
top- left third. This is not
something usually done as
corporations want to flash
their brand, however it does
stay in the left third as that is
the part of the magazine
buyers are likely to see on the
shelf. Again keeps within the
colour scheme. Underneath is
the date which is commonly
seen in this position.
Header, in keeping with the blue, red and white colour scheme
of the magazine, elicits what the readers can expect to see
inside the magazine. It is unusually big for a header and does
break usual conventions. Also the informality of the text
highlights who the target audience are for the magazine.
The main image is arguably
the most important part of
the cover as it attracts
readers and takes up most
space. Following music
magazine conventions a
famous artist is on the front
and other famous artist are
mentioned. This is a mediumlong shot which seems to be
common in music magazines
although not favoured in
other types of magazines.
This is the main cover line is very big
and on the left hand side as usual. It
does take up a lot of space and
therefore means there aren't many
cover lines on the magazine
cover, which is very unconventional.
Again it talks in a pun and in modern
colloquial language; also it keeps
inside the colour scheme ensuring its
professional look.
These pictures and annotations are
cover lines which stand out and
attract the audience.
Unconventionally they are put across
the magazine , as the main cover line
takes up a lot of space; this is rare to
see on a magazine front cover.
There is unconventionally a puff at the
top of the magazine as the masthead
doesn’t cover the top. It does make sure
to not cover up the main image. It looks
aesthetically pleasing for the reader to
want to read it. Following conventions it
keeps with the on-going colour scheme
which is important for the
professionalism of the magazine.
Unusually the bar code is high
on the right hand side of the
cover, which doesn’t follow
usual conventions of it being a
the bottom. Highlighting that it
can go anywhere there is space
This is a footer, conventionally used in
magazines giving an insight into
smaller sub-stories in the magazine.
This is a puff promoting exclusive
information, which is usually seen on
magazines to try and attract buyers
interested in these stories.
4. Like the magazine before
the masthead of NME is in
the top left third, it isn't
very big or doesn’t really
stand out, which for an
established magazine
doesn’t really matter, as
long as the readers identify
it. It is on the left hand side
because that is the side the
buyers will see when
looking at magazine shelves.
This header is unconventionally big and is made to stand out with really bold, san-serif, text.
Sans-serif text is widely used as the font, so will be what I use to keep my magazine looking
professional. The language used, especially in these music magazines is widely informal also a
music magazine convention.
The main image is a mid-shot of
a duo artist stand back to
back, in a similar attire and
similar expression which is
conventional in a magazine to
see if there is one or more
people on a cover. Part of the
image cover part of the
masthead which is common to
see as well. The image takes up
a majority of space on the cover
of the magazine which is a must
for any magazine.
This puff used advertises events
as normal, but breaks
conventions through the colour
scheme used. The black and
yellow used is solely on just that
part of the m magazine, this
breaks conventions as
magazines usually stick to a
strict few colours, colour
scheme e.g. orange and white.
This row of cover lines on the
left is common to see on music
magazines as on
shelves, magazines will stack
this way, and all magazines do
it. They make sure not to cover
any of the photo also used in
other magazines. It keeps within
the colour scheme , which for
the covers I have analysed has
been majority orange or red.
The quote at the bottom by the artists is occasionally used to try to entice the
buyers into reading about the main story. Again staying within the colour scheme.
The main cover line, also artists
credit, is the biggest text, except
the masthead, on the page.
Again keeping to the colour
scheme to keep it looking
professional, also being san serif
follows normal music magazine
conventions.
The bar code is near the
bottom as usual but like the
magazine before , is slanted on
the side of the magazine.
(where ever there is space).
Also there is a website address
in keeping with modern times
and social media.
5. It is usual to see a date on the
contents page.
Some magazines include the
masthead on the contents
page, which is usually
unconventional. It is small but
something I find irrelevant.
Down the left fifth of the page is
a small index including all bands
inside the magazine. This is
unconventional but does keep to
the colour scheme as normal. It is
rare to be so small on a page or
on the contents page at all.
The picture taking up this much
room is rare to see, as the Image
displays a man sleeping, lazily in
his bed which the target
audience, teenagers can really
relate to. The way he is
positioned shows his face
towards the camera so readers
can see who he is.
This subscription promotion at the bottom is common to see in music
magazines, but unconventional to take up so much space. The colour
matches the contents page scheme as everything does.
This page challenges music
conventions as it does not
include the word ‘contents’ as
other magazines normally do.
Instead ‘this week’ has more of a
personal feel to it that the reader
might like. Sticking to black keeps
within the simple colours scheme
used throughout.
This contents page demonstrates the
rule of thirds as on the right third all
the major news headings are
displayed. It is normal to see
contents pages of magazines follow
the rule of thirds when displaying
stories. It keeps within the colour
scheme as the text is black like the
contents main line and the number
references are orange.
This green puff in the contents
page, stands out as it breaks
away from the colour scheme.
The bold san serif text refers
to page numbers in an
unconventional way as it
promotes its main story.
6. The contents header, is
conventionally sans-serif, but is
unconventionally small. The
header states contents which is
normal but other words like
inside are used. The colours
again match the rest of the page.
The date line is again in the contents
page, with the website link under it. Both of
these are common themes in music
magazines.
Like other conventional contents
pages in magazines, the main
image takes up roughly 4 of the 9
thirds in the rule of thirds, so
really catches the eye. There is a
long-mid shot of a women
dressed in black leaning on a
desk. The colour of the image is
very dark and does match the
type of tones as the rest of the
magazines. Also the page
number overlapping the
reference of the picture’s feature
page is a conventional thing to
see in music magazines contents
pages. Mid-shots are commonly
used in contents pages so is
something that seems to be
conventional which I was
unaware of.
This magazine follows the rule of
thirds, as the left third of the
page is taken up by the list of
features in the magazine.
Headers such as ‘features’ is
used a lot in magazines to
separate page relevance and the
numbers are kept chronological.
The black box creates some
differentiation in the list to stop
it looking very unappealing. It
also has a header to show what
kind of features are on which
page. Again this all keeps to the
general scheme of colour there
is.
The language used throughout is in-formal to relate
to the reader an make the magazine feel more
personal, which matches the style of music's target
audience (teens and younger adults).
The header of the article replicates the contents
header, and has a lot of smaller page references.
The text still matches the theme of the page.
This feature takes up the bottom
left and middle third of the
magazine and contains the only
other picture on the page, which
challenges conventions as usually
there are more than 2 pictures
on a contents page. The image is
again a long-mid shot of a
famous band playing music.
7. Unconventionally, the contents header is really small and only stands out through
its colour. For me it damages the contents page look and professionalism. The
range of colour used also breaks the conventions of following a few colour, colour
scheme.
This is the only colour picture
in the whole contents page
and the only one represting
articles which breaks normal
conventions. Again the
framing of the men is a midshot. The page number and
annotations are over the
image which is usual for a
contents page. The dress in
the picture is that of a typical
‘rock star’ wearing sun
glasses.
An editors message is a
conventional feature in other types
of magazine but Is rare to see in a
music magazine. However it does
take up almost a whole third of the
page which is unconventional as it
wastes a lot of space on the page.
The black and white used looks very
unappealing and boring and again is
rare to see because of this.
There is a three column system that
seems to take up two thirds of the
magazine, meaning there is a lot
more text than there is images;
which is unlike some the other
magazines contents page. Headers
are used again such as features and
reviews in big san-serif text that
follows the black and white colour
scheme.
The date is again on the contents
page, conforming to conventions so
is essential to have to look
professional. The name of the
magazine and page number is also
at the bottom which is
unconventional for music
magazines. The black and white
colours used still looks bland
although adhering to the colour
scheme conventions.
The yellow box again seems to
follow an usual convention of there
being exclusive coloured boxes in
the contents pages that stand out
from the other features.
There is a special section in the bottom third giving
credit which is unconventional to see in a music
magazine and it being as big as it is.
8. The double page spread in music magazines concentrate on bands or artists
mainly. The header of this page is in big, bold and sans-serif text. The colours
again match the scheme of the page. It takes up the top third of the page. It also
has a little introductory line under the main text bridging the title with the text.
The text is always
small in magazines
and through that
looks professional.
The text takes up
6 of the 9 thirds of
the page, and is
listed in columns
as expected in a
conventional
article. It is black
on a light coloured
background so the
readers can
actually read it.
This black box and image is an insert of a quote relating to
the text. It is very commonly used to stop the text looking
daunting and stands out from everything else with its bold
colour. The picture relates to the quote and is framed as a
close up sot the reader can identify the man even in a small
image.
The main image takes up
the whole second
page, which is normally
unconventional although
can be seen reasonably
often. The framing is
technically a mid-shot
again although he is
holding the camera . The
red background in the
picture is reflected in the
colour of the text. He is
wearing a very ordinary
attire so that the picture
looks professional.
There is a big box covering the picture, which is
conventional to see. It relates to the article and contains
images to stop it looking boring or bland. This is
conventional and something I would include.
9. Unconventionally the main image stretches across both pages as usually the main
image Is only on one. The framing is a quad-shot where 4 members of the band are
seen in a long shot where they are dressed in a racing attire with the relevant
background behind them. The text covers the image which summarises the double
page article and there is also a caption which expands a little further into the text;
both of which are conventional.
The only large
amount of text is
in columns like
normal, as well
as conventionally
being in small
text. The text is
also just black on
white which
seems to be a
trending pattern
is these articles.
It is rare to see
such a small
amount of text
on the article but
does reflect the
young aged
target audience
not wanting to
read a lot.
The bottom third of the page is again like a comic
strip with annotations as small captions contain the
text overlaid over the image.
The name and
branding of the
magazine is shown
on top of an image
and stands out to
remind readers what
they are reading.
This is typically
unconventional as
magazine institutions
feel confident with
their brand.
The rule of thirds is
again displayed here
as 2 thirds of the right
page is taken up by a
series of images with
annotations explaining
what it happening. Its
very unconventional
to see so many images
in a double page
article rather than
more text. Although
this suits the young
target audience.
The competitions and puzzles at the bottom reflect
the age of the target audience and keeping within
that. Although not the target audience of most
magazines.
10. There is a page
header in a
regular format of
the magazine.
This
demonstrates
the colours that
will be used and
generalises the
article usually.
The main image is only on one of the pages and takes up
exactly half of the page. It is a wide shot of the whole
band whilst playing their music; these sots are
commonly used to show the readers how they perform
and shows exactly what all of them look like.
Conventionally, the band name covers the image and
usually has a caption although this image doesn’t.
These columns of text with blue headers is a list of
bands and reviews for readers to judge. It follows all
normal text conventions and demonstrates the rule
of thirds being used as it takes up the left third of
the second page. This double page follows
conventions as more of it is text than image.
The second main
image is just a bit
smaller and show a
group shot with midshots of a band. Midshoat and long shots
are very common for
these images. Two of
them are addressing
the camera and
therefore the reader
which is conventional
as well as the name of
the main man
covering some of the
photo.
This is a review
but follows text
conventions as it
is all black and
white and
written in small
text. It is also in
columns as all
text should be.
The image at the bottom left row of the second
page again shows a band in action performing a gig
with a conventional caption explaining the image
and giving credit.
The pinky
background colour
of this text shows
the separation of
the text without
changing the text
size or making the
page look
unprofessional. The
text again follows
all magazine
conventions.
