Here are three magazines (Billboard, XXL and NME) which have all been analysed by the front page, contents and a double page spread.

1. Masthead
Strapline
The masthead is bold and
black to contrast again the
lilac/grey background of
the page. There are vibrant
colours used to fill the
circles of the letters “b, a,
and d”. The house style of
the masthead is always
kept the same.
Traditionally, the strapline is a
slogan for the magazine which is
used throughout the design of
the magazine. However, very few
of the magazines have this
slogan.
Left third
The left third is the part of
the magazine which is first
seen by the consumer due
to the way the magazines
are stacked, so all the most
important information is
kept here. The different
colours for the texts are
eye-catching and allow the
reader to be drawn in with
the bold black, and the lilac,
which matches the front
cover model’s hair.
Barcode/dateline
The barcode is kept in the
same house style of the
magazine, always in the
bottom left corner so it
doesn’t really attract much
attention but it is there for
customers to see the date
and the price of the
magazine.
Main story
The main story is always in
relation to the front cover
artist- in this instance, Lady
GaGa. The text here stands
out, as it is the only large
text written in black
besides the masthead. This
is used to show the
consumer who the main
cover artist is.
Main image
The main image of the front
cover is the thing which
catches the eye of the
consumer the most. The
image here is placed in front
of the masthead and the text
on the magazine, which
implies that Lady GaGa is
more important than Billboard
magazine. However, it could
also be because the popular
house style allows their reader
to know the magazine without
the masthead being entirely
visible.

2. The logo in the top left
corner of the page gives
consistency so the
consumer is constantly
reminded of what they
are reading.
Specific subheadings so
the consumer knows
exactly where to find
what they want. Also, it
gives an organized
layout to the contents
page.
Short headings with long
descriptions. Seem to be more
important than the subheadings
on the side, as they have no
description at all.
Inserts of images which
are relevant to the
magazine. Due to the
lack of images on the
page as there is far
more text, the images
stand out much easier
and pull the reader into
these page numbers.
“On the charts” to
let the consumer
know what music
is most popular at
the time.
The main image against
all the text is the most
eye catching thing on
the page. Instantly, the
consumer is drawn to
this part of the page,
which traditionally has
a great deal to do with
the main cover artist.
The image is a long
shot, posed with the
artist not looking at the
camera.

3. The main image is behind the title of
Rita’s name, because of her being well
known the full image doesn’t have to
be shown in order for the consumer to
know who she is. She is dressed in an
urban style, quite street influenced
and posed fairly casually.
Main title is in bold red letters and stands out against
the brick wall background. Instead of being an actual
title, it is the artists name and also her logo as she is a
popular artist, so the consumer may be likely to pick
the magazine up mainly for this article.
The article is split into two columns around the image. As the article is an
interview, the colour scheme of red and black text helps the consumer to
know when the interviewer is talking, and when Rita Ora is talking.

4. Masthead
The masthead is kept plain
and simple, with a red
background to contrast the
white background of the
magazine, and also the
white title in the box.
Pug
The pugs on magazines
are used to advertise
extra information,
usually a competition
etc. but in this instance,
this is not the case. Here,
the XXL Awards are being
announced.
Left third
The left third of this magazine
only includes artists names, not
stories to show which artists
are featured within the
magazine.
Main story
The main story is in colours
which stand out from the
magazine, a bold text and are
also positioned over the
artists face to introduce who
he is. The words “young fly
and flashy” relate to the main
image, which envisions A$AP
Rocky with a gold grill to
deploy he is in fact young, fly
and flashy, and will more than
likely elaborate on this further
in the magazine.
Main image
The main image takes
up traditionally more
space than what a main
image usually should,
so there is less room
for text on this cover.
Barcode/dateline
The barcode here is placed in
the bottom corner, the same
as on Billboard, again to not
draw attention but so it can
still be seen for the consumer
to know the date and price.

5. Slang term “billin’”.
Colloquial language
makes the magazine
seem more casual
and is used to relate
to the target
audience of hip hop
fans
Majority of the page
is taken up by a large
image of the rapper
who is on the front
cover of this edition
of XXL. The image is a
midshot, with a posed
artist.
Logo printed at the
top right corner
again to show
consistency and to
remind the reader
what they are
reading.
Very few articles,
but they all have
a lengthy
description.
Contents does
not begin from 1,
so this can be
confusing to the
reader.
The headline of
the magazine
has its own
section to show
the consumer
where to find all
of the page
features.

6. Main image
takes up one
page of the
double pages,
this shows the
consumer the
article is about
this artist. This
also gives more
relevance and
publicity to the
artist as it is the
only image on
the page.
Large, bold red title contrasts
the black and white on the
page to attract the attention
of the consumer.
Subheading to
introduce further
information about
the article and
the artist.
Main article
takes up half the
page and is
presented in
two columns so
it is easily
readable.

7. Masthead
The masthead is kept the
same throughout the
house style of “NME”bold, red, and lined with
black and white so
consumers know the
brand and are familiar
with it.
Pug
The pug in this case is
used to advertise a new
album. It is used in the left
third so it is what
consumers will be
attracted to first.
Header
The header is used to
advertise additional
information in the same way
as a pug, however more
important information. It
contrasts the white
background so it can be
easily seen.
Main image
The main image here is of
two artists, as usually
opposed to one. Their image
is slightly covering the
masthead, but the main story
is placed over them.
Main story
Left third
The text within the
left third is kept fairly
standard, with the
titles in bold red
capitals, and the
additional information
in black lower case.
The information here
is used to draw the
reader in and make
them want to read on,
as it is what the
consumer first sees
when looking at the
magazine on a shelf.
The main story is in a
large text and placed over
the main image. The
artists names are in white,
which is almost the only
white text on the page, so
it stands out to the
consumer who the artists
are.
Barcode/dateline
The barcode is rotated
and in the bottom right
corner, a little difficult
to see but still visible to
the consumer.

8. “Band index” tells
the reader which
specific page they
can find the latest
information on a
band.
The biggest story is
displayed briefly,
positioned central
on the page to give
the reader more
incentive to read on.
The colour scheme for
the magazine
subscription is different,
which makes it stand
out to the reader so
that they subscribe,
which is what NME are
aiming to do.
Dateline so the
consumer knows
whether or not it is
the most recent
issue published.
Bold subheadings,
eye catching so the
consumer knows
what they are
looking for.
Smaller subheadings
within larger
subheadings to make
it easier to look for
specific things within
the subheading
category.

9. Attention grabbing title. The letters are contrasted
against the white background and sizes, so it stands
out from the normal black and white background and
text on the page.
The article is presented in columns again so it is able
to be easily followed by the consumer.
The main
image again,
takes up half
the double
page spread.
The pose and
outfit this
artist is
wearing are
fairly
traditional to
the house
style of this
magazine, and
also fit in with
the title of the
article as she
is not
presented
femininely.