3. Front Writing and Font As the image is the main focal point for the audience, there is minimal writing. However, the writing that has been used gives us a brief insight into what to expect in the magazine. There is lexis in the semantic field of music (“dancefloor”, “tunes”) which is selected for the specific audience. Cover Images The image is used in order to draw the reader in as it is the first thing you would look at. It is meant to be the main focus for the customer and used as the primary indicator of what to expect in the magazine. The audience judge the magazine on what they immediately see. Therefore, the image has been specifically pixelated which brings a modern and contemporary element to the magazine. Also, it has connotations with technology, and as dubstep and drum and bass music is created primarily by electronic equipment, it fits in well. All of this makes the image specific to the target audience. The main photograph is a portrait of a man and looks to be taken in a studio (not a live shot).This could have a connection to the type of music featured in the magazine which is electronically produced and perfected in post-production. Colour Scheme The red/orange colour scheme is designed to catch the eye of audience. Personally, I think it has worked well as further inside the magazine this scheme is continued. The colours are vibrant and lively. As the magazine is about dance music - which is typically lively - the colour scheme could be an attachment to the type of music the magazine is about. Publisher James Robertson is the publisher of DJ Magazine. As well as DJ Magazine, he is also associated with MIM (Music Industry Manual). MIM is often known as the “music bible” and an “essential for djs”. This show Robertson’s wide knowledge of djs and the genre. Therefore, you would expect the magazine to be realistic and very reliable. Font The mainly black and white font shows signs of a conventional magazine. However, the font used on the left hand side indicates a futuristic, modern factor which may appeal to younger readers rather than adults and be directed at the correct audience. Overall look The overall look that the front cover gives off is modern and hip. The image and font particularly enforce this. The layout implies that the magazine is professional as it follows the normal conventions of a magazine.
5. Contents page Images On the contents page, there are a lot of images. This has been done in order to keep the reader interested and engaged. The images specifically are of artists, fans and musical equipment. This gives us an insight into what we can expect and also is of interest to the specific audience. Furthermore, the image from the front cover is featured on the contents page. This indicates that what you were initially drawn in by is still prominent. There are page numbers by each image to indicate to us what page to turn to. Writing Style The writing style for the contents page is relatively relaxed and colloquial. Using phrases like “we give you the low down...” demonstrate this as they could be made more formal but have been written in this specific way. Furthermore, the word “coming” is abbreviated to “comin’” which shows how colloquial the magazine is aiming to be. Colour Scheme The colour scheme has not been carried over from the front cover.However, the image from the cover is featured in the bottom left of the page. On this page, new colours such as pink, blue and grey have been introduced. This keeps the theme of “modern” running. Font The font used ion the contents page is also used on the front cover. The font is clear and easy to read however some of the letters such as “M” and “N” are different to the rest. This shows that, although the font is generic, it still has a little bit of flare and individuality about it. Text to Picture Ratio Although the contents page is mainly writing, there is a section on the right hand side which is filled with images. This gives a balance to the page. Most readers will want to read the text, but including the images breaks down the bulky writing and makes it seem less harsh and overpowering to read. Overall look The overall look of the contents page is defined by boxes, columns and lines. This may appear harsh but it is broken down by the feature of the variety of colour.
7. Colour Scheme The vibrant colours from the front cover are not apparent here. There is a lack of colour on this double page spread . This could be perhaps to blend the image and writing together. The photograph itself has connotations of an urban area –particularly the wall in the background – and the colour scheme is continuing this. Double page spread Writing Style The text very briefly outlines who the featured artist is and what his childhood was like. This is quite a typical occurrence among magazine articles. It then goes on to talk about the release of Fergie’s (the artist) new album. The register of the article is fairly high. This is due to specific lexis such as “contemporary”, “interloper” and “effusive”. This type of language is of a standard that children wouldn’t be able to comprehend and indicates that the audience must be older and of a reasonable level of education. Photography The main image used has been taken in a studio. You can tell this due to the perfection of the image. A live photograph wouldn’t be as perfect as this one. The camera angle used is a mid shot. This mid shot incorporates just enough relevant information about the subject being photographed. Font The font used is standard of magazines. It’s simple, easy to read and mature. It differs from a magazine aimed at children in the way that it’s simple colours – black and white – and is easy to read as it’s a basic font. The “Take 10” in the top left corner of the page has the fill of the letters cut out to reveal the image behind. This shows that the magazine is current and modern. Text To Picture Ratio There is a fairly average balance of writing and text on this double page spread. There is a large amount of writing but this is equalled out the large, central photograph. The equality of this will be of great appreciation of the reader as the writing has been broken down and doesn’t appear overwhelming. Overall Look This double page spread emphasizes the urban and hip scene of the magazine. This relates to the type of music featured and appeals to the specific audience.
9. Front Cover Colour Scheme Black, white and red appear to be the most commonly used colours on the front cover of NME magazine. This gives the magazine an overall fresh and minimalistic look. Publisher The publisher of NME magazine is IP Media. They span the genres , publishing magazines such as Country Life, Marie Claire and Golf Monthly. Not only does this show versatility, but it shows that the publishing company is highly regarded and knowledgeable when it comes to magazines. Photography As this edition of NME features the “Cool List 2010”, the images used on the front cover give you an insight into what to expect inside and who will be featured. All of the images look to be taken in a studio. This shows that the cool list is something of importance as the artists have had their own photo shoot especially. All of the photographs are of artists who we should expect to see inside. The artists don’t have their names captioned underneath or next to them because the target audience is supposed to be aware of them and recognise them due to the type of music they’re interested in. Overall Look The colour scheme, photography and font are all factors which influence the overall look of a magazine’s front cover. NME’s overall look is bold, simple, cool and fresh. The simplistic photographs and basic colour scheme is something which reoccurs throughout the weekly editions of NME magazine. It gives the reader a sense of familiarity. Text To Picture Ratio The cover predominantly uses image over text. thus, the division being relatively uneven. This is not to say that there is no writing at all however. The text that is on the front cover is fairly small and pushed to a corner. This is in order to keep focus on the images which represent the magazine. All of the images flow together as if they were taken in one shot. This contrasts the nature of the writing which is seen mostly in chunks and blocks. Font The font featured on this cover is fairly standard of NME. It uses bold, clear text throughout making it easy to read and keeps it fresh. Also, “Who’s in? Who’s out?” uses a more delicate font. It is used in order to show separation from the other text around it. It also has some connotations of being “unique” and “vintage” which is often valued highly by the indie culture who are typical readers of NME.
11. Contents Page Colour Scheme The colour scheme on the contents page is not as vivid and noticeable as on the front cover. There black and white is still very much present but it doesn’t incorporate the red like before. Text To Picture Ratio Similarly to the front cover, the division of pictures and text is not equal however it is more balanced than the front cover. The images are supported by a caption which briefly explains the photograph. The image offers visual guidance as to what to expect. Photography In contrast to the front cover’s photographs, the contents page’s images are sectioned into boxes and columns. Out of the 7 images used, only 1 is a live shot. NME tends not to use live shots of artists and sways more so to use studio produced images. This way the reader is able to fully see the artist in their prime and how they want to be represented. With a photo shoot, the artist is styled, make up is applied and afterwards, the image is airbrushed. This ensures that they look their best so that the audience can see them looking “cool”. This is a good way for artists to portray themselves and for the reading audience to replicate them by wearing the same clothes, having the same hair style, etc. The one live image shows that NME is also very focused on the music (contrary to what the “Cool List” front cover may imply.) It shows that NME is involved in the live music side, which is also accurate with the reader too. Font The font used on the contents page is the same as what is used on the front cover. This maintains the fluency and familiarity within the magazine. The font, again, is bold and simple making it easy to read. It also incorporates more italic font where in reference to the “Cool List” which can also be seen on the front cover. This links the two features together yet keeps it separate from the rest as it is the main feature of this edition. Writing Style Like the front cover, there is very little writing. The only writing included is short captions underneath the dominating images. These captions are all quotes followed by an extremely brief explanation of the quote. This gives the reader an insight into what to expect. There is also a column which is off-centre at the bottom called “Plus” which indicates to the reader what else is included. They show a page number and a few words: “5. On Repeat” and “6. Upfront” Overall Look At first glance, the contents page may appear unorganised and messy, but the columns and boxes which separate each feature from another implies formality. It is not your typical list layout of a contents page which is most likely to be appreciated by the audience as individuality is highly appreciated in the indie subculture.
13. Double Page Spread Writing Style The article itself is about the departure of guitarist Adam Kessler from the band The Drums. The register for the article is neither especially low nor high. It has some lexis which may be deemed difficult such as “frenetic” and “trauma”. However, most of the writing is fairly easy to understand and as there is only two columns of writing, it isn’t an overpowering amount. Additionally, the writing is relatively detailed and makes good use of quotes from the band. By including quotes, it lets the reader have the opportunity to see the expressed feelings of the band members. This is a basic yet useful technique used to make the writing style more reliable. The overall feel of the writing is that it’s not overly colloquial. It keeps the reading age fairly low but has elements of intelligence throughout. This may appeal to the target audience as they are able to understand the article but are also perhaps introduced to different language. Photography The main focus of this double page spread is the photographs. As the article is about the departure of one member of indie band The Drums, the image in the top right corner clearly portrays the fact that the band has gone from 4 members to 3. In addition, 80% of the images are live shots. The use of live shots aids the fact that the band are all about the music and not the image. However, this is uncommon for NME magazine as they usually focus on studio photo shoots in order for the audience to grasp the perfect image the bands wish to expose. Also, the photographs are all fairly dark in colour. This could be because the band aren’t trying to be seen as a joyful, happy band but a sombre one. Font Like the rest of the magazine, the font that has been used is fairly simple and easy to read. There is a quote at the top left of the page which is dramatically larger and in bold. This stresses the importance of the quote. The writing is all in one colour which doesn’t draw attention away from the images. There is also a set list inserted into the middle of the two columns which uses the same, familiar font as on the front cover and contents page. Also, the quirky italics can be seen on this page too which keeps this theme fluent throughout. Overall Look The majority of the double page spread is photographs. It appears that the main focus is the band rather than the images due to the composition. The overlapping of images signifies a quirky and non-conforming nature which perhaps the audience could relate to. Colour Scheme There isn’t really a colour scheme on this page. However, the red from the box which says “Front Row” and the column of “The Setlist” both match. The font, like usual, is in black and the background is white which is a common occurrence in NME.
15. Front Cover Colour Scheme Red and white are the dominating colours of the front cover. The title of the magazine, main feature and sub features are all displayed in red. The red used is bold and not a pastel shade so is therefore striking. The colour scheme is kept simplistic due to the potential clashing of the text and photographic background. The photograph is mainly dark colours, so the contrasting bright colours have been used on top of this. Photography The front cover only incorporates one main image. The image is of Deadmau5 who is a music producer, focusing mainly on house and electro. Although the image is central to the page, the focus is in the top right corner. This adds a quirky and non-conventional twist which will appeal to audience who are of a young and lively personality. Furthermore, the photograph’s main colouring is black with neon white and blue. These colours are often associated with dance music due to the connection with clubs. So, the specific audience will be familiar with these. The photograph is a live shot which is a typical convention of a dance music magazine. An active, energetic and lively sensation is created by using a live photograph. It will also help the reader to feel involved with the magazine as a lot of readers will have already attended festivals/events/clubs and can relate to this. Font Some letters - such as “Z” – show that the font has an eccentric and quirky streak to it but isn’t too far from classic, easy to read fonts. The capital letters just add to the striking element of the front cover. There is a very slight variety in fonts, but they do not steer far from the standard, generic fronts. The headings are in bold but the subheadings aren’t, this breakdowns the harshness of using bold fonts throughout. Publisher Development Hell are the publishing company of Mixmag. They are also linked with the magazine The Word and, in 2009, they created the world’s biggest clubbing social networking site called Don’t Stay In. We can tell that Development Hell are educated in the area of dance music as they have two main projects dedicated to it. They not only cater for the music, but also for the fans by introducing a social networking site used by them. Writing Style Long, complex sentences have not been used on the front cover of Mixmag, and instead short snippets have. These sentences give a very brief insight into what is inside the magazine. Occasionally, questions are posed such as “Is Watergate Europe’s best club?”. By including these rhetorical questions, the reader feels more inclined to read on as they are wanting to know the answers. The questions are ones which the audience can relate to and ones which have possibly been asked by the general public. In addition, the majority of the text on the front cover is the name of artists. Magnetic Man, Sigma and 2ManyDjs are all listed. This explicitly indicates who the audience is as they are ideally supposed to indentify these names without any sort of introduction as to who they are. A lot of lexis in the semantic field of dance music is used too. Language such as “raves”, “club” and “techno” are used on the front cover. This is the type of language that only the specific audience – young, dance music enthusiasts - would be familiar with as I would strongly assume many people of the older generation are unaware of the meaning of some of this specific lexis.
17. Contents Page Text To Picture Ratio The large, bright image dominates the contents page whilst indicating what we are expecting to see inside the magazine. The text is sectioned off into columns and is numbered. In comparison to the size of the image, the amount of writing it pretty minimal. However, it gives an insight into what is featured such as “Mixmag tour” and “Tinie Tempah”. Overall Look A fairly simplistic layout is used for this contents page. The black background shows the classic yet modern element of the magazine. The image is large and almost central. This creates an uneven balance but targets the audience directly as the photograph is of what two females who look as if they are in a club dancing. Writing Style Minimal yet informative is the style of the text. Length wise, there isn’t much to read. However what is there, is a reliable indicator. It doesn’t give too much away so that the feature is spoiled, but it reveals enough to make the reader want to engage and read on. It has a fairly colloquial register, using phrases such as “shedloads” and using exclamation marks. By doing this the reader feels relaxed and in sync with the magazine. The benefits of having a relaxed tone is that it is appealing to the younger generations as they are typically associated with slang and are aware of it. Also, it’s not too overpowering to understand and is of the same standard that the readers of this particular magazine will be able to understand. Subheadings – ranging from 1 to 7 words – are used which are then followed underneath by a mini statement which elaborates on the heading. Photography Live shots of fans and crowds of music events are fairly common throughout dance music magazines. They show the atmosphere and excitement present at shows which are featured in the magazine. The reader can identify with the people in the images and feel involved with it. The largest image used on the contents page shows this thoroughly. In the top right corner is an image captioned with “The most amazing shows in dance music”. As this shot is relatively small, it is not the main focus. It also continues the colour scheme of the photograph on the front cover over into the contents page. The colour scheme in them two images is fairly typical of dance music shows. Font Similarly to the front cover, the font is not in italics or swirls as this would have strong connotations with classical and relaxing music. The strong, bold wording is coloured white to contrast the black background. There is a variety of about 4 fonts on the page however the differences are only slight and isn’t overpowering.
19. Double Page Spread Text To Picture Ratio There is a full page dedicated to an image of Tinie Tempah – the artist who the article is about. The page opposite is only roughly one quarter full of text. I think the reader will appreciate the ratio as the writing doesn’t appear too overpowering or challenging. Writing Style Frequent reference to other artists - such as Daft Punk - throughout this article make the reader aware of what they should already know. It targets the specific audience. It also engages the reader more as they should be familiar with these references. The style is fairly informative as it makes good use of facts and statistics, which would be highly appreciated by the young adult audience because they will enjoy discussions about dance music, being the music enthusiasts they are. However, throughout the article is not just factual language. There are also some more relaxed phrases such as “ram-raiding the cheese counter” and “a little on the short side”. These types of quotes make the writing more upbeat and down to earth, something that the reader can relate to. This DPS follows the typical conventions of a magazine by making use of a brief introduction prior to the main article. Another typical feature is the layout. The writing is in columns which shows formality. It also makes the writing easy to read and easy to follow. Furthermore, the title “Big In The Game” is brief and to the point. It doesn’t particularly play on any words, but uses the phrase “The Game” as an abbreviation of the music industry. The lexis isn’t challenging, as displayed in the title, and would probably appeal to the younger, lively readers. Photography The image which covers the full left page is a mid shot of the artist. It is a studio based photograph which means it has been planned out beforehand. Studio shots ensure that the subject is looking their best. They usual wear their nicest clothes, have perfect makeup etc. This way it ensures that they are portraying their image in the best possible way. The subject isn’t looking square into the camera which adds an element of quirkiness. The background also shows this as it’s not a plain, simple background. There is also a studio based image of Swedish House Mafia, a band who are mentioned throughout the article. Overall Look The overall look is one of a classic and simple look. It’s not overpowering and complicated but still appears fresh and cool. The amount of writing isn’t challenging either as the images break this down. Font The font is slightly different from what has been featured on the front cover and contents page. The font of the title is contemporary, current and modern. The size of the title is very large, covering more space than the actual article does. This grabs the reader’s attention straight away and encourages them to read on.
