The document analyzes the meta-language used in music magazine journalism. It discusses various techniques used in reviews and articles to appeal to readers, such as comparing modern artists to older ones to attract a wide demographic, using colloquial language and terminology to seem less formal, and directly addressing readers to engage them. Hyperlinks are also used to advertise other articles and websites. The analysis shows how music magazines aim to seem knowledgeable yet relatable to maintain readership.

1. Analysis of the meta-
language of music
magazine journalism
Carolina De Freitas

2. Genre; Musical references;
The unusual and distinguished The journalist in this article
genre of ‚Space rock‛ follows compares the stylistic qualities of
through the theme of this article; the album in question (Circles by
with references to ‚Death Star’s‛ Moon Duo) to other bands; this
and ‚constellation‛ used to depict reflects the hyper consciousness of
the quality and style of the music. music magazines today. The
Having a theme running through information regarding the album is
the article implies that there is a assumed on the readers knowledge
consistency in the album mirroring of the genre it is in therefore only
the consistency in space targeting a certain music orientated
vocabulary in the review. Ending demographic. This also ascertains
on the phrase ‚out of this world‛ readers who previously have heard
again correlates with the space or follow these bands; alluring them
theme, however it ends up acting into wanting to anticipate more
as a poignant factor; it doesn’t end from this artist.
with factual or musical referents.
Literal techniques; Technical terminology;
The use of alliteration tied in with Using musical terminology in order
colloquial language is one that is to describe a tone of music is
present in many music magazine effective; the journalist hypothesizes
reviews and articles; it plays with that the reader will have a vast, rich
formal and informal manners of bounty of knowledge concerning this
conduct in order to present gritty variety of music and band. This
realism in terms of music. feature of meta-language has
Referring to guitar riffs as connotations with rock/heavy metal
‚stoned‛ uses personification to music; the word ‚drone‛ is affiliated
create a correlation between the with monotone and one dimensional,
tone of the music and drug related and correlating this with guitar
symptoms. This implies the light
Direct address to reader; creates a bass-like imagery that
Having the journalist address the demographic directly in a review would appeal to those edging
heartedness of NME’s reviews;
reinforces the fact that the review is not narcissistic; it is not singularly towards experimentation rock music.
they are honest and realistic with
focused on the opinion of the journalist writing the review but it is This can be easily depicted from the
their interpretations with the
taking into account the reactions that they are expecting the audience to terminology, although it may seem
music in order to create
get from it. This, in turn, allures the reader; ‚muscular experimentation‛ abstruse to those who don’t
comprehension for readers who
refers to the ‘heaviness’ of the rock music – that it is an unambiguous acknowledge this style of music.
have not heard this music/album.
and specialized genre that will not appeal to a wide demographic.

3. Title;
Hyperlink;
Having a clear focus on what the
The framing of the name of the
article is about enables the
artist (One Direction) with a
reader to see whether or not it is
hyperlink, perhaps to their own
an album review or single (Live
page, explores the advances in
While We’re Young). Also,
social media today. By reading
having all the features and
one article you are being
details of the song before the
recommended another therefore
article outlines specific
advertising your magazines
professionals that the readers
website more thoroughly. This is
may like/follow; this means that
a successful technique, as it not
although the reader may not like
only draws attention to the
the artist in question, they may
article, but to others.
like the producers or writers.
Musical references; Technical terminology;
Comparing the artist (One Having technical musical terms
Direction) to other artists not in embedded into the article
their generation implies that the reinforces its credibility; it shows
article is written by a music the reader that the article has
journalist with a wide spectra of been written by a music
knowledge of musical eras. It journalist who acknowledges the
also implores the nostalgia and detail. It exploits the
active audience that music ‚surprisingly salacious lyrical
magazines have; they use suggestions‛ which is a form of
comparison between eras in sibilance, giving the article a
order to attract a wide serious (s sounds) yet playful
demographic into understanding feel and it acts as a form of
the context of the article. The tongue twister. This portrays the
also use their active audience by colloquialism of music
using other bands to describe magazines; they are juvenile
this band, assuming that the with the use of their words in
reader already knows it. Criticism; order to attract a laid back, easy
Using criticalities of the artist in question (One Direction) implies the nature of reviews; going demographic.
it offers the reader criticisms of the music alongside the positive remarks. This, opposed
to news articles, allows the reader to follow up opinions and reactions to issues, thus
enabling a more personal and modern review. This entices a younger, revolutionary
demographic as it defies natural conventions of journalism.

4. Hyper consciousness; Superimposition;
Gritty realism is a style that is The use of advertisements over
commonly present in pieces of magazine internet pages is much more
music magazine journalism; common nowadays; this could be due
instead of adopting formal to the receding sales in the magazine
written language it adopts sector. However, the advertisement by
colloquial spoken language in the actual magazine overlaps the title
order to correlate with post of the artist in which the review is
modernist values. A large chunk about, giving off an unkempt look.
of the article follows this ‚Whole year‛ is highlighted in white
ideology; ‚epic‛, ‚nagging‛ and in an attempt to make the banner un
‚psychedelic‛ all act as factors consciously appealing; the price is also
contributing to this colloquial highlighted reinforcing this.
post modernist article.
‘Blurb’ of album;
Musical references; MOJO use short colloquial summaries
of the album in order to portray a
As other articles have illustrated,
down to earth persona in which
the use of linking modern artists
readers can relate to. This also
to older generation artists
implores the magazine sectors hyper
enables the reviews to appeal to a
consciousness; the journalist is aware
wide opposed to a niche
that in order to attain a wide
demographic. However, it
demographic it must appeal to the
features a list of comparative
‘ordinary person’. This is done in the
artists, meaning that the
form of using a common ground; by
journalist has made the
the phrase ‚when the neighbours get
assumption that the music
you down‛ it is an issue almost every
magazine has an active audience.
reader can relate to, and it’s delivery
This reflects the demographic of
in a satirical form makes it more
modern day music magazines;
enticing and intriguing to read on.
they are knowledgeable in music.
Modes of address;
Reflecting the colloquialism of the articles, the modes of address usually are in first person
‚I‛; this makes the articles much more personalised and effective onto the reader as it
portrays a singular point of view. The review automatically becomes one sided, which is
an example of an act against modernism; it doesn’t adopt ideals and conventions of
articles (eg, news articles) which involve various opinions and ideologies.