Front cover, contents and article analysis of three popular music magazine, these being NME, Top of the Pops and Q. By Ellie Morrice

1. Music Magazine Analysis
Ellie Morrice

2. Front Cover Analysis

3. NME Header
Shows a main attribute to this
Masthead particular issue, importance
emphasised by the fact it is all written
The masthead is clearly visible within within upper case and “Autumn Tour
the top left hand corner of the Special” in bold drawing the readers
magazine. This is so when stacked attention to it further.
on a shelf, the easily recognisable
masthead is visible. It is bold, and the
red colour used is extremely eye
catching and although a serif font is Colour Scheme
used, A limited colour pallet of red white
and black throughout the front cover
are the dominant creating a unified
and Dizzee reflects that by wearing a
Flash white tank top, and red and white
trainers.
Red, in keeping with the colour
scheme however it stands out
against the background highlighting Main Image
important news
The main image is of the
features artist, in this particular
case, Dizzee Rascal. The
Cover Line medium shot takes up about
four fifths of the page and
Large, bold, serif, upper case and shows the artist as being happy,
shadowed writing is used for the loud and funny.
cover line in order to grab the
readers attention. It is also
centralised further attracting the
readers attention
Footer
Draws attention to other artists that
are within the magazine that may
appeal to the reader
Use of Pull Quote
A particular quote is taking from an
article within the magazine in order Barcode/date/issue/price
to further entice the audience to
purchase the magazine.

4. Masthead
The masthead is clearly visible and
Top of the Pops Header
Shows a competition that is available
inside that will attract the reader. It
takes up the entire length of the also, unlike other magazines shows
page. Serif font is used and it is the company, “BBC” which produce
entirely written in lower case. the magazine
Symbol
Puff Line Is also used on the televised
Used to sell the magazine by telling programme, making the magazine
the potential reader why is it good easily identifiable.
and what they have to offer
Main Image
Colour Scheme The main image is of the Jonas
Brothers, they are smiling
Pinks and purples are the main looking friendly. They have also
colours used presenting a girly look been positioned together all
to the magazine, although yellow is interlocked, making them look
also used to attract the reader to closer than ever and so they
certain copy on the page. have room around the sides for
copy
Cover Line
Large, bold writing is used to attract Barcode/date/issue/price
the reader and the use of
contrasting colours, pink on yellow Flash
helps to highlight this further. It is
also centralised and directly below Yellow, in keeping with the colour
the faces of the Jonas Brothers, scheme however it stands out
further drawing the readers against the background highlighting
attention to the middle third. important news and slang language
is also used “OMG” to appeal to a
younger female target audience
Use of Pull Quote
A particular quote is taking from an Footer
article within the magazine in order
to further entice the audience to Draws attention to other artists and
purchase the magazine. celebrities that are within the
magazine that may appeal to the
reader

5. Masthead
The masthead is clearly visible in the
Q
top left third of the page so when it is
stacked it is clearly visible. Also, The
Masthead covers the main image, Flash
this may be due to the fact that as it Shows something “exclusive” to the
is an established magazine the magazine further enticing individuals
masthead is extremely important to purchase it.
Colour Scheme Main Image
A limited colour pallet of red, white
The main image takes up the
and grey is used in order to create a
majority of the page and it is a
unified look. Red, is used to highlight
close up of Liam Gallagher.
important copy on the page
Within the picture he is seen to
be looking serious, and
although it is only him, we can
Use of Pull Quote see his band mates within the
reflection of his glasses.
A particular quote is taking from an
article within the magazine in order
to further entice the audience to
purchase the magazine. Copy
The copy is wrapped around the
image and except from the
masthead, the copy does not
Cover Line interrupt the image. Also, the use of
red, black and grey copy also helps
Large, bold writing which is all in the readers attention to drawn to be
upper case is used to attract the different sections of copy more easily
reader, and the use of the bold red
colour helps to emphasise this
further. Also, “Liam” is the name of
the individual in the name image,
affirming who the image is of to the Barcode/date/issue/price
reader.

6. Contents Page Analysis

7. Mise en Scene
NME Header
Limited colour pallet is reflected
Banner at the top shows the name of
throughout, and the NME logo is
the magazine, and the name of the
exactly the same as it is on the front
page, “Title”
cover, making it easily recognisable.
Left Column Date
Dedicated solely to a band index,
therefore making it easy for the
reader to find a particular band that Sub Headings
they are interested in Blocked into sections so that similar
information/articles can be found
easily
Main Image
It is in the centre of the page and is
framed within a box. It is also
anchored to the article underneath as Advert
it is discussing touring, and a tour
bus is clearly visible in the picture. Advert for the magazine is on the
contents page to entice people to
subscribe to the magazine
Drop Cap
Is used at the start of the copy to
attract the readers attention Additional Information
Information about future editions, the
website and phone number are also
displayed here showing the different
Copy ways in which the magazine can be
accessed
Editors introduction to the magazine
and talks about stories and issues
that will be raised within the
magazine

8. Top of the Pops
Mise en Scene Header
Uses same font as is used in the
Overall, it is a very busy page which masthead and there is also a
is abundant with colour and images. repetition of “pop”
It is extremely visual and eye
catching with the dominant colours of
pink and green recurring throughout
Images
There is no main image, there a
several images that are used on the
page, and through the use of the
Sub Headings different coloured text boxes, a very
The information within the magazine vibrant and busy page is created.
is organised to similar information is
grouped together.
Logo
Repetition of the logo throughout
Copy makes the magazine easily
recognisable, and makes the
Addressed to the reader of the audience associate the magazine
magazine, friendly serif font. with the logo
Visual
An extremely visual cover, the
audience can see page extract from
in the magazine, showing them
Footer exactly what is on the later pages
Banner runs along the bottom
showing another one of the
attractions to buy the magazine
Page Number

9. Q
Mise en Scene Header
The header repeats the name of the
In keeping with the limited colour magazine, and the name of the page
pallet, making it look formal and and also the issue number and date
attractive. Q logo is the same as on
the cover, and is also allocated in the
same place making it easily
recognisable
Main Image
Takes up the top left hand of the
page
Left Column
Takes up the majority of the copy,
and is an index of features specific to
this particular issue. Anchor Text
Image is anchored by the copy seen
in a text box
Sub Heading Alternate Section
Splits the articles easily so the Has a header exactly the same as
readers can find what they are the page does, the copy within the
looking for easily section is also on a darker grey
background drawing more attention
to this particular section
Image
Smaller than main image, it also sits Page Number
just bellow the main image on the
same line making it look neat

10. Article Analysis

11. Main Image
NME Caption
States the artist name in top
right hand corner so easily
visible
Medium shot of Dizzee
fills the entire page, in also
corresponds with the main
heading “tags” as Dizzee By line
is seen “tagging” in the
picture Credit to author and
photographer
Main Heading
Large bold and takes
Mise en Scene up an entire third of
Graffiti and the bottles of the page, also a
beer, presents the audience clever play on words
with a rebellious and is used
raucous image of Dizzee.
Stan First
A small amount of
writing to give an
idea of what is in the
article that may
attract the reader
Copy
Page number, name and date Four columns of
Drop Cap Second Image relatively small, sans
serif writing that
Draws the readers A small image takes wraps around the
attention to the start up the bottom second image
of the article section of the page

12. Top of the Pops
Main Heading Copy
Four columns of text that
Takes up a third of the page and is in wraps around the images
the largest lettering. Also, the image and spreads across the
of the moon is reflective of the actors two pages
film, “New Moon”
Main Image
Stan First Takes up the majority of
the second page and the
An insight into what the colours that Kristen is
article is about in order to wearing reflect the
attract the audience to limited colour pallet of
read the article. the double page spread
By Line
Gives credit to author,
Mise en Scene and other sources such
The use of pinks, white as photographers
and greys suggests it is
for a female audience,
and this is also further
demonstrated by the Alternate Images
choice of a female actor, Other images are placed
from a film that is within boxes and have
predominately for captions explaining what
females. the picture is of and
Page Numbers when and where it was
taken

13. Q Caption
States the artists name,
reader knows easily what
page they need and what
Main Image they are reading.
The image takes up the
entire page, and is in
grey scale, which reflects
the limited colour pallet
used within the
magazine.
Copy
Three columns that are
in a sans serif font
Mise en Scene
Overall, it is in keeping with
the limited colour pallet Drop Caps
focusing on red and grey They are used in two
scale. It gives a places in order to attract
sophisticated look, although the audiences attention
this image in other to various points in the
magazines may not look as article
professional and high class
as it does within this
magazine.
L Name of page, magazine symbol
It is red in keeping with the limited By Line
colour pallet of the magazine and
also, it acts as a second image Gives credit to
making this particular page more photographer and to the
eye catching. As, a second image writer
of the artist may have detracted
from the main image.