4. Mix Mag
MixMag’s average reader is 24 years old (mostly
male). They target their magazine at middle aged
males who enjoy socialising and clubbing with their
friends at the weekend. MixMag believes that most
of their readers have a high disposable income and
enjoy spending their money on going out clubbing
and new trends. MixMag is an expensive magazine
(in comparison to others) and due to this they say
that most of their readers don’t spend money on
other magazines and don’t really watch TV at the
weekend.
5. Masthead & Selling Line
The MixMag masthead is the same on every issue although
they have been known to change the font colour to suit the
theme of the front cover. The selling line - “The worlds biggest
dance music and clubbing magazine” – informs its readers of
exactly what the content of the magazine is. This selling line
uses the word “world”, this leaves MixMag with a broader
target audience and does not target a specific genre or age.
The use of simplistic lettering appeals to a male audience as
they are less likely to buy a complicated magazine.
6. Main Image The main front cover image shows
the drum and bass duo known as
Chase & Status. The image is very
simple and has a plain green
background. However the man on
the right hand side is wearing a full
suit and the man on the left is
wearing casual clothes. This is
subtly distinguishing the difference
between the two members of the
group. One has a more
underground, old school style.
Whereas the other member brings
new sounds and ideas to the table.
Chase and Status are featured on
the front cover of MixMag due to
their new album being released at
the time of this issue being
produced.
7. Cover Lines & Main Sells
The cover line of this magazine is simply “Chase & Status”
and goes straight across the middle of the front cover
much bolder than any other text on the page. The colour
of the cover line is split in half, one side uses a sky blue
text whereas the other uses a white text, I feel that this
could be a way of distinguishing between the two different
personalities of Chase & Status. The cover line is layered
over the main image to make it as clear as possible to the
target audience what magazine they are buying. The style
of language used on the front cover is informal and also
some ‘slang’ words are included, this will help the target
audience to relate to the front cover as they will use
similar language themselves. All the text on this front
cover is related to electronic dance music or clubbing,
there isn't any other topics included which makes it the
perfect magazine for anyone interested in Music/Clubbing.
8. The target audience of The Rolling
Stones magazine has a slightly higher
demographic age range of around 16-
50. As more people are more
interested in the rock and roll life style
over the Electronic Dance Music
scene. This front cover is very
different to the MixMag cover I have
just been analysing. For example the
front cover text and image are both
black and white and not colour.
However the mast head “Rolling
stones” is a vibrant red colour which
is their trademark. The main image is
also layered over the masthead which
is different on the MixMag front cover.
Furthermore there is only writing
down the left third
9. Comparisons
These two magazines are completely different styles. The
MixMag magazine is a lot brighter and more colorful
probably due to its target audience demographic being
younger than the desired target audience of the Rolling
Stones magazine. In relation to the colour used, the rolling
stones magazine has used a black and white theme leaving
only the masthead in their original red colour which helps
the title of the magazine to stand out on the page . Another
difference between these magazines is that the rolling
stones magazine only has information down the left third
and leaves more space for the front cover image to be seen.
Whereas the MixMag magazine has information on both the
left and right third as well as a banner through the centre
naming who the magazine features.
10. Ideas for your own magazine
After looking at these different styles of magazine I
have decided to carry forward a few techniques into
my own magazine front cover design. For example
both these magazine display the masthead behind
the main cover image; although it is still visible I feel
that the masthead is being restricted and made un-
clear to the readers. I will have the mast head
straight across layered on top of the cover image
making it as clear as possible to my target audience.
Also I will have text down both the left and right third
of the front cover including key information.
11. On my magazine front cover I intend on including
colloquial language that will make it easier to read
for my target audience and allow them to relate to
the slang words included in the cover. I plan on
using the same font for all the text on the page but
may vary the colour pallet.
