Music magazine Analysis

1. Focus on the connotations of the signs on the
cover/contents page/double page spread.

2. Masthead:
The masthead is bold and the gaps have been filled
with colour which makes it stand out more. The
middle of the masthead has been covered by the
picture of Adele, this makes Adele the centre of
focus.
Barcode and Cost:
Shows that the magazine is available for consumers
to buy in shops.
Main Image:
Adele is the main image on this magazine which
shows a consumer that Adele will be the main focus
of the magazine. She has been photographed
looking into the camera which gives the impression
that she is looking at the consumer which may
encourage them to buy it.
Lead Story:
“The Year In Music” could be the main cover story
because the font is bold and colourful which makes
it a large focus of the magazine. It is also a source
of the pattern on the cover as the flower like lines
have sprouted from that piece of text.
Cover Design:
The pattern on the front cover, which to me look like
flower stalks or leaves, almost represent a family
tree layout as they all end with a feature in the
magazine. As well as this, all of the colours and
typography's used on the cover link and match
which gives the magazine a very professional look.

3. Masthead:
The masthead stands out against the pink
background as the colours are very different. The
gaps in the ‘a’ and the ‘d’ have been filled in with
bright colours which also makes it stand out.
Issue:
The issue shows the consumer what issue of
magazine it is so that if they wish to collect the
magazine they know the issues.
Main Image:
Katy Perry is the main image of this magazine. Her
outfit makes her stand out as the flowers are bright
and bold. She is also looking out to the audience
which may catch the eye of a reader and encourage
them to buy the magazine.
Lead Story:
“Katy Perry, Inside The Court Of The New Queen
Of Pop” This piece of text is extremely bold and
takes up quite a large majority of the cover which
shows that it is probably the lead story of the
magazine.
Cover Design:
The cover design is very simplistic but it fits
together with a very feminine theme, for example
the pink background and the big flowers on the
artists dress shows that the magazine could be
aiming at women as well as Katy Perry targeting a
lot of her music at women.

4. Masthead:
The masthead is very bold and the white stands out
against dark background, as well as this it is also
very simple as the font is simple and bold and is easy
to read as well as it being very big which may make it
eye catching.
Puff:
The puff is promoting a 32 page record collection,
this may make the magazine more appealing to the
reader as it is promoting a brand new feature of the
magazine which makes it more interesting to read if
something new and different has been added.
Main Image:
David Bowie has been pictured for the main image of
the magazine, his name has also been written in bold
on the cover, this shows the reader that this
magazine will be focused mainly on him and his
music. The picture is in black and white and bold
colours of the text and shoes which add a lot of
interest to the cover.
Lead Story:
the lead story is about David Bowie and it seems to
be in the form of an interview, this is because there is
a quote taken from the article “There was nothing I
wouldn't try” This looks to be an extract from
Cover Design:
The cover design is rather simple but affective as
the image of David Bowie is in black and white but
what makes it effective is the use of red white and
blue which makes the cover very bold and
interesting.

5. This contents page has been laid out in a very
simplistic way but the usual and fun image makes the
page look more exciting.
The title stands out very clearly as the font is big and
bold, there is a lot of empty space on this page due
to the fact that the font for the list of content is very
small and the information has been put at the very far
right of the page which leaves a lot of black space,
this could be taken up by images or perhaps could've
been laid out differently. For example the font could
have been made bigger or it could have overlapped
the picture.
There is also very little listed on this page as there
are only four subheadings, this may suggest that the
magazine could be mostly advertisements or that the
articles featured in the magazine are detailed and
large. It could also be a brief overview of the most
interesting or detailed pages so that if a reader
glances at the contents they will know what the main
articles are about.

6. The layout of this contents page is quite simple but
its effective, the colours used are very plain but they
give an old school, retro look. The plain background
allows the focus to be purely on the contents as well
as the simple sepia image on the right of the page.
The text fits around the image which gives a very
smooth and integrated look.
The splash of red font adds a burst of colour and fun
tot he page as well as it highlighting important
features of the magazine.
The contents page also includes the date, issue and
title of the magazine which would inform a reader that
glances at the contents page an idea of the
magazine.
There is a clear theme that the magazine follows
which you can establish by just looking at the
contents page which is a good sign that the theme is
clear and consistent throughout the magazine.

7. The black and white theme of this contents page is
very effective as it shows it targets a specific
audience, such as the readers who are looking for a
more slick and detailed magazine and music. the
black and white is also effective because the red
heart adds a contrast to the monochrome theme.
They have used sub features such as fashion gives a
wider depth of reading material for readers who like
new things to be featured in magazines.
The central image of Kanye West shows that a large
portion of the magazine will be featured on him
without having to write much about him in the
contents.
The heading has been set out so it takes up more
space but it is also bold and creative which makes it
eye catching to the reader.

8. This double page spread is very eye catching, the page has been filled with interesting content and there isn't much unused space.
I like how this page has been set out as the article has been split by the image of Nicki Minaj and the article fits around the shape
of the picture. I think this gives the page a really smooth and fun look and gives interest the reader. There is a clear theme on this
page with the pink font and background as well as the pink lipstick which all ties in nicely. Nicki Minaj is also looking to the reader
which engages them to read the article.

9. This double page spread has stuck to a very simple theme of white and black but the artists picture adds a burst of colour to the
page, the image also links clearly to the article, “USA” has been written in the background of the page and there is then an
overlapping image of Florence Welch sitting on an American flag which all relates back to the article. I like the heading font that
was used as it looks very sophisticated and professional, This may show the reader that the article is aimed at people who want to
read something refined and informative. The way the article has been set out is very similar to the Ed Sheeran one as the image is
on the left and the article has been written on the right.

10. I like how in this double page spread the colours and fonts have followed a significant theme with red and white. I also feel like the
red font could symbolise the articles title, the word “Ginger” has been written in red where as the rest of the heading had been
written in white. the red could symbolise the artists ginger hair which all links back tot he theme go the article. I like how the artists
picture takes up one half of the page and on the second page is the article. This gives it a clear and clean layout structure. The
article seems to be in the form of an interview, but for a two page spread there is very little that has been written and I feel that a
more detailed article could have been featured here.