2. NME
This NME magazine aims itself towards people who are
interested in indie bands and some rock, as it involves these
sort of bands inside. Many of the audience are
men/boys, which could be because there a wider range of male
bands than female bands which are included in the magazines.
This shows through the front cover as it has a main male
band, and they look dominant and masculine so could be
aiming itself towards a women/girls eyes, but then aims to boys
due to them being a popular well-known band. The men make
themselves look very serious, showing us this is a career and
life choice, and that this is something serious in their life. The
colours they are wearing also contrasts to the colours in the
fonts etc.. On the magazine, for instance the deep blue, which
is at its closest to black and then the red. The fact there is an
individual more forward than the rest of the members shows
the audience that he is the more dominating and forward male
in the guy, so he is in charge of it all, and also that he is more
known from this band. This one magazine in particular aims
itself towards all ‘Arctic Monkeys’ fans as they are the main
spotlight for the audience. The colours used are very bold but
plain, for instance the masthead, which is the name of the
magazine is striking, as the bright red is one of the first things
on the front cover which will probably be seen. But then the
colours which are used for around the magazine and the people
centred, contrasts with this colour scheme. The layout is very
clean and organised as there is not too much writing and tells
you clearly there is only one main aim on what they want the
audience to know. “THE FINAL CHAPTER” could be striking, but
also intriguing to the audience, wondering what will be
happening to this band? The mise-en-scene in the image tells
3. NME
…tour/holiday in an exotic place. The barcode is placed at the
side of the image to make it slightly discreet, so it is not too
obvious on the eye, but also links in with the colour scheme so
does not seem out of place. ‘+ THE NME VERDICT ‘AM’: the
greatest record of the decade?’ this entices the audience
grabbing their attention just a little, as they may feel they are
getting some inside gossip, and lets them know that there is
information on an album they may not have heard about. The
fact that it is in a separate yellow circle NME are making the
audience realise that it’s there and telling them they have to
read this section of the magazine. You can tell this due to the
complete change in colour scheme, as it does not link in with
the rest of the scheme. But they have done this because, if the
colour scheme in this section of the front colour was directly
the same as the rest, it would not be seen due to it being at the
bottom of the screen, so after the masthead and the
headline, this could be the next place the audiences eyes are
drawn to.
4. Q.
The target audience for this magazine are those who are interested in
‘Oasis’ and listening to music, but also quite a few football fans because
of the basis that this band puts across. To have picked up this magazine
people most probably would have had to have knowledge of the image
on the cover, due to him being in the old band. There is a close-up of
Noel Gallagher which dominates the page, as it is the only focus in the
cover. In the image on the cover Noel Gallagher is looking very serious
which could tell the audience a lot about his character, it could dominate
him. But also he has the typical male facial features to what a woman
may want so reverses the role of the male gaze, but then also tells the
audience how he prefers to look. You get the impression that he isn’t as
groomed and caring on his looks as some men. The image is filtered
black and white which gives it a mysterious, but exciting look which then
links to the ‘OASIS ARE BACK’ because of the image and the way it is
presented, it gets people curious in to why they might be on the front
cover once again. This will attract people even more as they may not
have been seen around as much recently. The subheading intrigues the
audience to then make them wonder to what is inside. But also the red
surprises the eyes of the audience, making them feel shocked on the
vibrancy in the red and white. It uses a punchy line, which doesn’t tell
the audience enough to leave the magazine at that, which then creates a
sense of mystery. The slogan for Q magazine is shown directly
underneath the logo, to show the audience who Q are. This also get
them noticed and is a way which this magazine will be remember
‘Britain’s Biggest Music Magazine’ using two sets of alliteration BB and
MM, which sticks into the viewers/audiences heads. The layout as a
whole in the magazine is quite busy and clustered due to the different
headlines in the cover, so I think that this is the reason why instead of
putting ‘and’ to tell the audience what else is included they used ‘+’
which abbreviates this.
5. Q.
The grey in this image is too much of a light colour, as it is uneasy to read what the
words say in this section and blends with the colour in his face, which could then
put audience off the magazine. The text on the magazine is more informal that
formal, as it uses a quote ‘Liam? He’s a mouse’ which would not usually be used in
a formal context.
6. SPIN
This magazine aims itself towards an audience of people who like and
enjoy listening to different bands. ‘THE NEW AMERICANA
REVOLUTION’ gives a new look on how Mumford & Sons may now be
seen, as they are quite an alternative different band, but in their image
it shows they are fun people. As they are postured in the way that they
don’t really worry on how they are seen towards their audience, but
shows a less serious side. It shows that they are different and
unique, but also tells us that they enjoy what they do, it makes the
audience want to know the characters as individuals and not as a
whole. This image does not show as much dominance, due to the way
are looking quite flamboyant and feminine, although there are aspects
of the image which shows the audience that they are quite boisterous
as well, as the second man on the left is stood in a typical male way
with his arm round the male next to him, and the man on the end right
with his hands resting, which makes him seem quite preserved and
calm. With the male next to him quite lively and entertaining. Although
the front cover is quite busy, it all links in well within each other, as the
colours stay on the same sort of track, with it being black, white and
red. These colours seem more dominant and manly, compared to if it
was pink there would be a lot more girly views on the magazine. The
way they have done it also makes it easy for the audience to
understand, as the information on the band on the front cover is set
out as white background, black writing, whereas the information for
other bands and what else is included is black, with white writing, so it
splits the two apart from each other. FREE! 2 ALBUMS, sells the
audience even more as they then want these free album, as it makes
them feel like they are not just getting a magazine, they are getting
something extra from this purchase. It also gives a unique look towards
SPIN, as they then can say that they have done something that another
magazine hasn’t done before.
7. SPIN
The mise-en-scene in the image shows that they are ‘homely’ and
down to earth due to them being in what looks like a more rugged
home. They haven’t had a photo-shoot in a place they are unfamiliar
to, as it seems they are comfortable, and able to express their
happiness. It shows that they don’t need too much around them to
feel comfortable.
8. NME CONTENTS
Largest title of the page making it visible for the audience to see clearly
Here the magazine uses
colours to link in with the what this page is all about, but also including the logo to remind them
again and again what the magazine is that they are reading.
logo and front covers of
The date to show when the
NME, with the black and red.
issue was released which can
Giving it colour coordination
be used for the future, if
to show that red is the title
people were to read it again to
of the page, whereas black is
know when this issue
the number of the page.
occurred.
Giving a clear description
with a bold, but simple font
Clear separation of sections and
subheading with ‘BAND
where everything should. Clean
INDEX’ showing the
and organised.
audience what this is. In a
Main image to describe the main
list of chronological order
headline, ‘romantic’ is used and
giving a small title of what
this is shown in the image as they
will be on each page, making
look as though they are into the
it easy for the reader to turn
music they are playing
to the correct page needed.
The main story is centred in the
page to show that this will be the
story which could go one
throughout the magazine, or could
also be a short story for the first
page in the issue. ‘Got romantic in
a church’ this could show that they
have a love for music.
Giving the audience a change to feel as though they are in a chance of being at a
win, by saving money if they subscribe to this magazine, by giving them the code there
and then. It is a place where your eyes are most likely to draw to first before reading
the stories and what’s inside. Giving you a surprise on the first page. The writing is
bigger than a lot of the writing so it makes it harder to look away from it
9. Q CONTENTS
Title of page and magazine, to be
the first piece of text you are to
look at first, so you know what this
page is.
Number of issue, which tells us
that the magazines are released
in chronological order.
John Lennon is appeared to be
quite formal and presented in
this image, but also shows
himself to be dominant, but also
has a slight essence of femininity
as he is crossing his legs and sat
postured. The fact that the
image is quite large and the
main image to the contents, so
could tell the audience that this
is one of the big stories, but also
because of the fact that this
band are very big, it could be an
important story for them to
know about, as they are not
around anymore.
Picture of what will be included
in the magazine, to tell the
audience which pages they may
prefer to look at, but also giving
an image of what this page is
about.
Lists of who will be in the
magazine, to again interest and
engage the reader more, by
getting them knowing who will
be included.
Review of the magazine, what
other people think about this
issue? Gives a good insight to
the readers about what other
viewers think of the magazine.
10. SPIN CONTENTS
Description of each act/artist and
the reason why they are in this
issue of the magazine. With a large
title to specifically indicate this.
This little piece of text gives some
more information about what was
on the front cover of the
magazine, informing the
audience, and giving them a
headline straight away on the first
page.
Image of Duffy, this will attract a more
female audience, as her musical style is
very feminine and quite country so those
who like that type of music will want to
read the certain article which includes
her in. Her posture shows power and her
arms are in front of her, and looks like she
is at defence with the ukulele in her
hand, but it also uses the male
gaze, because it shows that some women
in the music industry have to be
overpowering and strong. You can see
that none of her body is being shown to
the audience, none of the assets which
males look at in a female. So it shows
that she is covering herself up and is
none exposed to the public. The fact she
is centred tells us she is very important in
this section of the magazine. The pink in
the ukulele shows femininity and merges
the two genders compared to some of
the covers, as this magazine can a lot of
the time just attract a male audience.
Also, because it is a male audience
usually interested in music, and this
certain type of genre. She has blonde hair
and blue eyes, which gives her more of a
Barbie figure and gives males what they
want to see for the first thing in a
magazine.
11. NME DOUBLE SPREAD
many people will know this band, as they have been around longer
than White Lies. This tells us that from the article they are telling
the audience they want to be one of the biggest bands in the
world. In the actual text there is a large 4 to indicate this is the
start of the article, telling the reader where to start reading. This
kind of story is put into this magazine due to not as many people
knowing who they are but “White Lies are back” shows that there
are many people who are interested and have knowledge of this
band, but also this entices the audience into the article, as it is a
new come back, and is telling them to keep an eye out for them. In
the article it uses him, and his which makes the reader feel like
more of a story than the band itself describing what’s happening ,
but using a description about a bar, and alcohol, includes an older
audience into the article. But also could show younger people what
this experience is like.
In this double page spread, the image goes across all of the second
page and ¼ over the first, giving a clear indication that that this is
the band which are being spoken about in this particular article.
Using the image to be dark and having the light on only part of the
artists faces shows there are hidden personalities within all of
these characters, as of course parts of their lives will be hidden
away from the media, but then these stories, give bits away each
time which could represent the different parts which are
highlighted with lights show that there are parts which soon could
be revealed. They present themselves in a mysterious also with
their posture, as they are very serious looking, and the man on the
left is slightly bending one leg which could show some insecure or
mysterious ways to him. As the headline to this article they use a
quote from the band and this can tell the audience a bit more into
what this article could be about “WE WANT A KINGS OF LEON’S
CAREER” which refers themselves to another band and tells the
audience there inspiration. This could also bring in the audience as
‘White Lies’
12. Q DOUBLE SPREAD
The text in the article is very feminine, for instance the curves and
smoothness of the writing, especially the ‘S’ as it is bold, but not to sharp or
forward on the eyes. This then links in with the image of Lana Del
Rey, looking very feminine and emotional, with the shadows around her
face, making her look vulnerable, but at the same time hiding away. She has
her hand to her throat which makes us notice or think that she may hiding
beauty, but also she could be in some pain. The image take up one half of
the page telling us that Lana Del Rey is the focus of the double page spread.
The lighting on her face is a lot brighter and soft than that of around her face
and on her hair, which shows her beauty and passion, it could link in with
the passion of music she has. The lighting around her is out of focus and
dark, which makes all of the focus on Lana Del Rey’s face rather than
everything around her, giving the audience knowledge of who she might be,
as people are more likely to read this article if they know
who she is. The viewers eyes are drawn to the A4 image of
Lana Del Rey, and then gradually go over to the text, by
firstly seeing the large s, this curves down drawing the
viewers eyes on to the text.
‘Lana Del Rey’
13. DOUBLE SPREAD
The first thing on this double page spread is the centre image of Nicki Minaj as
she blends out from the rest of the page. She is wearing an ‘ICON’ ring which
then tells us something about the article itself, telling us how she wants to be
an icon. ‘The Gospel’, links herself to God and tells us that she is changing for
the better and toning down with what she is like, which lets us know she was a
‘Bad Girl’. This then tells the audience that she is an icon God and is changing
for the better. The colours in the article could link to her personality, for
instance pink could express the girly side to her, and how she is quite like a
Barbie doll with how she is. Everything is quite organised and straight, telling us
that she is quite straight forward and down to the point, especially with her
music, but then she says ‘I really toned down, the sexual stuff. There was no
need for me to do it” and this lets us know about how straight forward she
is, but also links with the male gaze and how men might see her for instance
they may think it is less attractive to rap about these kinds of things.
The numbers in the text before each paragraph, shows
that it is almost like a list of things she has to do to keep
to how she would like to present herself to her
self to her audience of fans, but also indulging her fans
into this information letting them know that they have to
follow these rules as well. Her style represents very well
her personality, but also her songs, the quirkiness and ‘in
your face’, as it is quite out there and different, but this is
the same with how she is stood and showing herself, the
wide eyes and hand next to her face.
‘Nicki Minaj’
