The document analyzes the contents pages of three different music magazines - NME, Kerrang, and Classic FM. For each magazine, key design elements of the contents page are identified and their purpose is discussed. Common elements analyzed across magazines include mastheads, images, color schemes, and subscription advertisements. Design choices are explained as ways to attract readers, visually organize information, promote a magazine's brand and target demographic, and encourage subscriptions which generate revenue.

1. Analysis of 3 music magazine contents pages.

2. Analysis of magazine Contents pages Contents 1.NME Sept 2009 Dizzee Rascal Edition

3. NME masthead same colour code as front: This helps to carry a colour theme. This allows the audience to easily recognise the magazine because of the colours help to indicate the magazine. The main image is: this image is of a women that is featured in magazine. The image ties in with the article and helps add interest to the text. The women seems inviting which allows the reader to feel as if they are actually there. Bands are listed in red with page number in black: Again this ties in with the colour theme, the use of this helps to add colour to the page and also makes the artists stand out, the reader is easily able to pick what they want to read, the use of a different colour for the numbers allows this to be a lot easier. Image is edited so it looks like a photograph. This is appropriate because: It gives a care free attitude which the readers are likely to want to feel, it also helps to add the ‘touring special’ as the picture compliments the text of being on tour, taking photographs for memories. Editors introduction to contents of magazine: This allows the reader to have an insight in what the magazine contains, it can help to promote the magazine to make the reader feel that this is the right magazine to choose. Banner at the top: is eye catching allowing the reader to see what the page is, it further matches the colour theme and helps to add Date: It helps to remind the audience which Is the latest magazine, although because of the small size shows the lack of importance Sub heading blocked out into black subsections: This breaks up the information making it easier to read and also helps to have different sections within the magazine. The bold background is eye catching as this is an important part of the contents page. Previous/feature editions of NME are shown with details of website/phone number ect : This is advertising there subscriptions this takes up a considerable amount of the page and they use bold bright writing to catch the readers eye because this is what makes them money, therefore is an important thing for them. They use words such as ‘just’ which makes the reader feel like they are gaining something too.

4. ANALYSIS OF CONTENTS PAGE 2 Kerrang contents page June 2006

5. Date/issue : this tells the reader which is the most up to date issue if the magazine, the issue number allows the makers of the magazine to tell them which sells best, helps with the readers be able to get the correct issue they want. The colour stands out against the black background which makes it easier to see. Masthead: the text size is large, bold and bright when contrasted with the background. This enables the reader to see the tell what the page is and what the magazine entails. The use of the broken effect on the text ‘contents’ give an idea of the type of audience the magazine attracts rebellious e.c.t this is further added to with they music they portray within there magazine. Main image: the main image of this magazine takes up the majority of the room, the designers have used the background of the image and extended it for the whole page background. The image looks like it has been edited which allows the artist to stand out so it’s the first thing your eye notices, this is done because it makes the man the centre of attention further implying he is important. The image is taken looking up at him which makes him appear bigger and better than the reader showing his status within the music industry. Pervious magazines/subscriptions: the designers of the magazine do this as it gives the reader some detail on the other magazines that have been published, the text used is red which follows a colour scheme and by using an outstanding colour allows the reader to see it when contrasted with the background. The use of the colour red shows importance, and they use red font colour for the most important parts of the magazine therefore they use the red to detail the thing that will make them the most money this is the most important element for them. Header: this follows the colour scheme and background this creates a professional look and also helps the text stand out. Contents: the different sections are in bold red writing, the colour theme is carried out throughout this part of the contents page creating an eye catching yet professional look. The sections include what there audience are interested in, and because the contents are easy to see and read it becomes much more easier for the buyer to see what is contained within this further helps to sell the magazine. Personal language: this helps to feel as if the text is being directly aimed at you this gives the magazine a personal feel as the language used within the interview is made to feel as if your friends with the artist, this gives a welcoming feel to the magazine which makes people buy the magazine. Images: the majority of the images are looking at the reader and have used medium close up image shots, this allows the audience to see the emotions on the peoples faces, the expressions shown are stern which helps to show the type of people who read the magazine. Also, there is a variety of different people shown which enables the reader to see that the magazine is open to a wide range of different people.

6. ANALYSIS OF CONTENTS PAGE 3 Classic fm contents page December 2007

7. Images: the images used are simplistic which makes helps add the calming and inviting atmosphere they are looking to achieve this is added to because the use of the images are mainly of religious things which in turn helps to show the target audience of the magazine which is older/ religious people. These type of people can be seen within the images portrayed. All the images are the same size and they take up the majority of the page, because they all look similar it helps to create a professional and mature look. Background: this contents page is clear and concise, it is plain and uses mature colours to help add to the atmosphere that is being created by a multitude of features the designers have put in the contents page. Advertisement: this is in red as it follows the colour scheme yet still stands out, the use if the word ‘free’ is in bolder and brighter writing as this is what the readers are interested in. by putting this at the bottom of the page enables the eye to be drawn there but it makes the eye catch everything else that is going on within the contents page too, so it is selling its self as well as the free cd’s on offer. Colour theme: the use of the plain colours helps to paint a calm and welcoming picture surrounding the magazine. The white background suggests religious attitudes which is linked to the images and genre of music, the red helps to catch the reader eye, yet creates a regal look which can be further linked to the target audience and shows passion and love which many classic songs are about. The black text helps to contrasts the two other prominent colours and allows the information to been seen easily. Header: the header uses mature writing which stands out against the background used. The mature look creates a stereotype of the people that are likely to buy the magazine, however it does make help the reader to recognise the magazine from all the other music magazine that can be brought. The date is written under the masthead but is hidden compared to other features of the page. This is because the date isn't really a major point of the magazine so doesn’t require much room. Subscriptions: this is bolder and stand out a it has a border, by doing this the reader is attracted to this point of the page making the reader think about the offer persuading them to spend more money on the magazine. The use of the language also helps to persuade the readers ‘us’ is used as it feels like everyone is being including and the magazine is your friend. Positive words such as ‘save’ are used to manipulate the reader feelings to buy the magazine as hey are getting something out of the deal to. This is the most important part f the magazine as it create the designers money.