The document provides an analysis of magazine front covers from NME, Mojo, and Cosmopolitan magazines. It examines elements like the masthead, cover lines, images, colors, and layouts used and how they target specific audiences. Key points include: 1) Magazine covers use bright colors, images, and layouts to attract readers' attention and signal the type of content and target demographic. 2) Elements like mastheads, cover lines, images, and colors are carefully chosen to represent the magazine's brand and appeal to their intended audience based on factors like age, music interests, and social class. 3) Analyzing magazine covers can provide insights into how they position themselves, convey

1. Analysis of magazine front covers
Cover 3. October 2012
Adele Edition
Cover 2. MOJO July 2002
Cover 1.NME Sept 2009
David Bowie Edition
Dizzee Rascal Edition

2. FRONT COVER ANALYSIS
THE MASTHEAD – uses bright THE HEADER… gives the reader some
colours to attract the readers eye more information on a story or page that
to the magazines name. NME it exclusive to this magazine, or
sounds like enemy, which creates something the magazine thought would
a rowdy theme, that you would grab the readers attention. They have
usually link to the younger made the writing bolder as it gets to the
generation of teenagers. important section of the sentence and
gives the page reference and what the
USE OF A FLASH-(offering page contains in only a few words.
something extra to T.A) -
this just gives the audience THE SELL LINES/COVER LINES -
that little bit more gives the readers an insight to what will
information, it also jumps be included within the magazine, from
out at the reader because just looking at the front cover instead of
of the good use of colour having to flick through or look at the
coding. contents page, which is time and effort.
And will probably not make them want
BACKGROUND – is very to buy it because they have already
colourful, creating a fun and seen everything that’s in there, leaving
younger atmosphere that no surprise stories or interest.
don’t take things too seriously.
This will appeal to younger
THE MAIN IMAGE …. Is of Dizzee
generations because if the
Rascal, a famous artist known for his
outside is interesting the
crazy music videos and energetic songs.
inside will be the same.
The photo of him is literally bulging out of
Dizzee looks as if he is about
the screen because of the use of colours
to jump out of the page
and action he is doing. Everything seems
drawing you in. also the graffiti
to feel as if its jumping out of the page at
behind Dizzee represents a
you.
sense of what his music is like
and who the magazine is for.
THE MAIN COVER LINE – is Dizzee Rascals
USE OF A PULL QUOTE – name because he is NME cover man. They
the informal wording of the do this because although you can see his
speech stops the magazine face pretty clearly you still may not recognise
looking sensible, and him because photo’s now are so heavy
lightening things up a bit. It edited, another reason is you may not think
also shows that its down to about who it is when looking at the shelf of
earth and this kind of magazines, this way you will put the name to
language is what the younger the artist straight away because its bold from
generation would use, not so the darker parts of the image.
much older people.
BARCODE-date/issue/price – is
RULE OF THIRDS/THE LEFT THIRD lost on the shelf against its competition.
something that has to be featured on
– this gives the magazine a sense of The quote in the bottom left third allows it THE FOOTER – adds some more information a magazine, for the obvious reason
structure so that it doesn’t get messy. to be big and bold but not cover anything on the front cover. Its not bothered about of you cant purchase it.
The masthead is in the top left third so important, and attracting the reader. attracting the eye its just there if the person
its always on display and doesn’t get - notices it and wants to know more.

3. TARGET AUDIENCE OF THIS MAGAZINE
Target audience Profile – teenagers
from around 16 to early 20’s. METHODS
Musical interests/favourite artists etc. -
more alternative and indie music.
USED TO
Gender – is male and female, because ATTRACT THIS
all the bands featured on the top next to
the masthead are all a mixture of both
TARGET
gendered bands or artists. The AUDIENCE
background image is of a man having
fun, and the colours and graffiti ARE:
background represent a male style
image, which is why some people would
say its more a male magazine. . Dizzee helps
Age – the age would be around attract the
teenagers to late 20’s because you target audience
wouldn’t see a middle aged man/women because his
reading this type of magazine, especially
due to the informal style speech on the music relates to
front cover. The bands and music taste that generation.
are more younger generations.
Social class (how much money do they
have available? Well they are targeting
it at younger people who have the
Colours – are fun
money to afford the gigs and festivals and energetic which
they talk about, the magazine itself attracts the
looks good quality.
younger audiences.
How much does magazine cost? The They use bright and
magazine costs around £2.20, which is
quite a lot compared to other magazines a variety of
but less than other types of magazines different colours.
like fashion.

4. NM E
WHO
PUBLISHES
THE
MAGAZINE-
Robert Tame
HOW MANY
SALES DOES
IT MAKE –
around 230,000
sales per year.
GENERAL
BACKGROUND – WHAT GENRE/TYPE OF
first started in MAGAZINE IS IT? Indie/ rock
march 1952. Then DETAILS OF ITS TYPICAL
moved towards a CONTENT AND THE
ARTISTS/BANDS IT
magazine format
CURRENTLY FEATURES –
in 1980, changing Artic Monkeys, Lady Gaga,
from newsprint in Muse, Radiohead, Coldplay,
1998. Lily Allen etc.

6. THE MASTHEAD– is spread HEADER – the use of this is to
across the top of the magazine, add more information just above
in a white bold font which stands or beside the masthead so it
out over the top of the expands the magazine more
monochrome image and bright without cramping up the small
pink. space you already have on the
BACKGROUND/MAIN IMAGE – the front cover. Its more tidy and
original image is in monochrome structured this way.
which means that David Bowie’s face
stands out from the black backdrop. BARCODE – is something every
This is more effective because it magazine must have otherwise
allows his face to centre of attention you can not purchase it.
and not get lost in the background of
lots of colours. The editing on the DATE / PRICE – allows the
image of the flash makes the front magazine to have some value in
cover original and creative/eccentric the future and to see what music
which is what artist/magazine want to was like in what years and
get across, give it some character. months. The price has to be
featured as well.
USE OF FLASH – adds more information
onto the screen, without having anymore MAIN COVER LINE – this is the
cover lines and drawing the attention name of the artist on the front cover,
away from the cover photo and theme. for people that may not know what
David Bowie looks like it lets them
PULL QUOTE – is something understand, also the image may
someone has said that has had high have been edited quite heavily to
impact and may motivate readers to create this style and theme of image
try new things. This is also so people may not recognise him.
something that makes the audience Another reason for this cover line is
feel more respect for the artist when you walk past the magazine
because just from this one quote you your eye may not catch who it is, this
realise that he has worked hard for way having the name so bold and
what he has achieved and he bright over the dark background to
deserves it all. He relates to the notice the name and you instantly
audience much more they don’t see want to have a look. David Bowie is
him as just another celebrity. the man story in this magazine so its
COLOURS – the bright pink and blue only fair to take full advantage of
almost give the font and the lightening that.
bolt a 3D effect. This is a very FOOTER – another way to add
famous/memorable magazine cover in extra information without
because of this. It doesn’t get lost in covering any of the main images
the background and certainly not on and drawing attention away from
the magazine shelf. Its stylish not tacky the main areas.
and allows the reader to have a feel of what the magazine will be like, and the artists personality, music and style.

7. TARGET AUDIENCE OF THIS MAGAZINE
Target audience Profile – age METHODS
range around 35. USED TO
Musical interests/favourite artists ATTRACT THIS
etc. – for rock music lovers.
TARGET
Gender – mojo is for both genders AUDIENCE ARE:
because music doesn’t focus on a
specific gender.
Age – the age for this magazine
David Bowie is
would be around the age of 35 an iconic rock
because the music shown is star from the
around 70’s and 80’s, the soft rock
music.
70s/80s, its
bringing back
Social class (how much money do
they have available? Well because the coolness
the target audience is older than from the era he
magazines like kerrang and NME, represents.
the majority of them will have
jobs but not all of them. The social The colours and
class would be middle class
people. font are all very
How much does magazine cost?
retro, so it will
The cost of mojo is more expensive appeal to the
than other magazine types etc. its audience that
around £4.60. which is why the
target audience has to have jobs
remember him. It
and be of the middle class to will intrigue
afford it every month. people to what
the article is
about.

8. HEADER – adding more
MAIN IMAGE – is a close up of Adele's
information without the layout
face. This means that nothing will take
getting messy. Its bold and attract
the attention away that the issue
the eyes.
features Adele. This could be
representing that she is taking over COLOURS – the colours are calm,
because she is such a big hit in the UK yellows and whites with Adele’s skin
as well as all over the world, as if she tone. Its different to many music
is taking over the magazine cover. magazine front covers at the
Adele is a very attractive women with moment, keeping it bright and bold
beautiful eyes, they have played with this helps give you an idea of Adele
this by making her eyes the main focus and her music its very clever.
as she is starring through the
magazine at you, you cant really miss SELL LINES / COVER LINES –
the magazine from a shelf full of are very small and discrete but still
magazines. don’t seem to get lost within the
front cover because the whole
THE MASTHEAD – is a white font
theme of the front cover in this
with black around the edges so it
issue is very modest and relaxed, it
stands out from the background.
doesn’t need to be bold.
The masthead spreads along the
top of the magazine within the top BACKGROUND - the colours used in
thirds so its noticeable although its the background image are very
smaller than most magazine neutral, not too bright, very natural
mastheads. colours. Representing Adele's music
RULE OF THIRD - the cover lines which is very original, not repetitive,
have been placed within the bottom natural and calm, not too in your face.
left third, this allows the background Its showing her personality through
to not be overlapped by too many the magazine, of elegance, beauty
cover lines, which may defeat the and grace.
object of the layout chosen. The left
FLASH – there is a mini sort of flash
hand side is where its darkest and
in the top left third, its adding
there isn’t anything important, if they
information that may normally get
put it on the right hand third then it
lost of the cover if it was a cover line,
would cover up part of her face, it
and although it has some importance
may also not stand out from the
to be on the front cover it still isn’t as
lighter background colour there.
important as a cover line should be.
BARCODE – is It sort of there to remind you of
something every something.
magazine needs MAIN COVERLINE – is the ‘THE THRUMPH OF ADELE’ it’s not as big as other magazines main cover lines, but it still stands out by
otherwise you won’t be the use of the colours and the fact that it is a little bit bigger and bolder than the other cover lines. The ‘ADELE’ part it bigger than the
able to purchase it. And it other words in the main cover lines, so you know who the main article is about. and even though you know that this is Adele some
won’t be allowed to be people may not be aware of what she looks like, because the image is so close up people may struggle on recognising her, the
sold in stores. reason for this cover line is it attracts the eye to the name.

9. TARGET AUDIENCE OF THIS MAGAZINE
METHODS
Target audience Profile USED TO
Musical
ATTRACT THIS
interests/favourite artists TARGET
etc. – indie genre. AUDIENCE
ARE:
Gender – I have found
that around 60% of men Adele is a big hit
read the magazine and in the us and
40% of females buy it. It across the world,
might because of the she keeps herself
taste in music. out of the
Age –Social class (how spotlight most of
much money do they have the time, so she
available? The age would will have a big
be from the age of 18 to demand.
20’s and then back in the
40’s. the social class
would be middle class The colours will
with paid jobs because its attract the
quite an expensive audience because
magazine for you to buy a it showing the
every fortnight. music genre’s
How much does magazine featured, and
cost? The cost is $4.52, Adele’s
which means that it quite personality and
a costly magazine. music.

10. Magazine double page spread
IMAGE - the photo has been MAIN HEADING – isn’t very large and bold, because STYLE / THEME – is
put in an black and white the massive ‘L’ underneath the article and the image very elegant and
effect. They have done this to of Lady Gaga does the job of letting the audience simple, its not using
make it look more classic and know what/who the article is about and catching too many colours
elegant, her hair style is peoples attention so they don’t ignore and skip it. It and throwing them at
similar to Marilyn Monroe looks more interesting and makes you want to read you to catch
giving the article a sense of on and find out what its going to be about. attention. In this case
style and sexiness. and many others
‘less is more’. The
theme and style is
giving you an idea
about the style lady
gaga is trying to
make now and what
her new music is
going to be like.
COLOURS – even though
the image isn’t colourful, the
monotone effect emphasises
the darker sections and
catches the eye. The bright
red ‘L’ is very effective
because it draws people
attention straight to the
page/article, also the ‘L’ lets
people know straight away
who the article is about.

11. Magazine double page spread
MAIN HEADING – the main heading isn’t COLOURS – the colours are very natural, IMAGE - is of the
very bold, but they didn’t want the using green and yellows. The colours are band having a bit of
heading to take any attention away from energetic as well and bring out the fun of festival fun and
the main image spread across the summer, by the use of softer colours like lilac, wearing festival
double pages. Its still a big font and you reds and blues etc. its like David Guetta using fashion and their
still notice it, its not like it gets lost in the more neon colours to represent his style indie style, Shows
background. music this is what Benjamin lee is doing here. their music genre
and personalities,
giving their fans an
idea what they like
to do, other than
making and
preforming their
music and songs.
STYLE / THEME - is
very cool and genuine, it
makes you feel like
going to a festival in the
summer, and just
having fun with your
friends. This makes you
want to listen to their
music. Its very simple,
with the image spread
across the two page
makes it noticeable and
different.