The cover of Vibe magazine features a bold red masthead with Eminem as the main image. The main sell line discusses Eminem "coming clean" about past drug abuse. Additional stories promote iconic hip hop artists. The cover of Kerrang! magazine uses a unique black and white masthead and headlines Travis Barker's plane crash. The main image features the band Bring Me The Horizon. The cover of Billboard magazine has Jay-Z as the main image smoking a cigar. The main sell line discusses Jay-Z rapping about his career changes and views on the music industry.

1. Cover, Contents and Double Page Spread Analysis.

2. Cover Analysis. By George Parkin.

3. The Masthead – “VIBE” “ Vibe” clearly stands out on the front page. Its bold and eye catching and uses a mixture of bright and dark colours. The different shades of red make it stand out well on the plain pale background and the fact the red eventually fades into black makes it appear as if there's a shadow over the masthead. The font used gives a rounded effect to the letters especially the “B” and “e” – it is also worth noting how the “e” is in lowercase this is perhaps important because it makes it appear more consistent the “B” and “e” are almost identical whilst the “V” and “I” are similar because they both have vertical lines. The Header – Acts as a piece of advertising that is quick and to the point it clearly summarises some of the main features; it lists a series of iconic ‘Hip-Hop’ and ‘Rap’ stars including; Busta Rhymes, DMX and Puff Daddy. This magazine’s target audience is ‘Hip-Hop’ fans and so by featuring such iconic and legendary figures in the music industry the reader will be familiar with them and thus encouraged to purchase the magazine. Underneath still connected with the Header there is a rhetorical question; “Is 1998 Rap’s Last Classic Year?” – this question is left undisclosed presumably because it will be answered if you purchase the magazine also the question is clearly linked to the ‘Rap’ and ‘Hip-Hop’ stars above due to the fact some of them including; ODB and Big Pun are now deceased referring to the fact ‘Rap’ as a genre is finished with many of these once famous stars careers either stagnating or dying off altogether. The Main Image – “ EMINEM” The main image is a mid-shot of ‘Hip-Hop’ and ‘Rap’ artist Eminem who is both a solo artist and member of band D-12 (we know it is him because his name is clearly stated in the top left of the page) he is most likely featured on the cover because he has recently made a big comeback to mainstream circles with his new album Recovery after a period of being on hiatus. Eminem’s appearance is very cold, he is dressed in a black vest and his hair is also a dark brown or black not the customary blonde we were used to. His crucifix chain or ‘Bling’ is something you stereotypically associate with the ‘Rap’, ‘Hip-Hop’ and gangster culture that comes with it. In addition to that his tattoos on display further enforce his ‘street’ image as well as his loyalties to daughter Hailie and band D-12. The Main Sell Line – The most prominent Sell Line on the magazine is the one that anchors the main image. At first it isn’t clear what the Sell Line relates to, it isn’t written in a sentence format instead the words each have a line to themselves flowing around the main image itself. The story itself involves Eminem “coming clean” the main Sell Line lists a series of drugs not specifically saying Eminem took these but implying he did so, then it is followed by a quotation by the star; “I Literally Almost Died.” in fact we still don’t know for sure what he is talking about but because of the drugs listed and the nature of the quote we assume he is talking about the fact that his drug abuse almost killed him. (This is another instance where his ‘Gangster’ image is backed up – Drugs both being associated with deprived areas and the celebrity lifestyle – Eminem being associated with both of these) The nature of such a story would be very high-profile and a big feature for a magazine such as this and it is followed by the line; Eminem Comes Clean indicating there will be some kind of tell all interview inside. The colours used and the way it is presented is also of significance, the list of drugs is in a much darker grey colour as it is of little significance until it is associated with the quotation which is in black thus becoming more eye catching and creating tension and drama and then we get the most important part (hence why it is in bright red) the fact the story is about famous ‘Hip-Hop’ and ‘Rap’ star Eminem making the story relevant to the readers because it concerns ‘one of their own’ so to speak. It is also worth noting the fact that part of the “M” in his name is cut off by his picture indicting he is so well known people don’t even need to see his full name they will know at a glance it is him. Other Sell Lines – Numerous other Sell Lines can be found around the Main Image many of them relating to ‘Hip-Hop’ and mainly ‘Rap’ including; Who Is The Best ‘Rapper’ Ever? You Decide . Date and Website.

4. The Masthead – “KERRANG!” “ Kerrang!” stands out very clearly on the page. Its both eye-catching and very unique. It uses two very contrasting colours to create this unique and easily recognisable Masthead. The white background works well contrasting the big black letters well, helping the Masthead really stand out. The reason for this Masthead’s uniqueness is the fact that the people who have designed it have very clearly shown it’s a ‘Rock’ magazine. Everything about it screams ‘Rock’ culture from the black and white colour scheme that relates very much so to the main image (I.E. Pale faces and dark hair) to how the letters themselves are presented. The fact the letters aren’t properly formed with lines running through them perhaps gives the impression that it may be graffiti spray painted onto a wall (another rebellious attribute associated with rock culture) or the striking white lines passing through the letters could symbolise something totally different all together for example they could represent cracks indicating the fact that music is being played very loudly or broken class again, suggesting rebellion. The exclamation mark makes it even more dramatic as if to stress the sound of music playing loudly or somebody shouting. The Header – The header is a brief summary of some of the items that will be included within this issue of the magazine, it stands out well because of the red outline, giving it a shocking effect which really catches your eye. Travis Barker In Plane Crash Horror is one of the main stories clearly. Not only is this a shocking issue which fans of his will be deeply concerned about but they also manage to make it a shocking and important story for those who may not be aware of who he is, again using many of the same principles they used in the Masthead for example two very distinct colours and an exclamation mark to add drama. In addition to the plane crash story it also states the name of the band; Trivium in the Header. An interview or article with an American heavy metal band such as this would be a clear selling point for a magazine such as this hence why it is included in the header, making it one of the first things you would notice due to the fact it is placed right alongside the Masthead. The Footer – The Footer is simply a list of further bands that will be featured in this magazine, the colour scheme has remained consistent sticking with the black and white theme although the colours have been reversed the black is now the background with the text written in white (the opposite to the masthead, but in keeping with the Header) just like the Header it manages to be eye catching and the word PLUS in capitals, an exclamation mark, the red background, the red plus signs (+) and the ellipses ‘…’ all suggest there’s lots going on in this magazine with plenty of bonus content. Barcode, Date, Price, Issue No, Etc – These are all essential elements to a magazine if they are to sell copies (people need to know prices/dates Etc) it is a relatively small box that is often found down in the bottom corner of the page – although it is essential it does not benefit the magazine publishers in anyway, it only takes up valuable space and thus is kept as small as possible – in most cases it is all together pretty irrelevant to the reader as the price can normally be found somewhere in much bigger writing and the issue number and barcode are only really relevant to the people selling the magazine itself another reason for it being kept small. The Main Sell Line – The most prominent Sell Line on the page is; Bring Me The Horizon that anchors the image. The main image is that of the band ‘Bring Me The Horizon’ which is what the Sell Line relates too. In all senses of the word it isn’t a traditional Sell Line, for instance it isn’t advertising any kind of story or feature it is merely naming the band in question this shows how confident they are their readers will be familiar with them and this picture and their name written will be enticing enough for their audience to want to read on. There is little to say about the styling of this Sell Line in comparison to say the Masthead. It’s one white block of colour in large clear letters that runs over the torsos of band members in the main image and contrasts strongly with the dark black colours the band are wearing. The Main Image – The Main image is a Master Shot of the band Bring Me The Horizon (this is clearly shown by the large caption running across the artists torsos) all four members are facing the camera, doing different actions, in different poses and at different distances away. They have a very stereotypical ‘Rocker’ image with what we can presume is the lead singer featured closest to the camera to show his important and the other four featured further back who we can presume play instruments such as guitar or drums. The lead singer who we can see most of is perhaps the most significant he is covered in tattoos, his hair is long (although it appears well kept and straight) and dark. The other four along with the lead singer have much in common in terms of appearance all with long hair and dressed in suits, although their ‘Rocker’ image does not suit their outfits and it looks as if they’ve been asked to wear them, many of them appear scruffy (notably the member on the right of the lead singer – his is unshaven and his top button is undone and his tie loose) the background looks bleak with graffiti on the wall it looks as if they’ve just come back from a diner party and are now letting their rebellious side out in some kind of ‘rave’.

5. Main Image – The Main Image is a mid-shot of hugely successful American ‘Hip-Hop’ and ‘Rap’ star, Jay-Z. This image relies heavily upon ‘Hip-Hop’ stereotypes and the crime and ‘gangster’ aspect that is also associated with this genre of music. For instance this picture enforces Jay-Z’s ‘bad boy’ image. The cap he is wearing is a New York Yankee’s hat, The iconic ‘NY’ logo is both a symbol of urban youth culture and popular brands as well as a reference to Jay-Z’s roots in New York, specially Brooklyn as well as the youth and crime aspect associated with such items of clothing and such areas of New York were crime was rife during the 1980’s when Jay-Z himself was a teenager. Despite his hat linking back to his roots as well a younger side of him, we can see from other items he is wearing how far he has come and progressed in terms of age, wealth and success. He is seen wearing what appears to be an expensive leather jacket indicating how his successful ‘Hip-Hop’ career has allowed him to enjoy the finer things in life, including Cigars and designer Sunglasses (It is not sunny so he is wearing them for the ‘look’). Not only do they connote wealth but the Cigar is also an essential part of the image somebody like Jay-Z prides themselves on, it gives the impression of somebody who despite his success is still in touch with his ‘street’ roots. In addition to his outfit the setting is also of significance, he appears to be leaning against a wall, very casually smoking. Everything around him appears white, the background appears to be some kind of frozen pond with trees in the background, in my opinion it heavily resembles Christmas in New York, with the trees and wall also covered in snow, the harsh winter could represent the harsh times Jay-Z went through on his rise to fame. Also the fact he is featured predominantly in black and the background is white could represent a division of some kind be it race (blacks and whites) the contrast between rich and poor in a city or the contrast between what Jay-Z was then in New York and what he is now in New York. The picture could also signify the passage of time, Jay-Z has returned to where he grew up to reconnect with his troubled background. Barcode, Date, Price, Issue No, Etc – Small essential item usually found on the bottom left hand or right hand corners of the page in order to keep it out of direct viewing, this small box is the Barcode and normally in close proximity to this you will find the Price, Date and other details. The Masthead – “Billboard” “ Billboard” clearly stands out on the page, the background is very pale as I have already mentioned so any injection of colour know matter how little stands out, very well. This Masthead in fact uses a mixture of colours; yellows, blues and greens. The word “Billboard” itself is very plain and conventional but the magazine have managed to create a memorable and easily recognizable Masthead by adding some simple effects like colours in the letters “O”, “A” and “D” each with a separate colour it really brings the Masthead to life. It is also indicted that the Masthead is well known due to the fact that Jay-Z’s head covers most of the word “Bill” – this could also be said to be an attempt at further advertising, sacrificing the Masthead itself in favour of a larger image of the artist, favouring him over the name. hoping his name will help sell magazines rather than the brand itself. Masthead – “Billboard” The Colouring in of the letters “O”, “A” and “D” could be another nod at the rebellious and criminal culture associated with ‘Hip-Hop’ for example its almost as if somebody is bored and they have senselessly scribbled colour over the Masthead, although by doing so it has made it undoubtedly more memorable. Main Sell Line – “How Roc Rolls” The Main Sell for this Magazine is “How Roc Rolls” this is clearly the Main Sell Line because it relates to Jay-Z who is featured in the main image. It is followed by some smaller text under the initial headline; “Jay-Z Raps About Leaving Def Jam, Killing Auto-Tune And Creating A New ‘Blueprint’ For Success” this is first Sell Line that I feel doesn’t stand out particularly well, I feel there has been to much dark colours used, specifically black and the Main Sell Line is also in black does not help matters, although on the other hand the magazine is remaining consistent with it’s Black and Red theme. The Sell Line itself is written in a colloquial form, for example the word ‘Roc’ does not have a ‘K’ on the end, this is a reference to the street urban culture associated with ‘Hip-Hop’ the magazine presumes its readership speak in this informal manor. The Shell Line underneath lists some of items that will feature in the magazine because there is a list of so many things including changes in his life and music we can safely presume the magazine will have conducted some kind of interview with Jay-Z himself. The way the Sell Line is written makes it very easily read, it isn’t written in full sentences but rather it is stated at the beginning “Jay-Z Raps About…” and then it goes from there listing the items, this is a good way of including large amounts of information on your front page without comprising sales by putting people off with large paragraphs of copy. The Spelling of ‘Roc’ is also a reference to Jay-Z’s label; Roc Nation.

6. Contents Analysis.

7. Main Image/Illustrations – The Main Image is a long shot of four men stood on a hill, in the countryside. The four men are all members of British ‘Rock’ band from Manchester, The Courteeners . The four men have stereotypical ‘Rock’ images, however each with their own individuality also. For example the man at the front, Liam Fray is dressed reasonably casual. With Jeans a T-Shirt and shoes. He has long untidy hair which is a stereotype of ‘Rockers’ he has sunglasses that he hasn’t taken off to pose for the photograph, the sunglasses give the impression of distance somebody who isn’t very connected with society. On the front of his T-Shirt there is a strange looking figure, with a hat, sunglasses and long hair – a symbol of himself and his culture on his own shirt. Meanwhile the other band members appear much the same, all with T-Shirts and Jeans, long hair and unshaven faces. The member on the far right looking particularly scruffy. The two men towards the back seem less connected to the band and the photograph itself, the man at the back on the left is looking off into the distance, looking disinterested. Also both of these men at the back are significantly plainer in what they wear compared to the two closer to the front presumably because the two at the front may be more significant members perhaps lead singers or songwriters whilst the other two may play instruments and are therefore not quite as memorable or recognizable to the reader. The Background – Main Image/Illustration I feel the background in this Main Image is of significance because it contrasts the ‘Rocker’ image so strongly the four men’s outfits, demeanour and appearance all scream ‘Rock’ yet the photographer and magazine have placed them on a hill, the immediate background is very green with them standing on a grassy mound, plants, trees and some kind of town can be seen in the background in between the men's legs. The only reason that I can plausibly see for placing them in this environment that strongly contrasts the urban environment you associate with ‘Rock’ is because placing them high up gives them power, dominance and superiority and that is the most likely reason for them being in this environment and for the shot being taken in a slight low-angle manor (hence why we can clearly see what they are standing on, because the photographer is further down the hill) Date, essential information Etc – In the top right hand corner of this contents page much like on the front page were the Barcode and other essential information can be found, you can find the date and websites for the magazine, all essential elements to expanding your readership by branching out online and into other mediums you open yourself up to a whole new generation of readers. The Contents – Features The Contents or features as it is listed on this particularly magazine runs down the left hand side of the page it is clearly marked at the top with the word ‘Features’, which stands out very clearly due to the red box it is placed on and the very clear block white letters. The Features then run down the page vertically, the page numbers are in red making them stand out and making them consistent with the ‘Features’ which is also featured on a red background, the articles are referred to in short snappy three word lines like; ‘Cash For Questions’ making the readership wonder about the article and wanting to read on, it is all written in block capitals making it stand out further, often followed by an ellipses then it is followed by much smaller writing written underneath describing the article in more detail – this is much smaller because you don’t need to read it unless you are curious about that specific item if you are just scanning the contents the titles of the articles in black bold capitals are sure to catch your eye and suffice when it comes to choosing whether or not your going to want to see it in full. Contents – Clearly identifiable that this is a Contents page, by placing a banner across the top such as this you are able to store essential information like the date, websites and make sure people have a constant reminder of what magazine they are reading in this case; ‘Q’.

8. Main Image/Illustration – The Main Image is a Mid Shot with perhaps leanings towards a long shot due to the fact it is taken in between the waist and knees. The main image features the British ‘Rock’ band You Me At Six from Surrey. It only features three members of the band when in fact there are five. The image is very eye catching and notable for a number of reasons, for one it is a clear parody of British Zombie-Comedy film Shaun Of The Dead, which itself is a parody of other more serious horror films including Dawn Of The Dead. The clear parody the band is trying to create is evident the main character in the film the titular ‘Shaun’ wears the same outfit as the lead member of the band in the photograph; the red striped tie, tucked in white shirt, black suit trousers and a nametag. The member of the band is also pictured with the characters weapon of choice a blood splattered cricket bat. The other two members of the band who are featured in the shot are zombies, wearing prosthetics and makeup to make them resemble the living dead; ripped, torn and blood stained clothes are also worn by the two members in order to closely resemble Zombies as much as possible. The parody of this film is perhaps more comic than the comedy itself, the lead band member has a look on his face that gives the impression he isn’t taking it seriously meanwhile the two band members are dramatically overacting, even appearing to be laughing during the shoot. In the background is appears to be misty and what appears to be the tops of trees can be seen in the background indicating it takes place in an eerie wood a cliché used in horror films everywhere. The specific reason for this parody is not clear it is most likely because of the ‘dark’ side associated with ‘Rock’ which perhaps has links to the dark comedy aspects of Shaun Of The Dead as well as the death aspects and the breakdown of society. The Caption – This Caption doesn’t specially explain what’s going on nor who is in the picture it only states You Me At Six but doesn’t make it clear that they are a band and it could be misinterpreted as something else all together if you aren’t very familiar with music or this specific band. Underneath You Me At Six the caption reads ; Menaced By The Undead Unlucky. This is clearly meant to be humorous and not taken seriously hence why the response is so flippant, this caption adds to the overall humorous effect of the Shaun Of The Dead parody photo-shoot. Other Image – This contents page especially has many other notable images each acting as hook to draw the reader in and want to read the full article specifically relating to that image, the on the contents page that represent stories in the magazine are smaller than the lead image (the parody of Shaun Of The Dead) but they remain bigger than the text itself this is most likely because the magazine assumes the reader will merely glance at the contents page rather than reading it in detail and are therefore more likely to become enticed if they see a picture of there favourite artist or band rather than having to read for example a paragraph listing who will be in the magazine, hence why there are so many images on this contents page because the more images they can place onto the page the larger readership they are likely to attract because there is a series of diverse artists and hopefully in theory something for everybody. The images are extremely music related with the artists in the photographs being featured with musical props including microphones and guitars in addition to that many of them have a unique style of dress or appearance common among celebrities as they set the trends whilst others follow them, in addition to that the ‘Rock’ elements shine through once again with the males predominantly being unshaven with long untidy hair and sunglasses all elements associated with ‘Rock’ culture with some of the images even going as far to capture the artists mid-performance with one image in the bottom right shirtless, singing and playing guitar. A series of individual images such as these means their readership is expanding there is something for males and females, fans of bands and individual artists as well as many other music related articles specially information on new albums. Contents – In addition to the images a small snippet of writing is included underneath the much larger and bold title of the article, also to the left hand side there is a respective page number which stands out very clearly partly due to the fact its in bright yellow and in part due to the fact its mounted on a black background, helping it stand out even further. The Contents – The contents on this particular magazine are reasonably small as the majority of the page is dominated by images, the background is plain which means the bright headings in black and yellow stand out very clearly, the respective page numbers are bold and clear whilst the actual writing itself is much smaller and thinner, which doesn’t work very well at drawing in the reader, at the top itself clearly stated that these items will all be included in this weeks issue and they run down the page on the right hand side in a very ordered fashion making it easy to understand what page number relates to what article.

9. Main Image/Illustrations – The Main Image is a long shot of two men dancing together, the two men in the frame are famous American singer-songwriter and musician James Brown featured alongside television host and comedian Johnny Carson . Judging by the style of the photo, the fact its in black and white and what the men are wearing its clear to see it’s an photograph from the 1960’s era, more specifically 1967 according to the caption in the top left hand corner. The image depicts the two men dancing, so neither of them are looking at the camera directly but rather concentrating on their movements, the man on the right is James Brown , a popular soul singer his appearance is very of the time as well as linked to the type of music he specialises in, he is wearing a very smart tuxedo, his shoes are smart and polished and his hair is well kept – despite the dated appearance and age of the photograph Brown’s appearance seems much more modern in comparison to Carson’s he is very rapped up in the music performing traditional dance moves of the time including clicking his fingers, his mouth is open indicting he is singing or laughing, his nature indicates that this photograph was taken on the spur of the moment rather than posed for. Meanwhile, Johnny Carson also appears very smart in a tailored suit, slicked back hair and polished suit shoes, his outfit doesn’t appear quite as up to date as Brown’s despite Carson only being eight years older. He is also pictured performing a dance move, snapping his fingers to the music we can presume was playing, he doesn’t look as comfortable as Brown he looks to be concentrating harder trying to keep to a rhythm and in time with Brown the reason for this is because he is a talk show host and not an entertainer in the singing and dancer area. Despite the fact Carson seems to be struggling it seems clear both men are doing it for fun and enjoyment and neither are taking themselves to seriously. In the foreground and background we can see a microphone, lights on the wall and curtains and both men are on a stage so we can presume this is taken on the set of Carson’s show where Brown was most likely chatting and performing. Caption – “In 1967 The King Of Late Night Showed The Godfather Of Soul A Few Of His Moves.” The customary caption is once again small here and what appears insignificant, although in this instance it is doing a lot more than just stating who is in the photograph and what is happening, it in fact contains a pun. It plays of the fact Johnny Carson was known as the King of late night television due to his hugely popular tonight show which he hosted for thirty years and the fact that James Brown was referred to as the Godfather of ‘Soul’ due to the immense impact he had upon the genre, it is also pocking fun at the fact that Brown is imitating Carson’s dance moves when in fact it would be the other way around. It is also worth noting the fact that their full names are mentioned they are only referred to by nicknames, indicating these two were such huge stars and would be known to anybody not just music fans – if they weren’t as well known Carson would have to have his name stated because he has no direct association to music. The Contents – The contents in this particular magazine is reasonably small in comparison to other magazines and I feel doesn’t stand out very well as the overall colour scheme of this magazine is particularly plain and pale, with the majority of the colours used being black and white and the main image itself being in black and white. The page numbers on the right are relevant to the respective articles and in order to make them stand out they are a bright purple colour and are space away from text making sure they stand out well on the white background, to the right of this there is the titles of the articles written in a bold black font, this makes the initial few words stand out whilst the text returns to normal for the rest of the sentence or sentences. These sentence(s) give a brief description regarding what the article will be about, meaning you can gather some background information, thus deciding whether you want to read it in full. Caption – Stating who is in photograph. Other Image – The Beyonce image is very contrasting in comparison to the main image, that of Johnny Carson and James Brown most notable because of the colour, unlike the Carson and Brown image it is in colour, it looks particularly out of place as up until this point the contents page had been following a consistent colour scheme of black, white, grey with some hints of purple. An image such as this would be instantly recognizable to music fans, Beyonce is a well known superstar and a major interest of many therefore an article about her would be a big selling point and point of interest for many hence why her photograph is included alongside an article about the fifty biggest earners in the music business, her presence in an article like this would make it far more appealing, the image appears to be taken on the spur of the moment, with Beyonce singing, complete with microphone in hand this reaffirms to the few who may not be familiar with her that she is a very influential part of the music industry. The Date – Byline – Stating who wrote the article, or in this case provided the photographs.

10. Double Page Spread Analysis.

11. Headline – “WE’RE BEING THE BEST MCR WE CAN BE!” The Headline for the double page spread is a statement by the band My Chemical Romance. The whole page is in black and white expect for key sections that are in red, this is one of those sections. Each sentence alternates between red and white, making it very bold and eye catching. Like the KERRANG! Title is appears painted on, with black gaps appearing through the red and white writing, the spray painted on theme remains consistent with the rebellious culture that is associated with ‘Rockers’, the fact that it is written on at an angle may also indicate the person who did it wasn’t sober at the time perhaps under the influence of some kind of drug or alcohol again, two things heavily associated with the ‘Rock’ and ‘Rave’ culture. The Main Image/Illustrations – The main image is that of the lead singer of the band My Chemical Romance. MCR (which is what they are referred to for short) are the focal point, this whole double page spread revolves around them, the main image again screams ‘Rock’ stereotypes as do many of the other images featured on this double page spread and KERRANG magazine as a whole. The main image is a medium shot (although it could also be considered another kind of shot due to the fact the cut of point for a shot changing to another shot is the knees or waist and this is between the two) the stereotypical rock image is relied upon heavily once again perhaps even more so than the KERRANG front page. The leader singer is seen mid-performance so he appears to be perspiring quite heavily, he is caught off guard; hence why he isn’t looking at the camera. His hair appears long and matted. Although this is only a black and white image it is fair to judge that his clothes are quite dark colours anyway, presumably dark blues and blacks. He is wearing jeans and a denim jacket very casual and scruffy in appearance, all attributes of a ‘wild’ ‘rock star’ lifestyle. He also has some kind of badge attached to his shirt that is worth mentioning it appears to have a skull printed on it, something associated with death and although it perhaps has more ‘Emo’ or ‘Goth’ leanings it still connotes ‘Rock’ nonetheless. One more item is noteworthy in this image the fact that a phone can clearly be seen pressed against his leg, bulging out against his jeans; this may be entirely coincidental but I feel it be associated with the same ‘Rock’ is a progressing and modern genre that is up-to-date with the modern role, thus producing music of the time. Pull-Quote – The Headline could also be considered a Pull-Quote due to the fact that it fulfils both functions, it can also be presumed that the respective quote; “WE’RE BEING THE BEST MCR WE CAN BE!” is taken directly from the article below. Other Images – There are also a series of other images accompanying the main image, they also appear to have been taken at roughly the same time and feature the band doing a series of music related activities including singing in the recording studio, socialising together, presumably discussing ideas for songs or albums (because they are pictured in a recording studio) and there is also an image of another band member playing guitar presumably taken during the same performance as photograph used for the main image. These series of images also paint a picture of this bands life on the road, telling a story through the photographs they have brought back they dominate the page far more than the text and are of extreme importance to the overall effect of the double spread, the spontaneous and on the spot images we see the more we feel we are getting to know the ‘real’ them. Other Images – All of the other band members featured in the smaller images like in the Main Image have a stereotypical ‘rock’ look, long, untidy hair, dark coloured clothes and piercing. All photographs are taken in black and white contributing to the overall ‘dark’ theme of the double page spread that predominantly consists of black and white, with bursts of eye catching red in places. Drop Cap – “M” A larger letter at the beginning of an article creates emphasis encouraging people to read the article, it also clearly shows this article has began on this page Caption – Used to state what is happening in the picture and who is present.

12. Main Image/Illustration – The Main Image is a long shot of Brandon Flowers , who is the subject of the entire double page spread, in the main image to the left he is seen playing his guitar. The background setting seems much more relaxed than say the KERRANG picture shoot where MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE are meant to appear in full flow of playing, this image is meant to appear much more calmer almost taken by a friend whilst Brandon practices. There are numerous reason for why this image appears so calm and relaxing I feel one of the main reasons is the setting it looks as if its been taken in the comfort of his family home, the furniture is nice and clean the wallpaper is modern and the lamp is a nice homely touch that breathes life into the room, he seems contented merely practising his guitar, he isn’t looking at the camera which makes the image appear all the more effortless, he is engrossed in his music. The clothes he wears are also a contributing factor to the relaxed feel, he is dressed casually with a checked shirt and jeans no special effort has been made, Brandon Flowers is in fact a ‘Rocker’ himself but does not present himself in a stereotypical manor it is worth noting the stark contrast between for example MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE and Brandon Flowers although they both play in the same genre collectively they are in fact involved with very different sub-sections of that genre for example FLOWERS focuses predominantly on Indie and Alternative Rock, whilst MCR focuses much more on ‘Post-Hardcore’ and ‘Emo’ giving them perhaps leanings more towards ‘Hardcore Punk.’ Main Image/Illustration – This image to the right of the page could equally be considered a main image as it is of roughly the same size of the picture on the left hand side of the page and also dominates much of the page, but this image would normally be considered of lesser important and not the lead image due to the fact it is place on the right hand side of the page – because we read left to right – our eyes would naturally go to the image on the left and page until we progress naturally across to the right hand side of the double page spread. The image in question here has many correlations between that of its counterpart on the left hand page, both images appear to be have been taken at the same time due to the fact Brandon Flowers is wearing the same outfit (the checked shirt and jeans) and he also appears to be in much the same setting, although this time it is a recording studio and he is no longer playing his guitar, it is resting on a stand, whilst he sits and ponders with a pad and pen in hand – presumably waiting for inspiration to strike when writing a new song – this whole arrangement again, much like the image on the left it totally ignores the ‘Rock’ stereotypes of dark colours, loud music and untamed looks, Brandon Flowers is expressing the artist and expressive side of ‘Rock’, by doing this we the reader almost feel as if we’re getting to know him personally, the images allow us into his home and his personal life, as well as giving us an incite into how he makes music. Headline – “In The Studio – Brandon Flowers.” The Headline like much of this double page spread is again very subtle and there is little to say because of this, its clear to see the whole double page spread is following a strict colour scheme, using three colours mainly; black, white and red. The word Brandon Flowers is written neatly in a bold and clear font, the letters are well formed and it isn’t meant to represent anything else. The letters are in white placed over a strong block of red colour this helps it stand out as your eyes are immediately drawn to the block of colour within the image and then your eyes naturally flow across the page to the text that is of lesser importance. The words In The Studio are also of importance they again like the Main Image give that impression we’re getting to know Flowers , thus gaining an incite into his life, how the music becomes what it is rather than listening to the finished product. The words In The Studio are naturally smaller because they are of less importance even though when reading it correctly you would have to read this first although in the world of magazines where people merely glance at an article the line; In The Studio… also acts as a kind of drum role whilst music fans read on, desperate to find out who they will be reading about in this edition… Pull-Quote – “I Don’t Want People To Think It’s Narcissistic.” This is a personal quote by FLOWERS himself, we can presume its extracted directly from the article and is a personal concern from the artist. The Pull-Quote works well blending nicely in between the article but managing still to stand out well in its bright red font and large red strip across the top to create notice. A quotation such as this would be appealing because all the time as the readership get deeper into the article they feel they know FLOWERS more and more, even knowing his personal concerns and worries. Drop Cap – “I” The larger Initial at the beginning helps the article gain notice and encourages people to read it, gaining their notice with a letter that is larger than the rest of the text. Also it clearly shows the article has begun on this page and not the page previous. The Caption – The Caption a common feature of music magazines, simply explaining were the images have come from and what is taking place and who is present, they are normally reasonably small like the one in question because people are usually aware who is in the picture. For example in this case it is a well known artist.

13. Main Image/Illustrations – The Main image is a long shot of famed English singer-songwriter Florence Welch who is best known worldwide as the lead singer of Florence + The Machine . The only and Main Image for this double page spread is a peculiar one, it features Florence sat on a box, that appears to be covered with some kind of red and white striped sheet, which perhaps could be a flag of some kind. In keeping with Florence’s “Indie” image, her style of dress is unique and obscure, she is dressed in what appears to be a leather dress with long sleeves and matching high heeled shoes, it cannot be said if her image specifically her outfits reflect her style and genre of music because she mainly plays ‘Indie Pop’ and ‘Indie Rock’ and as there is no specific ‘dress code’ so to speak for independent artists it is different to tell, all that can be said really is her fashion choices give her a distinct and memorable look. As does her hair, the black dress contrasts with her red hair, making her stand out on an another very plain and pale page that consists of mainly light greys and off white colours, other than the striking red stripes. Headline – “Got the Love” The Headline is written in an italic style front and runs across the right hand page only with the left hand page being devoted solely to Florence’s photograph, the headline is; Got The Love , which is adapted from Florence’s song; “You’ve got the love.” The Headline is very subtle, the italic font makes it flow effortlessly across the page, it doesn’t grab your eye by using shocking colours and large fonts rather a series of much more relaxed elements make the Headline appealing the pale background consisting of greys and whites complement the dark black font of the Headline. Also it is worth noting how conventions are being followed here and music magazines are beginning to have a near page layout even when dealing with totally different types of music. My Chemical Romance’s page layout is near identical with the Headline to the right and the main image on the left and copy feeling in the bottom right hand side of the page. Rhetorical Question – She’s 2009’s Biggest Success Story, With America At Her Feet. So Why Is Florence Welch Lying On Her Floor Attacking Herself? Another feature of music magazines that is becoming more and more regular is the use of Rhetorical questions for example the “Vibe” magazine uses the element to its advantage on its front cover and it is utilized to its full effect here in the Florence double page spread, where a question is asked before the article itself has began, the question itself doesn’t make much sense and it can only be presumed if you read on you will gain an insight into what the magazine is referencing or what the answer to the question is. The use this convention hooks the reader in, giving them such an obscure question as this makes people desperate to know the answer, it is also likely a similar question may be printed on the front page in order to get people to purchase the magazine and read the full magazine inside. It is a good marketing ploy and very effective strategy to entice potential readers. Drop Cap – “D” The empathise on the letter “D” really makes the article stand out, again the italic font works well remaining consistent with the Headline, it works well to subtly and smoothly introduce the opening of the article. Byline – A Byline is another predominant feature that is often found within music magazines, it is a small element that often goes unnoticed but none the less is essential and nearly always present somewhere. The Byline states who the article was written by and who provided the photographs or took them, it is an essential element both to the magazine and the reader, it can often be ignored as not important like other items such as the Barcode and Captions but it is one small part of a much bigger overall end product, without the Byline people researching magazine items would be unable to find out who wrote the story and writers, journalists and photographers everywhere would go without recognition for their works otherwise.