The document provides an analysis of music magazine front covers, contents pages, and article spreads, highlighting design elements such as mastheads, color schemes, and layout conventions that target different audiences. It emphasizes how visual aspects, like bold images and contrasting colors, are strategically used to attract readers and convey professionalism. The analysis also outlines typical conventions for magazine design, including the positioning of titles, article headings, and use of quotations to enhance reader engagement.

1. Music Magazine
Analysis
{ By Kate Meads

2. Front
Covers

3. The Masthead ‘XXL’ is so well
known that the main image can
cover part of it and the audience will
still know what magazine it is. The
masthead is placed on top of a red
banner to make it stand out.
The colour scheme consists of
Black, White, Red and Grey. These
colours indicate an older target
audience as they portray a more
professional magazine, whereas a
magazine with lots of different
colours creating a rainbow effect The image shows that the artist is big than
would appeal to a much younger the tallest buildings in America, therefore it
audience. suggests that his suggest is taking over
The selling line is ‘JAY - Z’ in a large the world and dominating it.
font across the left side of the page,
which shows that the main story will In a smaller text down the right side of the
be about that specific artist. Also, page tells the reader what else will feature
by having it in such a large font instead the magazine, the size of the font
means that the reader does not shows that reader that the articles other
even need to read the smaller print
than the main one will be a lot small and
to find out what it is about.
less detailed.

4. The masthead ‘WE <3 POP.’ Is
in a speech bubble shape with a
black border and a hot pink
background around it, which is
the same colour as the heart in
the name of the magazine. The
continuance of the colour scheme
allows the reader to see that
the magazine is professional.
The selling line for the magazine
‘1D GET TOALLY TWISTED!’ is
placed over the top of the image
in a contrasting colour of yellow.
Which makes it stand out and
eye catching for the target
audience. Other images are placed to the left
The main image is placed hand side of the page, which are
slightly to the right of the advertisements and information as
page but covers it to the top to what is contained within the
and bottom. It shows the magazine such as fashion tips, free
audience what the main article music posters and gossip about
in the magazine will be about. other artists in the charts.

5. The selling line is a light blue colour with a
then white outline to make it stand out as it
contrasts with the darker colours on the page
such the masthead ‘KERRANG! Which is
placed on a white background to make it
bolder. The contrast between the masthead
and the selling line is really noticeable as the
brightness of the selling point attracts the
audience’s attention immediately.
The Masthead is placed behind the image as
most buyers of that magazine already know
that it is KERRANG! Just from the font.
The selling line is placed in front of the image
which shows that it is used to catch the
readers attention to buy it.
The main image is of the full band but with
the main singer in the centre, as he would be
the most well known and is more than likely
to lead people to buy the magazine if they
know him.

6. Contents
Pages

7. The main title is
The content on a black
page lists the banner with
page numbers white font,
down the left however the
hand side of the other subtitles of
page and the news and
matches them stories within the
up with relevant magazines are in
images. This a white font on a
informs the red banner,
reader what the which is the
magazine main colour
contains and scheme of the
where they can magazine and by
find that specific sticking to it
news. makes it seem
professional.
The images on the page have the page number next to them with
a brief description of the story, which helps attract the audience to
buy it as the reader is mostly likely going to know the main
artist/band that the main story is on.

8. The content page is
separated into
different boxes as
different pages are all The content
to do with certain page has
artists or subject, arrows pointed
therefore to make it at the relevant
easier for the reader, images that
they can pick what link to the
topic they want to articles, which
read about and all the may influence
articles are placed the reader to
after each other so view that page
they do not have to as they image
flip from the front to attracts them.
the back to find
certain stories etc.

9. The content page
has a quotation
from the main
band that
The images used
features as the
are useful to the
most important
reader as they
article of the
show the what
magazine as it is
stories with be
placed in the
revealed inside
centre. This could
the magazine and
attract the reader
who they are
as they will
about, as the
mostly likely
images are
know who the
photographs of
band/artist is and
bands and artists.
would want to
then go on and
read the rest of
the article.

10. Article
Spreads

11. The double page spread is
half filled with the main
image that tells the reader
what the article is about
without even reading it.
The colour scheme is kept
the same through out the
• The text is in 3 columns pages, with the artist in the
which read down the page, bold black, dominant colour
this is a typical convention of a it attracts the reader straight
magazine article, as it makes away to find out what the
it easier for the reader to read. article will be about.

12. The main image is placed in the
centre as the main feature,
which will attract the audience
immediately if they like the band.
The colour scheme is
matched by the bands
outfits, which shows that
the image was taken just
for this specific magazine,
making the audience
think it is an exclusive
interview or article for this
magazine only.

13.  A quotation is in the centre of the first page which shows the audience
that the artist has had a direct influence on the article which would draw
many readers to buy the magazine.
The page has other stories briefly listed down the left hand side in a
column which allows the reader to choose to read another article of
interview that appeals to them.
Secondary, smaller images appear on the picture to describe the other
stories, but also to show another image of the main artist to attract the
audience

14. Typical
Conventions

15. Front Cover Conventions
 Main image- covering most of the page (everything else
centred around the image)
 Title in the top right corner (fairly large)
 Skyline- under title
 Main article heading underneath the main image
 Promotion at the bottom right (free poster or download links)
 Date and issue number at the bottom right (small font-above
the barcode)
 3/4 colours for the colour scheme
 Try to match some parts of the models costume or makeup
to the colour scheme of the magazine
 Barcode (under the title)
 Article headings down the left hand side of the page in the 3
different colours of the scheme
 Banners behind the texts of the headings to make them stand
out

16. Contents Page Conventions
 Title in the top right hand corner of the page (smaller than it is
on the front cover)
 Different boxes with different articles inside that all link
together
 Page numbers on a banner and in bold to make them clear to
the reader
 1 Main images in the middle of the page with a quote or brief
introduction to the story
 2 or 3 other secondary images, one left, right and at the
bottom of the page, which just headings and page numbers on
or under the picture.
 Stick to the 3 or 4 main colours used on the front cover
throughout

17. Article Spread Conventions
 Title in a corner of the page (smaller than it is on the front
cover)
 Page number at the bottom in a corner
 1 Main images on one side of the article to show who the
article is about
 Name of artist/band at the top of the page with a tag line next
to it or underneath
 Quotations from the artist/band in bold and a different colour to
the rest of the text
 Stick to the 3 or 4 main colours used on the front cover and
content page
 Text of the article should be in columns and mostly in one font
and colour
 Stick to the same house style throughout the magazine – 3
fronts used and vary the sizes