This document analyzes the contents page and double page spread (DPS) of NME Magazine from November 2008 and 2011. It summarizes the key conventions used, including subheadings in boxes to label sections, a band index, a subscription box, colored drop capitals, pull quotes, and filling most of the DPS with an image of a featured artist. The document concludes that incorporating these conventions would help appeal to the target audience of a music magazine and increase readership based on theories of star appeal and genre expectations.

1. Music Magazine –
Contents Page and DPS
Textual Analysis
Name: Patrick Coll
Candidate Number: 64135
Center Name: St. Andrew’s Catholic School
Center Number: 1102
OCR Media Studies – AS Level
Unit G321: Advanced Portfolio
“Music Magazine of Inspiration”
LOGO HERE

2. NME Magazine- Contents Page
Analysis
November 2008

3. Main Image Content Title
Sub-Headings
Page Number
Issue Details
Subline
‘Star Appeal’
Kasabian
The image supports
the description made
in the heading of
“Kasabian getting
romantic in the
Church.”
Band Index
Sub Headings label
the different
sections of the
magazine. This idea
will be incorporated
across most NME
Magazinesso the
reader knows where
to look to find what
they want.
This helps the
reader find their
favorite bands
quickly and easily.
The Page numbers
are red, which
coincides with the
logo design and
stands out against
the black text.
The phrase “This Week” connotes how
the magazine covers all aspects of
music news from the last week and the
audience knows they will receive all the
information they need to keep them up
to date with current music affairs.
There isn’t much in the way of details on
the magazine’s contents page apart from
the issue date.
Subscription Box
The Subscription box informs
the reader how they would go
about subscribing to the
magazine whilst also offering
a discount to persuade the
reader.
The Sublines give us a quick glance
of the contents of the article and
inject the reader to read on. This is
connote in the subline that says
‘and let us learn what the future
holds.’ This information is
obviously very important to fans of
Kasabian who need to know
everything about their band.
Kasabian are a British Alternative
band formed in the 1990’s, who
have a very strong star appeal. The
British band appeal mainly to a
British audience but are known for
their international success.

4. NME DPS
Analysis
2011

5. Pull QuoteStand First Drop Capital/Colour Page NumberImage of Star
As oppose to the rest of the article, the
picture dominates the majority of the
DPS. This could be used to emphasize
the scale of the band in comparison to
the rest of the market. It also explores
Richard Dyer’s theory of Star Appeal, in
attempt to gain more readership.
The Stand First summarizes the rest
of the article in a few sentences. By
using the art of rhetoric the writers
are able to convince the reader to
read on to find out what else
“Jamie Fullerton’ finds about them.
The Drop capital forces the readers line
of vision to the Bold drop Capital after
the heading, which persuades the
reader to read on. The use of the colour
blue as a contarst to the white and
black makes it stand out and draws the
readers attention to it.
The pull quote used in the article
highlights the latter of the article
and works as a sub-heading. The
repetition of the words ‘Pop
Band’, puts emphasis on the fact
that they want to be associated
with the pop genre as mentioned
in the quote.
The Page Number situated in the
bottom right hand corner clearly
shows the reader the date of the
issue and how far they are in to
the article.

6. Conclusion –
I wish to ‘repeat’ (Steve Neale – 1980) the following conventions:
SUB HEADINGS
I would like to incorporate the style of the sub-headings
in my magazine- White bold Font on Black Box
BAND INDEX
I would like to incorporate the band index on the content
page as it will be used so people can find their favorite
band as quickly as possible
SUBSCRIPTION BOX
The Subscription Box is the most efficient way of gaining
subscribers and promotes the magazine
COLOURED DROP CAPITAL
The big, bold, blue, drop capital automatically draws
the readers attention to that part of the article.
PULL QUOTE
The pull quote gives a summary of the article without
giving too much away
IMAGE OF STAR
I will aim to fill ¾ of my DPS with an image of a star as
it contributes to Richard Dyer’s Star Appeal and looks
aesthetically pleasing.

7. Conclusion (Continued)
• In order to appeal to the appropriate target audience, certain conventions
of an Indie magazine (NME), must be present in my magazine (Steve Neal).
Although, I do not plan to completely replicate the design and contents of
these conventions, I will try and present them in a way that fits the
singer/songwriter genre as well as the Indie genre. In this case, the more
simplistic I make the colour scheme and presentation of the magazine, the
greater the appeal will be to the singer/songwriter market as the music is
often very basic with few instruments. I would ideally like to replicate the
full page picture on my magazine as it stands out and draws the reader’s
attention to the content, due to star appeal (Richard Dyer). Pull quotes are
also very stereotypically of an Indie/Singer/Songwriter magazine as they
draw the attention of the reader to something their favourite star has said,
making them more engaged with the content of the magazine (Katz).
Generally the repetition of stereotypical features of a music magazine,
increases the audiences’ appeal as they know what to expect from that
genre of magazine.