The document provides an analysis of magazine front covers from NME, Billboard, and Top of the Pops magazines. Key details analyzed include mastheads, images, colors, fonts, and essential information placement. Across the magazines, common techniques are used to attract audiences, such as prominent placement of celebrity images and catchy headlines. Fonts, colors and graphic designs are tailored towards each magazine's target demographic. Essential details like date and price are consistently included but their location varies between top and bottom placement.

1. The masthead is usually always the
biggest piece of text on the magazine
front page. Also, the tile logo will be to
NME Magazine front cover deconstruction The main image is of the Arctic Monkeys . This
the left side of the magazine. In this is because in this particular weeks magazine,
case, the masthead is being obscured by the main story is about them.
the main image. However, because They have made the image take up the
NME is such an established and well majority of the page and have chosen an
known magazine brand, they can afford image where all of the members look quite
to have part of the logo covered, to ‘cool’ and ‘relaxed’. This could be in relation to
show off the image. there music that they make and want to
NME is in a big, capital, bold font, which project the same feelings out to their
means it is easy to read. In this case, audience.
the logo is colored in bright yellow and
contrasts well with the other colors
used on the front page. The main sell-line is the enigma that teases
the audience into buying the magazine by
The essential information on the magazine drawing them in. The main sell-line, never
page is the date, issue number, website normally gives away much information/detail.
address and price. This information is It’s main job is to hook the audience in.
essential because it informs the buyer how With this magazine cover, the main sell-line is
much the magazine is actually going to cost, the obviously about the Arctic Monkeys, but
whether or not it is a recent issue and if it is the text is very large and brightly colored.
up to date, how you can find more Underneath the “Arctic Monkeys’ is a short
information on/about the magazine online statement saying ‘the week they conquer the
and also what issue number the magazine is. world’. With this being another sell-line, this
This information is normally located at the top doesn’t give any information into what the
or bottom of the magazine page – usually it is magazine article will be about, it again just
centered around either the masthead or the draws the audience in.
barcode.
Extra images on the front page of a magazine
cold be another way of showing the audience
Color and font is another way to draw in an
Having other sell-lines on the front cover is essential because it tells the that the magazine does include other music
audience. This can make the magazine look
audience what other information they can expect to find if they were to artist. In this case, it shows a variation into the
exciting, fun and easy to read. This is a good
pick up the magazine and actually buy it. Again, this usually doesn’t give genre of music – ‘Arctic Monkeys’ are a band,
trait to have in a magazine because some
much information away, it teases the audience into actually buying the whereas ‘Gil Scott-Heron’ is a ‘rap’ artist.
people wont want to pick up something and
magazine, or at least picking it up to have a look. read just plane, dull, boring text. Therefore,
Another good reason for having lots of other sell-lines on the front cover having a magazine that looks fun and
on a magazine is that it could persuade a buyer to buy the magazine, if exciting can really help sell a magazine.
they had no interest in the main story.

2. The masthead is in neat style and font,
this could be reflecting the magazine as a
Billboard Magazine front cover deconstruction The essential information is in the top
right of this magazine front cover. This
whole. It is the title logo of the magazine shows the date, price, issue number and
and is always on the top of the page. This web address. This is essential information
magazine brand is extremely well known, because it informs the buyer/audience into
hence why Justin Bieber’s head covers how much the magazine will cost, what
quite a large proportion of the logo. With day it was released, is it current and where
Justin Bieber being a well known music to go online to find out more information
artist, Billboard would rather show off his on/about the magazine.
whole head/face, in regards to having to
either put text over his head of make the
image smaller.
The main image is Justin Bieber, this tells
The main sell-line in this case is about me that this weeks issue of ‘Billboard’
Justin Bieber. The font is in capital letters, Magazine will be bought mainly by
and is in fairly big font. The font color is teenagers. With that in mind, I think they
white, which is the same as the logo, this have chosen a image of Justin that is quite
makes the story about Justin Bieber to calm, cool and relaxed. He is posed in a
look just as important and the masthead. position that would/may be quite appealing
Also, as a sub-heading on top of the main to girls. This is because you can see Justin’s
sell-line and also next to his face, in small face very clearly and his face expression is
writing, says ‘Everything I do, I do to be relaxed – he’s not pulling any kind of face
the greatest’. This may appeal to his fans, that wouldn’t be liked by his fans.
by making them want to buy the magazine He is dressed quite casual, which could
to read the article. With that sub heading suggest that the magazine as a whole, or his
being on top of a bright red background, article.
this makes the writing really stand out,
despite being in such a small font.
There is no extra images on the front of
this magazine cover – I think this is
The colors and font used on the front of this magazine cover are very calm and mellow. They have used a because if there were, it may take away
background color that is not too ‘in your face’, therefore guiding the audiences attention to the main some of attention of Justin Bieber.
image. The color of the masthead is white, therefore making it stand out, but not the first thing you notice.
The colors of the other sell-lines are green and red. Again, making it easy to see and read, but not as eye-
catching as the main sell-line. Overall, the magazine has kept the colors constant, making it look
professional. The fonts used, all look to be in the same font, but altered in width and size. All the sell-lines
and sub-headings are in capital letters, it’s only the masthead that uses lower case letters.

3. The masthead is in quite a girly font and
color. I think this reflects the fact that this
Top of the Pops Magazine front cover deconstruction
magazine is aimed for young teenage girls.
This is the logo of the magazine and is This is called a skyline, this gives a little more
always at the top of the magazine. information, in bullet points about what other
However, in this case, it is underneath a story you will read about in the magazine. Again,
‘skyline’. the fonts used are very girly and look as if
This magazine brand is well known, but on someone has literally wrote on the magazine with
this particular magazine cover, Tulisa’s a pen. There is also stars in replacement of
face isn’t obscuring the logo. regular circular bullet points – therefore giving it
a more feminine look.
On this magazine, there is lots of Extra Images. The main image on this magazine is of Tulisa.
This may be another way to attract a younger This will attract a young audience because she
audience, as it makes the front cover appear is current in the music industry and a role
more busy. It gives a more obvious insight to model to young girls. They have chosen an
the reader as it tells them exactly what to image of Tulisa where she looks nicely
expect if they were to buy the magazine. dressed and in a fun pose – this again,
attracting a young female audience.
The essential information has been placed The main-sell line on this magazine is about
quite near the bottom of this magazine. It Tulisa. Again, her name is wrote in a girl font –
shows the price, date and issue number. I with a star on the top or the ‘i’ in her name.
think is this information is quite hard to find, The sub-heading has been wrote in a circle which
considering on most magazines the essential is attached to her name. The sub-heading says
information is placed at the top of the ‘Her cheekiest interview ever (boys beware!)’.
magazine. This might be down to he fact This supports the fact that the magazine is aimed
that it will be bought by young girls and they for teenage girls. It makes the interview appear as
won’t necessarily look for the price straight if it is going to cheeky and fun.
away.
It is important information to display on a
magazine because it informs the buyer how
much the magazine costs, if it is up to date
and what issue number it is. The colors and font used on the front of this magazine cover are very bright and girly. It is all blended very
well together as the main colors used are: pink, yellow, white and black. You aren’t being overwhelmed
with loads of colors, but I think it’s enough to attract a younger audience.
The fonts are also very girly – most fonts that are used are made to look as if someone has actually wrote it.
Other fonts used are very simple and easy for a young audience to read. Also the font sizes are quite big
and suitable for a young audience.