Q magazine originally considered the name "Cue" but changed it to "Q" to avoid confusion with a snooker magazine. The letter Q maintains the reference to cueing a record and can resemble a record spinning on a turntable. NME was shortened from New Musical Express to create a recognizable brand, and the letters also have rock connotations by sounding like "enemy". Rolling Stone draws its name from influential rock artists like The Rolling Stones and songs such as "Rollin' Stone" and "Like A Rolling Stone" to reflect its focus on rock and alternative music.

1. EXISTING MAGAZINE NAMES

2. Q magazine has a very bold, simplistic and distinct title. The magazine was
originally going to be called ‘Cue’, directly after the old fashioned record
cueing process of putting the cue on the record so it plays. However, this
was misinterpreted by readers as a snooker magazine title, so they
simplified it to ‘Q’. This still has the same significance and could be argued
that it looks like a record on a record player through the capital letter and
font style of Q.

3. NME is a magazine for rock/alternative music and its original
title was New Musical Express. However, the creators thought
this was too long so abbreviated it to NME. It now stands as a
highly recognisable brand image, and the title NME even has
rock connotations as it sounds NME acts as a play on words for
‘enemy’ – further emphasising an edgy style and attitude their
readers might aspire to have, as well as, reflects the rebellious
and rock-esque kind of music, bands and celebrities they
include in and on their magazine, as well as reflecting their own
target audience.

4. Rolling Stone magazine is a classic and traditional
rock/alternative music magazine. It’s name was
influenced by many famous artists and their music such
as the iconic band The Rolling Stones, Muddy Waters
blues song ‘Rollin’ Stone’ and Bob Dylan’s single ‘Like A
Rolling Stone’.