The front cover features the band The Streets staring directly at the camera, inviting the reader in. They are positioned behind the lead singer with their arms folded, waiting like an entourage. The cover promotes the band as serious musicians making serious music. It highlights their name and the tagline "THE GREATEST SONG WRITERS OF ALL TIME." The magazine also offers a free CD to attract readers and explores the personal stories behind the bands' songs.

1. Front Cover analysis Martin Watts

2. The band “The Streets” are the main feature on this front cover. The lead singer is situated staring straight to the camera, inviting the reader in. The three other Band members are stood behind, acting like an entourage or gang. Having their arms folded and behind their backs seems as if they are waiting, maybe waiting for a reader to indulge and purchase this magazine. In the corner, the popular brand of Musical equipment can be seen, suggesting that these are serious musicians supplying serious good music. This subtle sense is supported with the cover line which reads “THE GREATEST SONG WRITERS OF ALL TIME” Part of this text is highlighted in orange, coordinating to the band’ s name on the right side, illustrating that The Streets are one of these serious bands. The upper situated Slogo and lower tag lines are bordered red, acting as an almost frame for the photo in between. This border draws your attention to what is with inside it and thus highlighting the Band. The attitude that is set in my mind by this photo, is very surrendering. The lead singer is stood very closer to the camera, looking directly and simplistically into it. Standing so uncomfortable close seems as if he is offering only what he is, a musician. A fancy pose isn't needed to get their message across, all they care about is making music they like. Using popular musicians in their magazine is one way to pull an audience in, but nobody can resistant a good bargain. A special offer is seen near the top, to the left (so it can been seen whilst stacked on a shelf) and stands clearly out in yellow. Standing out from the red background, this unique selling point reveals that Q magazine is offering something others are not, a “FREE CD” A cover line reads “the stories behind their songs”. this creates the sense that they will explore deeper into the bands, offering more than just music, but personal depth and interaction with the stars. Offering such more personal attributes rather to superficial exteriors, represents the magazine as more intellectual and personal. Offering more than just music to its costumers.

3. This photo is a close up. Using shots like this show those with init as very plain and “this is me” is creates an uncomfortable sense, and that we are too close for them to hide. Defiantly a very personal feel is created, however this is also contradicted with the very posed pout on their faces. A contrast of revealing closeness and fake poses suggests and abstract atmosphere, possibly reflect their music style and general persona. Being a Killers fan myself, i know that this is defiantly true. The band are recognised for their abstract style, the sense that they create music they like, and don't care if anybody else does, screams from their music. The band’s name is a bold white, with a san serif font. It’s very basic but is made clear cut and simplistic. Questions are situated above and below the name. These questions are very abstract and unordinary. They pose great curiosity into the readers mind “why would they not be human? What's a dancer?”. These types of interaction methods are highly effective on pulling passers by back in. Seeing these questions posed upon a famous band makes you want to read on, and find out the answers. Even if your own are already made. The masthead here is pushed quite far down, appearing to almost squash the below picture. Causing this squash is a skyline reading “Glasvegas xmas album”. Using the mention of many notorious names such as the killers and Glasvegas creates the impression that the magazine is just bursting with celebrity news and articles. NME is a hugely well known and respected magazine, conforming to stereo types such as keeping to the 3 rd left hand side, is not a feature is need apply. A clear example of this is the use of the band “The View”. In the top right hand corner, is the mention of a very popular band. When being stacked on a shelf, this feature would not be seen, but NME have such an established fan base, those who are likely to buy it, will seek it out through its name alone, not concerning 100% upon its content. Using the band members looking to the side, and not mentioning big band names, sets the impression that NME doesn't need your money of respect. An impression most magazines thrive against. However, this is soon rectified by the immediate interaction with he reader “VOTE NOW!”. Using a declarative sentence here initiates a feeling that i have to vote, to show my support for my music taste. Directly interacting with an audience like this really gets a reader involved and interested into the contents. This has a very definite attitude of not caring, whether its caring about the economy, or whether you buy this magazine or not, offering an escape from everyday situations for a reader.

4. I love this photo. I would by this magazine for the photo alone. The lead singer of “bring me to the horizon” is stood under a bright light. This light not only makes the shape of a halo, but also resembles those used during police interviews in the movies. With his hand placed over his hear, and almost sacrificial position is made. His top reveals his tattoos as if revealing his soul, and to stop it from jumping off the page, he must old it down. It is obvious from this photo what type of music this magazine will include. Connotations of death, power and darkness are suggested. The skull face staring out from the page pulls in those who enjoy this type of music. Using a dark background and a bright light, Oli’s face is made too look very pale, almost white, further recognising connotations of death, and also matches the colour of the text beside him. This text reads the name of his band, identifying that his himself “is” this band. Text is placed around his face, framing it and pushing it from the page. A pull quote reads “i have definitely gone too far” setting curiosity into a readers mind, and encouraging him/her to buy it and read on. A leading question is then asked, asking whether Oli Sykes is a saint or a sinner. Aiming a direct question to the reader makes them feel included personally to the magazine, thinking their opinion is genuinely needed. There is no skyline or blocks of highlighted colour blocking the photo, feeling as if you are a lot closer to Oli and he is one small step from moving off of the page itself. The magazine has loosely applied the strategy of applying text in the left third to avoid being blocked to readers. Notorious band names such as Bring me to the horizon and Muse are included in this side as well as the pull quote and leading question. The attitude created off of this to me, is that Rock Sound, it a true rock magazine, dedicated to Oli and people like him. A very obvious rock symbol is the predominate figure on the page, and a juradistic question is being aimed at the reader, suggesting Oli is rebellious and possibly court worthy. Rebellion and unique individuality is clear through this from cover.