The document analyzes the front covers and contents pages of various magazines including Rolling Stone, NME, Q, Kerrang, Vibe, Billboard, Metal Hammer, Clash, and Blender. It examines the design elements used in each magazine including the masthead, color scheme, main image, lures/promotional text, barcode placement, and tone of address. Key conventions like placing the masthead at the top and the barcode at the bottom right are followed by some magazines but challenged by others. Color, images, and text are used strategically across magazines to attract different target audiences.

1. Front cover, double page, contents analysis

2. Rolling stone Mast head: The mast head is bright red, outlined with green and bold. It is partially hidden by Taylor Lautners head but not so much that we can’t see what it says. The magazine follows the code of conventions by having the mast head fill the whole of the page at the top of the page.Colouring: the colouring of the background for the main image is all blues and greens. The mast head is in red and so is “TEEN WOLF” but the rest of the writing is in black.Main image: the main image is an image of an actor Taylor Lautner, the picture is quite obviously aimed at women, we can tell this because he is in a white see- through top showing off his muscles, behind him the background is of the ocean, it’s quite a natural background with no disruptions focusing mainly on Taylor.Lures: The teen wolf written in bright red is a lure because fans of the twilight series will want to read all about the interview. Also the Obama article is boxed off in yellow which is also a lure. Bar code: the magazine is challenging the conventions with the barcode by putting in the bottom left corner and not putting price, date or issue next to the barcode. Mode of address: the mode of address is quite informal, chatty and luring which is appealing to teenagers who the magazine is predominately aimed at.

3. NMEMast head: the magazine challenges conventions by having the mast head not cover the entire top of the magazine. But does follow the conventions by having the mast head at the top of the magazine. The mast head is bold and black which stands out against the red background.Colouring: the background is red towards the outer bit of the magazine but has a white strip down the middle where the artist is. Main image: the artist is in the centre of the page and is the main focus but there is a lot of writing around him and over him. On the artists stomach there is writing which is a quote from something he’s said before maybe something that’s inspirational or important. Lures: the list of artists featured inside of the magazine lures in the audience especially audiences that are fans of these particular artists. Also free posters inside which encourages audiences to buy the magazine. There are headlines of articles on the cover too which could make people want to read the magazine. Bar code: the magazine follows conventions by having the barcode in the bottom right corner but challenges conventions by putting the date, issue and price next to the masthead. Mode of address: mode of address is informal, eye catching and chatty.

4. QMast head: the mast head is challenging the conventions by having the mast head as just one letter and in the top left corner of the magazine. The mast head is a white letter Q in a bright red background.Colouring: the background is of a sunset and hills. The writing is in black and white which is quite conventional and simple colours. Main image: the main image is the band kings of Leon, but they are obstructed by writing and lure, which doesn’t make them actually seem like the main image but a shared image. Lures: there is a free CD inside the magazine and also the list of artists that have been interviewed and followed for a month is luring to some audiences.Bar code: the magazine follows the code of conventions with the barcode by putting the barcode, issue, price and date in the bottom right corner of the magazine. Mode of address: the mode of address is informal, and the writing is short and snappy to grab audience’s attention.

5. KerrangMast head: the mast head follows conventions by having the mast head at the top of the page all the way across the page. The mast head is in white and has cracks through the writing which is unusual and unconventional.Colouring: the colouring is simple and black and white.Main image: the main image is of green day they aren’t the whole of the cover there is a margin where there is a lure for postersLures: there is a lure on the left hand side for four free posters that are available inside the magazine Bar code: the barcode follows the standard conventions by being placed in the bottom left hand corner of the magazine. Mode of address: the mode of address is informal and chatty to attract its target audience

6. VibeMast head: the mast head is slightly covered by the main image Eminem’s head. The mast head follows conventions by being all the way across the page at the top and is in bold. The mast head is black and the top and the blends into bright redColouring: the colouring is all red and black which is a good colour contrast to stand out.Main image: the main image is of the rapper Eminem looking angry with his arms closed against a white background.Lures: the lures are more subtle than the other magazines. They are just main bullets about the articles inside.Bar code: there is no barcode on this magazine which means it’s on the back which challenges conventions.Mode of address: the mode of address is informal which the correct mode of address is for its audience

7. BillboardMast head: the masthead is being partially covered by the main image showing the importance of the main imageColouring: the colouring is grey background so quite a dull background but the main image is colourful. They have made the background image grey to make the main image stand out and be the main focusMain image: the main image is lady gaga she covers most of the magazine cover and most of the mast head Lures: the lures on the front cover are of articles inside the magazine and mainly of pictures if lady gaga.Bar code: there is no barcode on this front cover meaning it’s probably on the back which challenges conventions.Mode of address: the mode of address is informal in order to attract the target audience

8. Metal HammerMast head: the mast head is following the conventions of a magazine by having the mast head across the top of the magazine in bold writing. But is not following the conventions by have one word written into a letter of the other word. The mast head is partially covered by the artist. Colouring: the colours are purples and is quite a dark and eerie colour to match the outfit that the artist wearing.Main image: the main image is an artist dressed up as the mad hatter from alice in wonderland. They have done this to show the mad side in the artist, it is an eerie picture that stands out and gets the message across.Lures: there are no lures on this front cover the only things on the front cover is the mast head, main image and barcode.Bar code: the bar code is not following the conventions by having the barcode at the bottom right of the magazine with the price and the number of the issue with the barcode.

9. ClashThe masthead is in bold white and half across the top of the page. The main image is the music artist Duffy, but she is partially blocked by lures of what's inside the magazine, artists and posters. The writing around the side of the magazine is in pale yellow and white. The background of the artist is brown and pink. The barcode follows conventions by being in the bottom right corner.

10. BlenderThe mast head follows conventions by being at the top of the page and is all the way across the page. The mast head is partially blocked by the main image of Katy Perry. She is in the centre of the page and all of the focus is on her as the background around her is white making her image stand out. The writing around her in black and pink and the barcode follows conventions by being at the bottom right of the page.

11. BBC musicThe mast head follows conventions by being at the top of the page going across the whole page. But it is on top of the main image of Mozart. He is blocked by lures, the barcode which is the bottom right of the page and articles that are in the magazine. The mast head is in white, the background is dark grey and the writing around Mozart is red, pale yellow and white.

12. Rolling stoneContents page: the contents page is quite an old issue. The main image is a big cartoon head next to a microphone holding his arms up. The contents is to the left hand side of the article and is in black. The writing that’s meant to stand out is in red and the subheading is in red.

13. NMEContents page: the contents page is a white background and then half of the writing is in red and half of the writing is in black, I think the colour scheme is simple but bold and sort of a statement.

14. QContents page: the contents page is a main image of a band with the contents around the image. The font is black with the numbers in red. The contents doesn’t stand out as the main focus in on the image.

15. KerrangContents page: the contents page font is in black and yellow. The normal unimportant writing is in black and the bold stand out writing is in bright yellow. There is a main picture then several pictures around it then the margin full on the writing.

16. VibeContents page: the contents page is the main image of beyonce with her legs in the air. The heading is in white and squashed on several lines to the side of the article the writing and page numbers are in black,

17. BillboardContents page: the contents page writing is in light pink and the numbers in bright pink The background is black to make the writing and the image stand out, the image on the contents page is an image of lady gaga in bright red, I think they have got this colour contrast to make her the main focus and to stand out

18. Metal hammerContents: the contents is in bright red with black numbers and a white fade into black background, giving a dark evil kind of look.

19. ClashThe contents is at the left side of the page, the main image covers most the page. The numbers of the pages are in red whereas everything else is in black. The background is white making the main image stand out and be noticed more. Showing the focus is on him.

20. BlenderThe mast head is bold and black and covers the whole of the top of the screen. The page image is Katy Perry holding a inflatable toadstall. The contents is in small writing at the left side of the page in black writing.

21. BBC musicThe mast head is stretched all the way across the top of the page, the main image is an electric guitar with a side image of a piano. The contents is written in black and to the ride hand side and in the middle of the length. The contents numbers are in red and on the pictures in yellow. There is a yellow lure to the bottom left hand side.

22. Rolling stoneMain article: the main image in this article is of Lily Allen. The heading is in white with a black background of the letters and some of the letters are bigger and stand out more than others. The actual article is in small black font giving all the focus to the image and the heading.

23. NMEMain article: the main image in this article is an image of a cartoon which covers an a4 page. The article is on the opposite page, the font is in white and the background in black with the image of the band in the top right hand corner of the double page.

24. QMain article: the main image in this article is Shakira. There is a main image of her working at a recording studio with the article sideways underneath her. The sub image is an image of Shakira topless. The writing is in small black and the heading is in white which stands out against the background

25. KerrangMain article: the main image in this article is an image of green day, they are the main focus then the article that is on them is written in black with the heading and subheading in orange. The background is a peach-orangey colour

26. VibeMain article: the main article is on the artist Solange Knowles she is the main image focus, she takes up a whole page she also takes up the top half of both pages, showing that she likes to be the centre of attention.

27. BillboardMain article: the main articles main image is a picture of a girl dressed in all black sitting on a chair up against a white wall looking natural. The heading is in black and red and the actual article in black small font.

28. Metal HammerMain article: the main article is about a band called the murder dolls. They seem seriously but are actually a jokey band that mimmick serious bands that they think are funny and ridiculous. The writing is in white and the main image is in black and white, the background is in black making it look dark and evil.

29. ClashThis article is about celebrity fashion. The title is in purple underneath the pictures. The writing is in small black in the bottom half of the screen.

30. BlenderOne of the pages is a image of Lily Allen, the other page is an article, interview of Lily Allen the article is in two long columns and written in black the pull quotes are written in yellow and blue to stand out and to make the audience want to carry on reading to see the quotes in context.

31. BBC musicThis article about Adam Clayton- a member of U2 The image of him takes up most of the right hand page, the background is of lots of lights behind him . The questions are written in red and the answers in black. The introduction into the article is written in red.