The document analyzes the front cover of a music magazine called NME. It summarizes that the masthead uses a vibrant red color and simple font to stand out. The main image is a black and white photo of musician Jake Bugg, using direct address to engage readers. Sublines and cover lines around the page reveal article topics without giving too much away. The main cover line gives more detail about the featured article in a bold font. Additional visual elements like the barcode, date, price, puffs and banner are analyzed for how they enhance the cover design without distracting from the key elements.

1. HATTIE TOWNSEND
Front Cover Analysis

2. Masthead
The masthead of the magazine reads ‘NME’ which stands for ‘National Music
Express.’ It is usually the biggest font on the page and in bold in order for it to
stand out. The colour of the masthead is a vibrant red colour which makes it very
eye catching and easy to read. Using such a simple colour makes it very
minimalistic, which fits in with the indie genre. It is also at the top if the magazine
and goes out into the middle, showing that it does not need to be that big and
people will still know what it is. There will also be more room for images and
subheadings.

3. Main Image
The main image of this issue is of the well
known indie artist Jake Bugg. The image is a
mid close up allowing it to fill the whole
page. Furthermore, the artist is using direct
address, which is used to establish a
relationship with the reader and to entice
them to buy the magazine. In addition, the
image used is black and white, meaning that
it makes everything else on the front cover
stand out more to the reader.

4. Sub Lines and Cover Lines
There are sub lines and cover lines on the side of the magazine. These reveal
information about what other articles will be featured in the magazine, but
not giving away too much detail, allowing the readers to still be intrigued and
interested in purchasing and reading the magazine.

5. Main Coverline
The main cover line gives information
about what the main article in the
magazine is about. The cover line is in a
big and bold font, allowing it to stand out
more to the reader and intrigue them to
buy the magazine. The cover line
underneath the main part of text reveals
extra information on what the article will
be about and also adds detail to the main
image.

6. Barcode, Date and Price.
These features of the front cover are in the bottom right corners and the top
left corners. Even though they are visually noticeable, they do not take any
attention away from the main image or any of the coverlines.

7. Puff
Puffs are used on this magazine to emphasise extra detail and to make it stand out
to the reader. In this case, it is announcing more information to the front cover
about tour dates and includes the page number so that the readers can easily find
it.

8. Banner
This banner runs along the top of the magazine, which adds extra detail into
what will be going in the magazine. It uses words such as ‘Exclusive’ to intrigue
the reader and make them want to purchase the magazine. The contrast of
colours in the banner again make it stand out and attract more readers as it is
eye catching.

9. Insert Images
These insert images go together with the extra detail that is on
the banner. They make it seem more interesting to the reader
which would attract them to read it. They are used so that the
readers can physically see what other articles are going to be
featured in the magazine. Also, using subsidiary images may
attract a wider variety of people as they may be fans of the
artists in the insert images.