The document provides information about various music magazines published in the UK, including Q Magazine. It details the layout, design elements, and content of the Q Magazine cover being analyzed. The cover features singer Cheryl Cole as the main image. It uses a red, white, and black color scheme. The layout is described as busy but clear. Cheryl Cole and her image are used prominently throughout to draw attention. The magazine aims to appeal to both male and female readers.

1. Music Magazines in the UK
• The Rolling Stone
• Billboard
• Q

2. • Publisher: Bauer Media Group
• Bauer Media Group:
• Owns Box Television 50%: British Television company, music
• Owns Bauer Radio
• Publishes: Bella, Take a break, that’s life (women’s magazines), Q,
Kerrang! (music magazines)
• Monthly magazine
• Music magazine

3. Layout: The main colours are black, Masterhead: A white Q, printed on a red squared Selling line: Using the line „the
white and red. These colours are background. It reminds of cheap gossip magazines UK‟s biggest music magazine‟
normal to use at a rock magazine. like C, and the gossip channel E!. makes it sound popular and
The magazine is busy with text and makes the audience want to
the main image. It looks like a cheaper read it.
magazine because of the title of the
Main image: The image contains
magazine.
the celebrity „Cheryl Cole‟. Her
Sub heading: All the sub hair is wet because she is
headings are names of different standing in the rain, this makes
bands and artists. On the right her look tough. She has a lot of
side it first says „the 10 best new eyeliner around her eyes, and
acts‟ and then the artists. This red lipstick. She is wearing a
makes the magazine seem a bit leather jacket and a big silver
exclusive, because you can only ring, which she is licking. She is
read it once in this magazine. using a direct address by looking
Makes the audience want to read straight into the camera. All this
it. Many different artists are listed creates a sexual tension. This
on the cover, something for supports the „male gaze‟,
everybody. because she is presented as a
object to men. The colour
Plug: Is a round, grey sticker which
scheme of the picture are black,
says John Lennon and “the untold
white and red, which matches the
story & the unseen pics”, again this
rest of the layout of the cover.
makes the magazine exclusive,
people want to read the story and Main heading: „3 Words… Cheryl
see the picture because they think Cole Rocks‟. There are few words,
this is the only place you can. but they are catching. It tells the
audience what and who the main
There are no barcode on the
article is about. The word „rock‟
cover, which means it is on the
stands out both when it comes to
back page. Or it is supposed to
the use of colours, size and font. It
be in the white box under the
is very dominant and catches the
date.
eyes.

4. Layout: The layout is busy, but still lucid. It has the same
Shows the front cover of the magazine
colours, red, white and black, as the cover. And Cheryl Cole,
who fronted the cover, again catches the eyes of the audience. Tell the audience what number the
The stories in the magazine are listed on both sides, and there issue is, it is written in the same Images: There are
are lots of different images in the middle and all around. font as the main heading, but in many different images
white placed on the content
Main heading: The page. The images
main heading is written makes it a bit “easier”
black on red in Serif, to find what you want.
next to a white Q, which If you are interested in
is the name of the Cheryl Cole, you see
magazine. a big picture of her
Sub headings: The sub with the page number
headings are written in next to her. The way
white on a red line. she is represented in
There are three sub this photo is the same
headings, to separate as on the front cover,
the magazine into in a sexual way as a
different topics. object to men (male
gaze). The rest of the
Cover lines: The cover images is decent,
lines are written in black, apart from the one in
and has a red line the bottom left corner
underneath. This makes with the guy with no
it look more tidy and shirt on. All the
nice. Just before the text images give an
there is a number to tell impression of a
what page the audience The webpage of the magazine is on the popular and average
can read about this. bottom of the page. priced magazine.
The page number, magazine logo and date is
in the bottom corner of the page.

5. Layout: The layout on this double spread is very clean and tidy. The left page is filled with Main image: the main image
text and one picture. The right page one has a picture of Cheryl Cole. The colours used are covers the entire right page. She
the same as the rest of the magazine; red, white and black. Black and red are showing is wearing all black clothes, and
danger, which Cheryl Cole‟s clothes also does. On the left side, there is a big, red C, over her top has spikes on it. This
the text, this C dominates, both because it is really big, and because it is red. In the text, makes her dangerous and
there is a smaller C in black. The big C in red, and the small C in black, are the initials of mysterious. Her hair is dark
Cheryl Cole. brown and she is
Main heading: The wearing dark eye-
main heading says makeup and has red
„Cheryl Cole‟, who the lips, her nails are
article is about. The dark. All over she is
font is black and Serif. very dark. She is
It is very simple and showing much skin
neutral, the audience and chest, which
do not get any makes her a sexual
impression what is object, and this is
going to be in the supporting the „male
article, other than gaze‟.
Cheryl Cole.
In the bottom of the
page there is a
quote, most likely
from Cheryl Cole. „I The images might
don‟t know what I be reflecting what
look like anymore. Do the text is all about.
you know what I All the pictures are
mean?‟. It sounds like dark, and this might
she does not know mean that she is
who she is anymore, depressed or sad.
Sub image/secondary image: This image, as the others, is
like she has changed. It can also mean
very dark. The background is skyscrapers, might be New
The font is red and in that she is tough
York, and she is wearing black clothes. She has a black
Serif. The red colour and a strong
shorts, and a grey/black top. She is also wearing a top hat,
makes it easy to see. person.
which shadow covers the top of her face. Her skin is very
If it was black, it
pale, it looks a bit unrealistic.
would become a bit
invisible.

6. • Producer: Jann Wenner
• Publishes: Men’s Journal (men’s lifestyle), Us
weekly (celebrity)
• Bi-weekly magazine
• Music Magazine

7. Date and price: It is a common
Selling line: The line „Bush‟s final f#@! You!‟ uses a very strong and appealing
convention expected in all
language. Using the word „you‟, they talk directly to the audience. The audience might
magazines. It is displayed just
want to know why this is, because it affects „you‟. Also this line is probably used
above the masterhead in a smaller
because this issue was published in January, 2009, at the same point as Obama started
font. This might be to hide it, or not
as president.
to draw any attention from the rest
Colour scheme: The colours
of the cover.
have a natural tone, such as
Masterhead: The masterhead is
brown and black. The main title is
written in Serif, the font is the
blue, as is one word and a line,
same at all the Rolling Stone
and Brad Pitt‟s eyes. The natural
magazines. It is written in blue,
tones of the rest of the magazine
symbolizes wisdom and stability,
makes Brad Pitt‟s eyes stand out.
and gives a calming effect. In
His eyes have a unnatural blue
this context the colour blue may
colour, which mean he is either
be used to reflect how Brad Pitt
using contacts or they have edited
is; stabile and wise, and the look
them. If he had green eyes for
at his face; calm.
example, they would probably
have used green instead of blue. Main image: The image contains
the celebrity „Brad Pitt‟. He is
Buzz word: the word „plus‟ draws
using a direct address, where he
attention, because in this
looks straight into the camera. He
magazine you get not only the „50
has a kind and calm face, but
best albums of the year‟, but also
does not show any facial
the „100 best singles‟.
expressions. The clothes he is
wearing are clothes a older person
Layout: The cover is very clean would use, he has a shirt, a brown
and tidy. All the sub headings are coat and a loose tie. The fact that
listed on the left side, and it is easy his tie is loose makes him more
to read. Because of the colours relaxed. The background behind
used, which are natural life colours him is shadowed, to put him more
and blue, it looks like a magazine in the front.
Main heading: The main heading is „Brad Pitt‟
aimed for adults in the 40s. The who is in the main image. The font is white and The barcode is in the right corner,
colours and the layout also make it Serif. It is the only text on the page in white, which and a common convention used in
look sophisticated and expensive. shows that it might be a bit different from the rest. order for the costumer to purchase
And Brad Pitt is, since he does not have anything the magazine.
to do with music really, he is an actor.

8. Layout: The layout is clean Tells the audience that this is Rolling Stone magazine Main image: the image is in black and
and tidy. There are two number 968. white, and of two men dancing and
images and the rest is text. singing on a stage. It is probably taken
The colours used are in the 50-60s, and is of Johnny Carson
mainly black and white and and another man, since the text
most numbers are written in underneath is about Johnny Carson.
purple. The fonts used are They are wearing suits, which makes it
Serif. Purple symbolizes seem like they are important and
power and ambition, among wealthy, might be in the upper class.
other things. Purple might
have been used to
represent the artist in the Main heading: „Johnny be good‟,
images. written in black Serif. It is almost the
same as the song „Johnny B.Goode‟
Sub image: the image is of by Chuck Berry. The text is very
Beyoncé singing. This image simple, and you get an impression
contrast the rest of the page that the text is about the 50s or 60s.
because it is all colourful, and
it is very „wild‟ compared to the The text underneath the main
rest. Her hair is all over, and heading, is written in the same font
she has a „wild‟ look. as the main heading, just smaller. It
is about a man named „Johnny
Carson‟. Under the text there is a
Sub heading: „Money Honey‟. page number, this is probably the
Written in black Serif. The introduction to the double spread
heading indicates that the page, which is on page 32, like it
story about Beyoncé is about says just under the text.
her money and power.
Cover lines: the cover lines tells the The date and name of the
audience where you can find different magazine is placed on the bottom
stories, and a little bit on what they are In the bottom left corner you get right corner. This is a common
about. The page number is on the left of information about the cover. convention used in magazines.
each „story‟.

9. Main Heading: The main heading is „Brad Pitt‟, which Sub heading: The sub heading is „The
tells the audience that this article is about Brad Pitt, so Rolling Stone Interview‟. It is placed between
is the image. It is written in Serif, and blue, which is the words „Brad‟ and „Pitt‟ in the main
one of the main colours on the double There is text heading. This might be a way to show that
written between and around the words in the main they go „inside‟ Brad Pitt, and gets all the
heading. information.
Layout: The layout if
very clean, the only
picture is the one at
the whole left side.
The picture is of Brad
Pitt. The right page
has a main heading
which covers about
2/3 of the page. The
rest of the page is
covered by cover lines
and the first part of the
article. The main
colours are blue, black
and white. It looks like
it aims for people
aged 40+, both male
and female. The
interview is about his
life, and if they were Image: the image is of the celebrity „Brad Pitt‟. He is not looking straight at the
aiming for younger camera, but has a kind of worried or scared look at the side. He is wearing a
people, they would black shit, rings and a necklace, which he drags with his hands. Again this
probably have used makes him look a bit scared and worried. This might mean that he is going to
lighter colours. be telling very personal things in the article. The picture has a black
background, and parts of his face are shadowed. If the magazine were aiming
this double spread for younger people, they would have used a more colourful
and happier image. Young people are more interested to read about “happy
things”.

10. • Producer: Prometheus Gobal Media
• Entertainment publishing company
• Former publishers of Vouge and GQ
• Publishes: Adweek (global advertising), Back Stage
(film), Billboard (music), Film Journal (Motion-picture
industry), The Hollywood Reporter (entertainment)
• Weekly magazine
• Music magazine

11. Layout: the layout is clean, apart
from the main heading, which is Masterhead: The masterhead is
placed in the middle of the cover. written in San Serif, and is the same at
The colours used are mainly all the Billboard magazines, with a blue
white and yellow. Yellow is often colour inside the a, and a yellow colour
associated with joy and energy, inside the d.
which Rihanna is all about. The
magazine is aiming for teenage
girls. It looks like an average Main image: The main image is of the
priced magazine. celebrity „Rihanna‟. It is a bit blurry, to
make it more tense and sexual. She
Sub heading: The sub headings has a short haircut, which separates
are written in a small front and in her from the rest of girls‟ role models.
white, the reason for this may be She is wearing a purple lipstick, purple
not to take focus off the main is a frustrated colour, and it reflects
image and main heading. The how she is. She is not wearing any
sub headings are all about clothes except from a bra and a
different artists and bands, which necklace, this is creates a sexual
shows that this is just a music tension and supports the „male gaze‟.
magazine. All the colours on her is dark, she is
quite a rebellious girl, this shows
Main heading: The main heading through the colours.
is written in italic Serif. „The world
is hers‟ indicates power, and over
the text there are different
achievements by Rihanna. She
has done a lot of things, which Buzz: There are no buzz words at this
may make the audience more cover, instead they have used a „plus‟
interested. sign, to show that in this magazine you
The barcode, date and price is get something more.
placed in the left corner, they are
common conventions used in
order for the costumer to
purchase the magazine.

12. Layout: The layout is tidy and
well structured. On the left you Reminder of the magazine‟s name Main heading: The word
can see a chart over number 1 contents is written on the top, and
albums and songs to keep tells the audience what they can
people up to date. On the right read about in this magazine and
you see what you can read in what page they can find it. It is
the magazine. The colours written in a black San Serif.
being used are basic; blue,
black and white. The page is Images: Just under the main
very bright. heading there are three
Sub headings: Written in pictures, they are most likely
black/grey Serif. They are just artists and bands. It does not
big enough too be seen, and say anything about them to
give a better overview on keep it simple, just the page
different “topics” such as number, which are written in
features and music. In the white in the left corners. In the
bottom there is a heading middle of the page there is a
written white on black, and on a picture of a girl who is laughing.
line which goes over the whole She might be in the main article,
page. It has the same font as because she is placed in the
the main heading. It says home middle and is the first thing you
front, and underneath it there see when you look at the page.
are different things happening. On her tip of her shoe you can
see what page you can find her
on.
Cover lines: They are written in
a blue San Serif. They probably
show important and big articles Page number, date and
in the magazine. webpage is placed in the
bottom corner of the page. This
is the normal place to have it.

13. Layout: The layout is Main image: The image is of Rihanna, wearing a bra, a bit necklace and a army jacket. The army
very simple and clean. jacket gives her a tough look. She is wearing a purple lipstick, which matches the colours on the rest
On the left there is text, of the double spread.The flash lights up her face, and takes focus off her body. She is looking down on
a main heading and an the ground, which could mean that she is sad, but thinking about the main heading; „unstoppable‟, it
introduction to an article. might mean that she is ready to rise. The text says: „could it be the first no.1 album of her career?‟, if it
The left side consist of a is, then she will rise her head.
image of Rihanna. The
main colours are black
and purple, they are
used both on the text
and in the image.
Main heading: The
main heading is
„unstoppable‟. The font
is black and San Serif.
This type of font
matches the word
„unstoppable‟. It takes
up 1/3 of the double
spread, which shows
that it is really important.
The text next to the main heading is written in black San
Serif. There are some words written in purple, such as
„Rihanna‟ and the last words. This text tells the audience
what the article on Rihanna, which is most likely on the
next page, is about. Under it you see the name of the
author.