The document discusses magazine cover design elements across multiple music magazines. It describes elements like mastheads, cover lines, images, colors and fonts used on different magazine covers. The goal is to attract readers by featuring popular artists, using eye-catching designs and layouts, and appealing to target audiences like teens, young adults or older audiences through design choices. Elements like bold fonts, prominent images of artists, and mentioning additional articles are aimed at drawing readers in and indicating the magazine's content. Color schemes, fonts and designs are tailored for each magazine's particular audience.

1. Main Task: Analysing
Music Magazines

2. Magazine front covers

3. Masthead: behind the subject, so
although its important that
audiences know what the
magazine is called, the subject is
more important to pull readers
attention.
“Tom Petty, Avicii and Pal
McCartney” on the skyline all
mentioned to pull other audiences
that like these particular artists
and not just fans of Lana Del Ray.
This is done to draw more
audiences in.
Cover lines: “Sam Smith” “Eric Clapton”
and “the tragedy of Baghdad” which is in a
bold and larger font to draw attention. The
still of the writing, being elegant and quite
curved means its easy for the audience to
read and gives the writing nice flow.
Anchorage: “Lana Del Rey” in a
large font, the same font used
throughout. This is to clearly
indicate to readers who the issue
is mainly focussing on.
Sell lines: giving slightly more information
about the topic mentioned in the cover
line. This is done to appeal more to the
reader.
Colour Cohesion: the masthead is made
up of red, white and black. This is then
represented throughout, using white and
black for the font, red for spacing the
column inches.
Main Image: linking Lana in with the cover
and making her wear red lipstick. The
background/foreground applies to the
colour cohesion and so does not contrast.
By adding the cat, gives the impression of
a calm or relaxing impression, interpreting
an easy read magazine. Also, by her being
positioned within a bed, draws the males
gaze by the seductiveness of the image.
Audience: the font and colour
cohesion used applies to more of
a sophisticated young adult to
adult genre by being simple yet
effective and not being too
dramatic with fonts.
Mise en scene: the cat can be represented
as a calm animal, indicating that this
magazine or particular article is for
relaxing.

4. Masthead: “VIBE” being bold and
taking up the width of the cover
makes it clearly visible. The colour
yellow stands out against the black
and white image and rest of the
magazine and so readers will be
attracted. Also, its in the foreground
of the cover and so shows the
importance of the masthead rather
than the subject in the main image.
Skyline: “The Race Issue” is in bold and
yellow, which attracts attention to the
readers. The rest is in white, and so does
not draw as much attention. This is done
so readers know what the main story in
this magazine will be.
Main image: the image is in black and
white, done so the masthead and call
outs can be clearly visible and stand out.
The subject is looking straight forwards
and the image is very much symmetrical.
Call outs: varying from bold to
normal, done to purely to draw
attention to important features inside
the magazine. It alternates to keep the
reader focusing on all of the content.
Anchorage: “the year Drake became
King” is linking the main image.
“Drake” being larger draws attention
to it and so lets the reader clearly
know who it is. The font is simplistic
yet has sharp edges to give a pristine
look.
Symbol +: to abbreviate “and” they have
included the plus symbol to be different
and to look neat.
Call out and sell line: the call out being
bold to draw attention and also the sell
line to add further information as to why
they have included this particular person
in this magazine.
Barcode: visible for purchasing reasons
with the appropriate price.
Colour cohesion: they have made it
simplistic by sticking to black and
white, however using yellow to
contrast this to stand out.
Target audience: I believe the target
audience is teenagers to very young
adults, mainly focussing more towards
boys. Also, I believe this by the simplistic
fonts, being either bold or in capitals,
except “Drake” being in a sharper font to
stand out.

5. Masthead: different to usual
magazines by having it vertically
down one side, so looks unique and
may appeal to a younger audience
for this quirky change. Also, the
font of the masthead is rounded
and bold, indicating again a
younger audience by the style of
font chosen.
Main image: the subject is looking
away while pulling at his shirt,
which appeals largely to a young
women/teenage audience by
showing more skin. The main image
is in front of the masthead which
indicates importance and is well
seen by the readers as the image
takes up the whole space.
Credit: done for promotion of
maybe the photographer or
designer in this piece for the
subject.
Buzzword: “exclusive” to draw attention
and makes the magazine stand out against
other magazines by being the only
magazine with an article on Chris Brown
giving Billboard exclusivity to its audiences.
Anchorage: “Maybe I was out of control”
this is in a different font which stands out.
This indicates to the reader what the main
article is about.
Sell lines: giving more information on
what’s inside. This is done in a smaller font
to not draw any excess attention to it.
Colour cohesion: khaki green, black, white
and brown. These colours work well,
working well with his skin tone and colour
of clothes. Especially his tattoos, the colour
cohesion has been decided particularly not
to clash and to combine.
Call outs: small but by the white font
means it can stand out against the subjects
clothes, meaning it still draws attention to
it.
Target audience: This appeals to a
teenage/young adult audience.

6. Masthead: Q being bold and large,
not complying with the colour
cohesion as its traditional colour is
red, and so this has not changed.
Slogan: the font being bold and
standing out against the red.
Call out: “2014 special” makes the
magazine sound it has some
exclusivity to it, and so may appeal to
more readers.
Buzzword: “Preview” again sounds
like its giving the reader exclusivity.
This particular call out is in a black
box, so the colours grey white and
pink contrast well with black and so
stand out more.
Column inch: “Lilly Allen, Kasabian,
Maccabees, Elbow, Beck and
Interpol” all alternating in the black
or pink font. They are all bold and so
stand out for other audiences to be
appealed by. Lilly Allen in particular
has an attached photo, so people
recognise the face.
Cover line: “The 1975” is bold and stands
out from the background by the colour
pink. This is to introduce the audience
with other artists in which others may
appeal to.
Sell line: giving more information on
what its about and so may interest the
reader further to find out more.
Main image: being in black and white
gives an interpretation of it being old,
relating back to times when photos
weren’t in colour. They are off centre,
with one facing the other way. Also, by
being in black and white means that the
call outs and buzzwords used can be seen
on top of the main image.
Colour Cohesion: black, white and pink
are the main colours used, which highly
compliment each other. The colours used
appeal to an older audience.
Anchorage: The Smiths in a large pink
font which stands out against the image
to appeal. The sell line connected to this
is also bold and italic which makes the
flow of reading speed slower and gives
emphasis by being underlined to sound
important.
Target audience: the target audience
is aimed at adults, featuring artists
that may also appeal to younger
audiences.

7. Contents pages

8. “contents”- in a different font which is bold
and catches your eye immediately. It
appeals to a variety of audiences by the
basic look of the font, bold being appealing
to young and older audiences.
Images: used to link in with articles included
in this magazine, making it appealing to look
at instead of having to read everything.
Done so people are drawn to it and so will
roughly know what’s included, then will
read on further.
Main image: indicating main subject or
headlining article featured in this
magazine. Again, makes it eye catching
and so people instantly recognise the face.
Colour cohesion: blue/greys/white. Basic
colours which do not draw attention away
from the images. However, using white
onto black or visa versa makes it eye
catching by being bold and standing out.
“touring” “film & TV music” etc are all call
outs for the readers attention. They are
set in bold so with only looking at the sell
line you’d know what its roughly about.
Name of magazine still shown on
the contents page, for publicity
and advertisement reasons.
Call out “No. 1” abbreviated to
maybe attract a younger audience
and also makes easier to interpret,
meaning quicker understanding
and reading. It stands out and
gives the impression of the
magazine being superior and
having exclusivity over other
competitors.
The contents page is set out
geometrically and precise by
having boxes and columns evenly
spread. This is done for the
readers advantage of being clear
and easy to read.
Website included on the bottom
corner for promotion of their
online site. This appeals to more
audiences by being easily
accessible from different medias.

9. Main image: the main image takes up
half the space, leaving the right hand
side for the actual contents. This mainly
focusses on the subject, the subject
being large and taking up most room.
This is done for a particularly young
teen/adult audience who maybe
interested in 50cent.
Colour cohesion: the colour cohesion
reflects around black, white, red and
grey. These colours work well in
coordinating things and linking in the
main image with the magazine. The
writing matches the subjects bandana
and top, including the grey pictures on
his top to coordinate with the contents.
These colours appeal to a younger
audience using red which is a primary
colour yet the black and greys to be
controversial with the red to stand out
and work well.
Target audience: young teens/young
adults using the words “hipster” which is
a commonly used word currently
describing trend.
Framing: the contents itself has been
framed, all writing has been framed within
a single line around the border, for a
cleaner more professional look. However,
the main image is out of this frame and so
interprets importance and they have done
this to stand out to its readers.
Words used: “hipster” “hip-hop” “factz”-
all to appeal to a younger audience using
commonly used words from the younger
generation to link the audience with the
magazine. Also, by adding the “z” to facts
makes it appeal to a younger audience by
trying to be cool and in with this
generation that they are targeting.
Fonts: the fonts used have been bold to
stand out to its readers and appeal to
more audiences by being simplistic.
However, the font at the top is bubble
writing and includes straight lines, so may
indicate appeal to a younger audience by
the use of bubble writing as a sort of
modern/childish look.
This magazine contents page is not as
“busy” compared to the first one. They
have gone for a simplistic look which is
effective and means its easier to
understand and read.

10. “Contents” bold yet separated for
originality. Its bold and so directs your eye
straight to it. The separation may appeal to
a younger audience by being different or
authentic.
“V” and “vibe” are to link in with the cover
page and also for promotional reasons,
reminding the reader the magazines name.
The writing is set out in front of the main
image however the main image overlaps
the “contents”. This layering has been done
for a professional look and also giving
importance of the main subject.
Main image: the subject does not take up
the whole space, but is centred. This is so
the “contents” is clearly eye catching.
Target audience: I believe the target
audience is again set at young teens/young
adults by the colour scheme and the
subject having his top of with his
accessories, something that younger
people may like more.
Fonts: the font is either in capitals or
bold, which appeals to the audience by
being eye catching. Secondly, they have
made certain words within the sentence
(for example, plus) which is so people
draw their attention to this and then
potentially read this before further
reading.
Colour cohesion: the main colours used
are black, white and red. This has been
done well so it ties in with his skin colour
and compliments well. The white font
stands out against the red background
and so can be clearly read easily.
Website is given at the bottom of the
page for more information and so its
easily accessible for different medias to
view this magazine.

11. Layout: the layout is simplistic yet easy
to read, with everything being aligned
down one side, next to the main image.
This is done to show a professional look
as to linking the image in with the
writing.
Colour cohesion: the colour cohesion
consists of light blue, black and white..
Which strongly compliments Nicki’s
orange hair. The blue is quite a subtle
colour and so the writing can nicely
contrast and be bold to stand out.
Mise en scene: Nicki is wearing a crown
holding a sword, with her costume being
fantasy styled. This makes it different
and draws attention to the image by
being different from other photoshoots
of celebrities. Specifically, I think this
targets a teen/young adult audience.
Barcode: the barcode has incorporated
the V into it and so as well as marketing
and selling the product they have also
done this for promotional reasons,
another way of making the magazine
look professional.
Main image: Nicki Minaj
This image has been arranged to fit in with
the contents page by Nicki wearing colours
that would not clash with the colour
scheme.
Websites and credits at the bottom for
recognition and so audiences can find out
more if they wish.
Fonts: fonts are varied by boldness, this is
done to stand out from everything else
said and so people focus on this
particularly. They have used capitals for the
titles of pages included inside to again
stand out and appeal to audiences.
Main image: Nicki is taking up most of right
side of the page, and so can suggest she is
the main subject of the magazine this
month. She is looking up and gazing,
something of which links in with the
fantasy styled outfit so co-ordinates well.
She is leaning onto her arms in which are
folded which give a relaxed feel, reflecting
onto the magazine

12. Double paged spreads

13. Target audience: I believe this is aimed at an older audience by the classy tone it gives, with formal layout and language. By this, you can believe
that the typical readers for this would be middle class, maybe women who are interested in Lady Gaga or in music genuinely. However, it can also
appeal to fans of Lady Gaga as they’d like to find out more about their icon.
Framing: the writing is framed
and so looks professional.
Also, this means that “Lady
GAGA” stands out and so
instantly readers know who its
exactly about.
The letter “L”: the L, being
abnormally larger than
everything else is for effect to
be different and to stand out
to its audiences.
Drop capitals: usually used for
articles or novels yet however
here it has been used for the
effect and clearly showing a
new paragraph.
The main image takes up
one side of the double
page spread, and so
obviously indicates its
about her (Lady Gaga).
The photograph is in black
and white so gives the
impression of a classy
sophisticated look-appealing
to an adult
audience. With part nudity
with chains covering her
applies to an older
audience. Her hair style
and make up features look
iconic to Marilyn Monroe
and so interprets a classy
touch. However, this could
be to attract to a male
audience by being partially
sexual.
House Style: they have kept the house style (Q Magazine) by keeping the red L to link this particular double page spread within the magazine.
They have kept the formal tone throughout the piece, and the usual setting of a main image and a specific page for the official article. Because of
this layout, I believe it appeals to a middle class audience who takes music seriously.

14. Main image: the main image is incorporated and so the main article is framing her. The title is behind the image and so shows importance of the
photo. She is coordinated within the colour cohesion by her clothes being black and white, along side her hair and skin tone being well suited.
Fonts: the fonts vary but
have done for effect. “the
gospel according to” is in a
curly font, appealing to a
younger audience. “Nicki
Minaj” is in bold and the
largest font on the page so
clearly indicates who its
about. They have
incorporated bold fonts to
stand out and catch
readers eye.
Colour cohesion: the
colours consist of pinks,
black, and white, with odd
colours on Minaj’s
clothing. This colour
cohesion appeals to a
younger audience with the
pink however it looks
stylish by coordinating the
black and white.
Her ring: “loon” attracts and appeals to a younger audience as its 21st century
lingo. The abbreviation “lunatic” makes it applicable to a younger audience. “Gospel” has been used as
significantly to interpret and
suggest that Nicki Minaj is a
“God” so also means that she
is well known and well
respected.
Words like “hip-hop” appeal
to a younger audience by
again using 21st century words
that are commonly used
within teenagers.
Text: the text is split into
categories depending on the
subject and have used
highlighting and pull quotes to
attract attention to the reader
and also so the audience
Layout: they have left a strip of space for particular effect. The masthead is placed know what its about.
in the primary optical area which is common for magazine pages. This layout is
different by only the image being in the particular strip that has been left. This is
different so it appeals to the eye of the reader.