The front cover of Q magazine uses various design elements to attract readers. These include a large, bold masthead in red and white at the top left to catch the eye. The main image is a close-up of singer Adele, facing the camera at an angle rather than straight on. The largest headline promotes an article about Adele to draw in her fans. Additional coverlines along the right edge advertise interior articles and are accompanied by small images. Text at the top in a contrasting font promises "amazing" posters inside. The barcode is at the bottom left so the price does not deter readers before they see what is advertised inside.

1. Magazine Front Cover
Analysis
Toby Powell

2. The masthead for Q is positioned in the top left corner
of the front cover as it can’s spread across the page. It is
kept vey simple which makes it easily recognisable to an
audience and will catch the attention as it is so big and
bold. With it being in a white font on a red background it
makes it easily readable and more noticeable. The
masthead is supported with the tagline ‘discover great
music’ This works in synergy with the masthead as they
very well known as it is the same on each of the their
magazines.
The main image is a medium close up of the singer
Adele. She has been positioned so her body is pointing
to the left of the front cover with her head turned to the
camera. This breaks the normal convention of having
the subject standing face onto the camera. This helps
create a more unique and interesting photo as it brakes
the norm. She is also looking straight into the camera,
giving the audience direct address. This makes the
audience feel more connected to her and with that the
magazine as it actively involves the reader.
The main headline directly links to the main image as it
is about Adele. This cover line is also the largest out of
them all showing it is the main one. This tells the reader
that Adele is will be the main article and everything will
be based on her. Doing this will attract any Adele fans to
want to read the magazine as they will be drawn in by
the promise of an article on Adele. The reason for Adele
being the main story may be because at the time she
was all the talk as she might have released a new album
for example.

3. The coverlines on this magazine are positioned to the
right of the front cover listing them down the page.
They are designed to attract the reader to pick up the
magazine and look inside. With these coverlines cover
images have been attached with them supporting their
purpose by making them look more interesting and
appealing.
The skyline on this magazine tells the audience that
this magazine have five posters inside. They have
used buzz words like ‘amazing’ to really grab the
reader and make them want to buy the magazine. The
word ‘amazing has also been singled out in a different
coloured font (white against a black background to
make it really stand out and catch the readers eye). It
has also been positioned at the top of the page, above
the masthead, making it one of the first thing the reader
reads.
The barcode on this Kerrang magazine has been
positioned in the bottom left of the front cover as they
don't want the reader to see the price of it before they
have been persuaded to buy it by the cover lines. If the
audience were to see the price first they will be less
likely to buy it as they won’t be bothered to carry on
reading as they will instantly make a judgement as to
whether they are willing buy it.

4. The positioning statement is always underneath the
masthead so the reader will read it after seeing the
masthead. Positioning statements are used on music
magazines as competitions as they claim to have
something in which other music magazines don’t. Q
magazine have used the positioning statement
‘DISCOVER GREAT MUSIC’ in order to lure there
target audience in. It will attract people with a passion
for music therefore people who would also lover to
discover new music.
The barcode on music magazines are usually at the
bottom right of the front cover. They show the
magazine is its own unique issue and it allows people
to purchase the magazine. The price and website of
the magazine are normally above the barcode in a
small font. They allow the reader to find the price of the
magazine and also the website incase they want to find
out more information about the magazine itself. The
date is also shown near the barcode which allows the
audience to check if the magazine is up to date.