The document analyzes the contents pages of four different music magazines. It discusses the layout, colors, images and target audiences presented on each contents page. Key details analyzed include the positioning of images and text, color schemes used, and clues about the intended readership based on the stylistic choices. The level of professionalism in the layout and the clarity or busyness of the page design is also considered for each magazine contents page.

1. Magazine Analysis Beth Dobson

2. VIBE: Music Magazine The image overlaps the masthead which resembles a big importance towards the model (Kanye West) used for the main image. The additional headlines are placed around the image creating a border which frames the image which once again resembles a big importance towards the model (Kanye West). The Model (Kanye West) looks straight at the camera which encourages the audience to think the magazine is aimed at them with the direct eye contact. The Colour of the masthead ( blue) co-ordinates with the colar of the model (Kanye West) which reflects on the importance of both things, with them both being the Masthead and the Main Headline. The front cover doesn’t include any additional images around the page. This could be a negative feature about the magazine due to the target audience finding the model (Kanye West) who is the main image, appealing in any way towards them. This would then put off the target market buying the product. The colours used for the font of the page are pink and blue, this shows no division in gender, which concludes to the target audience being any gender, due to the stereo typical colours that relate to both male and female genders. As you can see the masthead is overlapped by the main image, this shows that the magazine has been around for a while and are known well throughout the public which can also show that they are at successful stage to hide their name because the target audience will already be aware of who the magazine is.

3. BLURT: Music Magazine The front cover doesn’t include any additional images around the page. This could be a negative feature about the magazine due to the target audience finding the model (Jenny Lewis) who is the main image, appealing in any way towards them. This would then put off the target market buying the product. The main image makes the target audience of the magazine, be people who find the model (Jenny Lewis) appealing in any way to them such as iconic and influential. Personally I would imagine that the magazine is aimed more towards a female target audience because this women who is on the front cover could be a role model towards these possible teenagers. Both the masthead and hat the model (Jenny Lewis) is wearing consist which shows how both features on the front cover are the most important on the front cover and as the magazine as a whole. The colours used most on the front cover is pink; such as the pink balloons that the model (Jenny Lewis) is captured holding and also the parts of the text are highlighted pink. This hints more that the selected target audience are female because of this stereo typical chosen colour. The masthead is in full black capitals with hardly anything overlapping the text, which could show that the magazine is new and not ready for it to be covered because people are still not fully aware of this certain magazine.

4. TOP OF THE POPS: Music Magazine This certain front cover has so much included on it that makes it a very busy page. However this could be a positive point as it will persuade the young target audience to buy the product because they wants to read everything that is shown on the front cover. The featured headlines on the front cover include a variety of headlines. This directs at a variety of people who may prefer some headlines to other ones. Which encourage a bigger amount of buyers. The page is covered with stereo typical female colours: pink and purple. Which shows the aimed target audience are females because they relate more towards this colour more then boys do, however this is a very stereo typical circumstance. The target audience aimed for this magazine are children. This is concluded because the magazine contains a huge amount of bright colours which children find more appealing rather then adults and also the language used is very plain and simple which obviously for children due to them not at the stage of understand difficult, long vocabulary and finally the text is in bold to make the text easier to read for this certain age range. The masthead is overlapped by the main image which shows that the magazine has been around for a while which shows how the target audience and the rest of the public are very familiar with this product and also resembles success.

5. TILT: Contents The set out of this contents page is very professional because its situated on the far right hand side of the page. The pages for each feature included on the magazine has been sectioned off to selected themes which makes it look highly sophisticated. The contents page contains a huge amount of images which could turn into the main focus of the page which is a negative because the main focus of a contents magazine is the contents list but in this case its different. The contents page contains a lot of features which makes the page busy, when really it should be plain and simple, keeping the contents list as the main focus. Some of the images used on this contents page are slightly too dark, which makes it difficult to identify what the image actually is which can effect the target audience with frustration because of the unawareness. The colours used on this page are too dark with no certain colours that appeal which can put off the target audience to make something else in the surroundings of where they may be which will grab their attention to something else instead of this magazine.

6. Contents The set out of this contents page is very professional because its situated on the far right hand side of the page. The pages for each feature included on the magazine has been sectioned off to selected themes which makes it look highly sophisticated. The amount of colours used makes it difficult to work out who the possible target audience could be. With the black, white and red colour scheme I would assume the target audience would be males aged between 16-21. Also with the images used portraying a group of males, this could insinuate that the aim for the target audience are teenage boys. The images are situated on the left hand side of the page and are labelled with numbers which allows the contents page to look co-ordinated and sleek. The title of this page: Contents, works well against the dark background with its bright red lining in full capitals. This works well as its easy to read and easy to notice if the member of the target audience struggles with their sight. The white text used in the contents list works well against the dark background, this makes the whole page easy to understand and read which benefits the target audience.

7. Contents The colours used on this contents page are plain and simple however this is really effective as the combination of the grey background with the bright yellow subtitles standout. The page uses a fair amount of images which still keeps the main focus of this page on the text rather then the images. This works well on this certain page because the images are placed substantially and the colours used in the images are not too bright so it doesn’t draw in to much attention. The layout of the page is sophisticated and professional, everything is lined out equally rather then placed in odd areas. This professional look may encourage the target market to buy and read the magazine because they would believe that the professional, attractive look resembles the magazine as a whole. The page has no title which is a negative towards the magazine, even though this page hints that it is the contents page because it contains all the features it still could mislead a member of the target audience which could cause frustration and anger and as buying costumer.

8. Double Page Spread The colour scheme on this double sheet page is very well chosen, the dark reddish background makes the image and everything surrounding it look really effective, and the white and black colour contrast looks spectacular. The use of images is really good as it shows different types of shots with the same person captured. The images are a suitable size which keeps the information as the main focus yet keeps the page looking attractive. The layout of the text is very poor as its placed in to fit around the image which makes the text unpleasant to read. The magazine double page spread uses a quote which is written in a large font which highlights the main part of the story, this could encourage the reader to read the whole story to find out why that quote is positioned and said.

9. Double Page Spread The use of images is really good as it shows two different types of shots with the same person captured. The images are a suitable size which keeps the information as the main focus yet keeps the page looking attractive. The choice of shots were close up which shows a clear view of the facial expression of the model. The second choice of shot is a medium shot showing the model from waist to head. On both images the model is looking directly at the camera which determines the reader to read this story by believing that this certain page is aimed at them with the direct eye contact which looks like he’s looking at them, drawing them in. The layout of this page is really effective, its set out neatly and the selected colour of the font, stands out against the dark background. The colours chosen are consistent and look smart and professional with everything placed suitable so nothing collides which prevents the reader struggling to read or see specific things on the page.

10. Double Page Spread The colours used on this double spread page are very feministic with the images bordered in pink and the subtitles highlighted in pink. However the other colours used look horrendous in contrast with the main (most used) colour. I believe that these unsuitable colours were used “last minute” as a way to avoid the target audience just being recognised for females with the stereo typical main use of colour. The use of images are a good variety as it equals with the same amount of text, this helps to prevent any main feature stealing the main focus. The images are recognised more towards a female audience with all the models captured who are all female. The quotes boxed up around the main text is used in a bright colour which helps it to stand out, however the text colour be difficult to read for some individual who may struggle with eye sight. The use of images is really good as it shows different types of shots with the group of people captured. The images are a suitable size which keeps the information as the main focus yet keeps the page looking attractive. All the models look direct at the camera which draws in a reader as they will believe the story is personally directed at them because of the eye contact.