This document provides an analysis of the front covers of five music magazines: Billboard, NME, Vibe, Rolling Stone, and Q. For each magazine, it examines the layout, main image, masthead, date and price, feature headline, and quote preview. Some of the key points made include that magazine covers use color schemes, images, and text styles to attract target audiences. Prominent placement of the artist's name is meant to draw attention. Quotes and headlines are designed to intrigue readers and convince them to purchase the issue. Price is often de-emphasized so as not to discourage buyers. Overall formats aim to clearly identify the publication while showcasing the featured story.

1. SHARNEL MEHMI
Music Magazine Analysis

2. ContentsFive Front Covers
• Billboard
• NME
• Vibe
• Rolling Stone
• Q
Five Contents Pages
• Billboard
• NME
• Vibe
• Rolling Stone
• Q
Five Double Page Spreads
• Billboard
• NME
• Vibe
• Rolling Stone
• Q

3. Front Cover Analysis
•Billboard
•NME
•Vibe
•Rolling Stone
•Q

4. FrontCover: Billboard
Layout:
It can be seen that there is an hidden border around the
magazine to stop text from sticking right to the edge of the
page, although “RIHANNA” reaches both sides of the page,
this has possibly been done to stand out and draw the
audience to the magazine as Rihanna is featured in there.
The format of the magazine is with the masthead located at
the top of the page as this is where the audience will first
start reading the cover, the main image is located in the
middle of the page and all of the headlines are located to the
left of the page as with Westernised reading, this is where
people first look for information.
It can be seen that the colour scheme of the magazine is very
simplistic as the only colours used (excluding the image) are
red, white, yellow and black.
Main Image:
As the main image is Rihanna, it is automatically easy to
assume that her fans will be attracted to this magazine. It
can also be assumed that this image will appeal to males as
her pose is very provocative as she’s showing a lot of her
back and looking over her shoulder, attracting the male gaze.
As Rihanna’s top is white, this signifies innocence which
however contradicts with her revealed gun tattoo, red hair
and lips, informing us that she’s in fact not innocent.
The red hair and lipstick can be seen as seductive and a
revelation of her passion and love for music.
Date and Price:
A common convention in all magazines is that the price of
the magazine is presented in a small font located in a corner
of the cover, this is due to the fact that companies do not
want the audience to be drawn to the price as it does not
appeal to them, this magazine for example costs
$6.99/£4.36, aiming at a middle class audience.
Masthead:
The masthead of this magazine is the Billboard logo. This
same logo is seen on every edition of the magazine so that
it is consistent and easily recognisable.
The font of the logo is seen to be as an informal font,
showing that this magazine is aimed at teenagers and the
red white and yellow colours are gender neutral,
indicating that the magazine is attracted to both sexes.
The picture of Rihanna featured on the cover overlaps the
masthead, suggesting that the Billboard is an infamous
magazine and that customers will easily recognise it despite
that the name is covered.
As the Billboard magazine is a chart magazine which does not
focus on any particular genre of music, Rihanna is a suitable
artist to be featured on the front cover as she is in R&B and
Pop music.
The Feature Headline:
“Rihanna” is written in a gradient above the anchorage “my
fans don’t really know who I am” suggesting that the fading
gradient indicates that Rihanna thinks that we don’t know.
The use of the white colour against the dark purple background
makes the headline stand out so that the audiences eyes are
drawn straight to the word Rihanna. The use of this white
headline could signify innocence and purity, the same as the
white top which she is wearing.
The heading is spread across the width of the cover suggesting
that Rihanna is more of a star and exclusive than the magazine
as her name is bigger than the masthead.
Quote Preview:
The quote “Don’t know who I am” makes the audience want to
read the magazine as this statement makes them intrigued and
want to find out who the real Rihanna is, feeling more closer to
her as they feel that what they’re reading is exclusive.
This quote also gives the audience an idea of what her article
will be about.

5. FrontCover: NME
Masthead:
The masthead of this magazine is the NME logo with a slogan
located underneath it. The masthead is written in a bold white
formal font, indicating the contents of the magazine mean
business and should be taken seriously.
This white font also stands out against the red hair in the
background, making the masthead stand out more to the
audience. The white text also signifies innocence and purity in
contrast to the bright red hair in the background.
Slogan:
The slogan of the magazine is just simply the NME
unabbreviated so the audience are aware what NME stands
for.
Date and Price:
A common convention in all magazines is that the price of the
magazine is presented in a small font located in a corner of the
cover, this is due to the fact that companies do not want the
audience to be drawn to the price as it does not appeal to them.
On this magazine, the price of the magazine is located in the top
left corner, as the price is £2.50, it is neither a cheap or
expensive magazine and as the main target audience are
teenagers who may not have a lot of money but enough to treat
themselves to NME magazines.
Main Image:
For this issue of the magazine a close up image of Florence’s
face has been used, this has possibly been done for the
audience to feel closer to the magazine and Florence as when
people are this close to each other in reality it is usually
because they have a very close relationship.
The image fits in very well with the theme of the magazine as
her facial expressions are very bold like the cover line’s and
masthead featured and her bright red hair which is highly
noticeable and very easily attracts the audience. However, the
red hair contrasts against the white logo as red is associated
with danger and aggression, similarly to the black text which
says “FLORENCE” as black also represents strong emotions
such as authority and power which she may have. The white
top which she wears contradicts this and emphasises her red
hair.
Layout:
It can be seen that around the edges of the magazine there is a hidden
border to avoid the text from being diminished to the edge of the page,
though all of the conventions on the cover stick to this rule the barcode
however reaches to the edge of the page, to possibly stay out of the way.
The format of the magazine is with the masthead located in the top left
corner of the cover as this is where the audience will first read and identify
the magazine.
The main image is seen to be located in the middle of the page and is large
enough to be the background of the cover.
Majority of the cover lines of the magazine are located to the right of the
page, this is due to the fact that Florence’s face in her close up is facing
towards the of the page and if the cover lines were to be on that side then
they would be disrupting the image.
It can be seen that the colour scheme of the magazine is very simplistic and
minimal as the only colours used are red, black and white.
Cover line:
These cover lines advertise and inform the reader of
articles featured inside the magazine, encouraging
them to buy this issue. These cover lines have been
written in a white text so that they stand out against
the red background.
Quote Preview:
A quote from Florence’s article stating “I WOULD NEVER HAVE
GOT THROUGH THE X FACTOR AUDITIONS” makes the
audience intrigued as the word “never” is a very strong word,
making the audience want to find out why she said this.
Main Cover Line:
The black font used for the cover line stands out against all of
the other colours and indicates who the main article is about.
Cover line:
This cover line informs the reader that they are reading a special edition of
NME and that this is the second special edition cover from 10 different
covers, as the audience are informed that this is a special edition magazine,
it will draw them in to read the magazine as they would feel that what they
read will be special and exclusive. Also, this cover line informs the audience
that the NME has changed, making the reader want to read the magazine
so that they’re aware of the fresh new changes.

6. FrontCover: Vibe
Masthead:
The masthead of this cover is the magazines logo and is bold
and in capitals, making the masthead appear more dramatic,
attracting the audiences eye. The bold and vibrant colours of
the masthead are similar to the genre of music which this
magazine focuses on (rap). The image of Eminem and “the real
rap” stamp overlaps the masthead, indicating that this magazine
is so successful and infamous that the logo can be easily
recognised even when it is partially covered. Though the
masthead is bold and in capitals, the font is informal, this may
be due to the fact that majority of the target audience are
teenagers and are not into formal news.
Main Cover Line:
On this cover, the main cover line is unusual and different to
other magazines as it is not boldly presented across the
magazine and is interrupted by the main image as the last letter
is partially covered, this may have been done to make it clear
and ensure the audience that the main image and cover line are
linked together and are about Eminem.
Quote Preview:
The quote “I literally almost died” is a very serious and dramatic
quote, which will definitely catch the audiences eye and draw
them in to read the article as they would be intrigued and
wanting to find out why Eminem literally almost died.
Main Image:
The main image is a medium close up of Eminem looking
directly at the camera with a hard, serious looking expression,
connecting with his article and the serious rap theme of the
magazine. With his arms crossed, he is able to show off his
tattoos, further indicating that he is a rapper as this fits the
image. Although his cover line is in a red text, Eminem is in a
black tank top which still fits in with the magazine as some of
the sell lines around the page are black, keeping in the colour
scheme.
Header:
The header of the cover is a list of different major artists from
the same genre of music (rap). Listing these artists may have
been done in order to appeal to a larger audience group
rather than just fans of Eminem.
Layout:
The masthead is located at the top of the page so that the audience can
easily locate and identify the name of the magazine. As the main image
overlaps the masthead, this may have been done as the magazine is
successful that its logo is infamous and can easily be recognised even
when partially covered.
The cover lines, sell lines and plugs are all littered on both the left and
right side of the main image, so that no matter where the reader looks
on the cover, they are presented with new information of what will be
featured in the articles.
The colour scheme of the magazine is very clear, simplistic and minimal
as red, grey and black are the colours featured on the cover. As red is
the main colour, it may have been used as it is a strong and vibrant
colour and is used in certain areas of the cover to highlight and
emphasise certain articles. The colour red connotes rebellion, linking to
rap music and Eminem. Black has been used for the colour of text such
as “50 hottest rap blogs”, as black connotes mystery it is used
appropriately to emphasise this cover line. As grey connotes indecision
and uncertainty, it has been used appropriately for the text listing the
drugs Eminem has taken as that can be some of the many symptoms.
Background:
The background of the cover is just a plain light blue background, which
has been used to emphasise the image of Eminem and the text, making
sure that they are easily noticeable for the audience to be drawn in and
read the magazine.
Date and Price:
Though the date is featured in the left hand corner of the magazine,
the price and barcode are not on the cover. This may have been done
as the price and barcode are displeasing and may put off readers from
purchasing the magazine. Instead of this convention being located on
the cover of the magazine, it may be located on the back page of the
magazine.

7. FrontCover: RollingStone
Masthead:
The Masthead is the rolling stone logo and is located at the very top of the page so that the reader can quickly identify locate it and
identify the company. The font used for the masthead matches the genre of music (rock n roll) which is featured in the magazine as the
font can be seen as a vintage, cow boy looking font. The masthead also fits in with the colour scheme of the colour as it consists of red,
black an white, these colours are also associated with rock music as they are very bold strong colours.
As the masthead is covered by Taylor Swifts head, this may be indicating that she’s more successful than the magazine.
Layout:
The main image is clearly the main focus and attraction of the
magazine as Taylor Swifts head covers a large amount of the masthead,
indicating that Taylor Swift may be more successful than the magazine
itself. Majority of the information on the magazine is located to the left
and right of the picture with Taylor Swifts name and cover line over
lapping her picture, indicating that they’re connected. The bottom half
of the magazine is bare as everything is located in the higher second
and third part of the magazine, this may have been done to keep all of
the information together to stop the reader from getting bored of
looking all over the magazine for important cover lines.
Main Image:
The main image is an Taylor Swift sitting on the floor, wearing a white
top which mat signify her innocence, a blue jacket which may signify
that she is a calm person and brown shorts, connoting that she’s boring,
which her genre of music is compared to rock. In this medium long shot
of Taylor Swift, her body language shows that she’s insecure which she
may be as she’s featured in this rock, not pop magazine. In contrast to
her body language, her facial expressions and eye makeup are showing
a strong hard image, indicating that she may be adjusting herself to fit
in with rock music.
Cover Lines:
These cover lines consist of various stories that do and do not fit in with
rock music, such as an article on Mitt Romney, attracting a wider
audience range. In another article there is information on Rodd
Stewarts memories from the past, attracting older readers. A fairly
uncommon feature amongst these cover lines is that there are a variety
of fonts used, this may have been done to distinguish the difference
between each of the articles and make them stand out more.
Date and Price:
The date and price are presented in a small font in the top right
corner of the magazine, this is due to the fact the price may put
the reader off of the magazine. As well as the date and price
being located here the website is also here, this is important for
advertisement as the reader can subscribe to the Rolling Stone
online and find out more information.
Feature Headline:
Compared to the rest of the text on the magazine, the headline is
the only text which is the largest and is in white on the cover, this
is to possibly represent that compared to the other articles,
Taylor Swift is the biggest artist and that she is pure and innocent
compared to them.
Quote Preview:
Unlike many other magazines, this magazine does not have a
quote preview, this has possibly been done as Taylor Swift being
on the cover alone is shocking enough to intrigue the audience
and draw them in to read the magazine to find out why she’s
featured in there. Instead of a quote preview, the cover line of
Taylor Swifts article is presented instead, causing the reader to
want to read the article with as least information on the cover as
possible.

8. FrontCover: Q
Masthead:
The masthead of this magazine is the Q logo and is the second
largest feature on the page. The square red background is big and
bold and the font of the white Q is formal, the masthead is very
simplistic and these colours are widely associated with rock and
indie music. As the masthead is positioned in the top left corner
of the cover, it is the first thing that the reader will see, making it
easy for them to identify the magazine. As the masthead is only
just the letter Q, this gives the hint that this magazine is that
successful that it is infamous and doesn’t need a hint in the name
to indicate that it is a rock magazine.
Banner:
The banner is black and is laid out horizontally across the top of the
cover, the colours which the banner consists of are consistent with
the rest of the magazine as it contains black and white however, a
gold text is also included as this information is exclusive, the gold
text further exaggerates that and makes it stand out even more. The
‘free music inside’ is large in comparison to the exclusive news due
to the fact that the audience will be attracted to the word ‘free’,
making them want to purchase the magazine and the free music.
Cover Lines:
The cover lines presented vary in their style, font and colour and
majority of them are located to the right of the main image. Using
the rule of three, they are split into three cover lines below the main
cover line. The first cover line is in a very small gold writing, which
has been purposely understated as it does not contain the main
information of the magazine. Different fonts are used for each line
whilst the writing is centred. The second cover line is connected to
the main image as its red text matches her trademark red hair. The
writing is split to two lines with the smaller line in capitals. The last
cover line is a Quote Preview from Florence following on from the
other two, the cover line is again over two lines but due to the fact
that this is a consistent quote, the font and sizing remains the same.
In addition to these cover lines there are more presenting artists
featured in the magazine. The location of these cover lines is
possibly because they are less important compared to the other
articles but are still able to attract readers. These cover lines match
the mast head as they have used the same white font against a red
background, making them stand out against the grey image in the
background.
Main Image:
The image dominates majority of the page, consisting of two parts. The
image of Florence is along shot with her body positioned in the centre.
Her stance is a very strong broad stance with her hip leaning slightly
towards the right. Her black clothes and red hair matches the mast head
and the various colour lines whilst her pale skin almost matches the
white background. The fact that Florence is wearing black indicates that
she has power, which she does as she towers over the buildings in the
second half of the image. The buildings are positioned in height
comparison to each other and are all in greyscale to not take any
attention away from Florence. These buildings are littered on both sides
and behind Florence with the shorter buildings covering her feet.
Date and Price:
The date and price of the magazine are located to the right just above
the barcode so that they are easy to find but the price is not in a big font
as it may deter and put off individuals from purchasing the magazine.
The website is also here as it serves as an advertising purpose so
individuals can subscribe online.
Head Line:
Unlike many other magazines, the head line is not linked to the main
image but another feature within the magazine. It contrasts against
the main image as it is about ‘the 100 greatest front men’ when
Florence is a front woman. The colour of this head line matches
what Florence is wearing and the banner. The fonts vary in size so
that they match up into a vertical line. The font is consistent with
the masthead as well as many other cover lines on the page.
Plug:
The plug is the only information in the bottom left area of the page.
The plug matches the colour scheme and the layout of the cover as
it has a white background with the largest text in a red bold and
simplistic font to attract the readers attention.
Layout:
All of the cover lines are located on the right side of the magazine as
in the main image of Florence, she’s leaning towards the right,
indicating to the audience that all of the information is on this side.
The main image is the largest feature on the magazine and partially
covers the masthead, indicating that Florence may be a bigger
success than the magazine. The banner is located at the top of the
page so that it will attract the audience immediately as the word
free is in there.

9. Contents Page Analysis
•Billboard
•NME
•Vibe
•Rolling Stone
•Q

10. Contents Page: Billboard
Layout:
On this contents page, the Billboard album and singles chart are
positioned vertically on the left third of the page, the contents of the
magazine are listed in the middle third and a long shot image of the
singer Charice kneeling is in the right third.
Above the contents and image are three image inserts (one long shot
and two medium close ups) lined horizontally with small numbers in the
left corner of each picture, indicating the page which they are
illustrating, aiding the audience to navigate through the pages. These
conventions have been laid out in this specific way so that the attention
of the reader goes directly to them.
Below the contents are four columns of information aligned to the left
and are advertising online events and exclusive information for the
audience to read.
Background:
The background of this contents page is a plain white background which may have been
taken in a studio or applied after. This white background may have been used to in order to
make the conventions of the contents page stand out, such as the images, the black title
stating ‘masthead’ and the billboard chart, avoiding any attention to be deterred from
them.
Colours:
The colours used on this contents page are mainly black, grey, blue
and white. The black and white contradict each other as they
connote different representations such as black representing evil
and white representing purity. However, both of the colours are
basic tones and connote simplicity as does grey represent maturity.
The blue stands out against these simplistic colours and help to
emphasise certain features of the magazine, such as the beginning
and end of the list of contents.
Target Audience:
As the images used feature young people from both
genders, the age of the target audience is seen to be both
males and females aged 14-25. the simplistic layout and
the contemporary montage aid in making the page more
appealing to the young target audience. From the Billboard
music chart featured on the left, music from a wide range
of genres are featured, covering a wide audience who are
fans of various artists and bands.
Conventions:
The title ‘contents’ is located at the top of the page which is seen as
normal and usually in all magazines and for each cover line there is a
page number indicating where in the magazine it is located a common
feature in all magazines. However, the contents list is located in the
middle of the magazine and is therefore unconventional as the
contents are normally positioned and aligned to the left of the page.
Images:
The three images lined up horizontally are indications of what
will be featured in the magazine and what page they’re located
on. Within all of the images they’re wearing blazers, suggesting
that what will be featured in each of the articles are formal
interviews or serious news. Two of the images are medium
close ups, showing the artists blazers and their straight facial
expressions one looking as if they’re being intimidated as it’s
taken from a high angle shot and the other looking shocked,
the other image is a long shot of a man standing straight and
dressed informally despite the fact that he’s wearing a blazer,
indicating that his article will be different from the other’s and
may be information on a gig. He’s also standing straight with
his hands in his pockets connoting confidence.
The forth image is a long shot of a woman kneeling on one leg
wearing almost all black fitting in with the colour scheme,
smiling and looking slightly away from the camera connoting
shyness. Her smile gives her the appearance that she’s
comfortable, representing that this magazine is comfortable for
the audience to read. Her open hair connotes her as free and
calm.

11. Contents Page: NME
Conventions:
Overall the magazine is conventionally laid out, with the title of the
magazine located at the top of the page and for each cover line there is a
page number to indicate where in the magazine the article is located.
However, the contents list is located to the right of the magazine which is
unconventional of magazines in general but fit in well with NME house style
as this is how majority of their contents pages are laid out.
Layout:
On this contents page, there is a band index located and aligned to
the left of the page to make it easier for the audience to find what
page their band is featured on with ease. At the top of the page is the
NME logo in red with a white border next to white text saying “THIS
WEEK” against a black background, this may have been done to
stand out to the audience and inform them of what will be in the
NME “this week”. In the centre of the page is two images of a band
playing instruments and an article beneath which has probably been
placed here to allow the audience to gain an insight of a more
detailed article inside of the magazine. Below this feature is an NME
advertisement to persuade the reader to subscribe to the monthly
magazine so that they are able to make a profit. To the right of the
article and advertisement is the official contents page of the
magazine which has been in an unconventional but simple way as
each article has been put in one of each of the four categories; News,
Radar, Reviews, Live! and features, making it more easier for the
reader to find where the news or review that they are looking for is
located.
Colours:
The colour scheme of this contents page
follows the conventional house style of NME
as it consists of red, black and white. Keeping
to this colour scheme helps to keep
consistency and follows throughout the
magazine. The colours used against each other
(such as black and white) effectively contrast
certain words to make them stand out and
catch the readers attention as the text is bold.
These bold bright vibrant colours reflects the
lifestyle of the readers and bands of the
magazine as the black may reflect how dark
the genre of music is (rock music).
Background:
The background of this contents page is grey, which mixes well with other colours and connotes sophistication and formality,
making the young target audience want to read this magazine as they’ll believe that the contents of the magazine is also full of
Images:
On this contents page there are only three images featured, which do not
reference to any other article in the magazine. The first two pictures
appear to be one long shot image but sliced into two, this may have been
done as in each of the images there are two different types of instruments.
The low key lighting in the image further indicates the dark rock genre of
the magazine and the article.
The third image is an advertising image of the next issue of the NME front
cover, this has been placed here to gain the magazine subscribers and to
make a profit of them.

12. Contents Page: Vibe
Masthead:
The masthead of this contents page is a large ‘V’ standing for
the magazines name Vibe, this may have been done as the
audience are already aware of what magazine they’re reading
and that the magazine is that infamous the whole of the
name does not have to be present. This masthead sticks with
the house style of Vibe as within majority of the contents
pages, the masthead is located in the top left corner.
Main Image:
The main image is a grey mid shot of Kanye West with an arm
coming over his shoulder with a red heart, which is the only
bright coloured object on the page, drawing the readers
attention to it and possibly implying that this woman’s arm is
trying to win over his heart. This image dominates majority of
the page and is very simplistic, attracting the target audience
as Kanye is a famous rapper which relates to the genre of the
magazine and they most likely are familiar with him and listen
to his music. He’s looking straight at the camera with a
straight face which associates well with the genre of rap
music which he produces. As the image is a grey image and
Kanye is dressed smart, this further connects with the
magazines colour scheme and gives a feel that the magazine
is elegant and classy.
Title:
The word ‘contents’ is in a large bold black font and takes up the top right hand corner of the
page. The word is split onto three lines and contrasts against the grey and white background
making it stand out furthermore.
Sub Heading:
The sub heading is written in a bold black font but is inconsistent
with the title as the font is a different italic looking font. This fancy
and stylish font relates to the grey scale colour scheme and Kanye’s
clothing making everything on the contents page look connected.
Contents List:
The contents list is located on the right hand of the page and has
categories of what will be featured in the magazine and shows the
reader what the main articles/stories are and the page number
they are located on. The font colour of the brief headings is grey,
making them stand out against the summary of the contents which
is in black. The page numbers are in a bolder font than the heading
indicating that the page numbers are far more important.
Details of Photograph:
In the bottom right area of the page there are a few lines of text
informing the reader the artists name, location and when the
photo was taken and who took the picture. This allows the fans and
target audience to gain extra information which they may want.
Layout:
This contents page is laid out with the main image of Kanye West
dominating majority of the page and overlapping the masthead,
indicating that Kanye is more successful and bigger than the magazine.
In the top right hand corner is the title ‘contents’ which is slightly
slanted which may have been done to catch the audiences eyes and
make them aware that this is the contents page. On the right hand side
of the page is the contents which is different compared to other
magazines as the contents are usually aligned to the left or located in
the middle of the page, the contents may be located to the right due to
the fact that Kanye is overtaking most of the page. In the bottom right
hand corner are a few lines of text that contain details of the image for
the audience.

13. Contents Page: RollingStone
Masthead:
The masthead of this magazine is located in the top left corner of the page
and has been presented as “RS1167” as an abbreviation of ‘Rolling Stone’
and the issue number. This has not been done or presented in any other
magazine making the rolling stones magazine appear more unique and
original, appealing more to the readers and target audience. The masthead
is written in block capitals and consists of a black for ‘RS’ and red for ‘1167’
font which stays with the Rolling Stone colour scheme and stands out
against the white background.
Colour Scheme:
The contents page has stuck with the Rolling Stone’s house style and colour
scheme of black, red, grey and white, connoting the rock genre that will be
featured in the magazine but also staying sophisticated, appealing more to
the target audience and readers. By sticking to this colour scheme it has
given the magazine a sophisticated and professional look as the magazine is
given a sense of continuity.
Main Image:
the main is a medium close up of the singer Any Heidermann. The image
has been intentionally taken to make it appear that the audience are
looking at her through a glass whilst her hand is positioned on her hair as
she’s looking dramatically upwards, showing how much attitude she may
have which matches the rock music genre. The window effect may
convey to the audience that the magazine has an inside look and that if
they were to read the article they are able to discover about her personal
life which she may have never discussed before. Within the blurb of the
main image is states “Ready for her close up”, suggesting that the
magazines interview will allow the reader to get up close and personal
with her, her dramatic pose suggests that something shocking may be
revealed in the interview.
Slogan:
Next to the masthead is a text written in quotation marks stating “All the News That Fits”. It can be
assumed that this has been written and located here as it is the slogan of the magazine.
Contents:
The contents list is featured as an ‘L’ shape and is divided into four
categories: Features, National Affairs, Rock & Roll and Departments and a
one of special for the issue titled “Women Who Rock 2012”. From reading
the cover lines it is obvious that the magazine is not just solely focused on
music. From making these categories, it will help the reader to find what
they’re looking for in the magazine making them more attracted to the
magazine as it is very simplistic. The numbers of the pages are written in
grey whilst the cover lines are black, making them stand out more to the
reader. The red font of each category and the banner at the bottom right of
the page make them stand out more than the rest of the writing, drawing
the attention of the reader to something significant.

14. Contents Page: Q
Masthead:
The masthead of the magazine is small and located in
the top left corner of the page next to the title
‘contents’. The masthead has stuck to its red and white
colour scheme and is possibly small as the audience are
already aware that this contents page belongs to Q.
Layout:
The layout of this contents page is conventional as with
majority of contents pages. At the top of the page is the
title ‘contents’ in a white font against a black banner to
stand out for the audience to view and confirm that this
is a contents page. The contents list is located to the left
of the page with a large image taking up the right hand
side and the middle of the page, this image used is an
indication of the main article in this issue. Below this
image is what appears to be a separate section of the
contents list purely for reviews as the title states “Q
REVIEW the world’s biggest and best music guide”
within an image of a group that may have been
reviewed.
Main Image:
The main image is an extremely large picture of a close up of Adele who Q’s
target audience would easily recognise due to her successful singing career. Her
red hair and black clothing matches the black and red colour scheme of the rest
of the contents page, keeping consistency throughout the magazine and sticking
to the house style. The caption of this image is “Two months in the life of
Britain’s brightest new talent”, this caption along with Adele standing right at
the camera makes the audience feel as if they’re going to gain an explicit and
personal insight in this article and her serious facial expressions further indicate
that .
Colour scheme:
The colour scheme of this contents page is very minimal,
it consists of red, black white and grey. With grey as the
background of majority of the page, the other coloured
elements stand out much more, the grey background
also connotes sophistication, appealing to a wide range
of audience as they will believe that the magazine and
its contents is professional.
House style:
The house style of this contents page has stuck to the colour scheme of Q and
the front cover to ensure that there is consistency throughout the magazine,
making it appear more professional and so that the colour scheme is
recognisable. The page only uses colours of black, white, grey and small areas of
red on important pieces of information such as titles and page numbers so that
it is clear and easy to see.

15. Double Page Spread Analysis
•Billboard
•NME
•Vibe
•Rolling Stone
•Q

16. DoublePage Spread: Billboard
Title:
The main heading of the page is located on the left page of the
spread, where the text is also located. As the title contains the
word “fiercely” this is also portrayed by how the text is presented
as it is bold and stands out in comparison to the other word in the
masthead “creative” which has been written in an artistic font.
The word fierce also connects with the main image of Beyoncé as
her the name of her album also had the word “fierce” in there.
This white bold title stands out against the dark pink background,
making the audience more interested and wanting to continue to
read the double page spread.
Caption:
The caption of the article is located I the top right corner of the page above
Beyoncé's head stating ‘woman of the year’. Indicating to the reader that
they are indeed reading an article about a woman who is extremely famous.
The bold white writing this text is written in stands out against the dark grey
background, making it clearer and easier for the reader to see and be
informed what the main focus of the spread is.
Text:
This double page spread consists of two
columns of text which are both located to
the left side of the page. The text may have
been split into two columns in order to
make it appear as if there is less text as the
audience may get put off reading the article.
The text may also be placed on the left
page so that it is not the first thing that the
audience see when they open the page as
the main image takes up majority of the
page.
Main Image:
The main image is located on the
right page and is an extremely
large close up picture of Beyoncé
which takes up the whole page.
This is due when the reader turns
the page, the first thing that they’ll
see is the extremely large picture
and will automatically know that
this double page spread is an
article based on Beyoncé. The hair,
makeup and costume which is on
Beyoncé are all bold and striking,
relating to the title of the spread
which includes the word “fierce”
the mise en scene in this image
clearly shows that she is fierce. The
fact that she’s looking directly at
the camera makes it look as if
she’s looking directly at the reader,
making them believe that this
article is especially for them and
that they’ll gain a very private
insight of her life or her career
through reading this article.

17. DoublePage Spread: NME
Title:
The title of this double page spread is “The Gospel According to Nicki Minaj” and is located on the left
hand side of the page where many double page spread titles are commonly located. The title is large
and takes up majority of the page despite the fact that it is partially covered by the main image. The
title consists of two contrasting font, pink and black which may have been done to stand out to the
audience. As well as consisting of two colours the masthead also consists of two fonts, one being an
italic looking font and the other font a striking bold font, this may have been done to show the
difference between gospel music and Nicki Minaj and to further stand out to the audience.
Colour Scheme:
The main colours that are featured
on this page are pink, black and
white. The use of pink gives an
extremely feminine vibe and
makes the spread appear much
more girly, relating to Nicki Minaj
as she is commonly dressed in
pink. The use of black text
contrasts against the pink
background making it easier for
the audience to read, the black
also gives a sophisticated look to
the spread.
Main Image:
This double page spread only includes one image which is the main image and takes up
majority of the page. The main image is a medium shot of Nicki Minaj dressed in a zebra print
outfit which contrasts against the extremely bright pink background making it stand out much
more. This bold image clearly represents the ‘pop’ music genre that is being featured. This
image also has direct mode of address, enticing the reader and creating a unique photo.
Text:
the layout of the text is split into
various different sections all over
the spread, each sectioning
discussing a different topic. The
layout of this text is most likely to
appeal to a young target audience
(which is already the age range of
the magazines target audience) as
they are less likely willing to read to
read large amounts of text. Certain
quotes of the article have been
pulled out and written in a bigger
font and is also highlighted in a
dark pink, this may have been done
to attract the audience as these
pieces of information are
commonly the most ‘exclusive’
parts of interviews in majority of
magazines.

18. DoublePage Spread: Vibe
On the left page of this spread there’s a mini
introduction, summing up what the double
page consists of to gain the readers attention
and introduce them to the article, drawing
them in to making them want to continue
reading it. The main purpose of this
introduction is to ensure that skim readers
who flick through pages are caught by the
introduction.
Article:
The article of this spread s mainly
positioned on the left page and is split
into columns, with the exception of
one column being located on the right
page. The use of columns help in order
to reduce how much text there
appears to be as this can put off the
reader from continuing to read the rest
of the spread. The text is written in
grey to match the grey colour scheme
and to make the reader feel that what
they’re reading is sophisticated.
Colour Scheme:
The colours used in
this article is very
minimal, the colours
that have been used
are white, grey, and
blue with a splash of
red from the main
image. This minimal
colour scheme gives a
formal look to the
magazine, making the
audience more
attracted and
wanting to read the
magazine. The use of
blue on this spread
has been done in
order to highlight key
important areas, such
as Solange Knowles’
fans, drawing a wider
audience to read the
article.
Main Image:
The main image is the only colourful aspect of the spread as Solange is wearing red which contrasts against
the white background making stand out much more to the audience. This image is extremely large and takes
up majority of the right side of the page. The way in which she’s standing with her feet pointing gives her the
appearance of innocence. Though Solange’s dress shows a lot of her leg, it does not give a seductive message
to the audience as her innocent pose contradicts this. She looks fierce and intimidating due to her facial
expressions but still looks feminine and gives off a doll-like appearance at the same time.

19. DoublePage Spread: RollingStone
Title:
The title of this spread is not located conventionally in
the top left corner but is instead located right in the
middle of the left page, this may have been done so
that it is the first thing that the audience see’s when
they flick the page open. The title is written in a capitals
and in a plain font, as well as this it is also very large in
comparison to the many conventions on the page to
draw in the audience to read the magazine.
Colour Scheme:
The only colours in this double page spread are located
in the photo to ensure that the readers full attention is
drawn to it. Also colour is only used for Katy Perry’s
website address which is in blue, drawing the readers
attention to it, this has been done to ensure that the
reader notices it, otherwise they may completely
ignore it due to its small font and location.
Layout:
In the top left hand corner of the page, Katy Perry’s name has been used as a header, informing the audience whom the article is focused on. This
helps to attract any fans of Katy Perry to purchase the magazine. Going against a common convention of music magazines, the title of the double
page spread is located in the magazine with the article above and below it. On the right page of the spread is any extremely large image of Katy Perry
which takes up the whole page to catch the readers eye immediately and draw them in to read the rest of the magazine.
Main Image:
The main image is a long shot
of Katy Perry and takes up the
whole of the right page. The
image has been purposely used
to appeal to the male gaze as
she is only dressed in a pair of
shorts and a bra, revealing
majority of her body. To
further emphasise her
sexualised wardrobe, one of
the straps has fallen down
indicating that she may be
getting dressed. Again,
emphasising how sexualised
the image is, she is wearing red
lipstick and her hair is down
which is commonly seen as
attractive to males.

20. DoublePage Spread:Q
Title:
Unlike majority of
magazines, the title of this
double page spread is
located in the top right
corner of the page, this is
possibly because when a
person may open the
double page spread this is
the first area of the page
that they’ll see, allowing
them to quickly realise
who’s featured in the
article and drawing her
fans in to purchase and
read the magazine.
Main Image:
Again not following the
common conventions of music
magazines, the main image is
located on the left side of the
page, this may have been done
to make the reader fully open
the spread so that they can see
the image an be drawn in to
read the magazine. The image
is a black and white shot of
Lady Gaga with no clothes on,
covering her chest with her
hands and chains. As she’s
looking directly at the camera
this may allow the audience to
feel that what they’ll read in
the magazine is very private
and personal , making them
feel that this information is
exclusive.
Layout:
The conventions of this magazine is extremely different to other magazines. The title is located in the top right hand corner rather than the
left. The main image is located on the left page of the spread and the article is presented as a large amount of text which can be extremely
off putting for the audience as they may not want to read so much text.