The document analyzes the cover of a pop music magazine. It examines various design elements like the masthead, images, color scheme, layout and typography. The analysis finds that the pink and sparkly masthead suggests a young female audience. The main image of singer Jessie J wearing black contrasts the bright colors. The layout and variety of typography create an inviting and busy overall design that would appeal to younger readers.

1. MUSIC MAGAZINE
ANALYSIS
I decided to analyse music magazines in the genre of pop as this is the
genre I want to base my magazine on. By analysing these existing
magazine I will be able to look at the popular layout, contents and type of
images used, helping me produced my magazine successfully.

2. Masthead
pug
Coverlin
e
Main
image
Block
qoute
Pug/puff
Skyline
Footer
Top of the pops
front cover

3. Masthead
The masthead is pink and sparkly, the colour pink
stereotypically suggests that the magazine is aimed at
females, thus as it is sparkly the target audience is young;
sparkles are associated with princesses which is one of
the younger generations interests.
The typography used in the masthead is informal ,girly
and fun, suggesting that the magazines content is fun and
easy to read. Additionally the typography is similar to what
is used in the TV shows “Strictly come dancing" this is an
BBC magazine) as it is glittery and the ‘of the’ is in a glitter
ball which is featured in the strictly title. This could suggest
to the audience that the magazine is going to be all
singing and dancing. The preferred reading of the
masthead would be that it is striking ,fun and makes you
want to read the magazine. On the other hand the
oppositional reading would be that the masthead is over
the top and childish, More so its typography doesn’t fit in
with the rest used.

4. Main image
The main image is a mid shot of the pop artists Jessie J. As she is
a pop artist it is suitable for a pop magazine. She is wearing black
which contrasts the pink/red colours of the masthead, coverlines
and anchorages. This makes them stand out and be striking to the
audience, further attracting them. A preferred reading of this image
would be that Jessie J is a inspiration and young girls weather
facing problems or not can be happy-shown by her smile. Her
smile is also inviting. On the other hand Jessie J wearing the
colour black could show an oppositional reading of her been a
negative role model, as well as the red lipstick which symbolises
danger, along with the Smokey eyes which are dramatic showing a
‘dramatic’ change. however the red lipsticks could imply love; the
love which she is now receiving instead of hate. Additionally her
wearing black could imply the ‘unknown', this works well with the
coverline. ’I’ve beaten my haters', it is unknown how she has
beaten her haters, it's a mystery-this is usually associated with the
colour black.

5. colour scheme
The colour scheme of this magazine is pink/red tones,
these colours show power, love and an element of danger.
These colours (pink) are stereotypically girly showing that
this magazine is targeted at females. As this colour scheme
has a lot of different tones it shows all the different contents
that are included, it also makes the magazine look fun,
encouraging a younger audience to read. As stated before
the colour black worn by Jessie J contrasts the bright
colours used on the rest of the magazine, further adding to
the fun element added.
Layout
The layout of the magazine is similar to most magazines on
the market. The masthead is featured at the top of the
magazine so that it will be the first thing people read as you
read from top to bottom, likewise with it been at the top it
will be seen when on a self. The cover lines are all over the
magazine this is typically seen on magazines aimed at a
younger informal audience. Additionally the main image is
featured mainly in the centre, covering nearly the whole
magazine been the main attraction and cover line. Lastly
both the footer and skyline are in the appropriate places.

6. Typography
There is a lot of different typography used on the cover of
this magazine. This makes the magazine look very busy,
inviting the audience to think that the magazine has a lot of
contents inside. The typography fits with each cover line,
for example ,’IVE BEATEN ALL MY HATERS’ this is in
capitals with big clear font, this could mainly be because it
is the main cover line, but also because it shows the
importance of Jessie J over coming her haters; the capital
letters emphases this. Overall the typography used on the
magazine cover is quite informal.

7. Masthead
Coverlin
e
Main
image
Block
qoute
Pug/puff
Skyline
Footer
We love pop
front cover

8. Masthead
This masthead is ’we <3 pop’ this immediately revels
audience as been primary audience been younger, due to
the text slag, Likewise the word' we’ is making the primary
audience feel part of a group, something that’s cool and
new, thus bring the pop community together. Additionally
the masthead is in a speech bubble, which is a common
icon that teenagers will instantly recognise ,showing that
the magazine is aimed at a younger audience. The colours
used in the masthead are quite negative, black been
mainly negative, with the red portraying danger. However
the colour red can also symbolise love which the audience
would have for the boy band featured on the front of the
magazine. The colour black also I feel wasn’t used to put
negativity across but because it is the colour of every
masthead for ‘we love pop’ magazines.

9. Main image
The main image is of the pop band One Direction. There facial
expression is over exaggerated, showing that they are overly
happy/excited, moreover they look like they are having a
good time. This would draw the audience In as they would
want to know why they are having a good time. The boys are
wearing red and blue clothes, these are stereotypically boy
colours ,thus it goes with the colours used on the rest of the
magazine; masthead, coverline ect. The main image
suggests that the target audience is young females as it is of
a boy band, in which there fans are usually girls. Harry styles
is the leader of the group, this is portrayed by him wearing
the darker red, showing dominance. Additionally he is
pictured at the top of the image, showing that he is top of the
band, thus people start at the top of the magazine and work
there way down. If he was to be placed anywhere else in the
image the attention to him would be lost and taken over by
the rest of the content on magazine cover. The preferred
reading of this image would be the boy band are inspiring
young musicians, who young people would look up to. On the
other hand the oppositional reading would be that the boy
band look like they are messing around causing a bad
influence on the younger generation thinking that they can do
the same.

10. Colour scheme
The colour scheme consists of red and blue, these are
traditional boy colours ,going with the main image of the
boy band. The red and blue are primary colours
suggesting the magazine is aimed at a younger audience.
These colours also go with the union jack displayed in the
Masthead-British colours.
Layout
This layout uses rule of thirds rather then the typical
magazine layout. The masthead is at a angle instead of
been horizontal. The main image is placed in the centre
of the magazine, portraying the main focus. The layout on
this magazine isn't too busy, the cover lines and pugs
don’t cover up the main image significantly, showing the
main images importance. Additionally the cover lines
aren't on top of each other, making the magazine seem
more spread out.

11. Typography
There is a range of typography used on this magazine
cover. This could be inviting to a pop audience as the
genre pop is manic and fun. The cover lines are in a
more formal typography compared with the pug and
footer, this could show their importance, thus make it
clearer for the audience to read.

12. Headline
Editors letter
Main image
Footer
sections
Secondary
images
We love pop
contents page

13. Despite the front covers of we love magazines suggesting a younger
audience, I feel that because of the editors letter that this makes the
content page look like it would appeal more to teenagers.
The content page is a Christmas edition, it has the colours of green
and blue which are colours associated with Christmas, thus the tinsel
clip art that’s dotted around the page.
The language used in the headline for the content page is puerile, it
is also clever as links to the title of the magazine ‘we love pop’ which
I like as fits the genre of pop; pop music is cheesy.
The typography used on the content page follows a different theme
to we love pop magazine front covers, there isn't a range of different
typography's but only a couple.
The main image is of a pop artist olly murs. He is wearing festive
colours which also is relatable to Christmas and goes with the colour
scheme of the rest of the content page.
The secondary images show the content of the rest of the magazine.
The secondary images are of the boy band union J, Nile from one
direction and a image of teenagers paintballing. These would be
appealing to a young audience; paintballing may be a hobbie/intrest
that the target audience participates in, thus as it is paintballing it
implies the magazine is stereotypically aimed at a male audience. On
the other hand if aimed at a female audience, the oppositional
reading of these images would be that it attracts girls to boy bands in
which they would get distracted and fantasie about them.

14. Contents page
Headline
sections
Main image
Secondary
images

15. Contents page
The headline on this contents page is straight to the point, it also has an
ellipsis this makes the headline more intriguing as the ellipsis adds mystery;
the magazine holds gossip. The typography used is handwritten, this is very
informal showing that the magazine is aimed at a younger audience. The
headline is in the colour white on a pink background further implying that the
magazine is aimed at a female audience because stereotypically girls like the
colour pink.
The colour theme used on the contents page is pink, white and yellow. Again
the pink stereotypically implies that the magazine is aimed at a female
audience. The yellow is used to highlight sections on the content page to
show the reader the best pages in the magazine.
The secondary images used are of topics that will be covered in the
magazine. One of the secondary images is of a handbag this shows that
there will be fashion content covered in this magazine. There is also an image
of a member of the band JLS in tour clothing, this shows the audience that
there will be a section on JLS’s tour.

16. Double page spread
Main imageSecondary
images
Headline
Columns

17. Double page spread
The colour theme of the magazine is pink and violet, these are stereotypically female colours which
implies this magazine is aimed at a female audience. Furthermore the background of the double page
spread is white with hearts this symbolises love, thus the colour white contrasts with the pinks. The colour
white next to the colour pink is juxtaposed; white symoyisies purity where as the pink symbolises love and
implies been passionate.
The Main coverline is about dating Which is linked to the theme of love. The preferred reading of this
coverline is that Taylor swift is showing woman power and been independent-she doesn’t need a man!. On
the other hand the oppositional reading of this magazine would be that as Taylor is in the public eye she is
putting across that dating is a negative thing, additionally the language is very abrupt which could be seen
as rude. The coverline is in 2 different tones of pink and one word in black, the word in black is ‘anymore',
black is a negative colour but is also a mysterious colour, this could suggest that Taylor may start dating
again or there is a reason why she said that she is dating anymore which the target audience would want
to look into.
The main image on the double page spread is of mid shot of Taylor swift ,she is wearing red lipstick further
portraying the theme of love ,thus her hair is blowing back this is quite a flirtatious image of her. she is
taking up nearly half of the page, this could show her importance; the main story is all about her, she is the
main focus. The secondary images are of her making cakes with her friend a preferred reading of this is
that she is not letting the dating problem affect her, on the other hand the oppositional reading of it would
be that she is baking cakes to use as comfort food to try and get over her ‘heartbreak'. The other
secondary image is of her on tour the preferred reading of this would be that she is focusing on her career
and not letting boy trouble set her back. However the oppositional reading of this image would be that she
is been selfish and not sorting out her problems but pushing them to the side.