Music magazine research

Music Magazine Research
By
Daniel Martin

Billboard
1. Colourful
Masthead, slightly
covered by main
image
2. Sell lines
3. Essential
information, contact
information, website and
barcode
4. Main image
5. Main sell line
and sub heading
6. Bait and hook
stare, image of
perfection.
7. Multi genre

1. The colourful title that fills the empty spaces is unique and also hints that it is
multi genre due to the mixture of bright colours of blue, red, yellow etc. perhaps
colours are for different genre’s and attempts to get larger audience. Or the
audience may be put off by the use of bold colours as these are normally
associated with Pop.
2. Sell lines used as bait and hook for all audiences as there are sell lines for
different genres and main features just for the audience like DIY etc. This
particular magazine leaves the music second and main things that may link to
reader like world issues and DIY in order to get more information and seem more
helpful to the audience
3. The essential contact information with the website giving opportunity for digital
audiences as well as contact information. A weekly magazine with a high cost of
£6.99
4. The main image of popular artists placed on the front cover for top stories, this
main image covers the masthead so it is a popular magazine if the audience can
identify it without seeing all of it. The artist vary from Bob Marley to Paul McCarty
, introducing all audiences to popular artists or audiences get a chance to pick
different issues depending on the artist on the cover. This issue has Taylor Swift
who is normally associated with pop and country, however audiences may be
persuaded by other sell lines around the cover and also because of the artist’s
personality.

5. The main sell line and subheading are anchorage for
the main image and are there to attract the audience to
the magazine. This issue includes world news and helpful
advice like DIY and money and leaves the music
secondary.
6. The main image of Taylor Swift is out of diegesis and is
there to act as a bait and hook, because she looks directly
at the audience to persuade them to but the magazine.
Also she has been airbrushed to look like an image of
perfection to seem attractive and the idea of what all girls
should look like.
7. The magazine is multi genre from pop to rock etc. it
contains little of different genre to attract a large
audience and get them involved with different genres the
covers vary to suit the artist on the cover, for example
pop artist is bright light colours while rock is a little
darker.

Q
1. Masthead always in
same place. unique
2. Flash
4. Main image
3. Sell lines
5. Main feature
6. Barcode and price
7. Genre

1. The Masthead is iconic, unique and well recognised. With a
simple but effective design.
2. Flash and extra sell lines alerting to audience to something
big. For this magazine, the artists names are in bold and are
normally the only thing that needs to be mentioned which
shows that it appeals to loyal fans and that they only need
the mention of the name to buy the magazine.
3. Sell lines used as bait and hook mostly kept together but
using different colours. Mostly just naming artists and tours
leaving the main imager to do most of the persuasion.
4. The main image is always an artist or band in a blank
background so they can strike a pose like a photo
shot, normally the magazine uses artists from the past.
Every artist stares directly at the reader to persuade the to
buy it
5. Main feature is highlighted to attract the target demographic
to the magazine, main feature is the main image and has a

6. Barcode, website address and the price which is an
incredibly cheap £3.50-90 for a monthly issue, which
assures consumer loyalty. Plus the website appeals to
digital audiences.
7. The magazine genre is pop/rock which include well
known and popular artists but mostly from the past as
they are major news with the interviews. Plus the
magazine also includes reviews and other platforms
including film. In hopes of appealing to audiences
more as it contains all these different platforms
implying they only need to get information from this
magazine

Rolling Stones
1. skyline
2. masthead covered
by main image
3. Main feature
article
4. Issue date and price
5. Main image
6. Big bold sell
lines
7. Genre 8. Mainstream
news and political
opinion

1. Skyline for extra information and is one of the first things the
audience sees so it is something eye catching contains but
words like ‘ultimate’
2. The masthead is a deep dark red and is iconic and
memorable as the main image hides it but the audience can
still identify it, implying consumer loyalty
3. Main sell line and article feature as anchorage for the main
image. Placed in bold and colour to draw attention
4. Issue number and price, published fortnightly at a price of
$4.50, the average price for a magazine and possibly hints
that the audience are in a working job and possibly students
to pay this much.
5. Main image of artists but also of celebrities and politicians
which is eye catching, normally with a blank
background, similar to Q, like a photo shoot to focus on the
main person(‘s) magazine gets involved in other issues and
platforms, not just music

6. The sell lines are big bold and some in a different
colour so they are eye catching and draw the
audience in.
7. The genre varies like the other magazines such as Q
and Billboard. With many different artists and
celebrities that it is more difficult to identify the genre
and appeals to mass market audience
8. The magazine doesn't just focus on the music if also
focuses on mainstream, public issues which is shown
through the use of celebrities and politicians on the
front cover. This may hint that the magazine publishes
all the info for the demographic or that they also give
and opinion as well.

Vibe
1. Skyline
2. Big bold masthead
4. Barcode and price
3. Sell lines
5. Main image
6. Background
7. Genre

1. Bold skyline at the top contain a pull quote to attract the
audience and act as a bait and hook.
2. Masthead is big bold and simple therefore easily
recognisable. For each issue the colour may very to suit the
artist and the background. May possibly change colour for
different genre and get in more audiences
3. Typical sell lines to act as bait and hook to target
demographic, the artist in a different colour to draw
attention and what they done underneath, normally the
biggest news in the music industry that has happened
recently showing they are up to date
4. The price would have a high price due to it being a monthly
magazine, unable to find a fixed price but it will be
expensive for a mostly issue and appeal to upper class
market who can afford it.
5. Main image of the artist but also of other things like Barack
Obama to act as the star attraction for the issue. Hints of
political influence maybe and is an opportunity to use
something big and join in the latest pheonomoen.

6. The background differs, from each issue. It may be
the simple photo shoot photo to have main focus on
the artists of a full blown background ranging from a
distinct colour to and explosive background to get the
attention and show characteristics of the artists. Once
the audience get an idea of the character and genre
they will decide if it appeals the them or not
7. The genre contains a variety shown through the use
of artists on the front cover. It contains a variety in
order to attract a larger market rather than a small
niche market.

1. Skyline
2. Masthead
3.Cover lines placed
around the
magazine
4. Covers/background
5. Main image
6. Puff- free and
price
8. Genre
7. Pull quote and
heading

1. Skyline detailing what the magazine contains,
giving the audience full knowledge before hand.
Maybe something massive placed at the top so the
audience read it first
2. Masthead is big, bold and is the same iconic image
in deep red and white outline
3. The cover lines are placed around the magazine
sometimes in an organised manner or no
particular order, depends on the cover. Each have
its own information to appeal to all readers
4. The covers and background change to suit the
artist. Some have a background or just one shade
of colour and some change to suit the Christmas
theme

5. The main images are popular artist and normally
stare directly at the reader in order to persuade them
to buy it, the artists sell the magazine
6. The price is £2.20, average price for the weekly
magazine. However the magazine does advertise free
offers for the reader in hope of gaining consumer
loyalty
7. The cover has a main heading underneath as
anchorage for the main image. There are also a buzz
quote to act as a bait and hook
8. The genre had differed over the years from punk
rock to indie music (independent music) and currently
uses a few from each genre to appeal to all readers

Billboard Contents Page
1. Header
2. Images and
page number
3. Headings
4. Image
5. Info
6. Website and
page number
7. Magazine
name
8. Top charts
9. Additional
information
10. Design and
layout

1. The header is bolds and clearly states that the page is the
contents page.
2. Few images of key articles with a picture underneath so the
audience can get straight there.
3. Headings for the main articles and a little description
underneath as well as the page number, the info is to act as
the bait and hook. Same conventional style as any contents
page, simple for the reader to understand
4. Image as a bait and hook for the main article will be the
biggest image and so will have the most emphasis on where
they want the reader to go
5. Information at the bottom of the page containing info about
events and online for the audience, in order to introduce
them to the main topics.
6. Website is there if the audience wish to go digital and also
the page number of the contents page. Page number is
conventional and the implication of digital website may be
that most of it’s audience is moving online and it is
persuading the rest to join

7. The magazine name is placed at the top for
continuality and acts as a brand name to let the
audience know who it is.
8. The top charts for the best albums, songs and
artists etc. are place on the left side for the audience
to know what’s number one etc. a simple but
effective, unique idea.
9. Any other additional information is placed down
the side of the page, just in case there is anything else
the audience wants to know.
10. The design is simple but clear: the charts on the
left contents on the right and any other info at the
bottom. Clear and effective way for the audience to
read.

Q Contents Page
1. Header 2. issue, date and
websites
3. Main image and
pull quote
4. Headings
5. Page number
with info
6. Sections
7. Design

1. Header placed at the top alongside the magazine logo, to
identify the page and remind the reader like a brand name
2. The name of the issue is placed at the top, with the date and
also the website including to social networking, maybe to
persuade readers to go online.
3. Main image of the main article with the page number and a
pull quote for a bait and hook effect. The image is similar to
front cover images of having the band look at the audience
and has a simpler body language reflecting the magazine’s
genre.
4. Heading placed at the top to identify different sections like
features, specials etc. all with the same deep red colours as
the background like the masthead, iconic.
5. The page number is placed at the side before the name of
the article and a little info so the audience have an idea of
what the article is about. Placed at the top or bottom so the
audience can speed through the pages easily to find the
page they want.

6. The contents are separated into different sections
for the audience to get to a certain place, also the
different sections allow the magazine to group the
articles together, for example the features first and
later on the reviews and normal things like
crosswords. Makes it easier for the audience to
identify what they want to see and narrows down
where the page is
7. The design resembles the same as the magazine
front cover and keep a continuous design as well as a
similar colour. A simple design to have the page
number next to the article, in columns, so the
audience can read it easily and have a main image
take up some space

Rolling Stones Contents Page
1. Header is a
website
2. Info
beneath the
headings
3. Main article
4. Use of images
5. Page
numbers
6. Different media
7. Design and
background

1. The header does not say if it is the contents page because it
believes that the audience can identify it by
themselves, instead I states the name of it’s website to
persuade the reader to go online.
2. Information beneath each article to give description to
persuade the audience to read it. Done in more detail than
other contents pages, lets the audience know exactly what is
in the article.
3. Main articles are on the right and in separate boxes to
highlight them and give more detail to persuade the reader.
4. It uses many images to illustrate the articles, many of them
are of celebrities from the stories, used as a bait and
hook, images used for persuasion as the audience prefer
images to reading.
5. Page numbers are shown on the left but not the right so the
audience need to read through to find it, a technique that
leaves the audience wanting more.

6. The magazine also uses different media and
separates the articles under the different headings, so
the audience get the most information from the
magazine.
7. The design is organised and simplistic, a little busy
for the audience but is effective. The is little colour
and apart from the magazines colour scheme of red.
Plus the use of little colour places more focus on the
main articles. The layout resembles a newspaper
which implies that the audience is higher market and
prefer reading, seems to contradict the images as
they show young artists and a more rock n’ roll genre.

1. Stylish title
2. Background
3. Colour
4. Main image
5. List of articles
6. Layout
Vibe Contents Page

1. The main heading the identifies the page is big
bold and done in an abstract way, where it
continues on the next line. It is done like this so
the reader can identify this unique heading to the
magazine.
2. The background is plain with a grey colour palate.
This places focus on the foreground, on the image
and writing
3. The grey colour palate places focus on the
foreground but also on the heart as it is the only
object with colour. It is red and placed there by an
unknown feminine hand, the connotation of this
would imply love or lust.

4. The main image is of popular artist, Kanye West. His
image dominates the screen and stares directly at the
audience to draw them in. fans of the artist will be excited
and read on to see if there's and article on him. His image
is selling the magazine and the clothes his wearing, as
they are fashionable and persuades the reader to get
them. He connotes an audience through the genre of his
music as well as the image, the idea of what men want to
be and what woman want.
5. The list of articles are placed neatly at the side for the
audience to read, it also contains subjects like features
and fashion. Gives information of what appears in the
magazine
6. The layout is simplistic: the bold heading, main image
dominating the page and neatly placed list of articles. All
done so it is clear, concise and easy for the reader to
understand, nothing extra is added to confuse them.

1. Main heading
2. Band
index
3. List of articles
4. Main
image
5. Sneak
preview
6. Puff advertising

1. The main heading reads ‘NME this week’ is unique
to the magazine as most other magazine just use
‘contents’ to identify the page. Plus, it sounds
more casual and friendly to the reader
2. The band index is used so the audience know who
is apart of the magazine and where to find them
quickly.
3. The list of articles are placed at the side so it is
clear and easy for the reader to understand. It is
also placed under categories like features and
reviews.
4. The main image is of the main article and of the
artist, to show what is the main issue, places more
emphasis on the article

5. There is a sneak preview from the main article to
act as a bait and hook to whether the audience want
to read on.
6. There is a quick advertisement at the bottom to
persuade the reader to subscribe to the magazine and
also gain consumer loyalty from them as well. Like
every other magazine it attempts to convince the
audience that it is a good deal so they appear
trustworthy

Billboard double page spread
1. interviews
2. Main image 3. Article 4. Heading 5.Background

1. The articles may consist of one or more artists giving a review or
and interview
2. The main image dominates the double page spread to promote
the artist(s) and the image is more effective as the reader prefers
to look at the image rather than read the words. It will be a full
page image which doubles as a background, normally direct
mode of address
3. The main article will be about the artist to promote them it may
consist an interview, new artist or just a review of them. Anything
that will promote the artist and interest the audience.
4. The heading will be bold and a pull quote to describe the artist.
The heading will be in a style and colour that will reflect the artist
and genre, e.g. the word ‘girl’ is in the colour pink and the
heading is in a bold and official style like pop.
5. The background will reflect the artist whether it is one colour or
an actual setting. The colour will reflect the genre like bold
colours will reflect pop, however the actual setting background
will seem more realistic and perhaps reflect the artist’s mode like
the double page spread in the slide before hints that she is in the
corner and seems deep and meaningful.

Q double page spread
1. Main image
2. Colours
3. Pull quote 4. Layout
5. Design

1. Main image on the left is a profile picture to
promote the image.
2. The colours suit the artist, for example the red side
resembles either love or danger.
3. There is a pull quote in a different colour to draw
attention to it and is a quote from the artist
themselves which will act as a bait and hook for the
reader.
4. The layout is simple and concise for the reader to
understand: image on the left, words on the write
giving the article.
5. Unique and smart idea from the magazine, use as
bold letter of the artist’s name in a different colour to
identify them and show off the iconic design.

Rolling Stone Double Page Spread
1. Design 2. Background 3. Images

1. The design changes for each artist, from professional
and calm, to stylish and graphic, to dark atmosphere
etc. changes to suit the genre e.g. pop may appear
calmer while rock n’ roll will be much more darker
2. The background also changes to suit the
artist, whether it’s pure white or neutral or dark
background to resemble the artist and also the music
genre
3. There is either one main image of the artist on one full
page, direct mode of address almost daring the
audience to read on. Or a number of images mixed
with different parts of the article like Q&A or new
single, possibly for a new rising artist and is letting the
audience know everything that they want to know.

Vibe double page spread
4. The article1. Unique designs 2. Image 3. Typography

1. The designs are unique to the magazine in order to
make itself recognizable to the audience and are
changed to suit the artist and therefore the genre
2. The images are always of the artists and mostly are on
one page, but there are times when there is use of
more than one to get different views of the artist
3. The typography of the heading is bold and colourful
and also unique to the magazine but also resembles
the artist. Plus the actual writing must identify the
magazine.
4. The actual article would be a review of the artist or an
exclusive interview. Something that would interest the
audience into knowing what is the latest thing that is
happening with the artist.

NME double page spread
1. Unique
design
2. Main image
3. Stylish layout
4. Promoting the
artist

1. The design is unique to the magazine so the
audience can identify it.
2. The main image is used as the background for both
pages rather than the conventional use of just one
page, this makes it unique to the magazine.
3. The stylish layout is used to show the artist and
also make it unique to the design.
4. Every article especially a two page spread is used
to promote the artist and the magazine itself as
the audience want to hear about these artist and
seems very successful to use popular artists.

Music magazine research

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