1. The document analyzes the front covers and contents pages of several music magazines including Billboard, Q, Rolling Stone, and Vibe. 2. It identifies common design elements like mastheads, images of popular artists, headlines, and pricing information that are used across magazines to attract audiences. 3. Key purposes of the design elements identified include acting as anchors for the cover image, bait to entice readers, and hooks to draw in target demographics. Consistent branding and layouts also aid reader recognition of each magazine.

1. Music Magazine Research
By
Daniel Martin

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

4. 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.
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.
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.

5. 5. The main sell line and subheading are anchorage for
the main image and are there to attract the audience to
the magazine
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.

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

8. 1. The Masthead is iconic, unique and well
recognised. With a simple but effective design.
2. Little puffs with extra sell lines alerting to audience
to something big
3. Sell lines used as bait and hook mostly kept
together but using different colours.
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
5. Main feature is highlighted to attract the target
demographic to the magazine

9. 6. Barcode, website address and the price which is an
incredibly cheap £3.50-90 for a monthly issue, which
assures consumer loyalty.
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.

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

12. 1. Skyline for extra information and is one of the first
things the audience sees so it is something eye
catching
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
3. Main sell line and article feature as anchorage for
the main image.
4. Issue number and price, published fortnightly at a
price of $4.50
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)

13. 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.
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.

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

16. 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.
3. Typical sell lines to act as bait and hook to target
demographic
4. The price would have a high price due to it being a
monthly magazine.
5. Main image of the artist but also of other things
like Barack Obama to act as the star attraction for
the issue

17. 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.
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.

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

20. 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

21. 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

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

23. 1. The masthead 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
4. Image as a bait and hook for the main article
5. Information at the bottom of the page containing
info about events and online for the audience
6. Website is there if the audience wish to go digital
and also the page number of the contents page.

24. 7. The magazine name is placed at the top for
continuality.
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.
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.

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

26. 1. Masthead placed at the top alongside the
magazine logo, to identify the page
2. The name of the issue is placed at the top, with
the date and also the website including to social
networking.
3. Main image of the main article with the page
number and a pull quote for a bait and hook effect
4. Heading placed at the top to identify different
sections like features, specials etc.
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

27. 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.
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

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

29. 1. The masthead 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.
3. Main articles are on the right and in separate boxes to
highlight them
4. It uses many images to illustrate the articles, many of
them are of celebrities from the stories, used as a bait
and hook
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.

30. 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.

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

32. 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.

33. 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.
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.

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

35. 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

36. 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.

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

38. 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
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.
4. The heading will be bold and a pull quote to
describe the artist
5. The background will reflect the artist whether it is
one colour or an actual setting

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

40. 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.

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

42. 1. The design changes for each artist, from
professional and calm, to stylish and graphic, to
dark atmosphere etc.
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 which is placed on
one page or a number of images mixed with the
wording.

43. Vibe double page spread
2. Image
3. Typography
1. Unique designs
4. The article

44. 1. The designs are unique to the magazine in order to
make itself recognizable to the audience
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.

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

46. 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 artitsts.