NME was originally a newspaper that transitioned to a magazine format in the 1980s. During the 1990s, it focused more on American bands but still covered British indie music. In the 2000s, NME focused on new British bands like Franz Ferdinand and Kaiser Chiefs. The magazine targets 16-19 year olds interested in rock and indie music.

1. TASK 1
NME Magazine Analysis
Austen Mahon

2. NME
• NME was first published on the 7th March 1952, and was originally a
newspaper. It moved to a magazine format in the 1980s. At the
start of its life, the Beatles and The Rolling Stones were dominant in
the magazine. In 1972, NME was almost shut down. So, they
changed radically to a more smarter, hipper, more cynical and
funnier magazine. In 1985, NME was close to closing again! The
editors were split between what genre should be in NME. Some
said hip-hop (which was fairly new to the UK at this point), and
rock.
• During the 1990s, NME mainly had American bands, but they still
covered the indie scene. Sales of the magazine increased due to
Britpop, which was dominant after Kurt Cobains death. During the
2000s, the magazine was mainly focused on new British bands such
as Franz Ferdinand and the Kaiser Chiefs. “Indie” grew.
• NME is published by IPC Media, and its target audience is 16-19
year olds, who are mainly interested in rock/indie.

3. Masthead The header
The masthead for NME Magazine uses a
red, white and black colour scheme. The letter
is blocked and bold, and the letters ‘lock’
Front Cover The header which runs across the top, gives
more information to the audience, about what
the magazine contains. The header, along with
together, to create a single, unified shape. The the footer, gives the magazine a more ‘jam
masthead is situated in the top left, and layered packed’ feel. It makes it seem more busy.
below the cover image. The coverlines
Use of flash There are a variety of coverlines on this front
The flash is situated just below the cover. Starting from the top, there is a
masthead, but layered above it. This makes the “starring” list, to the left of the Masthead. It
flash jump out at the viewer, and makes it seem tells the audience who else is in the issue. The
more important. It also makes it more use of the word “starring” makes it seem a bit
noticeable, and would more likely make more film like. Starring is a word commonly
someone buy the magazine. associated with films, so this can give it a more
Background cinematic, blockbuster feel to it. The cover line
on the right hand side, uses a bold, block text,
The background of the cover image reflects
followed by some small text in a different, serif
upon the subject of the cover image. The cover
font.
image is Dizzee Rascal, and the graffiti covered
wall connotes the sort of lifestyle Cover Image
stereotypically associated with someone who The cover image is a medium-long shot, and it
likes the sort of music Dizzee Rascal creates. It shows Dizzee Rascal, the subject, in a kneeling
also links in with the ‘Express’ in NME (New pose, with his arms coming at the camera. This
Music Express), as people see graffiti as a way create a sense of the image jumping out at the
to express yourself. viewer, and this effect is further enhanced by
Use of pull quote the fact that the image is layered above the
masthead. The subject is wearing clothes that
The pull quote is taken directly from the article
stereotypically reflect the audience of the type
about Dizzee Rascal. The use of the word “man”
of music that he makes. He is also standing in
makes it obvious that it is Dizzee Rascal, as that
front of a graffiti covered wall, which, again,
is the type of way people who are
links in with the type of music that he creates.
stereotypically linked with the type of music
Dizzee Rascal creates, speak. Furthermore, the Main Cover line
actual quote has quite an evangelic quality to it. The main cover line which says “DIZZEE
“I’m spreading joy around the world” makes Rule of thirds RASCAL”, is written in a large, bold font. It
him seem like he has the power to spread the On this front cover, the cover lines are arranged in a ‘C’ placed on the page in a very un-uniformed
joy. He seems to say it as if he can spread the shape. They start in the top right hand corner, curve manner, which reflects the subject. It’s as if
joy. around the top, down the left hand side, and across they are just placed on the page in a way to
the bottom. This is done to allow the eye to flow across make it seem like they are not quite ‘inline’
the page, because this ‘C’ shape is traditionally what with everything else on the page, which are
someone looks at first when they pick up a magazine. straight and uniformed.

4. Contents
Masthead The contents
The NME Masthead is present on the contents The contents is split into five sections: News,
page, and keeps the same colour scheme of Radar, Reviews, Live!, and Feature. Each
that of the one on the front cover. subtitle is blocked out, which create a sense of
structure and organisation. Then, the individual
Article articles use a single number for its page
This contents page has an article, describing number. There is also a ‘Plus’ section at the
what this particular issue is based around. In bottom, which basically shows a bit more of
this case, tours. The article is placed on a what's inside.
musical instrument carrying case, which is
commonly used by musicians on tours. The Date
image shows a tour bus. These three things
create a uniformed look, and helps throw the
meaning at the audience. Subscriber panel
A subscriber panel is in the bottom left, and
Band index gives the audience a deal if they subscribe to
On the left hand side of the contents, there is a the magazine.
‘Band Index’ which alphabetically lists the
artists which are present in this magazine, and
gives a page number for each.

5. Double Page Spread
Byline
Image Words and pictures
The image is of Dizzee Rascal
spray paint a wall. It is a Copy
medium-long shot, and it The text uses a serif font, and a
portray a rather stereotypical drop cap, which drops down six
image of someone who him, and lines of text.
someone who would listen to his
music. The background, like the Main Heading
front cover, is of a graffiti The heading ‘From Tags to
covered wall. This could portray Riches’ is placed on the page in a
the expressive nature of graffiti, very disjointed manner. It is
as the ‘E’ in ‘NME’ does stand placed at an angle, and even
for Express (which may not some of the letter are not in line
necessarily mean quick). The with the rest of its word. This
mise en scene of the image is a could reflect into a ‘breaking the
clothing that is stereotypical and rules’ type behaviour that Dizzee
a spray paint, which is also Rascal goes for. The heading is
stereotypical, but could also link also a play on word, with the
in with the expressive nature of popular phrase “From rags to
the background. riches” being changed to use the
word ‘tags’. This helps to further
Page Number, NME logo stereotype Dizzee Rascal.
and date Columns
The text is organised in a four
column structure.
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