The document analyzes the design and conventions of a music magazine cover and contents page, focusing on visual engagement and branding through elements like color schemes, typography, and artist positioning. It discusses how the magazine employs traditional magazine layouts while also challenging norms, such as featuring multiple images of different artists to attract a wider audience. Key elements like a bold masthead, strategic use of whitespace, and the integration of quotes serve to enhance reader interest and reinforce the magazine's brand identity.

1. In what ways does your media
product use, develop or challenge
forms and conventions of real media
products?

2. The picture is a close up shot and the
model/celebrity is making direct eye contact
with the camera so it seems she is engaging
with the reader.
Instead of having a list of articles this cover
consists of a list of popular artists that are
featured within the magazine. This coincides
with the magazines bold image and shows the
articles relating to them are significant as
they're positioned on the left hand side of the
cover. This is typical because in some shops
this is the only part of the magazine you
would see on the display, so by showing a
range of artists names from different genres it
should aim to attract a wide range of readers
Typically the price is £4.00 and its positioned
with the barcode underneath the masthead so
it blends in. The text of the price seems very
small in comparison because it could be
viewed as expensive.
The recognisable masthead ‘Q’ is
simple but bold as its surrounded
with a red background and has
the largest font on the cover
The masthead is at the top left hand corner as
this is the most important feature on the front
and this is direction in which people read.
The tagline is positioned at the top of the
magazine so its one of the first features to
catch the readers eye. Its used as a self
advertisement for the magazine to show
its exclusivity and therefore entice people
to buy it.
There is a clear house style using three
colours (Red, black and white). These
compliment the masthead and the
clothing/makeup of the model to keep
consistency.
All the artists names featured are
written using capital letters to show
their importance/relevance because
it is a music magazine, therefore
they should stand out.

4. Instead of directly writing the questions asked and the specific answers
given, when relaying the interview the reporter cleverly adds the occasional
quote from the artist and blends the questions into the article so the
interview doesn't appear stilted.
The red, black and white colour scheme which the
cover and contents page stick to is maintained and
matches the ‘Q’ logo. This acts as a form of branding
and a constant reminder to the audience what
magazine they’re reading.
The artists name is in larger
font than the article itself as
it’s the most important feature
and it needs to stand out. It
also links to the image and is in
the same font as on the front
cover therefore it continues
the house style.
The article is evenly spread
over three columns and the
font size is small so the article
can fit on a double page spread
and each word fits fully on a
line as using hyphens would
make it more difficult to read.
The page number is crucial as
on the contents page the story
has been linked to it, in order
to help the reader navigate to
where they want in the
magazine. It also shows the
magazine is established as it
has more than 47 pages which
means it must contain a lot of
features.The date is included so that the reader
is aware when the magazine was
published and therefore when the
celebrity was interviewed.
The web address has been included so the
reader can visit the website to find out more
about this article and others in the magazine.
They may also want to subscribe to the
magazine if they’ve found the feature
interesting.
Using a enlarged letter defines the start of a new
topic/time period and because it is larger than the
other font it draws the readers eye to its
significance. In addition its in serif font to
maintain the house style as this is the font used
for her name (the title).
The photo is with the artist close
up (medium close up shot) and
with her looking directly into the
camera. This acts as though she’s
engaging with the audience.
By editing the picture in black and
white it maintains the house style
of the magazine and allows the
’q’ logo and enlarged red ’L’ to
stand out more.
The image takes up a whole A4
page spread and is positioned on
the left side which shows it’s the
focus of the feature as people
read from left to right.

5. Barcode and price is small so that its
suitable for purpose but doesn’t distract
or put off customers from buying the
magazine.
House style of three main colours (red,
white and black) is maintained
throughout each page to coordinate
with the Masthead. However the colour
of the artists shirt (pink) is and
exception to this generic convention. I
chose this because it gave him more
provenance on the page when having
text and other images layered over him.
Instead of using ellipsis to draw in
customers to the main cover story like on
the Cheryl Cole cover I’ve analysed. I
included a quote from the artists
interview. The quote I chose was a
controversial rhetorical question, so that
customers would be intrigued and
therefore enticed to read the whole
story.
The bold tag line gives my magazine a sense of prestige as its being
ranked out of the whole of the UK. Also by mentioning the product is
new it will catch the eye of a wider range of people willing to read it for
the first time.
Although I did just state some popular
artists names to encourage their fans to
the magazine. Unlike the one from my
research, for most of my feature
headings I’ve included extra detail so
that the reader knows what to expect.
This information is in a smaller or
contrasting text colour so the crucial part
of the article is easily differentiated.
The use of a medium close up shot
enables the artist to maintain eye contact
with the camera which acts as though
he’s engaging with the customer. Also in
contrast to the previous cover from my
research, it clearly shows his upper body
language. This loosening of tie shown,
carefully ties in with music genre this
artist represents which is the cool and
collected sector that is R&B.
The Masthead and main features are all positioned according to the left
hand third rule, which is typical of magazines, as that’s the direction in
which people read. Also the Masthead is the largest of all the text, in
order to show its importance.
The artist isn’t directly in the middle of
the page like you would usually see on a
magazine cover. But I made the
adjustment from this generic convention
in order to carry out another. I felt it was
more important and professional
looking to make sure text was layered
on top of the main image to give the
cover more flow. If I hadn’t of moved
the image slightly to the right the text
would have covered the artists face
making it unreadable.

6. The Masthead continues to be in
largest font on the page to
reinstate its provenance. Its also
followed by the title ‘contents’ as
this shows the read what the
page entails.
Colour is crucial on this page as it
helps clearly separate the feature
from the page it is present on. In
addition, to differentiate these
even further for the reader, the
article information is indented
slightly in from where the page
number is.
Most contents pages only have
one or two images which are of
the artist in the main article.
However I challenged this
convention by including a picture
of a second artist/group so that
my magazine appealed to a
greater audience and was more
appealing on the eyes. Obviously
though the focus still remained on
Matthew Force like on the front
page as his image is significantly
bigger.
The main contents page
image usually contradict that
on the front cover. The artist
is looking away from the
camera and a medium to long
shot is used so that they can
show off their outfit and
physique.
The grey gradient background is
consistent with the front cover
along with the house style used.
And when layering a page
number over an image I ensured
it was a completely
different/opposite colour, so it
could be easily read and
understood by readers.
In both previous contents pages I
analysed all the features were
positioned on the left hand side. I
followed this rule to an extent
but to make my main article
(interview) stand out even
further I put it alone on the right
side as a sign of its significance.

7. Instead of directly writing the
questions asked and the specific
answers given, when relaying
the interview the reporter
cleverly adds the occasional
quote from the artist and blends
the questions into the article so
the interview doesn't appear
staged or stilted.
Usually the title of an interview is a
quote from that artist or just their
name. To give my product
originality I used a play on words
using his name ‘force’ in order to
create an insight of the artists
personality. In turn I hoped this
would dramatize the article more,
leaving the audience with a cliff
hanger to keep reading.
The image takes up a
whole A4 sheet on the
left of the double page
spread because the artist
is what the interview is all
about and people read
from left to right so its
automatically where their
eyes are drawn.
I was able to fit my interview
perfectly within three columns
like the majority of real life
magazine do. I even made
room at the bottom to
advertise and share links to the
artists work as in the real world
most interviews/articles are
carried out to promote either a
tour, album etc.
The bottom of the page holds a
few generic conventions. Firstly
the SOLO logo is positioned in the
corner of both pages, this
reinforces the brand name and
provenance. Also the page
number is included in a
contrasting colour. This makes it
clear for readers to navigate
through the magazine. Finally I
made sure the website address
was present, as most music
magazines like rolling Stone are
global, so this makes the magazine
accessible to a wider more diverse
audience.