Analysis of 8 music magazine pages

1. The artist on the cover of this
magazine is Alex Turner from a
very famous band called the
Arctic Monkeys. By using a well
known artist as the main image
it will draw much more
attention towards the
magazine. The way he is
dressed/presented helps reflect
the genre the magazine
portrays.
From this list of artist
names, we can gather the
fact that the NME
magazine is associated
with rock, alternative and
indie music. This then gives
us a clear idea of their
target audience for the
magazine. By including
famous names in bold and
coloured fonts on the front
cover, this helps to show
the genre the magazine is
In a small top section, the
magazine advertises an
exclusive interview and uses
words such as ‘megastar’
which would be appealing to
the buyer of the magazine.
The masthead is in thick vivid
red font so it is easily
readable and recognizable to
the reader.
This graphical device has been
used to show the magazine is
full of information based on
gigs and records.
Sub headlines used to show the
reader the varied information
the magazine includes about
different artists and events.
They have also used red and
black fonts which tie in with the
main colour scheme.
The main cover line is in
bold white font and takes
up the bottom third of the
magazine. By using the
word ‘reveal’ it teases the
reader by implying the
magazine contains unknown
information about the band.
When producing the front
cover for my magazine, I will
consider the fact that in this
magazine cover they have used
various fonts and a clear main
image. I like that there is only
one so that the cover doesn't’t
have too much going on. I will
also take into consideration by
main colour scheme as I think
this one works really well.

2. The masthead is in the top
third of the magazine. It is
bold and easily readable
due to the light font being
against a dark background.
Above the heading are
famous names of artists
which would be included in
the magazine. The main
colour scheme consists of
black white and yellow.
The main image of the
magazine is of a famous
rapper. He is overlapping
the masthead which helps
the main image to be the
focal point of the front
cover. The way Drake is
presented/dressed helps to
portray the genre of the
magazine . Also, his
popularity in the music
industry helps more people
to pick up and buy the
magazine as he has a large
audience and is easily
recognizable.
By the small information
given by the sub headings
and artists names presented
on the magazine, we know
the genre of music that the
magazine features is R&B,
Hip Hop and rap. This means
that the majority of people
that would purchase this
magazine would be the
younger generation.
These cover lines have
bold titles which tie in
with the colour scheme
of the font cover. They
also include little
information but enough
to interest the reader so
that they are encouraged
to buy it.
From the front cover I also
think the cover scheme is
striking yet not over
complicated which is
something I would like to
use for my magazine cover. I
also like the use of banners
and different font sizing to
display information.

3. By looking at the artists
presented around the front
cover and the masthead we
know that the genre of the
magazine is pop music. This
means that the type of audience
likely to buy this magazine
would be young girls, I can also
tell this because of the colour
scheme with the main colour
being bright pink and blue.
These sub headlines use words
like ‘confesses’ or ‘exposed’
which helps to draw in the
reader by leading them to
believe the magazine has
unknown gossip. They also
include pictures of famous or
well known artists in the music
industry with an audience of
young people.
This graphical device is used to
show the latest fashion trends
to young people. The magazine
uses pictures and prices for
advertising the products.
This bright blue banner is used
to advertise the fact once you
have brought the magazine you
could own several posters. This
encourages the customer to buy
the magazine as they are getting
more for their money. Also, it
shows the name and pictures of
the band (one direction) who
have a large fan base of young
people which means as they are
well known a majority of young
people would buy the magazine.
The main image is of a singer
from a popular group named
N-Dubz. By using her as the
main image it helps the
magazine to sell as she is well
known amongst young people.
Tulisa was also part of the X-
factor which has an extremely
large audience, meaning that
any exclusive information
could be inside the magazine
which tempts the reader.
After analyzing this magazine
cover, I have decided that I
think there is too much going
on for the over of the
magazine and that when I
produce mine I don’t want to
over complicate it. However, I
think it is busy because of the
young audience it is aimed at.
Although, I do like how the
main image stands out
compared to all the different
sub headings and smaller
images.

4. The main image of the
magazine is of Beyoncé, a very
successful and popular singer.
As the main image, she
appears confident and stylish.
This helps to give the
magazine a sense of
sophistication. Her name is
used as the main cover line in
bold white lettering. Above
the main cover line is the
sentence ‘back to run the
world’ which could imply
information about her
included inside the magazine.
The magazine has used her as
the main image because as
she is extremely popular in
the music industry it makes
more people recognize and
pick up the magazine.
The masthead is in the top
third of the magazine in
large white lettering as it’s
the billboard logo, the
main image overlaps it
suggesting its well known.
It is simple and easy to
read against the orange
background. The colour
scheme of the magazine is
white yellow and orange,
which compliment each
other and don’t over
complicate the front cover.
By the overall
presentation of the font
cover of this magazine, I
would say its audience is
slightly older, possibly
late teens to 20’s. The
magazine is presented
as quite mature and not
complex.
This list of names is of
popular artists in the
music industry. This
helps to give the reader
an idea of what kind of
information they will
have access to once they
have brought the
magazine.
Personally, I like the fact the
cover is quite neat and
sophisticated. I really like the
colour scheme and
arrangement of the
subheadings. When making my
front cover I will take into
consideration the presentation
of my main image against the
background I choose and the
way I present my subheadings.

5. The billboard logo is present on
the page to remind us what
magazine we are reading and
make the logo recognizable.
Underneath is the date and
year to show us which edition
we are reading.
In the top third of this contents page
is the title. The title is shown in thick
black lettering to make it stand out.
However, the main image is slightly
over lapping the title, suggesting that
the main image is the main focal point
of the page.
Each subheading is displayed in a
different font or bold in
comparison to the information
shown underneath it, making it
easier for the reader to pick out
various information. The magazine
has also highlighted certain words
in blue and green, suggesting
crucial information. Each
subheading also includes a certain
number, which is helpful for the
reader as they can easily refer to
specific pages and pictures they
wish to read and look at.
The main image of this contents
page is of a singer from a famous
band named Paramore. As the band
is well known the magazine have
used the lead singer as the main
image as she is easily recognizable
to the audience and shows that the
magazine are capable of having
successful musicians feature in their
copies. Her appearance makes her
stand out on the page and is the
first thing your eyes are drawn to as
the reader.
I think the audience for this
magazine is slightly older or late
teens, as the way its presented is
quite sophisticated and has clean
presentation which is appealing
to that market.
On the right hand side, the contents
page includes pictures which hints
the reader on what information will
be in the magazine. They are quite
large which makes them stand out
on the page. Each image has a
number on it which means the
reader can access the page that
specific image is related to quickly.
When it comes to creating a
contents page for my magazine,
I will make sure my
subheadings stand out like
these ones do by using
different texts and colours so it
is easy to pick out the
important information. I also
think including the page
numbers on specific images and
headings is really helpful for the
reader by using them on both
headings and pictures.

6. In the top third of this contents
page is the title, straight away
as the reader we can recognize
the NME logo. Underneath the
title is also the date the
magazine was made.
On the left hand side, the
contents page includes a band
index containing page numbers,
meaning that the reader can
easily refer to which band they
would want to read about in this
issue.
The main image is in the middle
of the page making it the
center of attention.
Underneath it is one of the
main stories, this is because it
is displayed in a larger font
compared to anything on the
rest of the page, and is in bold
black lettering with the
information located
underneath.
At the bottom of the page in
the middle is an advert
displaying a monthly
subscription for the magazine.
This is useful for the reader and
magazine, as it is going to boost
the sales of the magazine but
also appeals to the reader as
they will get a copy of the
magazine monthly.
On the right hand side we can
see all the subheadings. Each
subheading is presented like a
banner. This is eye-catching to
the reader as the light font is
against the dark background.
Underneath the headings are
second smaller headings which
are presented in bold and und
those are snippets of
information which tease the
reader. In each section of the
headings, they also include the
page number and it is
highlighted in red which is
beneficial for the reader.
I think the audience for this
contents page is people who
are interested in rock and indie
music meaning this could cater
for all ages besides young
children.
For my contents page, I like
how this contents page has
used banners for the
subheadings, I also like the
idea of having a band index. I
also think that I need to focus
on an eye catching main image.

7. At the top of the contents page,
a banner is used to imply that it’s
the title. As the reader we can
recognize the contents page is
by Q as the logo is shown. The
white font against the black
banner helps the title to stand
out. On the right hand side the
date and a website link are
shown which is helpful
information for the reader.
For the subheadings, a bright red
banner is used. By using a
striking colour like red it catches
the eye very quickly. The colour
red is also used for page
numbers which is practical for
the reader so they can refer to
specific pages. They have also
used bold writing for further
subheadings and small pieces of
information to lead the buyer to
read on.
A golden box and font is used to
advertise a music related special
that is included in this specific
edition of the magazine. By using
the gold it takes the readers focus
away from the rest of the page as
its not part of the main colour
scheme used.
I think that the audience for this
magazine is for the slightly older
generation due to the contents
page’s clear presentation and the
way the information is displayed.
The main image for this magazine
is of a band named The
Courteeners. I think they are used
as the main image because they
are quite popular in the music
industry which shows the magazine
works with successful musicians.
The image is clear and takes up
most of the page which is going to
catch the readers attention straight
away. A white box including a
subheading of the bands name and
a page number is used. This is
helpful so the reader can refer to
the specific page about the band.
There is also a ‘review’ box used
which contains extra information
about music for the reader to look
at. The fact that it is separate could
imply that its brand new and
important information.
From this contents page, I like the
way the page is arranged. I like that
the subheadings aren't all shoved
together in one place which gives
the reader more to look at. I also
like the use of banners and how
the main image is portrayed. I will
take all of these points into
consideration when making my
contents page.

8. For the heading, a pink banner is
used which is striking on the eye.
The white font against is stands out
as well which is helpful for the
reader so we know it’s the contents
page.
The front cover of the magazine
is present on the page, which is
practical as the front cover is the
main reason the reader picked up
the magazine. We can also see
that the specific page numbers
linked to what is on the front
cover are shown in bold.This is
handy for the reader as they can
easily access specific information
they would like to read.
Pictures of clothing are used also
with page numbers to refer to.
Using the pictures helps to
quickly catch the eye of the
reader. Also, it shows us that the
magazine would keep us up to
date with the latest clothing.
The contents page has used
boxes to separate individual
information. Each box contains a
banner with a heading so it is
easy to identify different
information. They also include
page numbers and some
information is highlighted which
could suggest its importance.
In this information box, it
contains pictures of 3D glasses,
which advertises the fact the
magazine includes 3D posters.
Pictures of a famous band are
used to catch the eye of the
reader.
I think the audience for this
contents page are young girls,
possibly young teens. This is due
to the presentation and simplicity
of the way all the information is
shown. I also think this because of
the colour scheme and clothing
items which are presented.
In my magazines contents page, I
will consider from this example
the way the information is set
out. I don’t think I would put mine
into certain boxes, however it is
an efficient way of organizing the
information. I decided I would like
to include pictures and page
numbers in my contents page as I
think it would be beneficial for
the reader.