The document analyzes conventions found across the front covers, contents pages, and double page spreads of four music magazines: NME, Q, Mixmag, and an unnamed magazine. Key conventions included mastheads, subheadings, photos of featured artists, prices, page numbers, and columns of text on double page spreads. The analyses highlighted differences in layouts, colors, and styles between the magazines while also noting consistent design elements like photos, titles, and information about article contents.

2. NME FRONT COVER
Advertising
Title
Cover
Line
Barcode
Feature
article photo
Menu Strip –
tells you
what’s inside
the
magazine
Headline with
a red
background to
emphasise it
Masthead, bold
and looks
important
Price
Common convention you’d
expect to find in all magazines.
The price is normally in a
smaller font.
Black
background to
emphasise the
subject and
main photo
Special is a ‘puff’ It draws in the
audience and makes them feel
more involved.
Sub-Heading- uses
some alliteration which
is catchy, so
memorable for the
audience
LEFT THIRD

3. NME CONTENTS PAGE
Advertising-
future issues
of the
magazine
being
advertised.
Headline in
bold to
emphasise
it.
List of what’s on
each page with
page numbers
so you know
what page
everything is
located on.
Different fonts
are used to show
the different
parts of the
contents page.
All capitals used
for the headings.

4. NME DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD
Captions used
to describe
the photos
Large, colourful
photo of the
band being
interviewed
Quotes
picked out
and
emphasised
to the reader
Headline
quote in all
capitals
Different fonts used to
represent different parts
of the article

5. NME MAGAZINE ANALYSIS
The purpose of the magazine is to keep the reader up to date
on the latest music. The effect is to use bright colours to
draw the readers attention towards the magazine so then
they buy it. Brand identity is popular to all ages and
obviously aimed at music fans. NME’s style is quite dark
colours packed with a lot of information. However photos
do take up a large majority of the space.

6. Q MAGAZINE FRONT COVER
Masthead- title of the
magazine. Stands out
because of the bright
colours and huge font
size.
Plug – ‘plus’
advertising
everything else in the
edition of the
magazine
Banner – main feature
in the magazine with
larger font than the rest
of the text on the cover
A wide range of
album covers to
appeal to a
wider audience
Bottom Strip –
advertising other
features in the
magazine
Barcode and price
– kept out the way
in the corner as it
isn’t particularly
key part of the
magazine but
Plug
Top strip – giving information on
what’s in the magazine
Sub-Heading –
giving extra
information on the
main banner

7. Q MAGAZINE CONTENTS PAGE
Title of the
page, big font,
more
outstanding
colours
Photos of
the main
artists and
bands that
are in the
magazine Plug – saying
what else is
in the
magazine
Theme (red)
running through
the front cover
and contents
page
The word ‘also’ catches the
attention of the reader, as it
seems like there’s extra content
in the magazine
Preview of a
double page
spread
The Q Review rhymes making it
roll off the tongue and also easier
to remember for the reader

8. Q MAGAZINE DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD
Consistent font
used as well as
the colour red
and the whole
article is either
red or black
Heading/Masthead
in all capitals and
bold to emphasise it
Extra information box and must
hold some importance because
of its contrasting bright colours
compared to the rest of the
page
Separate to
the main
article but still
relevant going
down the right
third
Tagline
gives extra
information
on the
story
featured
Quote from the article
picked out to draw the
reader in
Large photo of the band
featured in the article filling
almost half the page

9. Q MAGAZINE ANALYSIS
The main colours red and black run the way through the
magazine keeping a consistency to it. The style of the
magazine is indie and rock. The brand identity is shown
on each page of the magazine to entertain and inform
people about the music. The front cover is full of features
which I have picked on like: sub-heading, banner and
plug. A large range of colours are used throughout the
magazine and a lot is going on which is quite unusual on
a front cover as normally everything is ordered and
spread out fairly evenly.

10. MIXMAG FRONT COVER
Striking bright
colours draws
people to see it
Menu Strip and also
advertising the magazine as
the best of its kind
Large animated
photo
representing
the artist that
the main
feature is on Barcode and price
once again on the
right third in the
bottom corner out
the way
Plug – ‘plus’
advertising everything
else in the edition of
the magazine
Bold, bright colours advertising
the featured artist
Masthead at the top of
the page, stands out
because of the
contrasting colours
(dark blue and pink)
Sub-heading
gives extra
information
about the
main article
Picture in the centre of magazine
cover as it’s the main attraction
for the reader
Extra information about the
magazine in small print
Puff word – saying that there is
extra things in the magazine

11. MIXMAG CONTENTS PAGE
Interesting
fonts used
throughout the
page
Heading of the
title in brighter
colours (white)
and bold and
then the
description of
what’s on that
certain page in
a less obvious
colour
Large photos in the centre of the
page to almost advertise these
certain pages to the audience
Black
background
used on the
contents page
which is very
much a large
comparison to
the front cover
which was an
extremely bright
pink
Different types
of pages and
features are
neatly spread
out and so isn’t
a conventional
contents page
as not
everything is in
order, like the
page numbers
Small description
about the
featured artist
Contents down both sides
of the page to give it an
equal and balanced look
Sub-image – a
preview of what
images are
coming up in the
magazine

12. MIXMAG DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD
Masthead in a
peculiar
position in the
right third of the
page so out of
the way, but it
works well with
the contrasting
colours
because of the
main photo in
the background
Article located to
the left of the
page with a
consistent and
clear
Tagline offers
information about what
the article is about Large photo
containing the
person that the
article is about
Consistent colours throughout
with black and white being the
main theme
The layout of the page
in general is very plain,
generic and
conventional

13. MIXMAG MAGAZINE ANALYSIS
The magazine is published to inform the reader about dance and
pop music. The logo is not consistently used and only appears
on the first few pages. The photo on many pages takes up most
of the page space provided with not much information within
the article. All the front cover, contents page and double page
spread have completely different layouts, especially looking at
the background (pink, black and white). The colour theme is
very bright and out there with lots of different neon colours.
Images are generally large. All the pages are completely
different and have different colour schemes.

14. CONVENTIONS THROUGHOUT THE PAGES
Front Cover:
• Title – vital so people are aware what the magazine is called
• Sub–Headings- Catchy and informative
• Main Photo – To show what’s featured in the magazine and the style of
photos to expect
• Barcode – Needed on all magazines that charge a price
Contents Page:
• Page Numbers and Article Info – The main reason behind a contents
page (to tell the audience what’s coming up in the magazine
• Photos – Generally smaller and more precise in comparison to front
cover photos but always tend to feature on a contents page
Double Page Spread:
• Columns – Every double page spread includes columns of text to create
an article
• Centre Photo – of the featured band/artist in a music magazine
• Quotes – Interesting lexis from the article