Post on 03-Dec-2014
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2. Main Image: Dominates the page. Its positioned in front of
the masthead. The artists gaze is pointing straight at the
audience, who are addressed directly.
Numbers let readers visualise the content and what theyre being
offered.
Date, barcode and price: Following conventions. It is a minor, but
important part of the front page as it informs us.
Masthead: The bold colours and large font grab the audiences
attention. It follows conventions as it is simple and the
positioning at the top 1/3 of the page makes it visible on
newsstands.
Cover line: Accompanied by the British flag, which conveys pride.
The use of YOU shows that Q values their readers opinion. This mode
of address suggests that the readers have a say and impact the
magazines content.
Tag line: The magazines selling point.
Cover lines: List of names and bands of many genres, from pop to
indie. Most users are likely to find something that interests
them.
Main cover line: Corresponds to the main image. Bold font colour
stands out against the background, second biggest text after the
masthead catches the potential buyers eye. Also, an unlikely quote
from the article's interview has been put on the cover, which also
interests the reader.
Graphics: The graphics follow a simple combination of colours,
predominantly red, white and black reflecting the rock & indie
style, and the simple block letters imply sophistication and thus
target an older audience.
Buzz words: Free and Special create the effect that this issue
cannot be missed out on as it contains extra content. These words
draw the audience into the product.
3. Masthead: A large portion if the masthead isnt visible, which is
a risky move for Rolling Stone as the name isnt as obvious to read,
however it is easy to recognise as the brand is well
established in the industry. The colour green corresponds to the
main theme of
black, white & green colours used, representing the rocknroll
style & conveys
the personality of the magazine
well.
General information: The price and the dateline are vital elements
of magazine covers, added for basic information.
Font: The style and sizes of the text reflect the rebellious
qualities of the magazine. All the cover lines are consistently in
white, which stands out against the darker main image.
Cover line: Similarly to Q, Rolling Stone lists the main artists
and shows featured in the magazine, in case they arent a fan of the
pictured artist. They try to target as many fans as possible.
Lead article: The main cover line takes up the whole of the left
side of the page, giving it a special position. The text WILD IDOL
is the most grabbing on the page as the font is the largest and is
the most readable and noticeable. The word WILD gives the artists a
new perception so the reader feels that they must read the article
to find out more about the claims.
Main Image: Dominates the entire page. Its positioned in front of
the masthead, maybe to suggest the artist is taking over the
magazine pages this fortnight. The mis-en-scene connotes rock music
and gives the cover an edgy, young look. The costume (with
chain-jewellery), hair as well as make up are black which put
across a grungy style, along with the snake which represents a
creative force, drugs, temptations and sometimes the devil.
Mode of address: The magazine
doesnt address the audience in a personal way, which distances them
from their audience. There is no tag line or buzz words. The main
image and main cover line are left to attract the readers on their
own.
4. Puff: Enhances the overall presentation of the magazine and
appeals to the audience through words such as FREE and ALSO readers
think that theyre getting special content with no extra cost and
makes them more inclined to buy this issue.
Masthead: Its positioned behind the main image and on the top 1/3
of the page, clearly following the conventions of magazine front
covers. The font of the masthead is the biggest out of all the text
on the page, drawing attention to it.
Sky line: Follows the theme and font of the rest of the page, but
includes a coloured photo in the corner unlike the rest of the
cover.
Mode of address: The cover lacks in personal address of the
audience, with the buzz words and puffs shaping a type of
identification and connection with the consumers. The front page is
very expressive through the use of words like honest and heartache,
and the frequent use of exclamation marks.
Main cover line:Mojo only reveals a quote from the lead article
making the reader interested in the content of it. The name is
spread across the page attracting the potential buyer.
Main image: The image is in black and white, conforming to the
theme. The artist is placed in the centre of the page, giving her a
spotlight & showing her importance with the elegant dress
against the plain background.
Cover lines: Text surrounds the main image and dominates the cover.
The font style and constant colour scheme indicate the soul &
urban genre of the magazine. The white, beige and black colour
scheme signifies its somewhat old fashioned attitude towards this
genre of music.
General information: The price, the bar code and the dateline are
essential elements of magazine front covers, used to subtly give
basic information.
Cover lines: Instead of giving detail to the main articles in the
issue, Mojo lists eight bands featured in the magazine, setting the
genre and expectations and attempting to appeal to as many
audiences as possible.
5. Sky line: Follows the colour scheme of the page: black, white
and blue. The skyline is what is most visible on newsstands which
means that the FOB article is a significant section of this issue.
Blender must know their audience well as they dedicate the skyline
to one band & market the issue based on this article.
Masthead: Its positioned behind the main image and on the top 1/3
of the page, evidently following the conventions of magazine front
pages. The font of the masthead is the biggest out of all the text
on the page, drawing attention to it. The main image and the image
in the corner cover a small portion of it but still allow for the
name to be visible enough to read and recognise. The font used
appears as if it has been cracked connoting a more laid back and
carefree approach .
Mode of address: The use of personal mode of address is strong with
repetition of YOU. It involves the readers, who feel as if the
magazine is speaking to them individually, for example Have we got
a band for you... which creates a response from the reader.
Main Image: The combination of the central image and the cover
lines make the overall presentation of the page look fuller and
more like a complete packaging of the product. The mis-en-scene,
including the stylish hairstyle and jewellery, complies with the
pop/rock feel of the magazine. The artists is looking straight at
the readers addressing them directly.
Cover Lines: The tilted boxes around the sell lines make the
magazine come across more fun and young, but still maintain its
sophisticated style via the consistent colour scheme. The colours
blue, black and white flow well together giving the magazine a less
harsh image, like a metal music magazine might do.
Cover lines: Blender lists some of the featured bands in this
issue, targeting a wider audience, but still gives detail to the
more major articles, using up the space and fitting the main image
well.
General information: The price, the bar code & the dateline are
essential elements of magazine front covers, used to subtly give
basic information.
6. Sky Line: Given that on newsstands this is the only feature
seen, apart from the masthead, the editors added buzzwords like
ticket give away and massive to attract the readers and make them
more inclined to pick up this magazine over others.
Masthead: Conventionally positioned at the top 1/3 of the page. The
font style appears as if it was smashed. The edgy lookappeals to a
younger audience and connotes rebellion. The fact that there is an
exclamation mark after the name, helps the magazine come across as
a rock music magazine.
Main Image: The figure is the centre is positioned in front of the
masthead, and with the two artist on the sides it looks as if the
main figure is coming out of the frame looking directly at the
potential buyer.The mis-en-scene (like the hoodie),complies with
the genre the magazine writes about .
Main cover line: The lead article corresponds to the main image
which is a convention for magazines. The name of the band is spread
across the page and the other cover lines are on the bottom of the
page so that the readers arent distracted from the main cover line.
Since the main image covers some of the masthead, this main cover
line is the key element which stands out and draws audiences
attention. Underneath, the sub-headline contains ellipsis which
creates a sense of mystery and interests the reader further.
Graphics: The font is simple but large so its easy to read. The
page follows a colour combination of red, black and white very
strong colours which conform to the rock/indie theme. The entire
space is filled which makes the issue come across packed and full
of content and information. The lay out is successful in putting
the spotlight on the main cover line/image.
Buzz words: Puffs like FREE and PLUS are styled in a larger font
comparing to the cover lines so theyre more likely to be noticed
first and therefore the buyer will think theyll be getting extra
special content with the issue.
7. Puff: The puffis a part of the skyline it is circled and it
appears as if it has been stuck onseparately on the cover.
Skyline: This is the most noticeable section of the magazine on
newsstands, so NME gave it the second largest font, and the white
style stands out on the black, so its attracts attention.
Masthead: The masthead is positioned in the left corner, giving
space to the main image, the skyline and a puff in the top 1/3 of
the cover page which means that more features are visible from
newsstands.
Main Cover Line: The main line is in bold yellow and the red and
black text stands out against it. It is tilted and seems to be torn
which reflects the rock and indie genre of the magazine. The main
cover line doesnt directly correspond to the main image alone but
also matches the six smaller images on the left side of the cover.
The sell line is in front of the main image suggesting its
importance.
Graphics: As NMEs audience is predominately male, the colour scheme
and style of text specifically identifies this audience as red,
yellow and black are mostly associated with men. The masthead is
clear and simple, hence its recognisable. All the features on this
page make it appear fuller.
Mode of address: The audience is not addressed directly on the
page, nor does it contain any reference to users; which creates a
barrier between the audience and the brand. It doesnt convey or
establish a relationship with the potential buyer.
Cover Lines: Similarly to other music magazines, NME lists the
artists and bands featured in the issue, but goes one step further
by adding images to the text, making the page more visually
informative and attractive.
The fonts and colours
correspond to the main
theme.
Buzz words: PLUS tells the reader about even more content offered
with the issue. The puff is at the bottom, written in small font
and isnt that noticeable on this cover as it fades out, because the
colour scheme is similar to the rest of the page.
8. Main Cover Line: The main cover is simply the name of the
artists on the main image, no details included the potential buyers
will be interested in finding out more about the article and so
theyre more inclined to buy this issue.
Skyline: List of artists featured in the magazine, attempting to
present a variety of bands in order to attract as many fans as
possible.
Masthead: Spread across the top 1/3 of the page. Thick block style
implies the fun pop and hip hop music and the white text stands out
against the dark background. The text of the masthead is the
largest on the entire page drawing attention to it.
Graphics: The style of the font is simple enough to read, and the
different font sizes suggest the importance of each cover line. The
main image creates a fun look for the magazine and makes it appear
less realistic. The main cover line is more or less the same size
as the rest of the cover lines, so that all focus is on the
masthead and the main image.
Cover Lines: The sell lines consist of the artist featured along
with some detail about the article. The artists names are bolder
than the details so that the page isnt overloaded and only with
simple information.
Main Image: The image is framed in a wide shot and the artist is
positioned in front of the masthead portraying her as more
powerful. The mis-en-scene (the costume) complies with the theme of
the cover, adopting the blue/white/pink colour combination. This
way the magazine appeals to both the female (pink) and the male
(blue) audience.The cartoon flowers and animal correspond to the
colourful and cool Vibe the magazine is portraying.
Buzz Words: There are no buzz words on the page. The space isnt
completely filled up so a buzz word could have been useful, however
it could have been distracting from the main image and sell lines.
Since the cover is so colourful, more features would have
overcrowded the page.
Mode of address: The audience isnt addressed on the front cover
forming a wall between the audience and the brand, and therefore
keeping an impersonal relationship.
9. Mode of address: The audience isnt directly addressed, probably
because their users are less regular and less loyal because it
doesnt report of a specific genre or appeal to or involve a
particular fan base.
Skyline: The skyline is very small, but it contains a puff DONT
MISS which inclines the reader to read on and later buy the
magazine.
Masthead: The masthead is unconventionally in front of the main
image. The white font stands out against the darker image. It also
uses red, yellow, blue and green to signify that the magazine is
fresh and new, as the articles are all about mainstream
music.
Graphics:The + symbol is an unusual way of saying PLUS and because
its yellow it stands out from the rest of the text on the right
side of the page. The text and graphics follow a colour scheme of
blue, yellow, red, green and white; whilst the main image and
background are darker which compliments the variety of
colours.
Main Image: The image is a medium close up shot so it was
positioned behind the masthead. If the masthead had been placed
behind the artists, too much of the masthead would have been
covered up. The image is a combination of tones which work well
with the colourful graphics.
Main Cover Line: M.I.A is the largest font on the page including
the masthead drawing most attention to it. The main cover line
includes a buzz word EXCLUSIVE as well as some detail about the
article itself. The buzz word EXCULSIVE makes the reader think that
theyre getting first class access to the latest celebrity
news.
Cover Lines: The cover lines communicate simple and straightforward
information about the issue so the featured artists names are
bolder, while the less important details underneath are in smaller
white font. The cover lines are on the opposite side of the main
headline so that the main cover line is noticed first.
Buzz Words: A few uses of buzz words like DONT MISS and EXCLUSIVE
recompense for the lack of direct audience, giving the impression
that they know exactly what their buyers want to read.
10. Sky Line: Hip Hop on a Higher Level the brands USP (unique
selling point). One of the very few hip hop/rap based magazines.
The skyline and the masthead are at the top 1/3 of the page,
however theyre in the corner leaving a lot of extra space which
could have been use to promote other articles as this is the only
portion of the page seen from newsstands so using this method could
have been useful.
Cover Lines: There are two cover lines informing about the major
articles in the magazine. Also, XXL lists a number of
artists/rappers without any details in order to attract more fan
bases without overloading the page with extra information, so that
the potential buyers will buy the magazine to access this exclusive
information. The cover lines are much smaller than the rest of the
text, presenting them as more minor element of the issue, however
it being white still makes it readable. In addition, one of the
cover lines contains a question mark, making the audience
interested in finding out the answer inside the issue.
Masthead: The masthead is conventionally behind the main image. The
name XXL suggests that the magazine is full of articles and latest
news. The white and red colours contrast each other successfully,
so that the masthead is still recognisable even with it being
behind the main image.
Graphics: The cover follows a white/black/red colour scheme
representing the rawer side of the hip hop/rap genre of this music
magazine. The two shot fills up the space.
Main Cover Line: The main cover line stands out the most of the
cover as the font is large and the colours are prominent compared
to the background. The strong word DOMINATION represents control
and even command for the reader to buy the magazine. In addition,
alliteration is used effectively with the repetition of R in The
Rebirth of Rap Royalty.
Main Image: The mis-en-scene, and particularly the costume, conveys
the sense of hip hop and rap specifically the chain necklace, the
tattoo and the army green jacket. Both art-
ists look straight at the reader which makes up for the lack of
direct address. The reader feels closer to the artist than the
magazine.
11. Skyline: Promoting the secondary lead article of the issue as
it is on the top 1/3 of the page and is framed in a blue box the
way buzz words and puffs are.
Cover Lines: The sell lines consist of the artists names, followed
by details of the article inside the magazine. Similarly to other
magazines, the cover lines are on the opposite side to the lead
article so that the first thing the reader notices is the main
cover line. The Stars in School cover line gives readers a taster
by inserting three photos fro the article which encourages them to
purchase the magazine.
Masthead: Placed behind the main image leaving enough uncovered for
the buyer to be able to read it easily as the block text is white
and the largest font on the entire page. Interestingly, the WEEKLY
part of the masthead is the smallest font throughout the
page.
Main Image: Involves three glamorous female singers, evidently
targeting the female audience on the whole. The background is a
simple spectrum of pink also suggesting the female target
audience.
Graphics: The combination of colours on the page is vivid: white,
pink, blue, yellow and some black. The yellow block text is simple
to read, therefore it is noticed faster; however the white texts
style is complex and unusual therefore its more difficult to read
them. The space isnt completely filled up and the cover lines
should be shorter than what this magazine has done as the
information looks jammed, particularly regarding the lead
article.
Main Cover Line: Uses the words girls and women. Emotive language
like living theyre dream and the exclamation mark further aiming
for the female audience.
Puffs and Buzz Words: FREE MUSIC, EXCLUSIVE and PLUS leads the
reader to feel special and that theyre being offered extra content
which isnt offered anywhere else. The word RARE also leads readers
to think theyre being offered special content.
12. Contents column: divided into five categories, so the reader is
able to find the article theyre looking for faster. The latest news
first on the top and reviews on the back pages following
conventions. The graphics follow the colour scheme: orange, black,
white and grey which is an unusual combination. The
black/grey/white spectrum leaves a calm feel whilst the orange page
numbersare clearly indicated and stand out against the background
so that the reader can easily navigate between the pages.
Underneath, there is a brief summary of the article for extra
information without overloading the page. This is a successful
contents page as its easy to navigate through it, however theres a
lack of puffs and buzz words.
The masthead is conventionally placed in the left side corner of
the contents page, with the This Month line leading readers to
think that this magazine has all the highlights of the month
inside. Doesnt use the word CONTENTS to indicate the purpose of the
page.
Four images are used to illustrate the contents, as if the front
cover is to inform the audience with the help of text and the
contents let the readers visualise the articles. Page numbers are
on the four images(four biggest articles) so that the reader can
easily flick to the page they want to read without having to read
through the column of the entire contents on the right side of the
page.
The direct mode of address strengthens the connection between the
writers and the readers through the use of your own pictures and we
talk to the stars.Convergence lets the readers interact with each
other by sending in their photos.
The front cover of the magazine, with a subscription offer using
the phrase just 3 per issue encouraging the reader to join in order
to get the discount which makes them feel special that theyre
paying less than a reader not part of the offer.
13. Puff
CONTENTS sign, clear block letters. The black text on white
background makes this the most noticeable text on the page.
A message from the editor in chief to the readers. Creating a bond
between the brand and audience.
List of names of the production team at Smash Hits!, including
editors, art directors and photographers. This indicates that this
is a well established music magazine.
Four images with page numbers indicating the four major articles in
the issue, which is an easy way for the readers to flick through to
what they will most likely want to read first.
Similarly to other contents pages, the page numbers are in a
different colour than the article titles and details so that its
clearly designated and easy for readers to understand how the
articles are construct within the magazine.
Conventionally, the left strap is dedicated to background
information about the writers and production team etc, while the
right 2/3 of the page contain a list of contents,
Publishers logo and details.
The red, black and white colour scheme gives off a sophisticated
look and helps the magazine come across conventional and
traditional.
14. Five images representing the five main articles of the issue.
There are no clear indications of pages, just mere details about
what the articles are on. The page number can only be found on the
right side strap of the page, which might be inconvenient.
Name of the magazine, rather than a Contents sign, to reinforce the
brand and its identity in the magazine industry.
The contents column is divided into three categories so readers are
able to skip to what interests them. The page numbers are a
different colour to the contents sub-headings making it clear and
visible for users to read.
The chosen colours strengthen the brands laid back approach to rock
and indie music and emphasize that their target audience is
predominately male. The images arent over-edited with special
effects, just raw photos of live music events. There are no puffs,
which could suggest that they arent necessary for attracting
audiences as their readers are regular and loyal consumers.
The editorial contributors, their pictures and their messages to
readers. This method breaks down the barrier between the media text
and the audience.
It helps to portray them as real people rather than robotic
writers. It gives them a personality,
15. Date line
Not only are the contents categorised under five headings, NME also
listed all the bands featured in the magazine with page numbers, in
case the reader wants to read about a specific band or a particular
artist.
NME THIS WEEK The masthead emphasises on the brand and its identity
and the use of this week suggests to the readers that they will be
getting a review of the highlights of the week. Also it implies
that the information is fresh and current.
Preview of the lead article and a photo to illustrate it.
Offer of subscription with buzz words like SAVE, encouraging
readers to sign up for the promotion. It tries to engage the
consumers in the community.
Buzz word: PLUS indicates even more content.
Puff arrows indicate the highlights of the issue
The colour scheme: black, white, red and yellow, further represents
the male audience. It also symbolizes the rock and indie genre of
the magazine as the style is usually associated with these
colours.
16. Cover date conforming to conventions.
Contents sign in the corner of the page. Clear, bright text.
Message from the editor, brings the audience closer to the writers.
The signature adds personality.
Contents organized into nine categories readers can easily find the
pages they want to read. Only the names of the featured artists are
included no unnecessary details. News are at the beginningwith
features nearer to the middle of the magazine.
Images with page numbers allow the readers to visualise the content
and the main headlines of this issue which is practical for the
users.
The mode of address is personal with the frequent use of you and
your which breaks the wall between the consumers and producers. The
use of such address create a sense of community and unity.
Subscription offer in a red box, which stands out from the page as
the rest is yellow, white and black strengthening the rock
style.
17. Image of the front cover
Puff appears as if blood is leaking down the page conveys the focus
of the magazine metal music
Following the codes and conventions, Metal Hammer places the
contents line in the corner at the top of the page with the date
line underneath it.
The right column is a message to the readers from the editor
establishing a personal relationship with the audience. The
signature on the bottom is effective as well, because it conveys
individuality.
Articles arent divided into categories as this is a niche sector
magazine, therefore all the articles will more or less be about
metal music. But the pages are indicated separately in red so that
its less difficult to read and understand. There are short details
underneath the article titles for extra information.
The space is used successfully, with all the necessary features of
magazine contents pages including, puffs, buzz words, images
related to the lead articles and a message from the editor.
The colour combination reflects the genre of music Metal Hammer
writes about. The red exemplifies blood and gore and the black is
associated with metal music. Both colours work well against the
white background.
The four images illustrate the main cover lines of the issue. There
are two uses of the buzz word PLUS
The font demonstrates the style as it seems rough and not the
typical font a mainstream music magazine would use.
18. The font is simple, thus its easily readable. The colour scheme
is what conveys the rock/indie style.
Date line for generalinformation
The bigger image portrays one of the main articles of this issue,
with brief details and the page number indicated so the reader can
skip to the page if the lead article. The image fills a lot of
space because the band consists of four artists, however it could
have been scaled down in order to include a message from the editor
(for the audience to know whos behind the magazine) or promotion
and puffs,
Brands logo on the side of the CONTENTS sign in the top corner of
the page following conventions.
Contents are split into three groups: features (the articles),
every month (crosswords, offers and fan mail) and review (reviews
of albums, singles as well as films as Q is trying to target wider
audiences even beyond music.
The chosen colours are consistent in every issue of Q: red, black
and white.Conventionally, the page numbers are indicated in a
bolder colour next to the articles listed. These colours symbolize
the indie/rock/pop themed magazine and suggests a principally male
audience.
The audience isnt addressed directly by the magazine creating a
distance between the reader and the writers.
The OASIS SPECIAL! line draws the attention of Oasis fans, leading
them to think that therell be a number of pages dedicated to the
band.
19. Date line - as the conventions instruct.
Brand name with the tag line underneath which appeals to young
people.
Traditionally, the column on the left side lists all the contents
in the magazine and divides them into four: regulars, features
(conventionally nearer to the middle of the issue), exposure and
lastly reviews (following the codes of the magazine industry). The
CONTENTS font implies a sense of horror and rock which complies
with the rock genre. The use of red and black strengthens
this.
Identically to the majority of music magazines, the side opposite
to the contents column consists of images representing the few main
articles, along with the page numbers indicated clearly in red and
brief descriptions which make it convenient for the reader to flick
through to the content they want to read. The images appear edited
and more professionally refined than those in Mojo for example
which suggests that Rock Sound is more established, recognised and
respected magazine.
The numbers are very small and not a different colour to the
listings which doesnt make it unreadable but less noticeable.
The style of text reflects the genre of rock the rough edges and
grimy looking lettering. The photo frames look cracked which
depicts youth.
The contents appear on page 4. Page 2 and 3 could be used for
advertising.
20. The CONTENTSs sign is bold and most noticeable on the page. The
style is modern which represents the mainstream, contemporary music
Billboard magazine writes about.
Volume and issue number
As billboard concentrates on mainstream music, it dedicates the
left side column to the latest music chart. With the magazine logo
in the corner barely noticeable.
As conventions inculcate, four images are added to illustrate the
four main articles of the issue with page numbers specified on the
bottom corner. The images look more edited and refined which is
expected from such a massive and respected brand.The text and
choice of colours is suitable and appropriate for purpose to
inform.
The contents list is divided into four categories, (similarly to
other music magazines) which makes the contents more organised and
clear. The categories are upfront (news and weekly updates),
features (lead headlines) , music (reviews) and in every issue
(regular features). On the bottom Billboard also informs the
readers of the online content for the given week.
The colour scheme is mainly black, blue and white which cultivates
the well established status of the magazine and with the blue
straps diving the page, it comes across clean, organised and
sophisticated aiming at the general public.
21. The logo the background reinforces the personality of the
magazine.
The CONTENTS sign is split apart which is unconventional, but not
an interesting aspect of the page. The block text is still readable
and attracts attention.
The theme is grey, white and black (quite lifeless tone), but the
heart on the artists shoulder stands out as its in red. From my
earlier front page analysis I have noticed that Vibe magazine
covers tend to be very colourful to represent the pop/rap/hip hop
genre, so this contents page doesnt conform with the theme of their
front pages.
The contents listings take up a very small portion of the page most
of the focus is on the artistic image. The contents are divided
into two sub-sections (possibly more if this is a double page
contents): features and fashion. Instead of reviews, like most
magazines, Vibe chooses to focus on the fashion in music which
suggest the kinds of values Vibe holds. Maybe its more about the
appearance than the music.
Credit to the photographers and editors. Small writing an
insignificant but necessary feature. + Location and artistic
team.
There is no date line or issue number and the mode of address is
rarely personal.
There are no puffs or buzz words, possibly due to the fact that
Vibe is an established and sophisticated magazine, and doesnt need
to attract the readers within the magazine pages, just on the front
cover. Vibe has regular consumers. Vibe has an average circulation
of 800,000 as of 2007.
22. Block capital lettering and font of varied sizes takes up a
large portion of the two-page spread to convey a massive statement
and conform to the rock style.The quote is the heading of the
article. The black and white colours compliment each other and the
black stands out effectively.
By-line and credits
Eye flow
The artist fills up the entire second page of the spread.
The fact that its a quote in speech marks, it creates a strong bond
between the artist and the consumers.
The costume, dark make up and hair (mis-en-scene) resemble the
colours chosen for the text and graphics, keeping the rock and
indie, house style.
Standfirst is used to briefly introduce the article.
The actual article doesnt fill up a lot of space the function of
the first double page spread of the whole article is to attract the
audience visually, and the following double page spread focuses on
the text rather than the images and graphics.
Drop capital to indicate where the article begins.
Basic layout no excess information, puffs, promotions or
advertising.
Italics and bold font used in the text to emphasise on some
elements.
23. Intertextuality a reference to one of the artists songs.
Image the USA sign is behind the musician which could imply that
she is taking over the US by releasing music there.
Eye flow
The double page spread focuses on the signers career in the USA, so
the article is American themed, however Vibe decided not to
emphasise on this by only using minimal blue and keeping in with
the usual house style colour combination: red, black and white. The
main image fills up the whole of the first page of the double
spread.
Writers and photographers credits.
Standfirst sets up the topic of the article, with the artists name
in bold, blue font. A questions closes the standfirst so that the
readers are encouraged to read the article to discover the answer
to this question.
The artists black costume and red hair comply with the rest of the
mis-en-scene as well as the constant colour combination throughout
the two pages.
No highlighted quotes to draw attention.
Drop capital indicates where the article starts. Vibe is following
the conventions.
24. Special Edition leads readers to think that this is an
exclusive story only available through Q magazine.
Photographers credits.
The magazines logo and the date line in the corner of the
page.
Standfirst is used as a short description of the article. It gives
readers information about what to expect from the text before they
read.
The costume (mis-en-scene) reflect the feel of the magazine pop,
rock, indie and relaxed. The gloves, the necklace and the hoodie
represent this genre of music . The costume is black and white
house style
Drop capital follows conventionsin guiding and instructing the
readers on where to start reading.
The page follows the house style theme with other colours in
between to suggest mainstream music.The white text works well
against the black background its clear, readable and looks
sophisticated.
The quote creates a relationship between the artist and the
consumers, as readers feel as if shes speaking directly to
them.
Puff fractures the theme of black, maroon and white.
Eye flow
25. NEWS the sub-section the articles has been categorised under
shows organised structure of the magazine.
The quote is the title of the article the large font and rock style
attracts readers attention.
The WORLD EXCLUSIVE line sounds like a massive opportunity for
loyal fans and readers.
Two images of the band performing live NME knows that their
audience loves live music. The other two images are of the band
members working in a studio; this is portrayed as NME are aware
that their readers are keen prosumers therefore will be interested
in details of music technology and production.
Eye flow
The standfirst informs the reader about the contents of the
article, summarising thetext. It gives readers briefinformation
about what to expect from it before they read.
Conventionally, the graphics and images dominate the double page
spread, because its role is to grasp the interest of readers.
The white strap gives readers exclusive descriptions and
information about new MCR music.
Similarly to other rock and indie magazines, NME sticks with the
house style theme which is associated with this particular
genre.
Drop capital indicates where the article starts. Places importance
on the bands name, My Chemical Romance.
26. Pull quote used in form of a slug. Its on a white background,
which stands out against the blue main image.
The image is laid out over the two pages of the spread, because its
a five piece band.
Drop capital used to indicate where the article begins; and
conventionally, it starts on the second page of the double page
spread.
Standfirst well incorporated with the image it gives a brief
introduction about the article, to encourage users to read it. Like
the title, the bold white text is readable on the blue
background.
The background of the image is sky-like, and the fact that the band
are jumping gives them an extraordinary quality, as it appears for
them to be flying, conveying theyre status and success. Some of the
image is coming off the page, which is usual technique for
magazines when positioning images.
The title of the article is Kids in Glass Houses Good Boys Gone Rad
spin on the popular phrase.
The colour scheme picked for this article is unusual, however the
colours had to be adapted for this particular photo therefore white
was the most suitable. The blue/black/white colours signify water
and freedom which correspond to the message behind the image.
Eye flow
27. Leading text distinguished from the pull quote through the use
of white establishes that the writers words are in white and the
artists in red-
Image well edited, not excessively. Artist is looking straight at
the reader. It takes up one page with text skilfully placed over
it, creating a translucent strap.
Pull quote bolder and larger font, gives the reader a preview of
the article and encourages them to read the interview.
Eye flow
The title of the article is simply Jamelia the text font is the
biggest on the entire page adopting the colour of the photo (the
back layer).
The standfirst provides a short outline of the article- ultimately
to encourage the consumer to read on.
The artist uses more yous thanthe writers, connecting the audience
to the artist not the magazine.
The house style colour combination (white, black and red) conveys
the R&B and rock genre of the magazine. The style of text and
layout is clear and sophisticated and evidently targets young
people and adults. The interviewers questions are distinguished
from responses through the use of different colours making the
spread easy to follow.
28. Slug makes up for the blank space between the top of the
magazine and the title.
The title is catchy and attracts attention. The font is unusual it
appears like a hard rock/metal style.
The artists name is bold in the standfirst which is a conventional
technique for magazines. The standfirst describes the article as a
whole in a few sentences.
Eye flow
The image is clearly a behind-the-scenes photo which lets the
readers into the exclusives and beyond the music gossip. This image
takes up a whole page and can be torn out for a poster. Its big and
draws attention to it first.
Drop capital lets the reader know where the article starts. Its the
boldest letter on the entire page, so after the image and the
title, it is the feature noticed next.
Credits to the photographer, editor and artistic director.
The text is shaped into one column. Its easy to read as its black
on white, which matches the black and white scheme of the main
image.
29. Slug: The Year In Music 2009 indicates the subject the
particular section of the magazine is about.
The main image takes up one page of the double page spread, and the
black and white photo conventionally conforms to the usual house
style and theme.
The photograph focuses on the make up and hair of the singer. The
fact that the image is framed in a close up, helps address the
reader and gives the artists a powerful appearance.
Eye flow
Brief standfirst summarises the content of the magazine.
Emphasis on the name Gaga
Interesting statistics about the artists sales. Gives the reader
background knowledge.
Artists discography this is what Billboards most famous for:
statistics, charts and updates. Relates to the slug in the top
corner The Year in Music 2009. It gives an overview of the artists
success.
Billboard takes an impersonal approach to address the
audience.
The text is split up into an introduction, and the main body, which
is conventionallyformed into to columns. The text is very small and
hard to follow.
30. The artists costumes conform with the colour scheme of the
article. The combination is black and white as conventions
instruct. However, the usual red in rock magazines has been
replaced by a shade of gold associated with hip hop.
Eye flow
The arrow acts as a drop capital indicating where the article
begins. The symbol matches the colour scheme.
The title of the article is a question, motivating users to read
the article. Its also a pun on the artists name Will.
Pull quote on a black background with white text stands out and
draws the reader in. Use of ellipsis engages the reader.
Standfirst outlining the content of the interview/article. The
black font is hard to read on this background.
Brand name and page number helpful for navigation.
Main image the photo had been edited so that the image of Will.I.Am
is sharper and the rest of the band are in shallow focus. This
indicates that the article is mainly about Will.I.Am. The eye flow
is impacted by this too as the reader notices the figure in sharp
focus first, whereas ordinarily theyd notice the band as a
whole.
31. The article has no specific title the highlighted name of the
artist in the standfirst acts as a title implying that this writing
is on the singer and her work.
A sequence of black and white images across the spread, with a
larger image in colour filling up half a page. Unusual
layout.
Eye flow
The standfirst briefly informs the reader about the article. The
name of the artist is usually highlighted as the article titles
dont tend to have the artists names included.
Instead of a drop capital, the first clause of the article is made
bolder. This is also a popular technique, especially in gossip
magazines.
Unlike the magazines that specialise solely in music, Now has text
over half of the first page, and quite a fair amount of it on the
second page of the spread but it doesnt fail to appeal visually
through the interesting layout.
Page number, and credits including photographer, editor, creative
team and art directors.
Pull quote in bolder black catching the attention of a reader, and
giving a preview of the insight of the article.
The predominant colours are black and white, whilst the artists red
dress recaptures the conventional house style. The blue gives it a
more fresh and modern vibe.
Credits
32. Audience Research: Questionnaire
Q1: What genre of music do you enjoy reading about?
a) Mainstream
b) Indie and rock
c) Metal
d) Country
Q2: How do you prefer to listen to music?
a) Live events, gigs and festivals
b) Radio/live streams
c) iTunes
d) MP3 or mobile phone
Q3: What makes you inclined to purchase a magazine?
a) The artist on the front cover
b) Special editions
c) A free CD, accessories, posters, etc, coming with the
issue
d) I buy the same magazine regularly
Q4: What do you expect from music magazines?
a) Interviews
b) Festival/gig coverage
c) Latest releases reviews
d) Chart updates and latest news
Q5: List five of your favourite bands and artists.
Q6: What websites do you use regularly?
a) Social Networking
b) Fan sites
c) E-zines (online magazines)
d) File sharing
Q7: What tribe are you? (findyourtribe.co.uk)
Q8: What do you consider to be an appropriate price for a music
magazine?
a) 5
Q9: . Which of these magazines are you most likely to buy?
a) NME
b) Q
c) Rolling Stone
d) Billboard
Q10: Please select your age group.
a) 13-18
b) 19-24
c) 25-30
d) 31+
I will carry out this survey among 16-19year old class mates as
this isroughly the audience I will most likely be targeting with my
music magazine.However, to attain a broader range of responses from
different cultures, backgrounds etc., I will publish this
questionnaire on surveymonkey.com and Im going to spread the link
to it on social networking sites, such as Twitter and Facebook, and
music fan sites. This will provide me with a larger number of
responses to analyse, which will give me a better understanding of
what audiences prefer and expect from magazines; and Ill be able to
conform to those demands in my own magazine.Im hoping for at least
20 responses to the online survey.
33. Audience Research: Online Survey
I made my questionnaire on surveymonkey.com, which created a direct
link tomy survey (http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/QH2SQPL) . I sent
out the link around Twitter, and Facebook, as well as specific
music fanzines, including GagaDaily,.com,countrytune.com ,and
NME.comand received I received 52 responses. I chose these
particular websites as they are very popular around the world, and
I intended to gain as many different answers and many diverse
tastesas possible. I was aware that through the online survey Id be
targeting international music fans, therefore I adapted my survey.
Beside the pound sign in the price question, I also put in brackets
the equivalent cost in American dollars.
Screen shot of my survey on surveymonkey.com and the post on
GagaDaily.com
Pg.1
Pg.2
Pg.3
34. Audience Research: Questionnaire Results
I have combined the online survey results and classroom survey
results to analyse through pie charts. I have chosen pie charts to
represent my results as it is a visual method and I believe this
way itll be clearer and easier to interpret throughout the project.
Here are my results.
From this chart I can conclude that the users choose to listen to
music through MP3 devices oriTunes, rather than live music or
radio, which tells me that this audience is very keen on modern
technology.
The results show that mainstream music is the most popular amongst
the audience. Country music follows, and Indie and Rock is a close
third. Less than 10% of the users preferred Metal music out of the
choices listed.
This chart illustrates that the kind of artist on the cover of a
music magazine is important to the users and can ultimately decide
whether someone chooses to buy it or not. Freebies are also an
attractive feature.
The four most popular answers to this question were Taylor Swift,
Carrie Underwood, Lady Gaga and Florence + the Machine. Evidently
mainstream and country artists are the most selected options, which
corresponds to question 1.
35. Audience Research: Questionnaire Results
Continued...
This chart shows that consumers prefer using social networking
sites and fanzines, followed by file sharing in third; which
suggests they like to interact with other users, which is expected
from the teenage audience.
This chart explains that users expect to find interviews and
reviews in music magazines, as over 50% have chosen the interviews
option. The users are keen on finding about artists beyond
listening to the music.
Most of the users convey through this chart that they are willing
to pay up to 5 for a music magazine, which is significantly above
the average price, which demonstrates their loyalty. Less than 5%
selected the 5+ option., which is understandable as the audience is
teenagers who might not have as much money,
Out of the many different responses, these four were the most
popular. From this I can deduce that the users tend to follow the
latest trends and fashion. I will analyse this further and more in
depth in the following slides.
36. Audience Research: Questionnaire Results
Continued...
This chart shows that most participants would choose Rolling Stone
to buy out of the options listed, which could be because the
magazine writes about a variety of music and is an established,
world wide recognised magazine. Country Weekly comes close second
which complies with the most popular genre amongst the users.
Most of the users are between the ages of 13 to 18, and 19-24 year
olds are in second. This shows that users of these ages use the
social networking and fan sites the most, which means theyre
following the trends, so this is a very good audience to be
targeting music magazines at. About 23% of all the users were 25+.
Older users can be loyal to a particular site, but not as far as
social networking goes.
37. Audience Research: Questionnaire Results (Find Your
Tribe)
Smart Urban This is also knows as the preppy style. The tribe
focuses on looking smart, well-off and part of the popular group.
Members of the tribe are out to get the best job and hate drugs or
violence. This tribe would most likely be into indie or country
music.
Indie Scenesters Cross between James Dean and Grace Jones look.
This is a tribe defined by findyourtribe.com as always being ahead
of the game. This style is popular among NME.com users, as it
specialises in indie music.
Townies this was the most popular result for the survey
contributors. The Townie look consists of lots of jewellery,
attitude, tied up hair and weekly shopping outings. The tribe cares
a lot about the latest mainstream music.
Scene Kid - One of the most popular styles today. Findyourtribe.com
defines this trend as being all about the funky, spiky hair and
statement clothes. Music is usually a passion for this tribe.
38. Audience Research: Results Mood Board
39. Evaluation: Front Cover Analysis
From analysing the front covers of magazines, I have noticed common
features and methods being used in order to attract the potential
buyer. I chose the ten covers carefully, because I wanted to make
sure that I specifically analyse music magazines only, with the
intention that Ill find precise techniques common to music
magazines alone, and Ill be able to draw on these systems and adapt
to them with my own magazine.
Firstly, I identified the main features of covers, so that I knew
what I was looking for whilst analysing the front pages. I referred
back to this page throughout the analysis, which helped me
recognize the features or lack of some.I spotted that one of the
conventions is that the artist/band on the front cover tend to be
positioned in front of the masthead, which brings a sense of power
to the artist.The main cover lines are always the boldest font on
the page. Also the cover lines are the second boldest text on the
page, whilst the (occasionally used) brief outlines of the articles
are in smaller font so that the page isnt over packed, and the
potential buyer notices all the cover lines, before the extra
information. Regarding the main image, the mis-en-scene (especially
costume) is significant because its part of what conveys the
overall vibe and genre of the entire magazine. For example on the
Rolling Stone cover, Adam Lambert wearing all black, with make-up
and jewellery implies the rock and soft rock genre that Rolling
Stone is; and the snake hes holding signifies the rocknroll life,
drugs and temptation.
The main image always follows the colour scheme so the target
audience is clear. I discovered that the top 1/3 of the magazine is
the only part of it seen on newsstands, therefore for this reason
mastheads are always put on the top 1/3 and also this is the
purpose of skylines. Skylines appear insignificant, however theyre
right at the top so theyre what is seen the most of newsstands, and
can ultimately be a factor whether someone becomes interested or
not.Puffs increase the visual quality of the magazine and encourage
to buy the issue. Moreover, barcodes, datelines and price lines act
as extra general information for the reader.Frequently, magazines
use the personal mode of address such as you towards the readers,
addressing them directly in order to break the barriers and connect
with them, which creates a sense of community and bond between the
readers and editors. This also implies that the audience is part of
the magazine and they get some input about what topics the articles
are on etc. The indie and rock magazines tend to follow the house
style colour combination, whereasmainstream music magazines choose
the more colourful schemes, whilst country magazines opt for the
lighterblend and tone. Whichever selection, the graphics tend to be
limited to three colours in order to make the page easy to read,
attractive and still conforming to the genre and style of the
magazine.
I think that the most significant aspect of magazine front covers
thathave learnt is that it is important for all these features
(masthead, cover lines, puffs, etc.) to work successfully together;
otherwise the badly incorporated graphics and aesthetics will
create an untidy page and will confuse the reader. The mere fact
that the graphics are artistic and very visual on their own doesnt
make for a successful cover. Its vital to think about it as a whole
and decide what will work well when put together. I will apply all
the knowledge Ive gained and refer back to research when producing
my own magazine front page.
40. Evaluation: Contents Page Analysis
The analysis of the magazine contents pages gave me an insight
further into the common techniques that magazines use to make the
pages informative, convenient and easy to read, but not lose its
style and vibe. Again, I chose to only concentrate on music
magazines, because other genres of magazines are likely to be using
various other methods of attracting their audience.
The contents list is often sub-categorised, with latest news on the
first few pages, followed by the major features, followed by the
reviews and regulars like crosswords and advertisements. The list
tends to be shaped into a column, whilst the other side of the page
is dedicated to (usually four or five) images which illustrate the
main features of the issue. Most do, but some pages dont have page
numbers corresponding with the images, which is inconvenient as the
reader has to go back to the list to find the page number. Page
numbers are very useful as they allow for the reader to flick
through to the page theyre interested in reading. In addition,
theyre often a different, bolder colour to the article name. Some,
more established and respected magazines, have a message from the
editor on the left side of the page, which forms a writer/reader
bond and connects them as people, more than just a media/user
relationship. Puffs are less frequent as by the time the reader has
reached the contents page, they would most likely have bought the
magazine, therefore the process of attracting the audience is
completed. The puffs on contents pages usually tell the reader more
about the issue, which is more of a to inform technique than to
persuade.
Each contents page often has the name of the magazine in the top
left corner of the page, reinforcing the brand and its values.
Identically to front covers, contents pages conform to the
particular combination of colours, to keep the graphics consistent
and set up the style. Usually, contents pages lack in the personal
address approach, however the more specialised magazines like
NME.com, have a few references to the readers, such as Your
photos!, because the community is very close and united. The style
of the font is usually very simple and readable, and only more
esatblished magazines try unconventional lay out techniques.
From this thorough analysis, I can conclude that the contents page
is like another front cover and the purpose of them is to give more
detailed information about the articles, plus clearly indicated
page numbers, most conveniently in a different colour. It has to be
easy for the reader to navigate, therefore the contents can be
categorised for an easier, quicker find.
41. Evaluation: Double Page Spread Analysis
The double page analysis pointed out even more common features and
methods to me. Double page spreads are rare on the internet so I
had a some trouble finding them to analyse, but I managed to scan
some spreads onto the PC. Ive also had to use one music double page
spread from a gossip magazine, which is only a little off my focus.
I identified the eye flow for all ten spreads to recognise a
pattern, which is that the reader is firstly drawn to the big
image, then to the title and then the drop capital.
Double page spreads tend to have slugs in the top corners,
classifying the features running in those particular issues. The
more established magazines also add credits and by-lines. The main
image usually takes up one entire page which counts for visual
aesthetics and the conventional standfirsts below encourage the
reader further as they give a brief overview of the article. Pull
quotes are often used (sometimes even as a title) in order to make
the reader feel closer to the artist, beyond the music. Its a
convention, also, for the name of the artist to be highlighted in
the standfirst.
Billboard, which is known for its maistream music facts and
figures, gives details of the success of artists through statistics
which help the reader imagine and comprehend the sales, records,
achievements etc. Like on any other page pf the magazine, the
mis-en-scene, and predominantly the make-up, is carefully chosen to
depict the specific theme and vibe the magazine is aiming for. For
example, Lily Allens hair and make up is dark for NME, asNME
portrays rock and indie. Her outfit is red and black, which
complies with the conventional house style.Sometimes, writers put
their own spin or use a pun on the article titles to attract
attention, for instance Going Gaga or Good Boys Gone Rad.
The conventional house style (black, white and red) target the
younger audience, between the ages of 14 to 25. The font is also
adapted for the audience and purpose. Cracked and dirty looking
fonts is used to attract youth and it also signifies the rock
lifestyle and live events. Whilst, Vibe and XXL would use sharper
and more refined fonts to retain the sophistication.
Overall, I will apply this knowledge when creating my magazine
double age spreads, as I have discovered many modes of attracting
the audience, some being so subtle we dont even notice them. Double
page spreads are usually made up of one page photo and half a page
of text, which suggests that the first two pages are meant to
visually attract, which is why the text tends to carry on onto the
following pages.
42. Evaluation: Audience Research
Being aware of the target audience, while producing a media text is
vital, which is why audience research helped me massively on
deciding on the audience I will be targeting. Its much easier to
aim at a more specific audience, like Metal Hammer does knowing the
exact needs and demands. However, such measures attracts less
readers. Magazines like NME target a wider audience, therefore they
have a lot or readers and the circulation numbers are high. However
its much harder to comply with the needs of a wider audience.
To give me a better understanding of audiences, I created a 10
question questionnaire, which I have given to my class mates (aged
16-18) to fill out. But knowing that such questionnaire will give
me a limited number and diversity of responses, I produced an
online survey (consisting of the same questions) through
surveymonkey.com, and invited people on social networking sites and
fanzines from all over the world to respond to it. I had received
52 online responses and along with the 12 classroom responses I had
64 responses altogether. I put my results into pie charts so theyre
easier to understand, but also so that I can refer back to them
later in the project. The most popular genres were mainstream, rock
and indie and country. I decided that I cannot go with the
mainstream idea, because I have to take my own photo for the
magazine pages and itd be impossible for me to take a good quality
photo of any of the current chart artists for it to match with the
purpose of the magazine. Rock was another very popular genre,
however knowing that there are already many rock and indie themed
magazines, I had decided to go with the second most popular choice,
which is country music. Country music is mostly popular in the
southern states of the United States amongst teens and adults. And
drawing on the ages in my survey, I will target 16-28 year olds and
the magazine will hypothetically be sold in the US. It is a
challenging objective, but this audience research has given me
enough information and a clearer understanding so I think Ill be
able to conform to the expectations of this target audience.
Thanks to the survey, I was able to discover that my target
audience like file sharing, interacting with each other and modern
technology like iTunes and live streams, which gives me ideas for
the adverts and puffs I will be putting into my magazine. I found
out that its important for my audience what artist is on the front
cover of the magazine and that this is the factor which inclines
them to purchase the magazine. The audience expects interviews from
music magazines, which tells me that they want to get closer to the
artist they love and have a connection with them. In the question
List five of your favourite bands and artists mostly mainstream and
country artists were put forward, like Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga,
Carrie Underwood, Regina Spektor, Ellie Goulding and Lady
Antebellum. I will take these as suggestions for cover lines for
the front page of my magazine. The fact the audience are willing to
pay up to 5 for a music magazine tells me that theyre so passionate
about music that theyd be willing to pay over the average selling
price of tabloid magazines, as music magazines have more legit
information.
Findyourtribe.com is a good website for identifying trends an d the
current tribes, which is what magazines try to follow and conform
to. I asked my target audience to take the quiz on the website and
the four top results were Smart Urban, Townie, Scene Kid and Indie
Scenester. I can deduce from this that music helps them express
themselves, and that they care about fashion too which will help me
come up with suitable buzz words for the front page. I created a
mood board according to the results of my survey which I will refer
back to for inspiration. In the process of producing my magazine, I
will always keep in mind the target audience.