This is the title of the magazine, referred to as the Masthead. These usually have to be the most eye catching convention. The masthead on this cover is large and gold, however it goes behind the main image, blocking the view. Rolling Stones are able to do this because their brand have a wide reputation and are well known; just by seeing the first 5/6 letters, people will know this is Rolling Stones.

This is the top strip. This refers to the top of the page, and is used by magazines to attract readers to a special feature inside the magazine. This top strip states that there is a list of the best albums and songs of 2012 inside the issue. This attracts readers as the top strip is usually the first part of a magazine you can see when it is on the shelf.

This is the stand first. The stand first sells a feature to potential magazine buyers. It says the 50 greatest hip-hop songs of all time are listed inside. This immediately attracts people who listen to hip-hop and therefore entices the target audience to read.

The main image is used by Rolling Stones to attract listeners of hip-hop music. The image is a close up of the rapper Biggy Smalls. He is making eye contact the reader looking unimpressed with his head up and a crown on his head. His facial expression looks quite threatening and the shades of gold on the crown and the red background contrast, with gold symbolising power and red symbolising danger. The crown he is wearing links to the stand fast, which talks about the 50 greatest hip-hop songs; he is one of the greatest.

They have also used celebrity endorsement. By using Biggy Smalls on the front cover, Rolling Stones magazine encourages his fans to buy the magazine. Also, the magazine gains reputation through using his high reputation name.

Hyperboles such as ‘greatest’ give the magazine a unique selling point. This makes it seem as if the magazine is offering the reader a very special feature, not like any other magazine.

The masthead on this magazine is irregular compared to a usual layout. The title of the magazine ‘Q’ is located in a red box at the top left corner of the cover. This creates space for the main image, as well as creating a unique look. The masthead has used the colour red, which proves very eye-catching against the white background and the white letter ‘Q’. This attracts potential buyers. The simplicity of the masthead also makes it very memorable, which may help it retain buyers. They’ve also got the phrase ‘Discover great music’ on the masthead. This suggests that the contents of the magazine will be about great music. It also suggests to the readers that this type of music is ‘great’ and therefore enticing them to purchase the magazine.

They have informed the audience that this is ‘The 300th issue’. By using this tag, the audience are more likely to buy and read this issue because it is more exclusive and important than just a normal issue. It also suggests to potential buyers that this is a special issue, and that what is inside will be more exclusive.

The main image used is of the singer Adele. She is standing sideways to the reader with her head turned and her hand covering her mouth. She is giving direct address by making eye contact with the reader. She has makeup on, making her skin look whiter, portraying an image of innocence. This image of innocence is followed with the white background. The headline links to the image. It says ‘”If you’ve got it, flaunt it…” Adele blows us away’. The idea of the model blowing away the audience suggests that she surprised them, maybe by coming out of her shell and delivering a good performance. This links to her pose, as she is standing quite shyly with her hand over her mouth. Also the model is standing in a breeze, with her hair moving about which emphasises the idea of blowing.

The magazine also offers exclusives. In the cover lines, it advertises that inside of the magazine there are interviews with Liam Gallagher and Keith Richards. This attracts fans of those artists to buy the magazine. It also gives the magazine a good image because it is associated with these prestigious artists.

The masthead on this magazine is bold and vibrant, with the image model in the foreground. This links the image and the masthead giving them an association. The colours used on the masthead are quite attractive and nice to look at, which helps gain attention from the target audience.

Main image/model: The magazine has used the rapper Eminem as the main focus of their image. He is centred in the page and in front of all the text. This makes the focus on him seem more important. He is staring into the camera, making eye contact with the reader giving direct address. This entices the reader to look at the magazine as it seems as if the model is addressing them. The model is stood upright with his arms crossed and a serious, intense expression on his face. This body language presents him as strong and firm, perhaps suggesting he is standing his ground. The background they have used is plain white. The colour white is usually associated with innocence, purity, peace and cleanliness. The use of the white background links to the main cover line which is ‘Vicodin. Valium. Methadone. “I literally almost died” Eminem comes clean’. The cover line says there’s a story on Eminem and coming clean, so this links to him standing in front of a white background.

Celebrity endorsement has been used. We can see that one of the cover lines says ‘Swaggajack, Lil Wayne, Kanye West, Jay-Z and T.I.’. These are all famous music artists. By using their names on the cover, fans of these artists will be encouraged to buy the magazine. It also increases the magazines reputation, as the audience create an association between the celebrity names and the magazine.

A stand first has been used to help sell the magazine to a potential buyer. Inside this issue is a list of ‘The 50 hottest rap blogs ranked’. This attracts people who enjoy rap music and blogging, therefore appealing to the target audience.

They have used slogans in the text. These are words that give the magazine a unique selling point. They have used words such as ‘hottest’ and ‘best’ to make the feature seem individual, making it appealing to the target audience. Arguably, the use of ‘Vicodin’, ‘Valium’ and ‘Methadone’ are also slogans because potential buyers would see that and maybe be shocked that the magazine is talking about drugs. This gives it individuality as it is willing to talk about drugs.