MUSIC MAGAZINE CONVENTIONS:

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Cover line – This cover line is white because it stands out on top of the pink. There is a use of bold writing to tell you who the celebrity is about.

Background – this magazine uses more girly colours than other music magazines. It is aimed at girl as you can tell through the colour scheme and the “Red carpet looks” etc. The background uses three types of pink so on the shelves it would stand out because it would be the brightest.

Quote from article – This quote is pulled out from an inside article. This is used because it shows the audience what is going to be featured inside.

Images – This magazine has many different images not just one. This makes it look more unprofessional than the other music magazines. The use of all the pictures shows that the articles will feature different celebrities.

New House style - this shows that a new house style has been used. This will draw in the audience because they may want to look through the new magazine and see how it is different to the previous issues.

Title/Logo – The title uses sans serif fonts. The title takes up the whole widths of the magazine and even though the man’s head is covering the end of the title you still know that it is “Smash Hits”.

Lead – The main cover line is about Katy Perry. You can tell this because her name is larger than the other smaller cover lines. The lead is used to make people read on inside the magazine.

Image – the image is of Katy Perry. Her pose make her look sexually attractive so males will be drawn to the magazine. The image always relates to the lead article of the magazine. All the colour schemes of the fonts match her outfit. This makes the magazine flow and shows a direct correlation.

Title/Logo – The magazine title is large and bold. This makes it stand out on the shelf, if it was on the shelf you would recognise it because of the size and the bold text. Katy Perry’s head is cover the middle of the logo however people would still knows what magazine it is because of its brand awareness.

Cover lines – the cover lines are insights to other articles from inside the magazine. They are used to draw in the readers. They also allow the readers to see what’s going to be featured within the issue.

Background – the background is white. It is basic but allows bright colours to be placed on top of the background layer. As the layer is plain the other colours stands out and draws your eye straight to them.

Strap Line – This strap line is used because it shows the readers that they get something for free. These are always smaller and above the headline. It uses pink because it stands out on top of the black logo.

Sans serif font – The majority of music magazines uses sans serif font. They are bold and bright – this makes them easy to see through the congested smaller writing.

Tagline – This is used to accompany the logo. It shows that Q is the UK’s biggest music magazine so readers who haven’t read it before and looking to read a music mag would be tempted because of the high reputation that the magazine has.

Masthead – this logo is very recognisable with the red background and white layer on top. Q magazine is a very famous music magazine so and the masthead has a very strong brand awareness making it very recognisable in the music magazine market.

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Box out – The use of box out in this magazine is to make the text stand out. As the background is very dark they need to use a white box out so you can see the text and to add definition to the magazine.

Main Cover line– This is used to draw the audience into the magazine. People who like Cheryl Cole would buy the magazine because they want to find out information about her. The cover line uses the same colours as the mast head. This makes the magazine look more professional.

Background – The background is very dark and gothic. There is rain falling at the back which gives the image definition. Her bright red lips makes them stand out and she’s liking her finger which makes the image sexually attractive.

Lead – this is the main article. The colour scheme still is the same as the logos colours. This makes the magazine look professional because they only use two colours to write on the front page. The main article is on the front page because it draws in the readers to read on inside.

Editor’s Note: this editor’s note is introducing the month’s issue. The editor welcomes the audience and gives them a brief insight to what’s going to happen in the particular issue.

Page numbers relating to articles: having a image of the front cover then uses arrows to the page numbers allow the audience to find the article that they are looking for quickly. It also contributes to the layout features of the magazine – In this case I look more informal and chatty.

Contents: The contents allow the readers to know where the different articles are located within the magazine.

Sans serif font: this main headline uses sans serif font – this makes the text basic however it stands out compared to the other text on the page.

Box out – The use of the box out allows the text to stand out because it uses a coloured background that is a different colour scheme to the rest of the page.

Images – the images are used in the magazine in order to allow the audience to know what is going to be in the magazine. This magazine is very creative and visual so that it is not boring.

Hyperlink - allows the audience to find out more information if they want to. Going on the website allows you find out more about a certain article.

Music Contents conventions:

Contents: The contents allows the audience to find certain articles quickly. For example if they were looking for “Cheryl Coles” interview then they could find the right page number.

Interview: this magazine has included a interview with One direction. It gives a few lines then includes the page number where it would be continued.

Front cover: this shows the front page of the magazine. The cover lines and images are accompanied with the page numbers where you can find the full articles.

Article: this is also another smaller interview that is yet to be continued within the magazine.

This contents page is mainly full of interviews and gossip etc. It only contains a small part on “News and Features” so this contents page doesn’t really fit in with a stand content convention.

Banner: the banner allows the editor to add either extra information or pictures to accompany the articles.

Body copy: These body copies allow the audience to see what's going to be featured within the magazine and they give the page numbers so the audience can find the article instantly.

Sub heading: The subheading is very eye catching and stands out when the audience turn onto the page.

Contents numbers: The titles of the different articles are accompanied with their page numbers so that the audience can find the articles quickly.

Editors Note: this is a editors note that allows the Editors to introduce the issue and tell the audience briefly what will be mentioned within the magazine.

The magazine has used the mast head of the magazine within the contents page.

Contents: This is the contents that will be featured within the magazine. It will allow the audience to find certain articles quickly.

Banner: Adding extra information into the magazine normally advertising or a small quote.

Box out: Box outs are used to make the text that sits on top of it stand out.

Images: Images are used so that they relate to the articles.

Editors note: editors notes are used to make the magazine personal to the audience and also introduce the months issue.