ANALYSIS OF MUSIC MAGAZINESKerrang! Q Magazine and NME.

Main Image- The main image is the biggest visible source on the page (medium close up and a mid shot)). This magazine shows band member of All Time Low and You Me at Six. Alex Gaskarth from ‘All Time Low’, is positioned behind the member of ‘You Me at Six’ to show that he is less significant. This can link to the fact that some of the main articles within the magazine are about ‘You Me at Six’. Both of the band members are dressed appropriately to the colour scheme of this week’s magazine (black and white t-shirts). Since this week’s issue is on the topic of Valentine’s Day. Alex (in the black t-shirt) is gesturing a heart with his hands whereas the band member in the white shirt is ‘holding’ a cartoon heart as well as a spear going through it. The bigger photograph is a mid-shot whereas the photo in the background is a medium close up. This allows the photo to focus on their faces as well as give space for information on the magazine.

Sub image- These show 10 posters that are featured within the magazines. They are useful on the front cover as they can be seen as attracting different audiences, depending on the band/artist they like. All artists however, fit into the genre of rock since ‘Kerrang!’ is a rock/heavy rock magazine. As well as this, the images picked can help with the overview of the front cover and help add a more imagery based features since there is quite a lot text based information. In addition, the pictures are close ups.

Puff- Exaggerates the story just for the purpose of the audience and persuades to read on/more. “I didn’t have a childhood”… “Most personal story”. The use of the superlative ‘most’ in this case highlights that this story is one of a kind and gives the magazine a factor of originality and states that it is better than all others since it has that one story.

Colour scheme- The colour scheme involves three main colours: red, yellow and white. Due to the theme- Valentine’s Day. The red used has a deep tone to it which I believe to signify blood. The background also looks as though blood is dripping down it. ‘Kerrang’ could be challenging the idea of love to fit the genre of their magazines which is rock and heavy rock. By this, I can see that there is a pre-existing knowledge of the genre of the magazine. The yellow is a vibrant colour that makes the magazine more enthusiastic and lively, the colour yellow is also used to highlight the important information and is the background colour for the buzz words (WIN! And PLUS!)

Buzz words- The words ‘Win’ and ‘Plus’ are buzz words used to make the audience feel more involved in the gossip and interactive activities such as the opportunity to win something.

Positioning and layout- Through this issue, I can tell that ‘Kerrang’ uses a busy look for their front cover. Although there are less images than text displayed on the front, the use of vibrant reds and yellows (and the contrast the two colours create) highlight the specific and information. The text that is used, is usually in a bold font which once again adds to the ‘busy’ look of the magazine.

Feature Headline- The feature headline is ‘You Me At Six and All Time Low’ which are name of two bands that are advertised on the front cover of the page. The text is on the centre right of the magazine and is in italics, leaning right for one band and left for the other one. I think this creates a more edgy style which fits into the overall look of the magazine. Below this, there is another headline in which ‘Kerrang’ made clear the topic of this week’s issue which is ‘Valentine’s Day’.

Masthead- The masthead is written in white, in an edgy font that relates to the genre- rock and heavy rock. The masthead is placed behind the pictures of the artists showing their significances and directing all of the focus onto them. This is also done as ‘Kerrang!’ is popular in the UK therefore does not need the full recognition. The colour of the masthead is white which stands out from the red background, the white colour also makes the thin lines on the title ‘Kerrang!’ clear. The letters ‘K’ ‘E’ ‘N’ and ‘G’ are made to look 3D as they have black shadows behind them which add the masthead depth.

Buzz word- The buzz words here are ‘Cover Story’ and ‘This Week’. The ‘Cover Story’ is used frequently to pin point events or things that the readers can get involved with. For For the article on the left, that begins with a bold ‘This Week’ ‘This Week’ is text from the editor on the return of return Linkin Park.

Main Image- The image of the guitarist of Blink 182 clearly shows the nature of rock. His position gives a feel of a rock concert which is presumably familiar to the audience of this magazine. The photo is also the biggest image on the page, as it is taking up half of the page. The guitar used in the picture is an electric one in a cream/yellow colour. Behind the man, the stage lights are visible giving off a red beam of spotlight. This image most probably establishes the colour scheme of the contents page.Advertisement and Contact- ‘Kerrang’ used the opportunity of the contents page (predominantly the first page and the one people look at to find specific information) to advertise their subscription/delivery of the magazine, including a telephone number for further contact. Although the text for this was small, vibrant red and yellow were used to make this information visible and noticeable.

Masthead- Since the contents page is split into two, there are two mastheads one which reads ‘Contents’ and the other one ‘Kerrang! This Week’. The fonts of both of these are the same as on the front cover of the magazine. They are once again the biggest visible texts on the pages as they tell the reader what is expected on this page. The colours for the mastheads are yellow and white. The use of the white colour is just for the word ‘Kerrang!’. This is because it creates familiar link between the contents page and the front cover masthead. The yellow writing fits well with the general colour scheme of this page.

Plug- On this contents page the plug is ‘Sonisphere 2010’. When looking at a page it stands out since the colour of the writing is black and the background colour of the text is red. This still fits into the colour scheme however due to the different colours of the writing, grabs the attention of the readers. I believe the focus to be on ‘Sonisphere 2010’ since it is an upcoming event that ‘Kerrang!’ wants to publicise and make the readers aware of.

Colour scheme- The colour scheme of the contents page is black and white with red and yellow to highlight the important information or pictures. The page is split in half, with the background of the bottom half white, and the top part black. This makes it easier to distinguish the writing from the background and make the significant pictures/text stand out from the rest. The colour red is used in both of the pictures- Blink 182 and Paramore, which is pleasant to the eye and makes the contents page look more organised and well put together.

Sub Headings- The sub headings here are the categories of the different areas within the magazine for example: News, Features etc. These are organised into columns with very brief information underneath which is a good thing as it does not waste space, but allows the readers to make their own judgement if they want to continue reading about that subject. These headings are also on a black background which stands out against the white background of the rest of the page.

Sub Image- On the single contents page there are quite a few images. Initially, on the top half, next to the main image, ‘Kerrang’ placed two inset shots of double page spreads featured further within the magazine. These are on the topic of Reading and Leeds Festival which are annual events that many rock fans from the UK are aware of. On the topic of the festival, ‘Kerrang’ also used a picture of Paramore, one of the artists that are attending the festival in that year. The colour scheme of the image is the same as the overall colour scheme of the contents page- red, yellow and black, however on this picture, they are more chaotic and bright. This is due to the back lighting used in the picture to highlight the lead singer and make her appear superior. One other sub image presents a member of Linkin Park as the following text discusses the return of the band to the magazine.

Headline- The headline of the double page spread states ‘Dirty Little Secrets’. The colour of the ‘Dirty Little’ is pink which has a sweet and innocent feel to it. This is similar with the font that is used. It looks as though it is handwritten which is a practical way of communication. All of this contrasts to the word ‘Secrets’ which is capitalised in the colour red. The font is straight-forward and simple compared to the handwritten one. The red colour could create a few different meanings, however the black smudges near the bottom correspond to the adjective ‘Dirty’. Overall the whole masthead is mysterious and dark.

Main image- The main image is a picture of the band ‘The All-American Rejects’. The picture is specifically fitted to the colour scheme of the page. The main band member, presumably the lead singer, is dressed in bright colourful clothes (red and pink) whereas the other band members are wearing plain and simple colours (black, white and grey). The picture is taken at eye-line match where all of the band members are looking directly into the camera lens. I think that this makes it more personal for the readers, especially if they are a fan of ‘The All-American Rejects’ because it looks as though the members are looking straight at you. This creates an intimate feel which links to the idea of ‘Secrets’.

Positioning and layout- The text and images equal each other out as the main image takes up half of the double page spread, and the interview with the band takes up the other half. The font of the text is small and uses the space efficiently in columns. The sub images overlap with the main image which creates a chaotic and busy feel of the double page spread.

Colour scheme- The colour scheme of the double page spread layout is most black, which I believe to fit with the ‘secret’ and therefore ‘mysterious’ mood. (Which the main headline talks about). The other two colours mainly featured on these pages are red and lilac. Overall the colour scheme is dark and consist of very little vibrant colours.

Heading- In this case, the heading is text which was featured in the main article/interview with the band. The reason it is separated, above all the other text and written in bold is to catch the reader’s attention and then to interest them to read the full article. The heading is picked specifically as something short and snappy. In this case they use an exclamation mark to highlight the importance of the quotation. The pink background of the writing stands out against the black background and contrasts with the red writing and other backgrounds. In addition, there is a link to the main image through the word ‘tripping’.

Content- The double page spread consists of an interview with the band. To begin with there is a small introduction paragraph in which play on words and references to the mastheads are made. The actual interview is colour coded to determine the questions from the answers from the speakers. Questions are written in white with an outline of thick pink around them. The names of the band members who are answering, are in red as it is their ‘dirty secrets’.

Sub images- The sub images are all black and white, they fit the theme of the double page spread. All but one photograph, is taken when the men are not looking into the camera. This goes with the idea of ‘secrets’ and the backstage life which makes the reader feel involved and as though they are part of the bands everyday life. The one photograph in which the band member is looking directly into the camera lens, it is very chilled and down to earth as he is laughing.

KERRANG ANALYSIS FOR THE TARGET AUDIENCE, MIS-EN SCENE AND GENRE.

From the front cover of this issue of ‘Kerrang’, I think that the target audience is both females and males between the ages of 15-26. The reason why I think ‘Kerrang’ is non-gender specific, is due to the variety of features relating to love (Valentine’s Day) approached. For example the use of hearts and the colour red together is stereotypically related to girls, however instead of red being presented as only love, ‘Kerrang’ used the idea of blood dripping which is more likely to appeal to male audiences. The main images, however, are two men which I believe will on the first glimpse appeal more to females. Even the posters advertised on the left hand side of the magazine are balanced in gender. This is shown similarly in the contents page as well as the double page spread. On the contents page, the gender balance shown in the artists, lead female singer of Paramore and male guitarist from Blink 182 whereas on the double page spread the gender balance is shown through the use of colours- lilac and red.My estimate for the target age group for the magazine, based on the cover, are teenagers and young adults. This is because of the informality of the magazine and fun imagery which is more likely to engage younger people. The language used in the interview on the double page spread is also not sophisticated and very simple. On the other hand, I would not say this magazine is for children because of the focus on Leeds and Reading festival, which is, in majority, for teenagers and adults.

Characters- The people presented on the main images within and on the front cover of the magazine are musicians . This helps for the readers to familiarise with genre of the magazine as well as makes it obvious that it is in fact a music magazine. As well as this, it attracts people who like that artists to buy the magazine with the artists that they like. In addition, the artists that are photographed on the front cover as well as the double page spread, all have direct eye contact with the camera lens. This makes it look as thought they are looking at the reader which means we are instantly engaged. These posed shots, are used by music magazines, including Kerrang!, frequently and the method is tested and known to work well. Costume- The costume of the characters presented on the magazine is very simple, usually plain colours- black, grey or white that are sometimes accompanied by tiny amounts of bright/vibrant colour such as red or lilac (shown on the double page spread). The vibrant colour might be added to fit the overall colour scheme of the page or, for example, to distinguish the lead singer of a band. On the front cover of the issue that I analysed, Kerrang placed two people from different bands . One is wearing a white top and the other a black one. Contrasting colours to show difference is also something showed by costume.Props- The props that Kerrang uses helped them grab their target audience’s attention. The cartoon props on the front cover- heart and arrows, help distinguish the age of the target audience. As well as this, the cartoons were added later on by Kerrang’s team which means that they prefer the ‘busy’ look of the magazine. The electric guitar in the main image on the contents page, defines the rock genre and nature of the magazine.

I think that the genre of the Kerrang! Magazine Is easy to establish as being rock/heavy rock mostly through the use of the colour scheme as well as the pictures of rock artists and props such as electric guitars. The colours scheme of pictures as well as the background colour etc. is usually dark (blacks and greys). There are minimal vibrant colours but instead deep reds and mustardy yellows can be seen. The few vibrant colours that are used, are to highlight important information.

Masthead- In this case, the masthead is repeated several times all over the front page of the magazine. It isn’t positioned straight like other music magazines (and even other issues of the NME magazine) but instead it is tilted on various sides all over the page. The NME is written in a simple sans-serif font and is coloured in toned down red with a thin white border around each letter. The colour of the masthead is appropriately fitted as the main image (which is also the background to the front cover) is dark and does not involve bright/vibrant colours. The size of the masthead is fairly small, however the repetition of it makes up for the size and stands out regardless.

Main image- The main image is a photograph taken from the concert of ‘Slaves’ who are the main focus of this issue of NME. As well as being the main image of the front cover, the photo is also the background to the magazine. The photo is very riotous which helps the page look fuller and busier. The photo cooperates well with the genre of the magazine which is different types of rock (often focusing on punk rock). The electric guitar that is shown on the picture is placed above the mastheads showing the significance of the music and the electric feel/genre.

Headline and Anchorage- The font of the headline and anchorage are the same. They headline ‘SLAVES’ is not in a straight line as some letters are above or below others. There space between the letters is quite big for a headline, which makes the word look more disorganised and random. For the anchorage, the same idea is used. It reads ‘GONNA MAKE YOU SWEAT’ which is a defined statement. The font and positioning of the headline ad anchorage is strategic and fits the overall busy theme of the cover page. The white writing stands out against the dark area of the photograph, it doesn’t stand out as the main focus of the page is the main image. Not to mention that all of the writing is in capital letters which shows the importance and statement that the NME are trying to convey through the headline and anchorage.

Colour scheme- The colour scheme of the whole page is simple. As the main image takes up most of the space on the front cover, it then sets the overall scheme of colour from the front page. The photo is generally in neutral colours, the black clothing, white lighting and skin tone colour are the three reoccurring colours on the main image. However, NME used the low-key red (seen on the tattoos of the guitarist) for the masthead. This ties in nicely with the colour scheme however is not too in your face and vibrant. The yellow that is used for the background of the subheading is pastel yellow and therefore eye catching on the darker background at the bottom of the page. The colours contrast the general theme of the front cover as it is chaotic while the colours are toned down or pastel.

Layout/Positioning- This cover of NME is extremely chaotic and busy. Although there is near enough to none information, the image/background and the multiple mastheads make up for the lack of information. The masthead positioned all over and in different directions give off the riot concert feel. In addition, the repeated mastheads are in majority placed at the top of the page as that is the usual place for a masthead. The headline and subheading are both below the focus on the main image at the bottom. The positioning is done strategically so that the all of the writing Is around ‘Slaves’.

Subheading- The subheading of ‘MUSIC FILM STYLE’ stands out to from the front cover in general due to the circle, pastel yellow background it is on. To add importance and significance to the subheading, all three words are underlined and the writing is in capital letters. The letters are in the same font as the headline and anchorage and therefore stand alone. In addition, it is a rule of three which is short, snappy and easy to remember. It is not too informative which immediately does not disinterest the readers.

Masthead- The masthead is the same as on the front page of the magazine, which is a simple sans-serif in the exact same colour. However, here, it is tilted slightly to the right. Here, the masthead also repeats itself in various different directions and positions however less visible than before. I think this is due to the overload of information given on this page. Also there is no need for a lot of repetition, as it is obvious (from the front cover) that it is the NME magazine.

Sub heading/Sub image- Drake’s tour is advertised at the bottom of the page. It is evidently sectioned off due to the change of background from white to black. The tour name- ‘The Boy Meets World’ is displayed in the middle with ‘Tour Tour Tour’ below it. Repetition and rule of three is strategically used by NME to grab the readers attention as well as make the tour stick in their minds. The images on either side of the text are both identical photos of Drake in the style of pop-art however with different background colours. This, I believe, is done to showcase the edgy and different style of Drake’s hip hop music that will be performed during his tour.

Main image- The main image shows two women who call themselves ‘Nova Twins’ and are featured further on in the magazine. The background of the image is bright blue which contrasts against the red mastheads that placed over it. Although the blue background does not tie into the colour scheme, it is the same colour as the name of the publisher of NME, which is ‘Time Inc.’ (at the bottom left of the page) which makes it easier to notice. As well as this, the background is eye catching and therefore brings automatic attention to the two females in the main image. The picture is a medium wide shot which is just enough to show what both of the females are wearing which I believe is an important aspect in this picture. They are both wearing aspects of clothing that are red for example lipstick or clothing. The female in the back has fashionable hair as well a short sleeve top revealing her arms and stomach which I believe is targeted at men. The female at the front is not looking into the camera lens but we can see her eyes fixed on something ahead of her. Both of these women have serious facial expressions that present them as strong, individual, determined women which in men’s eyes are seen as more attractive. The elements of red in their clothing and make up add to this showing danger and affection.

Layout/Positioning- This issues content page is very busy with very little of it taken up by the actual contents. The majority of the space is taken up by a letter from the editor in chief as well as the publishing team. The masthead repeating itself adds to the overall busy look of the contents page.

Colour scheme- The colour scheme of the contents page is similar to the colours used on the front page- red, white, black. This shows that NME is a consistent brand that cares about the presentation of their magazine. Although the their layout is busy and chaotic, they make up their organisation with the matching use of colours.

Content- The actual contents itself do not take up the whole page. The writing is in a fairly small size and the numbers of pages match the red masthead. NME makes the page number (20) for ‘Slaves’ as well as page 28 for ‘Sink the Pink’ bigger than the rest of the pages. They also position them at the top compared near the bottom. This way they are showing that ‘Slaves’ as well as ‘Sink the Pink’ are more significant in this weeks issue. This makes sense since ‘Slaves; are featured as the main image on their front cover. It is very text heavy as it includes a note from the editor in chief as well as a few paragraphs, boxed off, from the publishing team and the magazine. These take up majority of the space and are written in black writing on a white background- once again simple. At the very bottom of the page, NME advertises Drake’s tour ‘The Boy Meets World’.

1

2

Layout/Positioning- The organisation and positioning on the double page spread of 1 is very opposing to the layout of 2. On 1, the content is spacious which visually seems organised whereas 2 is filled with extreme amounts of information as well as a few pictures. Within the two double page spreads, NME have a good balance of information as well as pictures (which they present through the way that they position their content.

Main image- The main image on 1 presents a mid shot of the two members of the band ‘Slaves’. It takes up most of the double page spread and is most definitely the focus of the pages. The picture itself is partly aimed at the females as the man on the left is shirtless and the man on the right has many tattoos that are displayed to the readers clearly. Through this, as well as their fixed, mysterious gaze into the camera lens, we can see that the men are showing strength and muscularity. This can also appeal to males since this image would stereotypically be seen as role models for males.

Sub images- There is no main image on 2 but there are 5 sub images featured on the double page spread altogether. One is of the two band mates sat down which shows a calm and relaxed side to them which is contrasted to the other four pictures which are from their concerts. They show the crazy, fun, lively atmosphere and side to the ‘Slaves’.

Feature headline- The feature headline is only shown in 1 and it reads ‘Fight for your rights’. The phrase is a bold statement and is presented that way through the use of fonts and style. Initially, the word ‘Fight’ is bigger and presented as more obvious compared to the rest of the words. It is written in white letters on a black background which makes it stand out more and is easier to grab the attention of the readers. Although the word ‘Fight’ has negative connotations, the font makes of the word contrasts that idea. This is because the edges of it are more rounded instead of harsh, squared edges and corners. Here, NME may be sending out a message that states a positive and encouraging concept rather than a message that can be associated with the most obvious definition of ‘Fight’. The rest of the phrase fits into the red rectangle which helps with the overall organisation of the double page spread.

Colour scheme- the colour scheme for both 1 and 2 consists of four colours- Red, Blue, White and Black. The white and black are used for mostly information and to contrast between writing and the background whereas the red and blue tie into the colour scheme of the tattoos of both the members. This is then used for visual aspects of the pages such as the blue splashes on the headline etc.

Content- 1 does not include much information. There is a paragraph which tells the readers a little background information for those who either had not heard of the ‘Slaves’ or perhaps would like to know more. This way NME engages even those who are not familiar with the band so that they can be involved when it comes to the further interviews/articles. In addition, it includes a huge main image as well as a headline to get the readers introduced to the upcoming articles/content. Like mentioned above, 2 has no main image however does include 5 smaller pictures. As well as this, it is heavily loaded with information, interviews and articles relating to the band. However, it not only involves contents that are ‘Slaves; related as the red and yellow box include extra information either about art or recommendations.

NME ANALYSIS FOR THE TARGET AUDIENCE, MIS-EN SCENE AND GENRE.From this issue of NME, I would say that the target audience is both males and females and, in majority, anyone over the age of 16. The reason I would say that the magazine is targeted at both genders is because of the images that are included throughout the magazine. Initially, the front cover consists of an image from the concert of ‘Slaves’ which is shown to have a male audience. In addition, the two artists show muscularity by the tattooed arms and performing shirtless which can be seen as role models for males . On the other hand, the shirtless and masculine men can attract females.Two attractive, confident females are displayed on the contents page which can easily attract the male gaze as well as create role models and for the female side of the audience.Although the images are not too revealing I would say that NME’s audience target age would be 16+ due to the body images and multiple nudity, such as shirtless pictures. The age group can also be seen from looking at the front cover and the sub images on the double page spread 2. Looking at the crowd of the concerts, there are not children or young teenagers (12-15) which shows that this magazine is most probably not aimed at the age range.

Characters- The characters I see NME use and show in their magazines are those who are presented as independent and strong. I think that NME try to present their characters to be icons that their audience looks up to and aspires to be like. Very rarely (as seen in both the front cover as well as the contents page) do the characters in the images look into the camera lens, this goes against the usual stereotypical image found in a magazine. This is obviously changed if the characters have a purpose of looking directly into the lens (at the audience) like for example in the double page spread 1 where the artists stare corresponds and emphasises the feature headline/statement that reads ‘Fight for your rights’.Lighting- The lighting on the front cover picture is significant as it solemnly points in the direction of the guitarist and emphasised his tattoos and the electric guitar. Here NME initially establishes the atmosphere of this issue of the magazine and shows that their contents, features and articles of the magazine will mention hard-core, chaotic vibes. Space- Overall, NME has a very busy/chaotic layout and way of organising it’s information. All of their articles as well as images are cramped closely together. I do believe that they have a balanced amount of pictures and text which helps to make the very busy page look visually pleasing and not distracting. At times, NME however are shown to balance their layouts as seen in the two double page spreads that are both dedicated to ‘Slaves’ where one double page spread is extremely chaotic and busy and the other one organised, and has minimal information. Both are very different and are certain to satisfy the different needs of the audience.

The original genre of the NME magazine is said to be punk rock which is effectively mirrored by the main focus of this NME issue- ‘Slaves’ (the band) who are mostly producing punk rock and hard-core punk music. Now, more frequently NME includes sub genres of punk as seen in the contents page when they announce and feature the ‘Nova Twins’ which label their music as grime punk. To widen their audience, NME does mention/advertises other genres such as Drake and his rap/RnB music style.

Masthead- The masthead of Q Magazine is very simple and stands out on the front cover due to the contrasting red and white colours. The red is eye catching which brings automatic attention to anyone passing it. The masthead is not fully visible as one of the members of Green Day is in front of the Q. This suggests that the magazine is successful and does not need to focus the cover pain on the name of the magazine (the masthead). Unlike other magazines, the masthead here is only one letter and therefore only occupies the top, left side of the front cover. This saves Q magazine space which they use to advertise articles within the magazine.

Main Image- The main image shows a medium close up of the band ‘Green Day’. The three characters are making direct address with the audience which creates a personal connection between the two. The band members are all wearing dark clothing and some of them dark makeup such as black eyeshadow around the eye. Billie, the lead singer, is wearing a low cut top revealing his tattoo. In addition, the character’s (on the left) hair is green which links to their name ‘Green Day’ and shows a little humour and irony. Their costume ties into the blue phrase just below them which mentions rock and roll as the messy hair and dark clothing/make-up reveals a more ‘hard-core’ side of the band.

Colour scheme- The main colour scheme consists of white, red, blue and elements of green. Red and white are the established colours of the Q magazine, they are used for all of their mastheads. To make the magazine cover organised and pleasing to the eye, those two colours were almost essential to use. The use of the sky blue colour is used to highlight information that is likely to appeal to the readers. It is eye catching as most is contrasts with red as well as stands out from the white/black backgrounds. The use of the colour green is subtly used as a tint to the background as well as the guy (on the left) hair colour, presumably to tie into the focus and theme of ‘Green Day’.

Puff- The puff is located just at the top of the masthead and reads ‘The world’s greatest music magazine’. It is a convenient place to put the puff as the masthead is one of the most eye catching features on the page (due to the red that stands out). Therefore, it is one of the first thing that the audience will notice which gives them the satisfaction that the Q magazine is in fact reliable.

Selling line- The names of artists at the bottom of the cover page is known as the selling line. It advertises the artists that will be featured in this issue of the magazine. Q magazine tried to mention 6 artists from different background/genre. For example Wiley- who is a rapper from the UK, Bjork- an Icelandic singer of art pop/electronica as well as the world famous band ‘The Killers’. Including artists from different genres at the front of the magazine, widens the Q magazines potential audience.

Plug/Buzz Word- Located near the sub image is a plug (a blue rectangle with white writing) that reads ’14-page Exclusive/ His full story’. This is a plug, it gives the audience a sense that they are receiving a large amount of limited information as well as value for their money. There is also the buzz word included that reads ‘exclusive’. This makes the reader feel more involved.

Sub Image- The sub image corresponds with the article advertised about Johnny Marr. It gives the audience a sneak peak of what is inside the magazine. The cinematography of a medium close up is used to reveal the detail in the person’s face. Also, a clear direct address is used in the picture which creates an automatic bond between the audience and the character in the picture.

Layout/Positioning- From my market research I know that ‘Q magazine’ is published monthly, compared to both NME and Kerrang! Which are published weekly. This would make sense as to why Q magazine has a double page spread for the contents page instead one just one single page as they have more pages in the magazine and more contents to advertise. Their layout is organised wisely, with a big main image on the left and neatly position contents below it (in columns). The contents are split into three sections which is convenient for the reader as they immediately know where to look if they are trying to find something specific.

Images- There are 7 images on the double page spread. On each of the two pages there is one image that draws the attention of the reader because it is significantly bigger. The image on the left page is covering the ‘o’ of ‘Contents’ slightly which draws the attention od the reader who is reading the headline to the image. Below it, to the right, is a small image of a band that relates to the contents on positioned on its left. The colours of both these images are mostly dark and dull (black and grey). This is contrasted on the right side of the page where two colours (blue and pink) are vivid in the picture. I think that the pink background on the biggest (main) picture on the right side of the page draws immediate attention of the reader as it contests with the clothing of the members of ‘The 1975. The blue colours is cooperated into the other 4 pictures on the page whether it is in clothing, background or accessories/props.

Colour scheme- The Q magazine stuck with the red, black and white colours that they use for every magazine. With this contents page, and linking back to the front cover they had also used the colour blue to highlight certain information that Q wants the readers to pay attention. In addition the blue is used in the images to tie the colour scheme of the double page contents pages together. Q magazine did also use pink as a background colour for the image of ‘The 1975’ which I believe solemnly has the purpose to make that image stand out.

Text/Captions- The small black boxes with white writing places near most of the images describes the people in the image and what they are doing. It also references to the page number that the reader can find out more about that certain artist. The small font of the writing is significant as it is not eye catching however is visible for those who chose or are interested in that particular artist or picture.

Sub headings- The sub headings are written in capital letters and in bold. This is because they are relevant and most probably what the readers are looking for on the double page spread of the contents page. They are engaging by using ellipses at the end of the heading for example ‘How to Survive Rock ‘n’ Roll with…’ this way the reader wants to find out more by looking at that section. It is a fun and obvious way to attract/ appeal to the readers.

Headline- The headline here is ‘Q Contents’, it uses the original ‘Q’ of the brand (the one on the cover page) as well as the font that was used at the front cover of the page for information or headings. The word ‘Contents’ isn’t all capitalised which I believe creates a calm and more pleasant mood of the pages.

Buzz words- Buzz words are used in the ‘Q Review’ section at the bottom of the page on the right. One of which is ‘NEW!’ this is written in white writing and on a red background. Although the writing is small, the red background can draw the readers eye and the buzz word will make them realise that this is the most recent, best information and that Q magazine provides them with the best reviews. As well as this, they also include the buzz word ‘LIVE!’ which is in the same shape, font and size as the ‘NEW!’ apart from the colour of the background which is black. I believe that this also engages the audience as they can witness their favourite artists (ones mentioned in the front cover) live.

Colour scheme- The colour scheme is again kept simple with the basic black writing on a white background and black and white image on the right as well as the costumes of the characters in the images wearing basic, plain colours (black, white, grey, brown). The double page spread does involve aspects of colour that are similar to the front cover- blue and red with brief green touches for nature (grass) or backlighting.

Layout/Positioning- The layout of the double page spread is organised as it contains a balanced amount of pictures and text. The section that is about getting to know the band (facts about them) is sectioned off with a black border which shows that it is a different topic. However the positioning is busy as some of the pictures overlap over each other and everything is packed closely together with very little/ hardly no free space. Also, the text goes over the main image on the right page.

Images- The four images on the left all include colour and coordinate well with each other. They all overall/interlink which automatically shows that the page is focused on one band. One other thing that they have in common is that they all (including the picture on the right) place pictures of the band preforming/ backstage or their fans. This sets a specific mood for the double page spread. In addition, of the images is a low angle shot which helps show authority and a perspective of a fan at their concert. This is once again relatable to those readers who like the ‘Blossoms’ or go to festivals/events. I’d say the ‘main image’ is the black and white picture of he ‘Blossoms’ preforming on the right page. It is the biggest and although it does no include much colour, the lighting in the picture draws the readers immediate attention. As well as all of these images there are also five close up of the five band members located near the bottom of the right page. Due to that section being dedicated to getting to know the artists, the close ups help build a personal and more intimate relationship between each member and the reader.

Content- The article that spreads through the double page spread is one that includes real life quotes from the band members of ‘Blossoms’ however I is not an interview. The Q magazine did a good job at combining an interview with the history of the band. For example, they mention numerous of the places where the Blossoms had preformed starting off with the exact date and location. This shows how professional, organised and official the Q magazine is as well as provides the readers with detail, analysed, up to date information that makes them feel as though they are receiving best value for money and are getting exclusive information. In addition, the Q magazine included a boxed off section with all of the band members as well as a few facts about them. All of this makes Q magazine look dedicated and organised.Text/Captions- The text and captions is all very visible. For example the white box places over the pictures n the left page is visible because of the white background of the box placed over a dark image. In addition, the black box with white, bold quote emphasises that point and draws the attention of the reader. That way they can receive a hint as to what the article is about and decide if to read the full article. Same with the bold red name written to state who said the quote.

Language- On the left there is a quote from Tom Ogden where he talks about how enthusiastic him and his band mates are about their current job as being artists. He uses the word ‘shit’ as an adjective describing his previous job. As well as this, at the end he says ‘F**K’. The fact that Q magazine included ‘Shit’ shows that their style is chilled out and relaxed. This way the audience can be drawn to their magazine as they know that the content is real and natural and not modified to fit specific age range or not offend with rude language. However, the Q magazine does show that they are professional by using ‘*’ instead of writing the whole F word.

Q MAGAZINE ANALYSIS FOR THE TARGET AUDIENCE, MIS-EN SCENE AND GENRE.I think that the target audience for the Q magazine is both females and males between the ages of 18 and 30. I’d say that this is the age range they aim their magazine as they openly include swearing into quotes that then stand out and therefore catch the attention of the reader. In addition, I wouldn’t say that Q magazine is targeted at under 18s, this is because they are very professional and official in their presentation and information that they provide. Because of this I think that they would want to be a respected brand within adults. What also hints at the fact that it is a 18+ is the use of dark colours for almost all of the magazine. I wouldn’t say their layout could be described as ‘fun’ or ‘vibrant’ which I know is what attracts the majority of younger people.Throughout all three pages that I had analysed, there are very limited number of images containing females. This means that Q magazine could be focusing on attracting the female gaze to the male characters displayed in the pictures. However, by the style of fonts being bold for throughout almost all of the magazine, as well as the dark colours and use of language, I think that Q magazine aims to target the males. Overall, I do not think that Q magazine tailor their magazine to a fit a specific gender and instead focus on attracting people who like the type of music that they feature.

Characters- In their images, Q magazine has characters who have direct address (looking into the camera lens) and those who don’t. Through what I can see from the analysed pages, the ones that are making direct address, for example Green Day on the front cover, have very serious and monotone face expressions and convey most emotions through eye contact. Those images which include characters looking away from the camera lens are always shown to be either laughing/enjoying themselves or busy. This is shown, for example, on the contest page where The 1975 and male that is in the close-up where he is looking away are presented as happy, smiley characters. Also, on the double page spread where the ‘Blossoms’ are walking they are all occupied by either preforming or taking pictures etc.Props- The only props that are used in the images are items that are music related. This suggests that Q magazine takes the music seriously. In majority, both acoustic and electric guitars are used. There is an image that involves a microphone and one that shows the band ‘The 1975’ holding pieces of paper which suggests that they are music sheets due to the overwhelming use of musical props in other pictures. It would make sense for he sheets of paper to be either lyrics or music notes.Space- The spacing of the information, both textual and conveyed through images, is tightly packed together and usually overlapping each other. Through this it is evident that Q magazine is packed with information and wants to include as much as possible for the value of money that each reader is paying.

The Q magazine does not have a specific genre that they focus on, instead they dedicate their magazine to the most influential and popular artists of all time with automatically widens their audience. They include artists that are not longer making music and those who are just starting out. This is evident as in previous issues they included features such as ‘The 100 Greatest Albums’. From this I know that they do not specify the genre which welcomes all readers to find out the 100 greatest albums. However I am aware that Q magazine cannot cover all types of genre in detail and therefore I found that they usually put more focus into the Rock and Pop genres. They are partnered with Glastonbury Festival which in majority headline pop and rock artists (this includes different types of rock such as indie, alternative, classic).