Main Task: Analysing Music Magazines

Magazine front covers

Masthead: behind the subject, so although its important that audiences know what the magazine is called, the subject is more important to pull readers attention.

“Tom Petty, Avicii and Pal McCartney” on the skyline all mentioned to pull other audiences that like these particular artists and not just fans of Lana Del Ray. This is done to draw more audiences in.

Cover lines: “Sam Smith” “Eric Clapton” and “the tragedy of Baghdad” which is in a

bold and larger font to draw attention. The still of the writing, being elegant and quite curved means its easy for the audience to

read and gives the writing nice flow.

Anchorage: “Lana Del Rey” in a large font, the same font used throughout. This is to clearly indicate to readers who the issue is mainly focussing on.

Colour Cohesion: the masthead is made up of red, white and black. This is then

represented throughout, using white and black for the font, red for spacing the

column inches.Main Image: linking Lana in with the cover

and making her wear red lipstick. The background/foreground applies to the

colour cohesion and so does not contrast. By adding the cat, gives the impression of

a calm or relaxing impression, interpreting an easy read magazine. Also, by her being positioned within a bed, draws the males

gaze by the seductiveness of the image.

Sell lines: giving slightly more information about the topic mentioned in the cover line. This is done to appeal more to the

reader.

Audience: the font and colour cohesion used applies to more of a sophisticated young adult to adult genre by being simple yet effective and not being too dramatic with fonts.

Mise en scene: the cat can be represented as a calm animal, indicating that this

magazine or particular article is for relaxing.

Masthead: “VIBE” being bold and taking up the width of the cover makes it clearly visible. The colour yellow stands out against the black and white image and rest of the magazine and so readers will be attracted. Also, its in the foreground of the cover and so shows the importance of the masthead rather than the subject in the main image.

Skyline: “The Race Issue” is in bold and yellow, which attracts attention to the readers. The rest is in white, and so does not draw as much attention. This is done so readers know what the main story in this magazine will be.

Main image: the image is in black and white, done so the masthead and call outs can be clearly visible and stand out. The subject is looking straight forwards and the image is very much symmetrical.

Anchorage: “the year Drake became King” is linking the main image. “Drake” being larger draws attention to it and so lets the reader clearly know who it is. The font is simplistic yet has sharp edges to give a pristine look.

Call outs: varying from bold to normal, done to purely to draw attention to important features inside the magazine. It alternates to keep the reader focusing on all of the content.

Symbol +: to abbreviate “and” they have included the plus symbol to be different and to look neat. Call out and sell line: the call out being bold to draw attention and also the sell line to add further information as to why they have included this particular person in this magazine.Barcode: visible for purchasing reasons with the appropriate price.

Colour cohesion: they have made it simplistic by sticking to black and white, however using yellow to contrast this to stand out.

Target audience: I believe the target audience is teenagers to very young adults, mainly focussing more towards boys. Also, I believe this by the simplistic fonts, being either bold or in capitals, except “Drake” being in a sharper font to stand out.

Masthead: different to usual magazines by having it vertically down one side, so looks unique and may appeal to a younger audience for this quirky change. Also, the font of the masthead is rounded and bold, indicating again a younger audience by the style of font chosen.

Main image: the subject is looking away while pulling at his shirt, which appeals largely to a young women/teenage audience by showing more skin. The main image is in front of the masthead which indicates importance and is well seen by the readers as the image takes up the whole space.

Credit: done for promotion of maybe the photographer or designer in this piece for the subject.

Buzzword: “exclusive” to draw attention and makes the magazine stand out against

other magazines by being the only magazine with an article on Chris Brown

giving Billboard exclusivity to its audiences.

Anchorage: “Maybe I was out of control” this is in a different font which stands out. This indicates to the reader what the main

article is about.

Sell lines: giving more information on what’s inside. This is done in a smaller font

to not draw any excess attention to it.

Call outs: small but by the white font means it can stand out against the subjects clothes, meaning it still draws attention to

it.

Colour cohesion: khaki green, black, white and brown. These colours work well,

working well with his skin tone and colour of clothes. Especially his tattoos, the colour cohesion has been decided particularly not

to clash and to combine. Target audience: This appeals to a teenage/young adult audience.

Masthead: Q being bold and large, not complying with the colour cohesion as its traditional colour is red, and so this has not changed. Slogan: the font being bold and standing out against the red.

Call out: “2014 special” makes the magazine sound it has some exclusivity to it, and so may appeal to more readers.

Buzzword: “Preview” again sounds like its giving the reader exclusivity. This particular call out is in a black box, so the colours grey white and pink contrast well with black and so stand out more. Column inch: “Lilly Allen, Kasabian, Maccabees, Elbow, Beck and Interpol” all alternating in the black or pink font. They are all bold and so stand out for other audiences to be appealed by. Lilly Allen in particular has an attached photo, so people recognise the face.

Cover line: “The 1975” is bold and stands out from the background by the colour pink. This is to introduce the audience with other artists in which others may appeal to. Sell line: giving more information on what its about and so may interest the reader further to find out more.

Main image: being in black and white gives an interpretation of it being old, relating back to times when photos weren’t in colour. They are off centre, with one facing the other way. Also, by being in black and white means that the call outs and buzzwords used can be seen on top of the main image.

Colour Cohesion: black, white and pink are the main colours used, which highly compliment each other. The colours used appeal to an older audience.

Anchorage: The Smiths in a large pink font which stands out against the image to appeal. The sell line connected to this is also bold and italic which makes the flow of reading speed slower and gives emphasis by being underlined to sound important.

Target audience: the target audience is aimed at adults, featuring artists that may also appeal to younger audiences.

Contents pages

“contents”- in a different font which is bold and catches your eye immediately. It

appeals to a variety of audiences by the basic look of the font, bold being appealing

to young and older audiences.

Images: used to link in with articles included in this magazine, making it appealing to look

at instead of having to read everything. Done so people are drawn to it and so will

roughly know what’s included, then will read on further.

Main image: indicating main subject or headlining article featured in this

magazine. Again, makes it eye catching and so people instantly recognise the face.

Colour cohesion: blue/greys/white. Basic colours which do not draw attention away

from the images. However, using white onto black or visa versa makes it eye

catching by being bold and standing out.

“touring” “film & TV music” etc are all call outs for the readers attention. They are

set in bold so with only looking at the sell line you’d know what its roughly about.

Name of magazine still shown on the contents page, for publicity and advertisement reasons.

Call out “No. 1” abbreviated to maybe attract a younger audience and also makes easier to interpret, meaning quicker understanding and reading. It stands out and gives the impression of the magazine being superior and having exclusivity over other competitors.

The contents page is set out geometrically and precise by having boxes and columns evenly spread. This is done for the readers advantage of being clear and easy to read.

Website included on the bottom corner for promotion of their online site. This appeals to more audiences by being easily accessible from different medias.

Main image: the main image takes up half the space, leaving the right hand side for the actual contents. This mainly focusses on the subject, the subject being large and taking up most room. This is done for a particularly young teen/adult audience who maybe interested in 50cent.

Colour cohesion: the colour cohesion reflects around black, white, red and grey. These colours work well in coordinating things and linking in the main image with the magazine. The writing matches the subjects bandana and top, including the grey pictures on his top to coordinate with the contents. These colours appeal to a younger audience using red which is a primary colour yet the black and greys to be controversial with the red to stand out and work well.

Target audience: young teens/young adults using the words “hipster” which is a commonly used word currently describing trend.

Framing: the contents itself has been framed, all writing has been framed within

a single line around the border, for a cleaner more professional look. However,

the main image is out of this frame and so interprets importance and they have done

this to stand out to its readers.Words used: “hipster” “hip-hop” “factz”-all to appeal to a younger audience using commonly used words from the younger generation to link the audience with the

magazine. Also, by adding the “z” to facts makes it appeal to a younger audience by

trying to be cool and in with this generation that they are targeting.

Fonts: the fonts used have been bold to stand out to its readers and appeal to

more audiences by being simplistic. However, the font at the top is bubble

writing and includes straight lines, so may indicate appeal to a younger audience by

the use of bubble writing as a sort of modern/childish look.

This magazine contents page is not as “busy” compared to the first one. They have gone for a simplistic look which is

effective and means its easier to understand and read.

“Contents” bold yet separated for originality. Its bold and so directs your eye

straight to it. The separation may appeal to a younger audience by being different or

authentic.

“V” and “vibe” are to link in with the cover page and also for promotional reasons,

reminding the reader the magazines name.

The writing is set out in front of the main image however the main image overlaps

the “contents”. This layering has been done for a professional look and also giving

importance of the main subject.

Main image: the subject does not take up the whole space, but is centred. This is so

the “contents” is clearly eye catching.

Target audience: I believe the target audience is again set at young teens/young

adults by the colour scheme and the subject having his top of with his

accessories, something that younger people may like more.

Fonts: the font is either in capitals or bold, which appeals to the audience by being eye catching. Secondly, they have made certain words within the sentence (for example, plus) which is so people draw their attention to this and then potentially read this before further reading.

Colour cohesion: the main colours used are black, white and red. This has been done well so it ties in with his skin colour and compliments well. The white font stands out against the red background and so can be clearly read easily.

Website is given at the bottom of the page for more information and so its easily accessible for different medias to view this magazine.

Layout: the layout is simplistic yet easy to read, with everything being aligned down one side, next to the main image. This is done to show a professional look as to linking the image in with the writing.

Colour cohesion: the colour cohesion consists of light blue, black and white.. Which strongly compliments Nicki’s orange hair. The blue is quite a subtle colour and so the writing can nicely contrast and be bold to stand out.

Mise en scene: Nicki is wearing a crown holding a sword, with her costume being fantasy styled. This makes it different and draws attention to the image by being different from other photoshootsof celebrities. Specifically, I think this targets a teen/young adult audience.

Barcode: the barcode has incorporated the V into it and so as well as marketing and selling the product they have also done this for promotional reasons, another way of making the magazine look professional.

Main image: Nicki MinajThis image has been arranged to fit in with the contents page by Nicki wearing colours

that would not clash with the colour scheme.

Websites and credits at the bottom for recognition and so audiences can find out

more if they wish.

Fonts: fonts are varied by boldness, this is done to stand out from everything else

said and so people focus on this particularly. They have used capitals for the

titles of pages included inside to again stand out and appeal to audiences.

Main image: Nicki is taking up most of right side of the page, and so can suggest she is

the main subject of the magazine this month. She is looking up and gazing, something of which links in with the

fantasy styled outfit so co-ordinates well. She is leaning onto her arms in which are

folded which give a relaxed feel, reflecting onto the magazine

Double paged spreads

Target audience: I believe this is aimed at an older audience by the classy tone it gives, with formal layout and language. By this, you can believe that the typical readers for this would be middle class, maybe women who are interested in Lady Gaga or in music genuinely. However, it can also

appeal to fans of Lady Gaga as they’d like to find out more about their icon.

Framing: the writing is framed and so looks professional.

Also, this means that “Lady GAGA” stands out and so

instantly readers know who its exactly about.

The letter “L”: the L, being abnormally larger than

everything else is for effect to be different and to stand out

to its audiences.

Drop capitals: usually used for articles or novels yet however here it has been used for the effect and clearly showing a

new paragraph.

The main image takes up one side of the double page spread, and so obviously indicates its about her (Lady Gaga). The photograph is in black and white so gives the impression of a classy sophisticated look-appealing to an adult audience. With part nudity with chains covering her applies to an older audience. Her hair style and make up features look iconic to Marilyn Monroe and so interprets a classy touch. However, this could be to attract to a male audience by being partially sexual.

House Style: they have kept the house style (Q Magazine) by keeping the red L to link this particular double page spread within the magazine. They have kept the formal tone throughout the piece, and the usual setting of a main image and a specific page for the official article. Because of

this layout, I believe it appeals to a middle class audience who takes music seriously.

Fonts: the fonts vary but have done for effect. “the gospel according to” is in a curly font, appealing to a younger audience. “Nicki Minaj” is in bold and the largest font on the page so clearly indicates who its about. They have incorporated bold fonts to stand out and catch readers eye. Colour cohesion: the colours consist of pinks, black, and white, with odd colours on Minaj’sclothing. This colour cohesion appeals to a younger audience with the pink however it looks stylish by coordinating the black and white.

Main image: the main image is incorporated and so the main article is framing her. The title is behind the image and so shows importance of the photo. She is coordinated within the colour cohesion by her clothes being black and white, along side her hair and skin tone being well suited.

Her ring: “loon” attracts and appeals to a younger audience as its 21st century lingo. The abbreviation “lunatic” makes it applicable to a younger audience. “Gospel” has been used as

significantly to interpret and suggest that Nicki Minaj is a

“God” so also means that she is well known and well

respected.

Words like “hip-hop” appeal to a younger audience by

again using 21st century words that are commonly used

within teenagers.

Text: the text is split into categories depending on the

subject and have used highlighting and pull quotes to attract attention to the reader

and also so the audience know what its about. Layout: they have left a strip of space for particular effect. The masthead is placed

in the primary optical area which is common for magazine pages. This layout is different by only the image being in the particular strip that has been left. This is

different so it appeals to the eye of the reader.