The document discusses the codes and conventions of music magazines. It provides details on common elements found in music magazines such as the masthead, main image, strapline, coverlines, and barcode/dateline. It also discusses two major music magazine publishers - Bauer Media and IPC Media. Finally, it analyzes the front covers and contents pages of the magazines Q, NME, and Kerrang, highlighting their styles, target audiences, and other key aspects.

1. By Sundas Bostan R3 AS Media Research Assignment for Main Task – To Construct a Music Magazine

5. Main Image- this main image attracts the readers attention as she is staring at them and is a mid –shot which is taken from the waist upwards. It is also of a well known singer which helps encourage people to buy the magazine. Left Third - The left third contains the main feature article, in this case the left third features, “Britain's Biggest Music Bands” and there interviews which are exclusive to “Q” Magazine. Colour Schemes- the main colour schemes are red ,white and black, these colours are repeated and used in every “Q” Magazine , this repetition of the colours helps the reader recognise when the magazine is in the shelf. Coverlines - The essential articles inside the magazine, in this case “Women in music” , this concept helps the female market buy the product as it about them and so putting the information on the front cover helps them get a feel for the magazine without even turning the page. Overall Layout- the overall layout stands out with the darker backgrounds and the bright colours, and it will help the magazine stand independent , from the rest of the magazines on the shelf. The overlapping layers adds to the effects of it all being crammed in one front cover, this can also encourage people to buy it as there is lots of thing to read about Details- The little details such as the barcode, price and pugs – can either be at the top left or/and right-hand corners of the front cover. These add to the professional look and help demand people to buy more magazines as this helps the magazine look more realistic. “ Q” Magazine- Front Cover

6. Overall Styles -“Q” has kept its traditional house style of red and white in every issue. It has a simple and clear title with the issue number beside it. Down the left hand side the features are laid out very clearly with sub-headings and separating red lines Features- the feature are always on the left in every issue and the headings are usually underlined in red and the reviews are at the bottom . “ Q” Magazine- Contents Main Image- the main image is of “The Courteeners” who are a indie style rock band, normally the main image of a music group/singer and at the bottom there is a caption, with a quick description on what's the story about, e.g. exclusive interviews, celebrity gossip and reviews Left Third -left third and the page numbers are in a large red font, relevant to the style of the Q logo. Below the “Features” section is a small section labelled “Every Month” which has the same layout as the “Features” section with the black font and red numbers. The “Q Review” is also present in this contents page and features a white background ,which fits well with the black text. Photography- there are only two images on the contents, because the contents so a more written text than images like the front cover,. However the images used look original and are not edited ,as you can see the background behind “The Courteeners” image is of a lot of greenery and higher grounds, this could give the impression that they are on a mountain with the faint scenery of the town behind them, giving the idea that they are on the top of the world, or the king’s of rock

7. “ Q” Magazine- Double Page Spread Target Audience- I think that the target audience will be middle aged because the band in the picture are middle aged and they look quite boring, so teenagers wont be interested. They are also a rock band so it will attract readers who listen to rock and metal .However this might attract teenagers who like that music because they want to know what they sound like. Language - The language that the article is using is English this is because it is an English magazine. The colours that are used are white, red and grey; I think this makes the magazine look quite serious and dull. These colours will not attract the readers as well as other double page spreads; this is a disadvantage to the magazine. The red is used for the writing to stand out because it’s the brightest and boldest colour of the three; I think this works because I more focus on the red writing. Font/Text -The white writing is used for explaining things like the picture The grey writing is used for the text this does not stand out because there is lots of grey writing and it is small, so it is harder to read therefore it does not appeal to the audience. The writing style that is used is small but bold. Overall Style - The double page spread is laid out neatly, this is because the image is taking the whole of one page and the text is on the other page .this helps explain to the audience who the band are and what they are doing. I think this is a good idea because the audience will concentrate on the image first and then move on to the text.

9. Selling Line Master Head Main Cover Line Explanatory text Cover Lines Main Images Barcode/Date & price Model Credit

10. Master head- the heading is in a fixed location , always at the top left, and the font remains the same in every issue, helping develop brand Identity. Coverlines- the cover line states" first major interview as THE LAST PUPPETS”, the fact that they say it is a “first major interview” it is a scoop and a hook to attract potential buyers. the text is framed ,and acts like a caption to the main image above. Left third- the left third , covers the main stories and articles in the issue e.g. “Tom Clarke VS Faris Rotter” , they have made the text bold and showed it as if is was a real battle, the bright and bold colour elaborates the importance of this event in history, to make the story more worthy of the readers attention NME Magazine- Front Cover Callout- is a quotation or edited from an article that is typically placed in a larger typeface on the same page. E.g. “I was worried the monkey would think I had an affair", quotes like these intrigues the reader and acts as a tease so the potential buyer will read the full article. Main image- the main image usually “bleeds” to the edge of the page, for instance the picture in could be that their skill and talent cannot be defined within a single page. the people faces are visible over the logo." Turner” and “Kane” are represented as brooding geniuses and the image positioning ensures that there faces are big, bold and iconic.

12. NME Magazine- Contents page Font / Text -NME have used a very effective black and white colour scheme for their contents page. With a big bold title and the masthead from the front cover where it is easily found. Featured Stories- Most of the page is dominated by a piece of writing written by either an editor of the magazine or someone who would normally write articles after being out there and experiencing it. This piece is about the UK gig scene and includes page references so while reading it you will be picking up on certain pages of interest. This article has been places on top of a black background which looks like the big black box which ,bands normally use them to store their instruments etc. so this ties in well. Above the article is the picture of maybe the writer of the piece and she is with a tour bus. Features - The features have been placed in the same place down the right hand side and are separated by big bold sub-heading which makes it very clear to spot each one. The page numbers have been printed in red , for them to stand out from almost everything else on the page. An advert has been used at the bottom right for subscriptions to this magazine. As nearly everyone who buys the magazine will look at this page it is an ideal place to advertise.

13. Overall Style - At the bottom of each page is a the page number, the name of the magazine and the date. The name of the magazine is in the house style font and colour as it always is whilst the date is in a smaller font and is in italic. This helps to create a house style which is the magazine’s design that distinguishes it from the other music magazines. The picture credits are written in a small sized font, in bold at the side of the body copy. Lily Allen’s name is written in the top right hand corner of the page in a black box. This tells the reader who the article is about. Main Image -The picture of Lily Allen covers the whole of the right hand side of the page, leaving the left page for all of the text. The article is started off with a drop capital. The lead is positioned above the four columns of text and is in a larger text size. Lily Allen’s clothes match the colour scheme of the feature, her shirt shows masculinity and that she is more masculine than feminine. She is looking directly at the reader connoting that she’s strong and demanding attention. NME Magazine- Double Page Spread Font /text- the quote that states “ People think I’m an attention seeker, but I’m just honest”. This quote is bold big and spread across both pages , making it stand out form the rest of the article ,so as the reader turns the page it is the first thing that catches there eye and they are immediately drawn into it .

15. Kerrang! Magazine - Front Cover Issues/articles - The front cover shows Ville Valo on the front cover with the cover line saying “The Amazing Resurrection Of Ville Valo” so the magazine will feature something about him inside. It also lists more bands down the side, this shows there may be interviews or reviews or something about them inside the magazine as well. Target Audience- the target audience, is mainly teenagers as the bands featured in this magazine have got mainly teenage fans, and also the title itself appeals to teenagers and people in their late 20’s because of the stylish and edgy design which appeals to them. From the front cover we can only see that their interests are mainstream rock groups. The front cover has a header listing some mainstream bands; the main image on the front cover is of the lead singer of a mainstream rock group, and on the side they list other mainstream rock groups that are going to be in the magazine and also are advertising that they have posters of yet more mainstream rock groups. Main Image- Ville Valo is on the front cover; from the main cover line “The Amazing Resurrection Of Ville Valo” we can assume that he is making a comeback of some sort. He is the lead singer of the band HIM which is a mainstream rock band who Kerrang!’s readers would like. Their target audience would be interested to read an interview about him and about his comeback. Strap Line "Life Is Loud” is the strapline for the magazine. This tells you that the magazine definitely does music, the word loud could also imply that they do a LOT of music, thus why it is loud. It also suits the genre of music that is inside Kerrang!

17. Colours Schemes -The colour scheme on the double page spread are suited ,with what the band are wearing e.g. the lead singer of “All American Rejects” is wearing a red hat , it matches the colour of the text. Overall Layout -The layout is balanced, and has more text this helps give the impact of appearing slightly organised and more structured than having the text in random chunks all across the double page spread. It is easier for the reader to read. Kerrang Magazine- Double Page Spread Main Image- . Only one image is in full colour -the stand first which is the main image, contrasting with the black and white ones surrounding it. This helps grab the reader’s attention and amplifies the colours used in the text. Pull Out Quote – The pull out quote states ‘The All-American Rejects might look and sound like a band your mum would approve of, but don’t be fooled, Tyson and his crew dish the dirt…’ written in capitals and two different colours (purple and red), drags the reader’s attention toward the article, after looking at the stand first image. It builds the excitement of what they intend to read .