1. Analysis of magazine front covers
Cover 1.NME Sept 2009 Cover 2. Q February 2010 Cover 3. Kerrang April 2010
Cheryl Cole Edition Paramore Edition
Dizzee Rascal Edition

2. The masthead is in the top left
corner of the front cover as we
read top to bottom, left to right
so this is one of the first things
FRONT COVER ANALYSIS The header is used to tell the reader
a special feature in the magazine,
black, bold, block capitals is used to
the reader sees. Red font
attract attention.
colour with a black outline is
eye-catching and stands out.
The magazine ‘NME’ sounds
like enemy showing
stereotypicals.
The sell/cover lines are used to
show what is featured in the
The flash is eye catching
magazine and gives sneak peaks of
because its white text on a
what you can find inside the
red background following
magazine.
the colour theme, block
capitals used to stand out
and colloquial language
used for target audience.
The main image is of the celebrity
featuring in this magazine’s edition. His
Urban background pose suits his style of music. He is wearing
to match celebrity colours that match the magazine colour
artist. Graffiti – theme.
street hip-hop
music.
The main cover line is used to tell the
reader who the person is featuring in the
A pull-quote is used as magazine.
a sneak-peak of what
is featured in the
magazine. Usually an Barcode, date, issue and price
important quote used to help the people selling
revealing gossip, secret the magazine and to see if the
or big statement. magazine is in date or not.
Dizzee Rascal’s eyeline is in the
rule of thirds, it is in the top third
and use of direct eye contact Footer is used to show music artists
address the reader and grabs featured in the magazine so readers can
attention. know if someone they like listening to is in
the magazine.

3. TARGET AUDIENCE OF THIS MAGAZINE
I think the target audience for NME
61% of the readers are in ABC1
magazine is teenagers up to about
meaning 68% are in the higher
the age of 30. I believe this because
income social groups.
they are the type of people who go to
more gigs and music festivals so
The magazine costs £2.20 which is
they want to read up on bands so
an average cost of a well-known
they know the latest news. According
magazine and isn’t too cheap or
to the reader profile the median age
expensive and is affordable for the
is 23 years old. 35% of the readers
target audience, students.
are students too, which follows
conventions of students being
The language is informal because it
interested in music.
is aimed towards younger people who
use slang etc. Big bold texts and
66% are males that buy NME and
bright colours are used to make it
34% are females. I think more males
stand out and make younger people
would buy NME than females
want to buy the magazine because it
because females usually buy fashion
catches their attention whereas older
magazines etc.
people don’t concentrate on the
layout and colours and mainly focus
The music interest is varied but the
on the stories published on the
magazine mainly features in artists
article.
or bands that are currently in the
charts or have released a new single
Lots of music artists are mentioned
or album during the time of the
that are out during the time the
edition. Bands or artists that are
magazine edition has been released
reuniting and coming back are also
so readers can see what is featured
featured too.
about the music they like listening to.

4. The masthead is in the top left
corner of the front cover as we
read top to bottom, left to right
so this is one of the first things The header is used as a main
the reader sees. It has a red sell line, and persuading
background with white font people to buy the magazine. It
colour. is important because we read
top to bottom so this is one of
the first things we read.
Cheryl Cole’s eye line is in the rule
of thirds, it is in the top third and The flash is eye catching
use of direct eye contact address because its white text on a
the reader and grabs attention. silver background which
follows the colour scheme
of the front cover, block
capitals used to stand out
Barcode, date, issue and price and colloquial language
used to help the people selling used for target audience.
the magazine and to see if the
magazine is in date or not.
The sell/cover lines are The main image is of the
used to show what is celebrity featuring in this
featured in the magazine magazine’s edition. Her pose is
and gives sneak peaks of sexy and seductive and she is
what you can find inside wearing red lipstick used as its
the magazine. sexy and follows the red colour
theme.
Dark background,
contrasts with red and
white text. Also
matches with Cheryl
Cole’s dark eye make-
up and hair colour.
Raining in the The main cover line is used to tell
background – wet the reader who the person is
seductive look. featuring in the magazine.

5. The masthead runs across the The header is used to tell
top of the front cover as we the reader a special feature
read top to bottom this is one in the magazine, black, bold,
of the first things the reader block capitals on a yellow
sees. It has a black background is used to
background but also uses the attract attention.
celebrity featured as a Hayley Williams’ eye line is in the
background too. The text is rule of thirds, it is in the top third
white and cracked giving it a and use of direct eye contact
fierce, hard rock feel. address the reader and grabs
attention.
The main cover line is used to tell
the reader who the person is
featuring in the magazine and a The main image is of the
special feature in the magazine. celebrity featuring in this
magazine’s edition. Her pose is
sexy and seductive. She is
The sell/cover lines are used
wearing yellow and black and
to show what is featured in
her make-up is also yellow and
the magazine and gives
black too, this is done as it
sneak peaks of what you
follows the front cover’s colour
can find inside the
scheme.
magazine. Images are also
used so the reader knows
what the band looks like.
The flash is eye catching
because its white text on a
White background is black and yellow
used so you can easily background which follows
see the text as the text the colour scheme of the
colour is mainly black front cover, block capitals
and yellow. used to stand out and
colloquial language used for
target audience.
The footer is used to
show music artists Barcode, date, issue and price
featured in the magazine used to help the people selling
so readers can know if the magazine and to see if the
someone they like magazine is in date or not.
listening to is in the
magazine.

6. STRETCH AND CHALLENGE
ACTIVITY-
USE THE HYPERLINK FOR DIRECT ACCESS TO NME
The Editor of NME is
Conor McNicholas and it
is published weekly. The
http://www.nme.com/magazine
company that publishes
the magazine is IPC
Media.
The magazine
circulation is 23,924 and
the magazine readership
is 289,000
NME (proper name being New
Musical Express) published its • NME target their audience by understanding they are keen
first edition on March 1952 and with mobiles and therefore having their own App, chances to
has been publishing weekly get involved with the magazine by forums etc.
magazines since in the United
Kingdom. It was the first British Products they offer:
magazine to include a singles Music App
chart. In the 1970’s it became the • radio station
best-selling British music • clothing shop
magazine and during the period • music videos
1972 to 1976 it was particularly • selling festival tickets
associated with Gonzo • free music emails
journalism, then became closely • NME blogs
associated with Punk rock • NME nightclubs
through the writing of Tony • fast music news to your mobile, PSP, Nintendo Wii, iPod
Parsons and Julie Burchill.
Opportunities for readers:
• write blogs and get involved with forums
• nights out especially with other NME fans

7. MORE DETAILED RESEARCH INTO NME MAGAZINE
http://www.nme.com/magazine