Analysis of similar music magazines

1. Analysis of magazine front covers Cover 1.NME Sept 2009 Dizzee Rascal Edition

2. FRONT COVER ANALYSIS THE MASTHEAD The masthead is used as a symbol of recognition towards the reader. On this magazine the ‘NME’ is strong and powerfully presented so it stands out by the used of bold font and variation of main colours; red, black and white. It is featured at the top of the page to show its importance and make it be seen first by the reader. THE HEADER… This header shows a important highlight of the magazine immediately to the reader to attract their attention. The multi use of bold and normal font makes the information attract the reader more by the way it is presented instead of sticking with one effect. THE SELL LINES/COVER LINES These sell lines present the genre of the magazine by naming certain bands which are popular and highlighted. The use of two colours makes the band names stand out more to the audience as each name contrasts the one above with the use of black or red colour. THE MAIN IMAGE …. By using Dizzee Rascal, he is a well known popular feature in the music industry which suggests that the magazine speaks on popular genre of music. The expression of his face, gives the idea of loudness which creates the impression of the magazine content. THE MAIN COVER LINE This cover line is used effectively as it is layered on top of the main image of Dizzee Rascal, clearly showing to the audience who it is in the image. By it being shown in capitals, bold and with a shadow effect, it evokes this image of the magazine that it contains attitude and important information. BARCODE – DATE/ISSUE/PRICE The barcode is essentially always presented in the corner of the page so no distraction of focus of the front cover occurs. The bar code is important as it informs the reader on the price and date, for the institutors, the bar code allows them to see how many copies are bought and keeps track of when the magazine was published. THE FOOTER Within this footer, the reader is shown the type of music genre that the magazine focuses on. The footer allows for extra information to be located on the front cover without diverting attention away from the main aspects of the cover. USE OF A PULL QUOTE The use of a pull quote presents the reader with the aspect that there is a interview or factual information on Dizzee Rascal. Not only that, but it relates towards the reader due to the strong presentation and use of language, as the reader they like to think they could speak and share the same attitudes as Dizzee. BACKGROUND The background shows a tagged colourful wall which suggests the idea of rebellious qualities which could set the target audience. The graffiti supports the typical factor of the magazine – attitude. USE OF A FLASHER-(offering something extra to T.A) The flasher gives the impression to the audience of either an important offer or news which is important. This attracts the reader due to the magazine setting the impression that it contains important factual information. RULE OF THIRDS/THE LEFT THIRD The left third of the cover reveals to hold the dominant area of where information and content is. The whole aspect of the rule of thirds is used as an area where such things as cover lines could be listed.

3. TARGET AUDIENCE OF THIS MAGAZINE METHODS USED TO ATTRACT THIS TARGET AUDIENCE ARE: COVER LINES The use of cover lines within the magazine, evidentially lists the type of music genre which the magazine focuses on, immediately attracting the reader who have interests in such music artists, MAIN IMAGE On this front cover, the main image is represented by Dizzee Rascal showing a loud, charismatic approach towards the magazine due to the facial expression and stance. The target audience is drawn to this kind of attitude, the appropriate age group would see this as inviting, other ages might find it not to their taste. Readers of NME all show a passion for music , within this magazine it mainly focuses on the Indie genre , showing the new faces to music who are fresh and individual , not necessarily well known, popular faces who feature often in regular magazines. The dominant gender of the reader is male resulting in 60% of all buyers. By using research it in shown that the highest percentage of age is individuals 16-24 , then followed by the age 24-34 with 23% of the readers percentage. Concerning the aspect of social class , it is evident that the main social class buyers vary from class A, B and C1 , which are in fact the higher ranking of class within society. The cost of the magazine is £2.30 which is a average and appropriate price for a magazine of such content.

5. FRONT COVER ANALYSIS THE MASTHEAD The masthead on this front cover suggests the main colour scheme of red and white. By using the white font, the header stands out clear to the reader due to its black background. The actual title ‘XXL’ suggests the idea of authority and power over other magazines, making it seem to the reader as something different. BARCODE The use of the barcode has been well located at the bottom corner of the page to not distract the reader from the main aspects of the cover. The barcode is used to show price and to the institutor how many copies have been sold. The barcode is a crucial feature. MAIN IMAGE On this front cover of ‘XXL’ the main image includes two separate music artists standing beside each other. Both these music artists represent the music genre of hip-hop and RnB, this is effectively done to suggests to the reader the main music focus of the magazine. Both artists express serious facial expressions to suggest the magazine to be full of attitude, also by having them both looking into the camera, it presents them to be looking at us, which as a reader attracts us to the magazine. Also Nicki’s head even covers a part of the masthead, which exposes that the main image clearly dominates the whole page due to the use of space it takes over. MAIN COVER LINE The main cover line of this cover reveals to the reader and represents the main image by stating how the magazine is focusing on the two artists shown - “Nicki & Drake Domination”. Again, like the masthead, the two colours red and white are used to expose variation of colour to make the cover look more attractive and presentable, also allowing the information to stand out clearer to the reader. SELL/COVER LINES These cover lines all expose the idea of hip-hop aspects in the music industry. Such statements as “what’s wrong with New York hip-hop?” and “struggle of female MC’s”, both show this. Also a list of such music artists are shown to represent the type of music genre that the magazine covers, as the reader this allows them to see whether the magazine would interest them. RULE OF THIRDS The right third of the magazine cover is used in this case to list aspects such as cover lines it provides a constructed and neat presentation, yet giving the information needed to attract the reader. However the use of writing on this cover is hardly used, the image seems to dominate the cover very powerfully.

6. FRONT COVER ANALYSIS MASTHEAD The use of masthead on this front cover is shown to be very bold and in your face, which intentionally attracts the type of audience due to its use of attitude. The clear white title takes up the whole of the top of the cover to make it stand out to the audience, advertising the name clearly and effectively. The font suggests attitude due to the style being written in stereotypical ‘hip-hop’ ideal type of writing. BARCODE The barcode is appropriately placed in the bottom corner of the page to show its small importance to the cover. Even though to the reader it has a low important scale, it provides the reader on the price, and also gives the institutor a way of seeing how many copies are bought. MAIN IMAGE On this front cover, the popular music artist Rihanna is featured as the main object within the cover. Rihanna as a music artists sections into the genre of hip-hop, pop and RnB which exposes the music focus of this individual magazine. The use of her being edited into black and white contrasts well with the bright blue background with Is layered behind it, allowing the image to stand out as a main focus. MAIN COVER LINE The main cover line of this magazine links towards the main image, indentifying her as a music artist but also as a main focus of the issue. Throughout the cover, the main colour scheme is apparent to be black, white and blue. Evidentially on this cover, the cover line is written with the variation of blue and black font to make it stand out and appear more presentational and attractive towards the reader. COVER/SELL LINES This magazine use the cover and sell lines as a way of showing to the reader the type of genre it focuses on. They do this by listing such music artists which file for the genre it covers, such as LMFAO and UGK which are popular artists in the music industry. Immediately by this, the reader can indentify whether this type of magazine will fit their interests within music.

7. NME COVERS

8. NME BACKGROUND INFORMATION Krissi Murison was named the magazine's eleventh editor on 29 July 2009. She took over as the first female editor in September 2009.NME.COM is currently edited by Luke Lewis. . It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles chart, in the 14 November 1952 edition. NME covers the genre of indie/rock. The magazine mainlky contains interviews, news and articles on the fashion and life of indie bands and artists. NME target audience: 65% Male* 50% 16-24* 23% 25-34* 79% ABC1* (social class)