Music Magazine AnalysisMusic Magazine Analysis

Front CoversFront Covers

Task 21Task 21

NMENME This front cover represents Dizzee Rascal This front cover represents Dizzee Rascal

(the Main Image) as being incredibly happy, (the Main Image) as being incredibly happy, this ties in with the pull quote. These are this ties in with the pull quote. These are both partly in the left third, which catches the both partly in the left third, which catches the readers attention when stacked on the shelf. readers attention when stacked on the shelf. His attitude in this magazine also shows that His attitude in this magazine also shows that this magazine is more ‘upbeat’ and ‘exciting’ this magazine is more ‘upbeat’ and ‘exciting’ than another magazines like Kerrang, so than another magazines like Kerrang, so NME would appeal to an audience who NME would appeal to an audience who prefer pop music and indie rock and other prefer pop music and indie rock and other music similar to them; the cover lines enforce music similar to them; the cover lines enforce this because the bands mentioned play this this because the bands mentioned play this type of music.type of music.

His clothes represent his style of music (hip-His clothes represent his style of music (hip-hop) and enforces his image of being a hip-hop) and enforces his image of being a hip-hop star. The main article covers most of the hop star. The main article covers most of the page, this is symbolic of how famous he is.page, this is symbolic of how famous he is.

The flash is used to catch the reader’s The flash is used to catch the reader’s attention, in this case it contains news about attention, in this case it contains news about ‘Pavement Reunion’ which would usually ‘Pavement Reunion’ which would usually catch the reader’s attention. This is also catch the reader’s attention. This is also shown on the left third.shown on the left third.

The masthead is very well known and often The masthead is very well known and often the main image will cover it. The masthead is the main image will cover it. The masthead is done in the house style colours which are done in the house style colours which are red, black and white. This is used throughout red, black and white. This is used throughout the magazine. The red catches the reader’s the magazine. The red catches the reader’s attention because it is a very exciting colour attention because it is a very exciting colour compared to grey. The masthead is also on compared to grey. The masthead is also on the left third which easily catches the the left third which easily catches the reader’s attention because it is so well reader’s attention because it is so well known.known.

Skyline

Cover Lines

Lead Article Flash

Pull Quote

Dateline

Main Image

Left Third

Masthead

QQ This front cover shows the lead singer of ‘Muse’ This front cover shows the lead singer of ‘Muse’

being disorderly, this ties in with the pull quote being disorderly, this ties in with the pull quote and strapline.and strapline.

The main image shows Matt Bellamy smashing The main image shows Matt Bellamy smashing the masthead with a guitar, this suggests to the the masthead with a guitar, this suggests to the reader that he is out of control, this can tie in reader that he is out of control, this can tie in with the music because his band plays different with the music because his band plays different forms of rock which is usually identified as being forms of rock which is usually identified as being very wild. His clothes are very dark which very wild. His clothes are very dark which suggests that he is anything but innocent. By suggests that he is anything but innocent. By smashing the masthead he shows that this smashing the masthead he shows that this magazine is more exciting and full of destruction magazine is more exciting and full of destruction than NME, this issue of Q seems like a mixture than NME, this issue of Q seems like a mixture of Kerrang and NME. The reader knows this of Kerrang and NME. The reader knows this because a cover line shows that there is an because a cover line shows that there is an article of ‘Motley Crue,’ who are also very wild, article of ‘Motley Crue,’ who are also very wild, and an article named ‘Rock’s Greatest Nutjobs’and an article named ‘Rock’s Greatest Nutjobs’

The house style in Q involves red and white, this The house style in Q involves red and white, this is used for the masthead and all of the cover is used for the masthead and all of the cover lines, but it is also used throughout the lines, but it is also used throughout the magazine. Again the masthead is red to catch magazine. Again the masthead is red to catch the readers attention, just like NME.the readers attention, just like NME.

The left third of this magazine seems to be more The left third of this magazine seems to be more ‘outstanding’ on the front cover compared to ‘outstanding’ on the front cover compared to NME, the main article is very bold and contrasts NME, the main article is very bold and contrasts against the background, the cover lines within against the background, the cover lines within the left third are very wild and interesting which the left third are very wild and interesting which would appeal to the reader.would appeal to the reader.

The reader is more likely to be interested in rock The reader is more likely to be interested in rock and more rebellious music than NME, this is and more rebellious music than NME, this is shown by Matt Bellamy smashing the masthead shown by Matt Bellamy smashing the masthead and debris flying everywhere.and debris flying everywhere.

Selling Line/Logo

Barcode

Strapline

Metal HammerMetal Hammer This front cover is completely different to NME and This front cover is completely different to NME and

more aggressive than Q. This is shown by the heavy more aggressive than Q. This is shown by the heavy metal band on the front cover. The lead singer of metal band on the front cover. The lead singer of ‘Alice in Chains’ is more predominant than the other ‘Alice in Chains’ is more predominant than the other band members, this is a convention of music band members, this is a convention of music magazines as the lead singer is usually in front. Also, magazines as the lead singer is usually in front. Also, the lead singer is more likely to be known by fans than the lead singer is more likely to be known by fans than the other band members. Every band member is the other band members. Every band member is wearing black, like the Q magazine it suggests that wearing black, like the Q magazine it suggests that they are anything but innocent.they are anything but innocent.

The background is very post-apocalyptic, this shows The background is very post-apocalyptic, this shows that the band want to appear that they have come that the band want to appear that they have come from hell. The flames from the guitar also enforce that from hell. The flames from the guitar also enforce that the band are very hellish. The attitudes of the band the band are very hellish. The attitudes of the band members also suggests that this band is ‘not to be members also suggests that this band is ‘not to be messed with’ which matches their music style.messed with’ which matches their music style.

The masthead is also done in a very bold and The masthead is also done in a very bold and destructive font style. It shows that this magazine is destructive font style. It shows that this magazine is very aggressive and rebellious. This is also the same very aggressive and rebellious. This is also the same with the main article font, this also suggests that the with the main article font, this also suggests that the band is aggressive and rebellious.band is aggressive and rebellious.

This magazine lacks a left third which could suggest This magazine lacks a left third which could suggest that it is more well known to it’s fans, therefore people that it is more well known to it’s fans, therefore people who like rock music will know where to find it, so the who like rock music will know where to find it, so the magazine does not need a left third. The magazine is magazine does not need a left third. The magazine is also done in a ‘poster’ style, meaning that there is no also done in a ‘poster’ style, meaning that there is no cover lines and that the page is usually quite empty cover lines and that the page is usually quite empty (other than the main image and article.) This gives the (other than the main image and article.) This gives the image that the band have taken over the magazine, image that the band have taken over the magazine, the reader can tell this because this band has a five-the reader can tell this because this band has a five-page spread instead of a double-page spread.page spread instead of a double-page spread.