Classical music magazines double page spread analysis final

Classical Music

Magazines: double

page spread analysis

Codes and Conventions of

double page spreads

Text organised into columns – clear – simple – easy to read – clarity attracts reader

White background – contrast against black text – eye-catching and easy to read

Connected to article – recommendations of other concerts – offers information outside of main article – interest readers – ways to see classical music rather than just read about it – blue background away from column structure makes it stand out – separate from article – important

Image – fits in with title – mise en scene = soft colours that stray from house style – stand out – eye catching

Big, bold title – eye-catching, clear to reader, simple = intriguing

Logo – brand awareness – month and year of magazine publication – part of a collection – can tell when issued and what magazine double page spread belongs to

Pull out quotation – draws readers eye to text – entices reader

Drop cap – bold – attracts reader

Header at top of page – tells reader type of article – ‘Education’ before they read on

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House style is consistent with the rest of the

magazine – offers a professional appearance –

appeal to target audience – simplicity = white and

black colour scheme and serif font = more

complex font = more professional.

Text is organised into organised columns, makes

the page easy to navigate and not overcrowded.

Main image is positioned at the top of the page

and the mise on scene features colours that

contrast against the house style making the

image stand out and look important which draws

the readers eye and interest to the page. Although

this is an effective technique for this particular

article, I think it looks less professional and so

when creating my music magazine I will use

images that fit in with my house style.

The pull out quotation is very effective in

attracting the attention of the audience as it offers

intrigue into the context surrounding the nature of

the quotation. This is a common convention used

in classical music magazine double page spreads

that I think is very effective and so I will use this

convention in my own magazine.

Masthead/logo – brand awareness – keeps with house style as still centre aligned at top of page

Lead paragraph – insight to article – entices audience to read on

Pull out quotation – draws readers eye to text – entices reader

Image – Mise en scene – Gold background and black piano and suit – keeps with gold house style – gold logo – professional as colours from text match colours of image

Link to website – social media big part of media platforms – people use social media a lot and so good way to attract/interest audience – can offer exclusive material etc.

Text organised into columns – organised – simple – easy to read – clarity attracts the reader/mature target audience

House style – white background contrasts with text and images – text in serif font except for logo so stands out – black and gold text = regal and rich colours – more mature style of music and therefore a more mature audience

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The signature house style of the magazine is continued

on the double page spread which creates a sense of

professional consistency and allows the page and style of

the magazine to be easily recognised. This convention is

seen across all of the music magazines I have looked at

so this is a convention I will definitely use when creating

my own music magazine.

The use of a white background is particularly effective in

attracting the readers attention by offering a contrast to

the text and images present across the two pages.

The two images present across the two pages are action

shots used to show the context and seriousness of the

article rather than using direct mode of address a

convention used in other magazines.

The text on the double page spread is organised into

columns which makes the style of the magazine more

sophisticated which is effective in attracting the desired

target audience. By presenting links to Gramophone’s website at the

crease of the double page spread it offers a connection

to social media which is a common interest in the 21st

Century but also for younger readers – used to attract

not only the target audience but also new, younger

readers to this style of music and therefore a classical

music magazine. Shows Gramophone is more than just a

magazine publication but also website based.

Advert – big – takes up ¼ of a page – magazine more laid back – offer more than just text to audience but also suggestions into concerts that may interest reader outside of the magazine

Extra info about Jane Gordon – attracts audience attention and so may want to find out more about her after reading article – publicity – link to her social media – people more likely to look online – easy to do

Text organised into columns – organised, simple, easy to read = clear – attracts reader, makes them want to read on

House style = white contrasting background to black text = simple and clear = easy to read, neutral colours and serif font, keeps with the house style seen throughout magazine = professional

Article title = big and bold and in red font to stand out and contrast against rest of article – key info, direct mode of address with ‘your’, uses and gratification theory = direct personal relationship with reader

Drop cap = bold, attracts reader – draws attention so more likely to read rest of article

Logo = brand awareness = easy to recognise magazine, month and date – magazine part of a series, meant to be collected – makes magazine easy to recognise and sort

Image = direct mode of address = uses and grat – personal relationship with reader, mise en scene fits with house style – white background and black clothing – professional look

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The common convention of using a drop capital to

start the article is very effective in attracting the

attention of the reader, making them want to read

the rest of the article. The common use of this

convention and the effectiveness of it means that I

will use this convention in my own music magazine.

The image of Jane Gordon uses direct mode of

address to create a personal relationship with the

reader so they are more inclined to read article on

double page spread. The image also fits in with the

colours seen in the house style which makes the

double page spread come across as professional and

appealing which is more suited to the type of target

audience it would be looking at attracting to a

classical music magazine, therefore I will also keep

my house style consistent even across my images

and use direct mode of address to keep the readers

attention and make them inclined to read the article.

Again, the convention of using columns to organise

the text across the double page spread offers

simplicity and clarity to the article which is more

suited to the target audience who like classical music

which is sophisticated and pure. Therefore the use of

columns means that the double page spread is easy

to navigate and stylishly simple at the same time.

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The use of roughly 3 images across the

double page spread with one main image

larger than the rest, usually of the featured

artist. House style is usually continued to the double

page spread which creates professional

consistency and brand awareness.

The article is usually against a white

background with a contrasting colour of text

(black or gold) organised into clear columns

creating a simple look and layout.

Drop capitals are frequently used in double

page spreads to start off the article as this

draws the eye of the reader to the article and

so they are more likely to read it.

Pull out quotations are also used in many

double page spreads to entice and intrigue

the reader to find out the context behind the

quote pulled from the article and also offers

the reader an insight into the topic of the

article.