Magazine Analysis

Q’s logo is being slightly over lapped by one of the band member’s body. This is purposely done to show that they are so well known, people still recognise their logo despite it being cover up. The logo’s background is in red, this connotes danger which appeals to the magazines target audience. The ‘Q’ is in serif typography, presenting the magazine as important and well established.

Buzz words are used, this entices people to buy the magazine as it makes the articles seem special and that articles as good as that one couldn’t be found in another magazine.

A gold background is used here, giving the impression that it is almost like a medallion. Gold font is also used. Gold connotes importance and a sense of victory. This also presents ‘Q’ as being a very well established magazine.

A rhetorical question is used beneath the headline, this makes the reader want to read the feature article to find out the answer.

The headline is plain black in a serif typography. This is to show the band are so important they don’t need a brash headline to be noticed.

The cover lines also attract the reader as they are on the top layer of the front cover. The band is a different genre to the image of the band on the front cover. This encourages people in to rock music to buy the magazine.

The image presents the band as very cheerful and exciting. However their position could be interpreted to be like a scrap heap, implying the band aren't very good. This could also be implied by the rhetorical question about them ‘Back for good?’ As if they won’t last.

The Kerrang! masthead is being slightly covered by the artists head. This is done purposely to show how well recognised they are even when their brand identity is covered. Kerrang’s logo looks as if it has been shattered due to the music being so loud. This therefore applies to it’s target audience of people into rock music.

The skyline contains short, exclamatory sentences which draw people in to look inside the magazine.

A pull quote is used, this anchors the image and makes people want to read the feature article to find out more of what the band have to say.

The headline also has a shattered effect as if the music is so loud that it’s smashed. The headline is on the third layer of the front cover so it stands out as much as possible because peoples eyes are drawn to it.

Buzz words are used. The fact ‘exclusive’ is used to describe the interview with the band makes the reader think that the interview is special, enticing them read the feature article.

The image is of a band member playing live. This presents him as a rock star because he doesn’t pose for photo’s and try to look nice like most stereotypical pop artists. He is wearing all dark clothing, this connotes rebellion, therefore appealing to the target audience. He is playing an electric guitar which immediately appeals to the magazine’s target audience as it connotes rock music.

The background of the front cover is a dull grey, but there is light coming from behind the artist. This presents him to be almost angelic, which challenges his stereotype.

The masthead of this magazine is also being covered by the artists head. This is done on purpose to show that they are so well known that it is still recognized if half of the logo is covered up. The logo is pink and white which appeals to the magazines target audience. This is because pink connotes femininity and white connotes innocence.

A pull quote is used, this anchors the image and makes the reader want to read the feature article to find out what else the artist says.

Slang is used ‘wanna’ This appeals to a younger target audience as it makes the magazine seem very relaxed and easy to read.

The image is posed, making the artist look flawless. He is presented to be a stereotypical male pop star that young girls would want to read about. He is using direct address and is pointing his finger at the camera. This draws people in to read or buy the magazine as it seems very personal.

A rhetorical question is used on this cover line, it makes the reader want to find out and therefore buy the magazine and read that particular article.

The artist is wearing a white top, white connotes innocence. This appeals to the magazine’s target audience.

The contents page contains the magazine logo and house colours to continue to show it’s brand identity.

What is included in the magazine is shown with some details about each feature. This is so the reader knows what to expect and want to read the different features.

Gold font is used. Gold connotes royalty, this makes the band that there is a special about seem more important.

A pull quote is used, this anchors the main image and therefore makes the reader want to read the article about the band.

A music review is included on the contents page. This makes the contents page more interesting and shows that the whole magazine is about music.

Three members of the band are using direct address in the picture. This draws the reader in to reading the article about them. The background is a very dull grey and the band are in the countryside. This could be to emphasise how ‘rocky’ the band are as they are in surroundings that contrast them. However it could also symbolize the fact that they don’t need an expensive photo shoot and outfits like other bands because they are good enough as they are.

Kerrang!’s contents page includes a letter from the editor. This is commonly done in most magazines, making it more personal to the reader.

The main image is of an artist posing, using direct address and swearing at the camera. He also has tattoo’s which connote rebellion. The image appeals to the magazine’s target audience as the artist is being very rebellious by swearing, which makes the reader want to find out more about him by reading the article.

The majority of the contents page is images. This attracts the magazines target audience of teenagers and young adults because there is not a lot of complicated writing.

The magazine use the contents page to advertise their yearly subscription. This is because they know that all of their readers will look on the contents page to find out where the articles they want to read are.

Sub-headings are used to categorise the different features in the magazine so it is easier for people to find what they are looking for.

The typography of the headline is in the style of handwriting. This gives a personal affect to the reader. The background of the headline is bright pink. Pink connotes femininity, this appeals to the magazine’s target audience of aged 6-13 girls as pink is a stereotypically ‘girly’ colour. The style of writing is very casual as the headline is ‘Inside the mag...’ rather than ‘Contents’ This appeals to the target audience as it is very casual, personal and easy for them to understand.

Ellipsis is used, which makes the reader want to find out more about what is inside the magazine.

The background of the contents page is white. White connotes innocence which is suitable for the magazine’s target audience.

Images are mainly used to tell the reader where to find a lot of the things in the magazine. This appeals to the magazine’s young target audience as they would get bored with too much writing on a page.

A very clean cut boy band are used on the page. The image is posed and the boys all look very innocent. This therefore appeals to the target audience.

Personal pronouns are used on the contents page, this makes the reader feel as if the articles are written just for them. Therefore making them want to read them.

This is a buzz word, attracting the reader to read the article.

The image is dominating the page. It is not posed as it is the band live in concert.

The headline is a quote, which makes the reader want to read more of what the band have to say as they immediately know it’s an interview.

The headline is like a stamp, as if it’s a stamp to get into a concert or festival.

There are smaller pictures of the band members, which have captions telling the reader what they are doing.

It is advertising their new singles, enticing the reader to buy their music and informing them of new tracks.

The article is written in columns. The band’s quotes are embedded into the text, appealing to an older target audience as it is harder to read.

The main image is dominating the double page spread. The picture is posed and is using indirect address.

Cheryl Cole is wearing leather, studded materials in the image, which are very gothic and connote rebellion.

She is sticking out her chest and in a very seductive pose. This appeals to Q’s male target audience.

She is wearing red lipstick which attracts to reader to her lips. Red also connotes danger, appealing to the magazine’s target audience.

She is standing against a plain white background which emphasises how she is the most important on the page.

The secondary image is very mysterious as she is covering her eyes with a hat and because of the dark night and shadows. This makes the reader curious about her and therefore want to read the article.

The headline of her name is very small. This is telling the reader that she is so important and well known that she doesn’t need a big headline to introduce her as she is known by just her looks.

The huge, red ‘C’ dominates the left page. The red connotes danger which entices the audience to read the article.

A quote from the artist is used. This immediately stands out to the reader due to its bold, red font. They read the quote and therefore want to find out more of what the artist has said in the interview.

The article is written in columns in a continuous piece of writing with the artist’s quotes embedded into the article rather than a Q&A style of writing. The style of writing used in this article appeals to an older target audience because it is harder to read compared to Q&A articles.

This double page spread is from Top of the Pop’s. It contrasts the other double page spreads because it is aimed at young girls aged 8-12.

The headline is in pink and white. Pink connotes femininity and white connotes innocence. Therefore suiting it’s target audience.

The article is written in a Q&A format, making it easier to read, appealing to it’s younger audience.

The article is about an actress rather than a musician or band. This shows that the magazine is aimed at a younger target audience because they are less likely to want a whole magazine completely focused on music.

A quote is used, making the reader want to read the article and find out more about what she says.

Ellipsis is used in the headline to encourage the reader to read the feature article. This is a common technique used in articles.

• Q was first published in October 1986• It is released monthly • Its total circulation is 80,418• Q’s editor is Paul Rees who was the former editor of the UK Kerrang! • Mark Ellen and David Hepworth are the founders of Q magazine• It is currently priced at £3.90, which shows that it is aimed at an older target audience as it is quite expensive and it is unlikely for children to spend that much on a magazine• Its target audience is 25-45 year old males who are interested in rock and live music, it therefore has a mass audience.

• NME started as a newspaper in March 1952, since then it has developed into a magazine• The online version of NME launched in 1996, it currently has 5 million users per month• NME magazine’s current editor is Krissi Murrison, NME online’s editor is Luke Lewis• The magazine is released weekly at the price of £2.20. Its price indicates its target audience of teenagers and young adults who wouldn’t want to spend a lot of money on a magazine • Its total circulation is 33,875• It’s target audience is 16-25 year old males who are interested in rock and live music, this is therefore a niche audience

• Top Of The Pops is a music magazine released monthly at the price of £2.20. The price of the magazine shows that its target audience is of a young age group as they wouldn’t want to or be able to afford to spend much more on a magazine• The magazine was first launched in February 1995 • The magazine’s current editor is Peter Hart• It’s circulation is 98,030• It’s target audience is 7-13 year old girls who are interested in music, celebrities and fashion. It therefore has a niche audience