Music Magazines Analysis

Charity Bridges

Front Covers

MastheadThe masthead on this particular edition of ‘Rolling Stone’ challenges conventions as the masthead is far behind the main image and is hardly readable, which is not typical of magazines as usually the masthead is always bold and bright and clearly shown with nothing covering it. ‘Rolling Stone’ is a controversial magazine featuring artist from all different genres.

Date Line

Main Headline

Puff/Pug

Cover Lines

Main ImageThe main image on the cover of the magazine is a Mid shot (MS) as the shoulders can be seen, but mainly focuses on the face of the star. The eyes are in the top third of the magazine which is normal and unchallenging although it does cover the mast head and take up a lot of room on the front cover. The image looks slightly seductive and the facial expression shows how this is the view that is intended.

The date line is just regularly placed at the top of the magazine to give information of the price and issue date.

The puff in this case is used to highlight an event that the publisher wants the consumers to pick up on, so they frame the writing a different colour to grab the readers attention and sell the information so the readers purchase the magazine.

The cover lines used on this magazine advertise just like others the content inside the magazine, but on this particular version they are quite dark and don’t seem to relate to the picture very frequently. ‘Rape’ and ‘Death’ don’t seem to highlight information that the reader would necessarily want to read about, challenging conventions of relative information.

The main headline is clearly a story about the celebrity featured on the front. Titled ‘Crazy in love’ which suits the image as Rihanna portrays that image by her facial expressions and her clothing. The font is sans-serif italics and is very feminine but then uses bold plain writing. The background is fairly plain and the way the Rihanna is dressed and presented suits the headline, and it is typical of magazines to use the main headline as a feature about the person on the cover.

There is a 1 colour scheme, as only red is used as well as black and white. This is effective as ‘Rolling Stone’ is a globally known magazine and the lack of colour they use makes their magazine look more classy and sophisticated.

Colour Scheme

Charity Bridges

Masthead

The masthead for this copy of ‘Billboard’ is colourful and bold and fulfils its purpose of grabbing consumers attention. The text covers Drake’s face which isn’t necessarily unusual but would normally be above the image.

The puff has been made to look like a sticker peeling off the magazine, it is bright eye catching and contains information about a certain star. The puff is unique and edgy and looks 3-D.

Puff/Pug

Cover Lines

The cover lines are highlighted in a bold colour that fits in with the general theme of the magazine, they are advertising gossip about stars and things that are ‘Exclusive’ which will want the reader to buy them to receive the information.

The main headline states ‘Drake’ in bold letters, which is evidently representing the star on the cover. Underneath the main headline is a strap line saying ‘The new face of hip-hop’ this shows us the overall idea of what kind of music the magazine likes to feature and the headline stands out to make us recognise who it is about immediately.

Main Headline

Every magazine has this, gets scanned when you’re purchasing the item. This is probably the most conventional feature of the magazine.

Barcode

The main image is clearly of the star who's name is in the main headline, which is significant to all magazines and is in black and white. Which is unusual as most magazines are printed with the star’s face in normal colour. Drake is looking straight into the camera, as if he is targeting a particular person reading the magazine. It is between a close up and a medium close up as just the top of the shoulders are seen.

Main Image

The rule of thirds has clearly been taken into consideration on this magazine cover, as the writing is sectioned into the left and right third with the middle left plain and the image being in the centre. More cover lines are on the right third of the magazine with the opposite colours used which is again catchy and aesthetically pleasing.

Use Of Thirds

The masthead is in capital letters and bold, this makes it aesthetically pleasing to the eye and it would be one of the first things you see on the page. Although it is plain and simple it is a very well known magazine so everyone would instantly know what magazine it was even when the main image is covering most of the letter E.

Masthead

Usually most headers are advertisements of something non-related to any of the contents on the front cover. However, this header is stating that there will be an interview with Drake which giving you a little insight to the magazine.

HeaderPuff/Pug

Main Cover Line

Part of the cover line is in block capitals, bold and is red. With it being red it relates to the colour theme of the masthead and the rest of the magazine. They have stated that Arctic Monkeys will reveal the record that changed their life therefore, that will attract their fans as they will want to know why.

Pugs are used for advertisement in this case this pug is telling you about ‘the ultimate guide’ which is giving you information about records and gigs. Which again relates to the magazine as its advertising the music content inside.

Main Image

They have used a medium close up of Alex Turner who is most famous for being the lead singer of the Arctic Monkeys. Some people would idolise him therefore they would pick up this issue. The photo is posed, and placed in the centre of the page which is appealing to the eye.

Dateline Every magazine have this so you know what issue it is and the date it was released.

Cover Lines

The other cover lines are just giving the audience an insight to what will be in this issue.

BarcodeEvery magazine has this, gets scanned when you’re purchasing the item. This is probably the most conventional feature of the magazine.

Contents Pages

Logo

The magazine logo has remained the same as it looks on the front cover so the readers know which magazine it is and so that it fits as a house style and the colours and fonts continue throughout.

Title

The masthead is written largely across the top of the contents page in bold black letters, and an effect has been added so that a white line is running through each letter to make them stand out. Its effective and looks attractive and sleek.

As they are a music magazine they have used a very interesting yet clever technique to include the top charts of albums, singles and what’s new this week. This would interest the reader as everyone loves to know who’s in the charts. They have also used different colours so it looks more organised and it has headers so the audience can find their desired song/album easier.

Chart Information

Categories/Page Features

The categories are used to define the different sections of the contents pages, and show how different features are organised into different sections. This is giving more of an insight to the magazine because now the audience knows what will be included and what pages have what on. They have used different fonts and bold writing to highlight the important parts of the article.

ImagesThere are a variety of images used, there is a close up, 2 long shots and a medium close up. The sizes of the images are also different but there is a good amount and the page numbers placed over the images show the reader the page they will need to go to, to find out more info about the person they are looking for.

The title of the contents, its bold and block capitals so it is noticeable. They have placed it on a black background and the font is white therefore it will stand out to the reader. It is bland and simple but because it is such a popular magazine it is easily recognisable.

They have included the logo on the contents page to show the reader that ‘NME’ is the magazine they are reading and is conventional as this is done on most magazines.

They have used an index on the page which consists of bands featured in the magazine making it easier for the reader to find the information inside about their favourite band.

The image they have used is of the lead singer of the ‘Arctic Monkeys’ which is the band advertised underneath. The bans are also featured on the front cover which highlights their importance to the issue.

The article is about the band Arctic Monkeys however, it is not the full article as it gives you a page reference to read the rest of the article.

There is an advertisement at the bottom of the magazine which allows the readers to subscribe to the magazine which would let them pay less than they normally do for the magazine. This is a good way of making money as the readers are receiving a deal by buying the magazines in bulk. All magazines do this which is again conventional.

They have included the date to show the reader what edition it is.

They’re separated into different types of information and have been placed on a black background to make them stand out more. The writing places inside the different sections has page numbers to go the page that the insight is showing. The 3 colours red, white and black are used throughout.

Index

Logo

Main Image

Article

Advertisement

Sub-Headings

Title

Date

TitleThis issue of ‘Rolling Stones’ has its initials in the title to show the reader that it is the magazine they are reading. Using the initials and not the full name may confuse some readers who are not familiar with the magazine. The colours used are the ones used on the front cover, which may help solve some confusion.

Selling Line

The quote is used to represent the content of the magazine as the producers believe it has ‘All the news that fits’. It helps to sell the magazine as the readers will think that everything they need to know about the certain genre will be inside.

Sub-Headings

Main Article

The sub headings are used for the reader to find the section of the magazine they are looking for, for example rock and roll. The information for each is placed underneath the subheading provided with page numbers where they can find the information. This layout happens almost on all magazines making it extremely conventional.

DateThe date is added to show which date it was published and what issue number the particular magazine is.

The main article takes up majority of the page and is about a specific genre of music which is hip-hop. The biggest faces and stars of hip-hop are featured on each of the front covers, and the fact they have been in Rolling Stones before shows how it is a popular magazine. The article is named ‘Special Section’ which suggests that it is a one off and isn’t something that they normally would feature, and they have gave their best 50 songs of all time for readers who are interested in that genre to read.

Images

The images that are featured are past issues of their magazine, which fits into the hip hop theme as they are all big stars in that genre.

Double Page Spreads

TitleThe title covers a large part of the page and is in a sans-serif font. The writing is black on a grey background and the colours are very neutral. The text says ‘The Triumph of Adele’ suggesting that Adele is seen as a superior star/figure as he acts are seen as a ‘Triumph’

Article

The article is in very small writing but the ‘I’ that introduces the text is extremely large. The text is again in black and grey and fits in with the theme of the whole double page spread. And talks about Adele and her rise to fame.

Main Image

The main image again is in black and white and is a medium close up of Adele and it covers the majority of the page. The image is of the start who is featured in the magazine which is conventional because this is what usually happens with all magazines.

Sub-HeadingThe sub-heading is selling the article as its giving additional information about the article and information about the person who is interviewing Adele and who the pictures have been taken by.

Promotion

A small puff has been added to the top left corner of the double page spread to advertise and promote the arctic monkeys playing at huge festivals such as Reading and Leeds. The colours used are iconic and associated with the festivals and stand out of the neutral colour scheme.

Main ImageThe main image of the band fills up the whole of one of the pages, the image is a mid shot and they are again dressed in fairly neutral colours. Alex Turner the lead singer is pictured at the front to show his role and authority in the band.

The Mise-en-scene of the bands clothes are mainly denims and blues and baggy looking, which associates them with the general conventions of the ‘Indie’ genre. The lighting is high key and looks like a comfortable set up.

Title

The headline covers the majority of the page and is a sans-serif font stating ‘The Joshua Code’ this is referring to how the band featured, ‘The Arctic Monkeys’ to show how they got help from ‘Josh Homme’ from queen of the stone age for their last album humbug. The way the writing is two different types weaved together could represent the two bands coming together within work. The writing is black on a white background which is extremely conventional and stands out normally.

By-Line

The by-line shows who the article was done by and who took the photographs to credit their work.

ArticleThe article starts off with a drop cap which captures the audiences attention. The light grey colour fits in well with the neutral theme and doesn't overpower the headline.

Image

Main Article

Around this writing is a white faded box, this is done to highlight the little message that is inside the box as it may be important. Also, they have followed the same colour scheme by using pink again not only to follow the colour scheme but it is highlighting the writers name.

The font is white so therefore it stands out on the greyish background they have decided to use. It looks as if they have centred the writing so it looks neat and presentable also because it is only an introductory paragraph.

The main story ‘Girl, you’ll be a women soon’ is in large font and spread all the way across the page so it is the main focus on the page. The word ‘girl’ has been wrote in pink and that colour is mainly associated with younger girls this connotes the idea that she is a ‘girl’. However, the rest of the sentence is written in black and that is seen as a more professional colour therefore this would connote that she is growing up.

The image is a long shot of Miley Cyrus. The way the photo is posed relates to the article, she is sat in the corner of a room on her own giving off the idea that it is childlike. However, because she is wearing makeup, tight clothing and heels is portraying adult like features, that she is growing up. She was once ‘teen pop sensation Hannah Montana’ and now she is becoming an adult. Furthermore, because the image is on a greyish background the writing stands out.

Additional Information

Article