FEATURING ‘THE MACABEES’DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD FOR NME MAGAZINE

HOW DOES THE CHOICE OF BAND FEATURED IN THE ARTICLE SUGGEST WHO THE TARGET AUDIENCE WILL

BE?

THE MACABEES

The choice of band featured in the article suggests that the target audience, because all the band members are male, definitely suggests that they will

have a strong female following. However, this band also has a huge male fan-base, meaning the target audience of the article will be pretty vague/general

in terms of gender. The Macabees are an indie, rock band, so this suggests the target audience will be interested in that genre of music and generally will be quite young.

They play at many music festivals and do lots of gigging meaning their audience is predominantly young because of this which will attract a young,

teenage target audience to the magazine.The Macabees are very creative and artistic in their advertising and

promotion and this will therefore attract a creative audience. Their trendy styling and arty image again adds to the idea that their target audience is

that of a young one. They have an album called ‘Colour it in’ and songs such as ‘Lego’ and

‘Dinosaurs’, which again portrays the band as having a childish, playful side which will attract a younger audience.

Indie/Rock band from London

WHAT TYPE OF LANGUAGE IS USED IN THE ARTICLE?

‘on the road with...’This type of language is very ‘rock&roll’ and suggests that the article will include some backstage info and photographs to the reader which will attract them to reading it in the first place.

‘the indie kids…’This language is immediately giving the band a social identity and is

directed to a certain group of people with a certain style etc. They are also referred to as ‘kids’ which enforces the fact that they

are known to be a fun, childish band at times.

‘up north…’This language is very informal and casual, which makes it not only easy for a wide audience and range of people to read, but is friendly and inviting. It gives the reader an

insight into the style of writing the article has been written in.

HOW IS COLOUR USED?

oranges

blues

browns

white

There is a definite colour scheme on this double page spread, combining different colours of orange, brown, blue and white space. The fact that the majority of the heading text on pages to one another so that they have something

to with one another and are obviously part of the same article. The overall colour scheme is quite grungy and, in my opinion, not very chic or on trend compared to the designs from other more simplistic and stylish high end magazines. This however, relates to the band and how they are quite grungy and rock and roll, and that they are a fun, young-at-heart kind of band, which relates to the fact that bright colours such as orange and blue may have been used. It’s a rather stereotypical, not very unique colour scheme they have

used to represent the band and the magazine. Though I do think that the colour scheme fits in with the house style of the magazine and is recognisably from NME Magazine.

both sides of the DPS is orange helps to relate the

FONT

Here there is a contrast in a simpler, San serif font used for the words ‘The Maccabees’ and a fancier swirly style serif font for the words ‘On The Road With’. I also like the way both fonts are merged and overlapping each other slightly with the ‘R’ overlapping across the ‘C’. In my opinion, I don’t like the font used for the white text for the title of the double page spread because I think it looks too fussy and isn’t a style of font I would personally use on my own designs and I think it downgrades the magazine in terms of how high end it looks and is. But, because the font makes the magazine, overall, look less high end and seem perhaps cheaper than some other magazines on the market I think this could appeal to customers/audience who are looking for a cheap and affordable magazine that is inexpensive but still delivers good quality content.I do think that the font used for the title of the article is fitting for the use on the title because it makes sure it is clear that it is the title and is completely different to any of the other text on both pages of the double page spread.

I like the font used on the subheadings and smaller pieces of text as it looks simpler and less fussy. It keeps your attention on the image used and the actual article.

THE IMAGES

The images used in this double page spread are very informal and taken from the moment rather than staged or set up, with multiple images taken backstage at gigs. The smaller images seem to be quite playful and fun, with the use of face paint, which portrays the band as playful and fun which is what they are generally known to be like. This is contrasted against the main, full page image used on the left page, which is more serious and composed. The band almost look quite uninterested due to no one having direct eye contact with the camera, which portrays them in a quite 'rock and roll' way, especially since one of the band members is looking away completely. It's as if they've all been told to stand there and look at the camera but no one is that bothered.The small polaroid style images spill out onto the opposite page which therefore relates both pages which is important as it is a double page spread and both pages should have some sort of sign to show they go together as a double page article.

The images used are very musical, including guitars which feature in multiple images, and gig audiences and crowds.