Magazine Analysis

Front Cover

Masthead: The masthead is placed at the top of the page and appears to have a faded effect on it which makes it look aesthetically pleasing. Its made to look as if it is fading into the purple background. Although the main image has covered a few letters everyone still knows its Billboard because it’s a well known magazine.

Main Image:Billboard have used a medium shot of Miley Cyrus who is a global sensation. She is mostly well known for her TV programme ‘Hannah Montana’ but she is also a singer. She is most young teenage girls idol so she has been used to attract fans to buy this issue.

Dateline and Barcode:Every magazine has both of these, the dateline shows what issue it is and the barcode is there for when its scanned at the shop.

Left Third:The left third is additional information that will be included in the magazine. It gives you an understanding to what else will be included in the magazine as well as the main cover line.

Pug:Pugs are basically advertisements, they’re set out in a fancy way to attract the audiences eye so they will take notice of it. In this case, its been set out on a yellow banner therefore it is eye-catching.

Main Cover line:It’s been place directly in the middle in capital letters, bold and white font. This makes it stand out and is eye catching, therefore being one of the first things their audience would be drawn to. It gives the audience an insight to what is going to be in the magazine.

Masthead: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 se eon 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.

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. He is also giving direct eye contact with the camera this would seem as he is inviting them in.

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.

Header: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.

Left Third:This left third is just stating what other bands will be revealing what record changed their life.

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

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

Pug: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.

Barcode:Every magazine has this, gets scanned when you’re purchasing the item.

Masthead:The masthead takes up a vast proportion of the left corner of the page. Its big and the letter ‘Q’ has been enlarged so it stands out. Its also been placed on a red background so it draws the audiences attention. Q is a very popular music magazine so people would instantly know what it is.

Main Cover line:The main story is about Noel Gallagher who is mainly known for being apart of one of the biggest bands of all time ‘Oasis’. They have wrote his name in black font in block capitals so it stands out on the two toned background of white and grey they have used.

Main Image:They have used a long shot of Noel Gallagher as the main image as their main cover line is related to him, Noel is extremely famous and most middle-aged men would see him as an idol as they most likely grew up listening to Oasis. Therefore, they would pick up this issue as they would be interested to read about him.

Cover lines:These are just what else will be included in this issue of the magazine, so thereby putting a little brief description on the front cover its just giving you an insight to what will be in the magazine.

Pug:This pug says ‘albums goldmine’ meaning that they’re telling you what albums they think are best out at the moment, they’re promoting bands/singers albums.

Barcode and dateline:Every magazine has this on the front cover as it tells you the issue number and the date it was released also the barcode for when it is scanned.

Contents Page

Title:They have put contents in bold, block capitals at the top of the page and they have also added some sort of effect towards it so it looks like white lines are going through the letters. Its aesthetically pleasing to the audience.

Categories:This is what is going to be included in the magazine and the page references meaning what articles etc. you can find on what page. 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.

Logo:They have included the Billboard logo here to keep reminding you what magazine it is and if you haven't purchased it then you should.

Chart update: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.

Images:They have used images with numbers on the top because it is showing the reader that they would have to go to that particular page to read about this artist.

Title: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.

Logo:They have included the logo on the contents page to remind the reader that it is ‘NME’ and if they were to enjoy it to buy the next issue.

Index:They have used an index on the page which consists of bands thus making it easier for the reader to find their favourite band or a band they want to read about.

Image:The image they have used is associated with the article that is underneath about the Arctic Monkeys.

Article: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.

Advertisement: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.

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

Sub-headings:They’re separated onto a black background making them stand out more. However, there is little writing underneath them as it is just giving an insight to what is inside the magazine.

Image:They have used a long shot of The Courteeners and as it takes up a wide proportion of the page it stands out to the reader. Also because the photo is large and the bold writing of the bands name shows that they’re one of the main articles in the issue.

Date:They have included the date to remind the reader what issue it is.Title:

The title of the contents page has been placed on a black background so it stands out, it is also in white font and block, bold capitals.

Logo:They have put the logo of on the contents page to remind the reader what magazine it is.

Sub-headings:These give an insight to what’s in the issue however they don’t give away everything they make sure they put catchy titles so it makes the reader curious and they will read on.

Review:They have included a review and also put a eye catching sentence “The world’s biggest and best music guide” – this would be very interesting for a reader as they would probably enjoy reading the review and because Q is such a popular music magazine they would trust it making the reader want to buy the magazine again.

Every Month:They have placed in on a red background which makes it eye catching also it would give the audience the idea of a routine, and if they like what is included every month they will continue to buy it.

Double Page Spread

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.The title of the article

‘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.

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 layout is set out so the image takes up both sides of A4 but they have done this deliberately to catch the readers attention whilst putting the article towards the bottom left hand corner.

In the corner of the image they are promoting ‘Reading and Leeds festival’ this is because Arctic Monkeys played/were playing there in 2009 so they were trying to get people to purchase tickets.

The image used is a medium shot of the Arctic Monkeys and its been laid out so it takes up one page, Alex Turner the lead singer of the band is at the front.

The title of the article takes up half of the page and its very eye catching. It uses two different types of writing which makes it very noticeable as it is bold and in your face. They called it ‘The Joshua Code’ because it relates to when they released their album Humbug in 2009 Josh Homme co-produced the album.

This is just stating who wrote the article and who provided the photographs.

They have began the article with a drop cap which would capture the readers attention. They have used a light grey font which is not overpowered by the title or the image its as if they have used the light grey colour to relax the page because so much is going on.

The strapline introduces what the article is about and the band. Also by them using ‘Out of the desert and into the headline’ its as if they’re introducing the band and getting everyone hyped up for what is to come in the article.

The layout has been set out so the image takes up one side of the double page spread which is eye catching to the reader and they will know who the article is about. Also, they have put the article on the other side of the double page spread.

Image:The image is a medium close up of Lady Gaga it takes up one side of the double page spread showing that maybe it is important or significant, or it is just the magazine’s house style. The photo is posed and been edited to greyscale which would make it stand out to the reader and would be one of the main focuses on the page. In the photo she is acting in a sexual manor she has been posed to look promiscuous which would entice the readers especially male readers would see this image as ‘attractive’.

They have including Lady Gaga’s name to show the readers that the article will be about her. ‘Lady’ has been wrote in italic where as ‘Gaga’ has been wrote in capital letters which would stand out to the audience.

They have used an enlarged L which covers the whole page as a symbol of Lady Gaga, it links to the article. However it also relates to Q’s magazine colour scheme as it is red.

In the article they have used two drop caps to possibly attract the readers attention to that part of the article, maybe it contains important information/interesting information that they should know. Also they stand out in the article so its noticeable when you look at the page.

There is no title to the article therefore this would interest the readers because they know its about Lady Gaga but they don’t know why so they have to read on to find out what they’re saying about her.

The layout has been set out so the image takes up on side of A4 and the article takes up the other side.