Analysis of Q magazine

This is an issue of Q magazine, from January 2010. On the front cover of this issue, Cheryl Cole can be seen looking slightly different to the way she would normally be seen.

Colour --

The colours used on the front cover of this issue is mainly red, black and white. The contrast between the black and white bounce off of each other and make the magazine extremely eye catching, whilst the red stands alone but the boldness of it allows the cover to stand out a lot more than most. The black creates an almost gothic feel to the magazine; this creates contrast with how Cheryl Cole is normally perceived as a person and also clashes well with the white rain. Red is a slightly sensual colour; it can indicate love, passion or anger and this can relate to the emotions that Cheryl Cole has been feeling through throughout her career.

Design ---

Keeping it's normally used design, just like most magazines usually do, the editors of Q have decided to keep everything on the front cover in it's normal position. This can sometimes be a good idea with magazine covers as there is less of a chance that readers will get confused with what magazine they want to buy when looking for it.

The masthead is in the same place is always is, with the bar code and price easily seen underneath it and the designers of the magazine have chosen to put the more important details and words in slightly bigger and different fonts to highlight the key point of interest within the magazine; this allows the audience to get a much better idea of what they will be reading about inside. Important details of what is going to be read and seen inside have also been highlighted in red or white to make them stand out a lot more.

Images ---

The image on the front cover is a major close up picture of Cheryl Cole on her own. The fact that the picture is of her on her own illustrates contrast, as she is normally seen with her band members and not by herself. Also, the fact that Cheryl Cole is such a well known and admired celebrity will attract more consumers, male or female.

When looking at this picture of her, she looks fairly different to how she is normally seen. Sporting a more rebellious fashion in contrast to her stereotypical girly self. Her change would also be another reason for people to want to buy the magazine.

Cheryl's makeup as been vamped up and her hair is soaking wet as if she does not care what she looks like. Her black eyes go well with the colour of her hair and the red lipstick makes it stand out a lot more. Her tongue has been edited to almost match the colour of the lipstick and this clashes well with the her extremely white teeth.

The fact that Cheryl's picture is the only one to be seen on the front cover indicates that the magazine is obviously mostly about her.

Pose ---

Cheryl's pose on the front of this magazine is slightly sultry and rebellious, and this could be seen as attractive to some people. Her pose shows contrast to how she is normally perceived in the public eye as she looks quite dangerous and mysterious; this could attract a male audience as well as a female audience and makes the magazine more known. Connoting that she is not shy at all, is the fact that she has her tongue out in quite a mischievous fashion; again, this could attract the attention of a male audiences that admire Cheryl.

Words ---

The masthead is a bold white on a bright red background, and the fact that it is just the one letter "Q" makes it stand out just that little bit more and the boldness of the font and the capital letters highlight the title and make it a lot more eye catching than it would be if it was in a smaller size.

Above the masthead the words "The UK's biggest magazine" can be seen, and although it is written in a smaller font it is still easy to read and see. The fact that this is written on the front of the magazine and has been given permission to have it illustrates that the magazine is obviously very popular and that it might actually be true. This comment could make people want to buy it even more, because everybody else is buying it and it must not be missed.

The strapline can be seen underneath the image of Cheryl Cole, reading "3 words; Cheryl Cole Rocks!" This is a pun, as '3 words' is the name of her new album and this could also be seen as advertising and the word 'rocks' is indicating that Cheryl is cool. Cheryl's name is written in bold and in a large font. This makes it extremely eye catching, and her admirers will see her name and most likely want to buy the magazine.

Everything else that is included inside the magazine is advertised on the front cover. Some words are highlighted, some are in bold and some are just in different colours to make them more eye catching and they all suggest a wide variety of subjects that will appeal to different kinds of buyers. This can also create a larger fan base and make the magazine more popular.

Language ---

The language used on the front cover of this magazine is a mix between formal and informal. The slight fact that they have chosen to use the word "rocks" to describe Cheryl Cole makes the magazine sound quite friendly. Also, young readers can relate to the language used.

The rest of the words used on the front cover are quite formal and simple, as they are describing what else can be read inside the magazine, so they have to be easy to read and understand.

The block capital technique of highlight certain words to make them more eye catching has been used on certain words just like it is normally used in other magazines.

Analysis of NME magazine

This is an issue of NME magazine, from January 2009. In this issue, the indie pop song artist, Lily Allen, can be seen on the front cover. This shows that the editors of NME magazine have chosen to keep to their controversial taste in music by putting her on the front page; as NME is known for writing about individual music styles.

Colour ---
The colours used on the front cover of this magazine are black and almost quite gothicy for this issue, but are mixed with the bright red that NME normally use for their title. The mix of black, white and red with a slight hint of yellow work really well together and make the cover a lot more eye catching than if a dull, neutral colour had been used. The fact that Lily Allen is wearing a black, white and red checkered shirt is fashionable and relates to the colour sequence and her black hair and eye make up match perfectly.

Design ---

The design of the magazine is the same as it normally is with NME magazine. The title colour is the same red as it always is and everything is positioned as it usually is on the front cover of NME, e.g; the picture and the title, etc.
The designers of the magazine have chosen to put the more important details and words in slightly bigger and different font to highlight the key point of interest within the magazine; this allows the audience to get a much better idea of what they will be reading about inside.
To make the front page look slighty more youthful and crazy, the writing has been almost messily spread about as if it's been scattered all over the image of Lily Allen. This certain effect will most likely attract a younger audience, as it makes the front cover look hectic, just like most teenagers feel their lifes are.

Images ---

The image on the front cover of this magazine is a close up of the 24 year old singer, Lily Allen. The picture shows her as being quite different to what she used to be and how some people might think of her as being. She has a new hair cut and different make up, and her pose is quite sultry. Not many people would have been used to Lily Allen's look at the time this issue of NME was released, so it may have come to a suprise to a lot of the magazine's audience. It is as if this issue is showing how much Lily has changed, and reader's can see this by slightly sharpened picture of Lily Allen.

Her hair is jet black and cut into a stylish, sleek bob that has been straightened and her make up includes a fairly pale face and black eye make up; and these colours work very well with the block colours used on the front cover. Also, the fact that she is showing her collar bone slightly, may attract a male audience as well as young female readers.

Pose ---

The pose that has been used on the front cover is sultry and could be seen as being very attractive to some people. Lily Allen is trying to show the change that she has made in herself in the image that has been used, so instead of being her normal grinning self that her audience is used to, she is sporting a slightly pouted smirk. Her facial expression is quite seductive and with her collar bone noticably showing, it is a way of illustrating that Lily Allen is not shy.

Another image on the front of this cover is of the legend, David Bowie. The photo is small but noticable, and is in an almost vintage black and white colour to relate to the fact the David Bowie has been around for quite some time. This will also draw a different type of audience towards the magazine; maybe an older generation of people.

Words ---

The masthead is a bright, bold red colour as it usually is. It has been made amazingly noticable and even though the last letter has been a little bit covered by the image, it is still extremely easy to work out what magazine this is. The boldness of the font and the capital letters highlight the title and make it a lot more eye catching than it would be if it was in a smaller size.

The strapline shows what the key point of interest in this issue is supposed to be and the large size and boldness of the font indicate that it must not be missed.
A quote, obviously said by Lily Allen, has been used above the tagline, reading, "I can't keep on living like this. It's doing my head in." This is another indication that Lily Allen is making a change and does not want to be what she once was and her language is quite informal, therefore some readers can relate to what she is saying.

Lily Allen's name is seen in a much larger font underneath, this illustrates that the attention should be aimed at her in this particular issue.

There is also a few other cover titles on the front cover, pointing out what else can be read inside the magazine. The titles on the front cover suggest a wide variety of subjects and can be liked by and will appeal to different kinds of buyers. This can also create a larger fan base.

Language ---

The language used on the front of this magazine cover is quite informal in the quote made by Lily Allen, but also easy to understand. The rest of the words used are formal and simple; so that it is easy enough for the reader to work out what they are going to be reading about.
A block capitals technique has been used to emphasise certain important stories within the magazine.

Overall Impression ---

Overall, the front cover of this magazine shows techniques and follows the conventions that most magazines do cover. It is not different from any other magazine but it is not the same either.

This issue of NME has obviously been designed to show the change that Lily Allen has made with herself being an artist and herself in general, and I think that this will most likely appeal to fans of her and her music.

It is not the most eye catching magazine that I have ever seen, but I think that it's use of gothicy colours give it a different vibe to what you normally expect an "Indie Rock" magazine to involve, therefore it is quite unpredictable, and that is what I am aiming for when I design my magazine cover.

Analysis of Rolling Stone magazine

This is an issue of Rolling Stone, from June 2009. This particular magazine is known for it's consistent change of front cover. It almost never looks the same and the layout always somehow relates to the artist pictured on the front.

Colour ---
The colours used on the front cover of this magazine work very well and they stand out amazingly; especially as an unmissable, bright, bubblegum pink has been used. Also, the colours used relate to the genre of music that Lady Gaga is known for. This is very good as it means that you can almost instantly tell what and who the magazine is going to be about just by looking at the colour of it.
A grey has been used to highlight the letters of the masthead in the background because some of them are being covered up by the image, but by looking at the font and seeing just a few of the letters, readers can instantly tell what magazine this is. A white has also been used to make the large writing a bit more eye catching on top of the pink background, and it works excellently.

Design ---
The images and wording that have been used on the front page of this magazine fit very well together. Everything you read tells you what you can expect to find inside the magazine. Designers have chosen key words and have made them bigger and bolder than the other words so that readers instantly see them and want to buy a copy. The use of block capitals on words and phrases is used and this is a very good technique as it makes them stand out much more. Also, using block capitals can emphasise the importance of certain subjects on the front of the cover, and connotes the key point of interest within the magazine.

Images ---
On the front of this issue of Rolling Stone, the 23 year old American singer, Lady Gaga, graces the cover in amazing style; relying on only a perplex corset and bubbles to protect her modesty. The outfit that she is wearing relates to her very well known and talked about eccentric and revealing choices of clothing.
The make up that she is wearing includes pink lipstick and purple eyeshadow, both of these colours go well with the background and match perfectly. Her hair is blonde but has a slight hint of pink in it to make the issue seem more girly.
The way Lady Gaga has been dressed draws the attention of anyone that likes her to the magazine and they will recognise her style and instantly want to buy it. The image has been made fairly large and takes up most of the space on the front cover.
It is obvious that the attention is supposed to be on Lady Gaga, and that most of the issue is about her as her picture is covering the headline of the magazine.

Pose ---
The pose that has been used on the front cover is energetic and exciting, just as Lady Gaga is seen by her fans. It draws the attention of anyone that likes her towards the magazine.
The fact that her facial expression is quite seductive and her stance is almost a full body shot, as if she has nothing to hide, could also attract a male audience as well.

Words ---
The masthead of the magazine is not very clear at all in this issue of Rolling Stone, but the fact that certain letters and a certain use of font are shown makes it obvious what magazine it is. Also, an ashy grey colour has been used to highlight the letters amongst the pink background.
The strapline that is shown on the front cover tells us what the main article is about inside the magazine, so that readers will know the key point of interest being focused on in this issue. There is also a few other cover titles on the front cover, pointing out what else can be read inside the magazine. The titles on the front cover suggest a wide variety of subjects and can be liked by and will appeal to different kinds of buyers. This can also create a larger fan base.
By glancing at this magazine, it is very easy to understand and tell what is going to be inside it. This is very good as readers sometimes like to know what they are going to be reading about.
Most of the titles and straplines used on the front of this cover are of a very large size and are eye catching to anybody who looks at it.

Language ---
The language on the front of this magazine is easy to understand and is fairly simple. This means that readers will understand everything that they are reading without being too confused.
A block capital technique is used on the cover to highlight and emphasise certain stories.

Overall Impression ---
Overall, the front cover of this magazine gives off an excellent impression of what is going to be read and seen on the inside and it follows many conventions that music magazines should cover.
I think that this issue of the magazine has been designed to appeal to fans of pop or just fans of Lady Gaga in general, as she attracts a large audience no matter what music genre they like.
The cover is effective and eye catching, and I believe that the image, techniques, wording and use of the common conventions of music magazines on the front make people want to buy it. I think that this magazine is aimed at stylish teenagers and maybe younger adults because it has panache and sharp.

AS Media Brief:

The front page contents and double page spread of the new music magazine.

All images and text used must be original produced by the candidate, minimum of 4 images.