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.