The genre of magazine that I have decided to do is an indie magazine, meaning I will follow conventions from this type of magazine. However I will base mine more on magazines such as ‘Q’ because I want to include a wider variety of music compared to current indie magazines so I will add pop artists too.
The first music magazine I’m analysing is an issue of ‘Q’.
Front cover
Layout: The route of eye of this magazine goes across the masthead, down the main image and across the main article name. This shows the things that are the most important to be looking at and the things the magazine wants you to see first. Through principle of thirds you can see that the masthead takes up most of the primary optical area, showing it is the thing wanting to be seen first. Other things in this box are the slogan that goes with the masthead, and ‘All this month’s best music reviewed and rated’. This shows the magazine advertising itself, and showing what’s inside, appealing to the target audience. In the terminal area is the barcode (needed to purchase the product) and some of the text in the main article heading. The layout on this front cover is very ordered with a few pugs overlapping images and text. This appeals to a more mature audience. The coverlines are situated down the sides and across the top and bottom, outlining the main image. They are about various music topics and indie/rock bands, appealing to the audience. Although the main article title goes across the image, it is placed at the bottom and not in front of the persons face. There are two pugs on the cover, one in the primary optical area to be one of the first things you see, the other in a dead area to fill a gap near the image.
Images: There are only two images on the front cover to keep it simple and uncluttered. If there were too many, you wouldn’t know what to look at so you wouldn’t see the important things on the page. The main image is on the right side and overlaps some things while other text goes in front of it. This makes the image much more effective and professional looking. It also makes it so the image can fill much more of the page without being in the way of anything. The man in the image is from a popular indie band ‘the killers’ so appeals greatly to the target audience. He also appears to be pointing out to the readers, addressing them as individuals making the magazine much more appealing to them. It is a mid-shot of him because you only need to see him from the waist up to know who it is and it isn’t very important what he is wearing. Although, his black and white suit connotates someone who is smart and professional therefore, suggests that about the magazine and audience. It is places to the right of the magazine so that it does not overlap the masthead because unlike other magazines, it is only one letter so needs to be able to be seen clearly. The other image is placed under the masthead in a block that goes down the side of the page. It is placed it to keep the focus on the main image but to show it’s still important. The image is of band ‘u2’ so once again appeals to the target audience. They are wearing smart but casual clothes because their suits and shirts look scruffy. This look is further defined by their accessories of hats and gold hoops. It suggests that they are a unique and different band because of their look. Both images are shot against plain backgrounds to keep the focus on the people.
Colours: There is a consistent colour scheme on the front cover that is black white and red, with bits of gold. The black and white are simple colours used on most magazines because it means you can put text on any colour and it will still be clearly visible and easy to read. They are basic and smart colours, connotating professionalism. I think the red and gold are used because they are ‘rocky’ colours that give the magazine colour without specifying a gender that it’s aimed at. For example, if the colours were pink and purple, it would be aimed at girls. But to use red as one of the main colours, it appeals to both genders and also is a bright colour that catches your attention. The gold also does this and looks like a ‘funky’ colour to me that is different and stands out. It also greatly compliments the red used on the page.
Font: Most of the pages text is in capitals and sans serif to make it stand out. It makes it seem like the magazine is shouting at you and that everything in capitals is very important. This makes it more appealing and makes it more likely to draw you in. More important text is in bold or italic such as ‘disgusted’ in the main article title. This makes it stand out from the sentence/phrase it is being used in. The masthead is a capital Q placed directly in the corner in a large font. It must be in a big font since it is only one letter and needs to stand out on the page. The band names that there are main articles about are also in bold; ‘the killers’ and ‘U2’. Once again, this is so they stand out so that when someone glances at the magazine, they see these artists and are appealed to them and therefore the magazine. ‘The essential music guide’ under the title, is in a very smart and professional font showing that it is a mature magazine about real music. The fact that it is being described as a music guide makes it seem like there is a lot of important information in there that is useful to people who like this music. The date, website and price is next to this line of text in a very small font. This is necessary information to put on a front page however it only needs to be small as it is not what the magazine wants you to look at first when you see the cover. There is a vital coverline next the masthead in various colours that stands out on the page and is in the direct line of view (route of eye). It also has an exclamation mark at the end, emphasising that the magazine appears to be shouting out to the audience. This also connotates an aggressive feel to the magazine that might appeal to the target audience. The band names that are across the bottom of the page are in bold but are in small font because even though they appeal to the reader, they are there more to just show what else the magazine includes, rather then what it is mainly about.
Mode of address and language: The mode of address of ‘Q’ seems quite informal even though it looks smart and has a mature ordered layout. This is because it uses cultural capital of audience, meaning it uses words and phrases that they know and understand, that therefore appeals to them in particular. Examples of this are ‘new album verdict’, ‘best music reviewed and rated’ and ‘essential music guide’. Subsequently the language is informal and speaks to the target audience rather than the population as a whole. The target audience of this magazine is any gender and young aged people who like indie/rock music, and everything about the magazine shows this, especially the front cover.
Contents Page (1)
Layout: The route of eye of the contents page goes across the title, through the image then across to the article names. This shows that the magazine wants you to look at the title first so you know what the page is about. The next most important thing, before the article names is the image of Lily Allen because it appeals to the specific target audience and would make you want to read on. In most contents pages, the article names will go down one side of the page so that an image or something else can be placed down the other side to appeal to the audience. The layout is very simple with the main focus being on the image as the text is in the terminal and dead areas. This is so it isn’t cluttered and the reader can see everything on the page much more clearly. Along the route of the eye you also see the pull quote from Lily Allen in the top right corner as once again it is appealing to the audience. In the hotspots there is the image, which further proves that she is the main focus of the cover.
Images: There is only one image on this page to make it simple so less cluttered. It takes up the whole page and the text is overlapped on it, this keeps the main focus on the image. There is a long shot used to show her whole body and position that she is sitting in. It also shows her costume which is a girly dress, with a hoodie and trainers. This shows that she is quite a girly person, but also has quite a unique dress sense and maybe a bit ‘chavvy’. This dress sense also makes the audience know who she is as Lily Allen often wears trainers and girly dresses. By using a long shot, it shows where she is sat which is on public transport. Even though this seems quite common, it is more of keeping the background simple and so she stands out in her various bright colours. It is also easier for the audience to relate to it and tells you that Lily Allen is quite a relatable person. However her body position looks quite aggressive and angry even though she still looks relaxed. This gives the impression that this is her natural and comfortable look.
Colours: The contents page follows the house style of the front cover and rest of the magazine by keeping the colours of red, white and black. The black and white are simple colours and the red is a bright colour that stands out while complimenting the other two. The clothes that Lily Allen is wearing are quite bright and vivid colours, which make her stand out from the background and also more eye-catching than the text. The logo is in its usual colours and the title is in black to make it stand out against the white it is situated on. As is the date, with the issue number in red, making it seem more important. The article names down the sides
Font: The entire font on this page is sans serif to keep it simple and easy to read for the audience. The article titles are also in bold, whereas the description about the article isn’t other than important words. This shows which is the most important to look at. Most of the text is once again in captials, including the article names, and then the descriptions are in lower case. This makes certain bits of text stand out and seems like it is shouting out at you, therefore having an aggressive feel – relating to the image.
Mode of address and language: The mode of address of the contents page fits the front cover by being informal. It once again uses the cultural capital of the audience using phrases like; ‘best places to get free music’, ‘what makes Brandon flowers tick’ and essential tracks of the month’. This language also appeals greatly to the target audience not just because of how it is worded but because of what is being said. The articles are all about music and more specifically, about the kind of music that relates to people reading the magazine. So this language draws their attention and makes them want to read on.
Contents page (2)
Layout: The route of the eye of this page goes across the pull quote, through the image, and finally through the article titles. Unlike most conventional contents pages, the list of article titles is across the bottom with an image above, rather than down the sides. However there is still a very ordered layout as it is split into three columns, each with its own title, subcategorising the articles. This also makes it easier for the reader to find articles that will interest them. In the hotspots there is text and the image, showing that these are the most significant things on the page and what the magazine wants you to look at. There is a pull quote in the primary optical area relating to the image of the band on the page, making it so it’s one of the first things you see. This appeals to the audience because of the group it’s from, and draws you into the magazine.
Images: There is only one image on this page, like the other one to keep it simple and uncluttered. It also makes sure the focus is on that image rather than any other one, showing its significance. It is placed at the top of the page so it’s one of the first things you’ll see it first, once again showing that it is important. The image is of Kaiser Chiefs, appealing to the target audience. It is also a wide, long shot so that you can see the members and what they’re wearing, but also the surroundings, showing that they are important as well at the people. The costume is quite casual and also dark and plain colours keeping them simple against the coloured natural background. The leaves surrounding the members makes it seem like you are looking through a tree or bush to see them.
Colours: There is a consistent colour scheme that once again fits the house style of the rest of the magazine. This is to keep it simple and so it doesn’t look cluttered and messy. As there are only a few colours used in the scheme, this second image of the contents page is once again very colourful. This one uses very natural colours that lighten the page and make it more eye catching. Like on the other contents page, the article title and description is a different colour to the page number to clearly show the difference and make it easier to locate articles. However on this page, the article title and description is in black to stand out against the white background. Then the important description words are in red and bold, to make it more eye-catching.
Font: Following the style of the other page, all text is in sans serif to keep it simple and easy to read. It is also mainly in capitals letters to make it stand out and have an aggressive theme that seems to be the theme with the magazine. The article titles and title are in bold to make them stand out from the rest of the page, showing they are important. In the article description there are artist names in a different colour and red because they are important and appealing to the audience. On both pages, the description under the article title is also in a smaller font because there needs to be a clear distinction between the two, making it easier for the audience to read.
Mode of address and language: Like the other pages I have analysed so far, the mode of address is informal. However it also uses cultural capital of the audience by using phrases the audience know, understand, and appeals to them. The quotes ‘Glastonbury watch’, ‘rock opera’ and ‘running the rule over Kaiser Chiefs efforts’ are examples of this. The language used is very appealing to the audience because of what is being said. The topics of music and various artists appeals to the target audience since they like the type of music that the magazine is based on.
Double page spread
Before the article starts there is a double page with two large pictures of Brandon Flowers. He is dressed very smartly and the mid to long shots of him show this. However his body positions look quite childish and immature suggesting that he is a smart but fun man. One of the images shows him holding his hand on his heart perhaps suggesting that he is quite patriotic. In the top right corner there is a title in a smart serif font saying ‘the q interview’ and who they are interviewing. This suggests that it is something that is done every week with a different person. In the route of eye there is a large pull quote that tells you something about the person being interviewed before you see the article. In his pull quote he seems quite aggressive and angry, implying that about him. This and the text beneath are put in a simple black sans serif font to keep it simple and easy to read. The stand first underneath the pull quote makes him sound quite weird which is appealing to the audience because it tells you things about him that may interest you and make you want to read the article. There are little bits of information in the corners that tell you information about the article that you may want to know. But as they aren’t that important to the reader, they are in a small simple font.
Layout: The route of eye of this double page spread goes from the kicker to the face of Brandon flowers, down to the pull quote and across the Q and A’s. This shows that these things are placed in the line of eye sight so that in a quick glance over it the reader sees all the main parts of the article. The face of Brandon Flowers is in the route of eye because in a quick glance the reader needs to be able to see him to be able to recognise him. The primary optical area contains the kicker and start of the description because it needs to be first thing you see and the kicker draws the audience in to make them read the article. The image is in the hotspots to show that it is extremely important since the article is about him. There is an ordered layout as the image is off centre and the text is position neatly around it in columns. This organisation shows a more mature audience and it is also simple so is easy and clear to read.
Images: There is only one image on this page to keep the focus on it and nothing else. It is an image of Brandon Flowers from some kind of concert or gig, to make it seem more lifelike than a simple picture of him standing there. It also shows his profession so tells you more about him that the target audience would be interested in. It is a wide low angle shot to get everything necessary in the show e.g. him and his band. The low angle makes it seem like it has been shot from the audience, giving a sense of reality and making you seem like you are there. There is a low key natural lighting used to make it look more effective as it is a simple background to keep the focus on them. Included in the shot is a microphone stand, guitar, drums and other instruments which suggest verisimilitude and connotates the type of music that he is singing.
Colours: There is a consistent colour scheme that fits the house style of red, white and black to keep it simple. This complements the image as well as the rest of the magazine. There is a simple white background so that the black text placed on top is simple and clear to read even though it is a small font. This black on white connotates a quite stylish and elegant look because it is quite simple and old fashioned. This implies that both the magazine and Brandon Flowers are stylish and classic. The colours of the image are quite natural and his red jacket complements the colour scheme. The pull quote is in red to make it stand out from the rest of the article and draw the attention of the reader.
Font: There are only two fonts used on this page which keeps it simple and uncluttered. The serif font is in the corner where it says ‘The q interview’. This is to follow the style used on the first page keeping it simple. If there were too many fonts it would look much too messy and cluttered so this style looks quite classical and mature. There is a basic sans serif font used for the questions and a serif used for the interview to easily distinguish between the two. This makes it much more clear for the reader. The kicker and questions are in bold to make them stand out from the page and draw the audiences attention more, showing their importance. There is a little piece of information in a small font by the Q and A’s appealing to the audience and giving them some more details about the interviewee.
Mode of address and language: The mode of address is very informal and you can tell this through the phrases and words used. There is once again a cultural capital of the audience to follow the house style of the magazine and better appeal to their target audience. Phrases like; ‘your dad was an alcoholic’, ‘you miss drinking’ and ‘you grew up in this tiny Utah town’ all make this interview seem extremely personal, perhaps appealing to the audience a lot more than a shallow interview. This is because the audience wants to know more about him so the in-depth questions make it much more appealing and readable. The topics of the interview also make it seem more appealing because of them talking of his music as well as personal life.
Content: This magazine contains a variety of articles regarding this genre of music such as interviews with groups and artists, reviews of current songs and albums, and festival coverage. Most of the advertisements contained are regarding music as well to appeal best to the target audience. There is also things such as cars and phones which would appeal to the young but mature age of the target audience.
