My Target Audience

Through my internet research and my questionnaire I have found that my target audience are 15-21 year olds. Even though the similar product research showed products like mine being aimed at 18-25's, I would like to aim mine at a younger audience. Also my questionnaire results show My similar product target audience research showed that products similar to mine are aimed at men, although my questionnaire showed a target audience of mainly girls. So I will go with the questionnaire results as they relate to my magazine so i will aim my magazine slightly more to girls as it is easier for me as I know more what they would want to see through my questionnaire results. The questionnaire is going to be the main thing that is going to help me as it tells my who my target audience is how I best appeal to them. It does this through showing me the things that they want to see in my magazine including colour scheme and article topics. The NME research also will help me make my final product as it shows me how they appeal to their target audience and as ours are similar, I can use the ways they appeal to their demographic to appeal to mine. My magazine will be an indie/pop magazine so I will still be able to use fonts that are 'eroded/distorted' but i can then use girly colours and topics as both of these things relate to the target audience and type of music in the magazine. The fonts relate to the music and the colours relate to the gender of the audience. I will use artists/bands on my front cover such as ellie goulding and you me at six to appeal to the target audience who like indie/pop music.

Summary of Results from Questionnaire

Findings about target audience

Summary of Internet Research

I have found out that the magazine similar to the one I am going to be producing, 'NME', is aimed mainly at men, as are most other music magazines of this genre. It is aimed at about 18-25, as the mean age of the readers is 23, and nearly half are students. Well over half of the readers are also ABC1's which explains the smart and mature layout of NME and most other music magazines. Unsurprsingly, NME readers are obsessed with music, they also like films and mobile phones. This heavily influences the articles as well as the advertisements. This is because the magazine is doing everything they can to try and appeal to the specific audience and draw them in. The advertisements in the magazine are for stylish clothing and shoe shops, food and drink, and various gadgets such as phones, computers etc. These kind of things greatly appeal to a young audience, as these are the main things they buy. The advertisements, layout, and all other features of the magazine are made specifially to appeal to this specific target audience so that they can best appeal to them.
These findings will help me make my own product as mine will be slightly similar to NME. The way their magazine is set out and what is included is the best way to appeal to their audience, which is what I am aiming to do. I need to use an ordered layout and keep it looking smart and stylish to best appeal to an 18-25 ABC1's audience. Although NME and most music magazines are aimed mainly at men, I want to keep mine about 50/50 to appeal to a wider audience. So I need to use language and colours that are not gender specific to best do this. Overall I now have a good idea of how NME appeal to their target audience and who their specific target audience is. This will help me make my product because I can follow some of things that they have done in order to appeal to the same target audience.

Research into Target Audiences

Target Audiences

Research into Institutions

The magazine that I am looking into is NME because it is similar to the type of magazine I am going to produce. I searched them on wikipedia and found out that the magazine is published by a leading magazine publisher in the UK called IPC media. This company is owned by another publishing company called Time inc, who are owned by Time Warner; the world's second largest entertainment conglomerate in terms of revenue, as well as the world's largest media conglomerate.

The brief on the IPC website says: ‘IPC Media produces over 85 iconic media brands, with our print brands alone reaching almost two thirds of UK women and 44% of UK men –almost 27 million UK adults – while our online brands collectively reach 20 million users every month.
IPC's diverse print and digital portfolio offers something for everyone, with a focus on three core audiences: men, mass market women and upmarket women.
Our men's portfolio (IPC Inspire) comprises a wealth of leisure brands including Country Life, Horse & Hound, Rugby World and Decanter, as well as lifestyle brands including Nuts, Mousebreaker and NME.
Our mass market women's division (IPC Connect) comprises famous women's weeklies including Look, Now, Chat and Woman; TV entertainment brands including What's on TV, TVTimes and TV & Satellite Week and, online, the goodtoknow network.
Our upmarket women's division (IPC Southbank) comprises luxury fashion brands including Marie Claire and InStyle, lifestyle brands including woman&home and essentials and home interest brands including Ideal Home, Livingetc and housetohome.’

They also produce a wide range of magazines including ‘womens own’ and ‘country life’. These all aim at specific target audiences to best appeal to them.

These are the websites for the company’s of NME:

http://www.timewarner.com/corp/

http://timeinc.com/home/

http://www.ipcmedia.com/

 

Questionnaire into target audience

Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey, the world's leading questionnaire tool.

Summary of findings + how it will help me

The conventions listed in the post below are the main points that I have found from analysing these three magazines.This is a more indepth analysis of the conventions.

The front cover typically has an image of the band/artist in the centre with the coverline regarding their article overlapping it so that they are both in the hotspots. The are usually only a few images on the front cover to keep the focus on the main image. The masthead is placed at the top of the page in a bold and distinguishing font and colour (while still following colour and font schemes of the page) to draw attention to it. There is often a line of text above this to fill the gap. Coverlines are typically down the sides in an ordered layout to appeal to the mature audience. There is also a list(s) of band names at the bottom to show who is going to be in the magazine, appealing to the target audience. A consistent colour scheme is used which includes black white and up to 2 other colours to keep it simple. Only a few fonts are usually used, a sans serif one that is clear to use and a serif one to look interesting and draw attention to certain articles. Mid-shots to long shot of the main band/artist are used to show their costume and background but keep the main focus on their faces for the audience to recognise.

The contents page is also ordered, with the article names in columns, often down on side of the page. There is usually one large image on the page and a few small ones on the other page. This is to keep to focus on the main one. All coverlines are usually about the same kind of topics and the descriptions are smaller in size that the bold article name. The page number is typically in a different font again. The colour and font scheme usually follows that of the front cover to keep it simple and mature. Most features of the contents page are designed to be clear and easy to read.

The double page spread usually starts with a double page that contains large images of the interviewee(s), a title, a standfirst, and a kicker. The route of eye is used so that at a first glance, all the important things are seen so to have a greater chance of appealing to the audience. This feature is used in the same way on the double page spread. There is a large kicker in the primary optical area to draw the reader in, and usually a sans serif font to make the small text easy to read and simpler. The background is often plain white and the text black to create a basic but classic look that is more mature - appealing to the audience. There are several images used of the artist/band showing their profession and perhaps popularity as they are usually of a gig/concert that show the audience. It also gives you an idea of what type of music they play. The articles are typically in-depth and personal to appeal to the audience better than a shallow one would do. The topics are also mature and aimed at an older audience, often mentioning drugs and alcohol.

I can use these findings appropriately to help me make my own product and appeal best to the target audience. They help me understand more about my target audience so that I know a bit more specifically who I am aiming my magazine at. Therefore I will know where to place things to best appeal to the audience, what topics to use as coverlines, and what fonts and colours to use. I can also use cultural capital of the audience to better appeal to them, which i know how to do from looking at the language and mode of address or the pages.

Conventions of indie/rock music magazines

• An ordered and mature layout
• Black and white then one or two other colours as a consistent simple layout
• Main coverline overlapped over the image, often in the centre to draw attention to it
• Usually only a few images to keep it uncluttered and simple
• Lots of text in capitals – aggressive feel
• Lists of band names in dead and terminal areas (corners and sides) to appeal to the audience
• Artists and bands in the magazine are appealing to the type of music that the magazine appeals to
• Most text in sans serif to keep it simple and readable
• Often the image on front cover has a plain background to keep the focus on the person
• The double page spread starts with a double page that has large images, a title and a standfirst

Front covers of Analysed Magazines

The CD attached to the UNCUT front cover was not there when I analysed the magazine.

Analysis of similar Products - Rock Sound

The third and final magazine I’m going to analyse is an issue of ‘rock sound’

Front Cover

Layout: The route of eye of this front cover goes across the masthead, through the main image and coverline to the band names down the bottom corner then across to the barcode with important information above it. This shows that these are the most vital things for the reader to see. Unlike the other two magazines, this layout is very cluttered, so you can see quite a lot through a quick glance along the route of the eye even though is isn’t necessarily important. In the primary optical area there is an offer of a free cd, drawing the reader in, and the start of the masthead. This also appeals to the audience because of the style of it, and you can see a slogan beneath it saying ‘new music first’. In the terminal area there is the barcode, price, issue number and date. This is in small text because it is not too important but it must be there because it is vital information for the reader to know.  The coverlines on the front cover are still down the side but are tilted and dotted about slightly more randomly, looking a lot more messy and cluttered. The layout of this front cover gives the impression that it is for a younger audience because the cluttered layout draws the attention of the audience in and holds it. There are two pugs on the page to fill areas that look empty, offering things you can win or just advertising other bits of the magazine such as an article. There is a line of text across the top of the page above the masthead, once again filling a gap but also to make it more appealing as the lines are about various popular indie artists. The main coverline is situated in the centre of the page overlapping the image because it is one of the most important things on the page and needs to draw the reader in and get them to pay attention to the magazine because of it.

            Images: Unlike the other magazines, there are lots of images on this front cover other than the main one. There are three images that have writing on them and white outlines to show that they are posters. These are smaller versions of what you get with the magazine, appealing to the audience by showing them what they get with it. These images are also of artists and bands that would be relevant to the target audience. They are all various shot types, costumes and backgrounds, connotating different things about each of them to show that even though it’s the same genre of music, they are all unique. There are also other images near the bottom of the page and terminal area that are of two completely different artists. By placing them in this way it contrasts the two together even though they both appeal to the target audience. They are both mid shots so that you can see their body position and costume and identify them through that as well as their faces. The main image is a medium long shot as you can see them head to toe and the background behind them. It shows their costume, body position and who they are clearly. Their costume is plain and old fashioned colours like brown and cream. Their clothing also looks quite old fashioned as they are wearing tweed, long coats and smart trousers. This suggests that they are stylish but as a band they are a bit old fashioned although unique. They all have quite a serious look on their face suggesting that about the band as well. While three members are facing the front, there is another off to the side interacting with the fake background. This gives a sense of playfulness and from the unusual background that the group is creative. The background goes with the colour scheme very nicely so as not to draw too much attention away from the colour scheme. It is very unique and like a fantasy which draws a certain fascination and grabs the attention of readers.

            Colours: There is a consistent colour scheme of black, white, yellow and blue used on the cover to keep it simple. The black and white are used as basic colours that make the magazine look smart yet simple. You can always place on or the other over a background or image and it will still be readable and stand out. The other two colours are different from the red usually used in this genre of music magazine. But they are still both extremely bright colours that stand out and don’t appeal to a specific genre, widening the target audience. The colours complement each other and the background extremely well and seem to connotate fun more than seriousness. This once again implies that this magazine is appealing to a younger audience than the other two. The main coverline is in the bright yellow and not much else is, this implies that the band is also quite fun and perhaps adventurous (because of the background). The band names at the bottom vary in colour, so that they all stand out rather than just being a list in the same colour that you wouldn’t really pay attention to.

            Font: There are about 4 different fonts used on this page which make it seems quite messy but is very effective at the same time. For example the list of band names at the bottom of the page not only varies in colour but each different colour is in a different font. Once again this is so that each one stands out because they look different so more appealing. In most of the coverlines, it is split so some of the text is in one colour, and the other is in a different colour and often a different font too. This is to make it less boring and draw more attention to the front cover. The masthead and lots of other text is in a bold font that looks quite worn and rough suggesting and aggressive feel of the magazine. It also looks quite gothic, hinting at a possible target audience or type of music inside. The masthead is the biggest text on the page so that it is clear and easy to see what the magazine is called. The text underneath is much smaller and in a different font to once again make a clear distinction. The main coverline in the centre is in a completely different font than anything on the rest of the magazine because it is a font associated with the band, making it so it is easier for people to recognise them and know who it is. Most of the fonts are sans serif to make it easier for the audience to read. But a few of the fonts are also serif to give a more interesting look to the magazine and to vary what words are said in what font. The serif fonts seem quite creative and look smarter than the worn away rough fonts. There is also a font used in a quote that has the effect of looking like it has been handwritten. This makes it look more like a quote than just something the magazine has said. The text on this page is all put in various sizes to show that some coverlines are more important than others and so they’re the ones that draw your attention first.

            Mode of address and language: The mode of address is very informal as the layout is cluttered and the colours seem quite bright and childish. It is aimed at a less mature audience than the other two and the language shows it. Even though this front cover uses cultural capital of the audience, the language seems a lot simpler to make it clearer for the audience. Words/phrases such as; ‘ultimate story’, ‘inside the mad world’, ‘huge new record’ aren’t as mature as the other two magazines although still appeal greatly to the target audience.  The things said on the magazine about indie/rock music and the artists on it seem to be more important than how it is said, although it is important that it is written so that the target audience can understand it. So as this one is aimed at a younger audience, it must be more simple and clear when reading.

Contents page (1)

Layout: The route of eye of this page goes across the title, through the article names then across the image of ‘panic at the disco’ to the name of the magazine, issue number and date. This shows that the reader needs to see the title first to understand what the page is about, then the articles so they know what kind of things the magazine includes and whether it appeals to them. Then finally to the image of the group as this isn’t as important as the article names since there was also an image of them on the front cover. The information in the terminal area just reminds you of the magazines name and gives you information again that was on the front in a very small font. Unlike the front cover, the layout is quite simple and order, to make it clearer to read and find the article you are looking for or that appeals to you. The position of the article names is quite unconventional as they are normally down the side. However, they are still in columns rather than just dotty messily about the page. The title above them also separates the two columns, looking much more ordered. There is also a small statement about panic at the disco in the primary optical area to fill the gap and also gives a sense of humour to the magazine.

            Images: There is only one image on this page unlike the front cover to keep it simpler and smarter. It is once again a picture of panic at the disco as the main story is about them. They are seated around a common household sofa all looking quite serious and smart. Like the front cover, there is reality collided with fantasy as there is vines and birds around the sofa and members, suggesting a creativity and uniqueness about the magazine and band. Their clothing is the same as before, so looks quite old fashioned but stylish, implying that about the band. The shot used is a medium close up so as to fit head to toe of each member in but also to fit the sofa in. It is also used so that we can see the whole group and the surroundings, including their body positions.

            Colours: This page does not follow the style on the front cover, instead is simply red, white and black. This makes the page look much simpler and mature, also easier to understand. The article name and description underneath are in black and the page number and title in red to separate them. It makes it much clearer to see what is what and also makes the page much less boring by having the two colours. It is all set on a white background to keep it simple and to also draw attention to and not clash with the colourful image at the bottom. The image at the bottom of the screen is very colourful due to the birds and vines compared to the plain and boring sofa (that fits the colour scheme) and simple colours of the members.

            Font: There are only a few different fonts on this page to avoid looking so cluttered and messy. The title and name of the magazine are in the worn down, rough looking, bold font to make them stand out from the rest. The article name is in serif and bold whereas the description is smaller and in a simple sans serif font. This is done to make it easier to distinguish between the two and clearer to read. In the description, whenever the name of the magazine is mentioned, it is put into capitals to make it stand out more so you remember what the magazine is called and it sticks in your head. The article names and title are also in capitals which again gives an aggressive feel to the magazine as if it’s shouting out.

            Mode of address and language: The mode of address is informal and uses cultural capital of the audience. Phrases like ‘the noughties reinvented fab four’, ‘guns, weapons and gods’ and ‘the only thing to sink will be the booze’ imply an audience that would understand the words used and relate to them. It is still quite simple text but this page overall seems more mature.

Contents page (2)

Layout: The route of eye of this page is slightly more confusing as it goes across some article names, to the editor’s note, through some more article names and across to some rock/heavy metal advertisements. It shows that rather than certain bits being important, everything on the page seems to be of quite equal importance. Other than the small information in the dead area which is things you might want to know but don’t need to. The primary optical area contains an image of a man shouting and jumping next to some article names, implying that the image is relevant to one of the articles so is important. The layout is quite ordered as the page is split into different areas that have different information in them. The article names are conventionally down on side of the page so to look neat and easy to read. There are also titles above them as to class the articles into different categories making what you’re looking for or what appeals to you easier to find. The advertisements are placed at the bottom because even though they aren’t that important to the magazine, they still need to be seen as they may appeal to the target audience reading the magazine. They are mainly placed there so to fill gaps and because they are relevant to the type of music inside the magazine.

            Images: There are only two images on this front page, and both are of someone to do with indie/rock music so are relevant to the magazine. Both are mid-shots so that you can see what they are wearing but also because you don’t need to see a whole body shot to recognise them. Their clothes are quite casual and informal suggesting that the bands aren’t posh and serious and their positions suggest a sense of humour for both of them. This implies that the magazine is aimed at a younger audience as it is trying to be funny to better appeal to them. Neither of the images have a background so as not to draw too much attention to them away from the articles.

            Colours: There is a consistent colour scheme that matches the other contents page of red, white and black. The white and black are smart and simple colours whereas the red makes the page stand out a bit more and makes it look more appealing and interesting. The boxes down the right side are different colours so that it is clear that there are different things in each and so that they don’t blend into one box and confused readers. The articles titles in the ‘features’ section have the band name in black then what it’s about in red to distinguish between the two, making it clear for the reader. Where the text meets the image, it is outlined in white to make sure it stands out and is easily readable. The image of the man jumping is quite colourful which makes him seem quite casual and fun. Whereas in the other image, they are wearing quite plain clothes that only stand out against the white background because they are dark colours. The two adverts at the bottom are in very dark and gothic colours so as to appeal to the specific target audience that like heavy metal music.

Font: Once again, there are only a few different fonts used on the page to keep it simple. The name of the magazine, and headers for the article sections are in the rough, worn down font to make them stand out from the rest of the text on the page. In the ‘regulars’ section, the title is in a bold black, then the description is in a much smaller font even though it’s the same colour. This has the same effect of distinguishing between the two without changing colours and drawing too much attention to the description. They are also two different fonts which emphasises this effect. There are extra page numbers in a larger sans serif font underneath the images showing where to look if you want to see them. This makes it much easier for the reader to navigate their way around the magazine and find what they want.

            Mode of address and language:  The mode of address is informal and you can tell this by some of the words and phrases used. In the note from the editor he says things like ‘I don’t know about you’, ‘musical nourishment’ and ‘having it larger to municipal waste’. The language he uses relates to the audience not only by the things he says and how he relates it to music and the magazine but how it’s like he is talking directly to you is very appealing. There is also humour used in the paragraph and in the article names for example ‘bullshit detector’ and ‘we take a chainsaw to them of course’. These appeal more to a younger audience who relate to the language and find it humorous. Like in all pages so far, cultural capital of audience is used to make sure the target audience is able to understand and relate to the phrases and topics used.

Double Page Spread

As with the other two magazines there is a double page before the article introducing it to the audience, making it more appealing. This usually consists of a title, stand first and large images of the person/band. However on this one, the images of the band aren’t very big as there is a lot of text on the page and the first section of the article are on there. The route of eye goes from the stand first to the kicker, across the image to the name of the band then across to the article. This is placed so that at a first glance of the page, the reader see’s all the most important and appealing bits, drawing you in. The stand first is in the primary optical area because it tells you interesting bits of the article appealing to the audience. The one image on the page is a long shot of them walking forward; it makes them look quite powerful and interacts with the background. They are dressed quite smartly but also old fashioned which is a trend associated with panic at the disco. The background image is like a fantasy and is extremely colourful. This connotates theatricality and slight childishness which is associated with the band as their style of music and performances are very theatrical. The font that is used in the sub headings, the titles, the kicker and the stand first are in a serif font that can be associated with the band as their signature font. Therefore it relates to the brand identity of them. The font used in the article is sans serif to keep it simple and readable as it is a very small font and may be confusing if it was serif.

            Layout: The route of the eye goes from the image, across the name of the band, through the article to the stand first and then across to another image. This shows that at a first glance, everything is placed so that the reader see’s the most important bits on the page. It is quite an ordered layout with a large picture on one side and the text on the other side.  This and the way it is arranged into paragraphs with sub headings makes it a lot clearer to read and also shows a more mature audience. This makes it a lot clearer to read since all the writing is on one side, rather than overlapping in on the image. It also gives the chance to place a much larger image with more detail and so you can see more of the band, appealing to then audience. The overly large image also shows that if someone if scanning through the magazine, and they see the image, the theatricality and style of it will draw people in. There is text and the large image within the hotspots showing their importance to the article.

              Images: The image is a collage of all the band members as they are overlapped over each other. So they are all various shots but mainly long shots so that you can see their whole body. The way that they are placed, how they are spread over the page makes it more appealing as there are no blank bits. The composition makes it a lot more interesting because they cover everything. Their body positions also make them look quite theatrical and childish in the way they are interacting with the fantasy background. The background is extremely colourful making it seem childish but the fantasy look can be associated with the band. This makes it much more appealing to their fans and target audience because it draws attention to it. They are wearing the same outfit as before which is shows them trying to look quite old fashioned, keeping with the theatrical theme. The background is also quite a natural setting which shows a bit more a mature audience. The other image at the bottom of the page has a line of text above it saying ‘let’s just sit here until the drugs wear off’. This is explaining the fantasy type images and insinuates that members of bands that are involved in the indie music take drugs. This suggests an older more mature audience. The image of them sitting on the sofa is from the contents page so relates to the article as if you saw it on the contents page and then again on the article gives a sense of familiarity and makes the page more appealing. It is once again very colourful to stick to the theme and although it would seem quite childish when seeing it on the front cover it has now been explained.

Colours: As I have said, the images on this page are extremely colourful to give a sense of fantasy and theatricality that the audience would relate with the band. This therefore makes it appeal to them greater if they are fans of the band as it would be familiar. Their clothes are quite bland and old fashioned colours to make them stand out compared to the background so it distinguishes the reality fro the fantasy. The text is black placed on a white background to keep it simple, smart and look quite classic. This theme is repeated throughout the magazines which kept the focus on the text and images rather than a colourful background. The band name and outline for the pull quote are in a bright pink colour which seems quite girly but considering the very colourful magazines and extraordinary style of the band, it fits the theme very well. There is also a pull quote over the image which is white so that it stands out. The mixture of colours with the simple text makes it seem quite messy and cluttered, perhaps aiming at a younger audience to draw their attention or just too simply associate things with the band.

            Font: The font used is a simple sans serif font to make it look simple and smart. As the font is very small, if the font was complicated and detailed, it would make it much harder for it to be able to be read. There are only a few fonts on the page which keeps it uncluttered and simple compared to the over use of colours. The signature panic at the disco font is used once again to appeal better to the audience because they will associate it with the band.

            Mode of address and language: The mode of address is informal because the cartoons and bird and butterflies make it seem quite childish. Even though there are topics such as drugs which seem quite mature. The article is very in depth and personal which is a frequent style of these magazines to better appeal to the audience. This is because they want to know personal details about the band rather than just a shallow fact file. Cultural capital of the audience is used because they need to appeal to their specific audience and know what they want to read. Phrases such as ‘until the drugs wear off’, ‘it was a love story’ suggest quite mature topics that would appeal greatly to the audience.

Content: The content of this magazine is reviews of music, articles about various indie/rock artists and groups and other topics to do with that type of music in general. All of these greatly appeal to the audience and the more appealing articles; the more likely they will be drawn to the magazine. There are also plenty of advertisements, mainly to do with different music artists whether it is a new album or a tour.

Analysis of similar Products - Uncut

The second magazine I’m going to analyse is an issue of ‘uncut’

Front Cover

Layout: The route of eye of the front cover goes across the title, through the image and main article and then across the band names in bottom corners. The masthead, main coverline and additional coverlines have been placed along the route of the eye so that when you glance at it you see all those things that are put there to appeal to the target audience. There are more band names placed in the terminal area along with the ones of the route of the eye line so that the reader will see them and be drawn into the magazine because it interests them. In the primary optical area are some of the image and mast head then a quote from the main article. This is placed there so that when you first go to look at the magazine, you see the most important things first and get drawn into the magazine, making you want to read and buy it. There isn’t much text or images in the dead areas because people tend not to look at them, so it is not useful to place information there. The title expands out into those areas but you see it when you scan over the magazine through the route of eye. The coverlines on the front cover are very ordered as they are placed around the outside of the page with only the main coverline in the centre to appeal to the audience. This shows that it is aimed at a more mature audience because there isn’t things just placed anywhere. There is also a pug in the top right corner advertising a free CD appealing to the audience. It is placed there so that when you glance over the cover through route of eye, you see it. In the hotspots there is the image and the main coverline. It is placed there because it is the most important part of the front cover and its purpose is to draw people in and appeal to the audience. It needs to be in the centre so that it stands out the most.

Images: There are only two images on this front cover to keep it uncluttered and simple. The main image on the page is of the ‘Kings of Leon’ which is who the main article is about so it is relevant to the front page. The image is in black and white as is the plain backdrop behind them. This look connotates style because it is quite old fashioned. This therefore implies that kings of Leon are a very stylish and perhaps old fashioned group. Even though the image takes up the whole page, all text other than the title overlaps it, to make it so the page isn’t plain. The shot is a long shot to show the whole body of all four members, this is to show their costume and body positions. Their clothes are quite smart and stylish but they all look different and unique from each other, which I think, makes them more appealing as a group. They are all standing close to each other, some with arms crossed, some turned inwards. I think this shows that they are a very close group. One member is stepped further forward than the other three, connotating perhaps that he is the main member and more important to the group than the other three. The other image is in the top left corner, so it is in your direct eye line (route of eye) but is not as important as the other one. This is a close up of ‘neil young’ because the target audience only need to see his face to know who he is. The image also relates to the coverline at the top of the page right next to the image, as it is an article about him. You can’t see much of his costume other than the top of a black t-shirt and a hat. But even so, the hat makes him look quite stylish and old fashioned, matching the image of Kings of Leon.

Colour: There is once again a consistent colour scheme of black, white, red and gold. The black and white signify professionalism, also looking smart and simple. The red and gold complement each other greatly, looking unique and not targeting a specific gender. This widens the target audience of the magazine. The four colours look very good together and create a smart looking, stylish magazine cover. They use a limited number of colours so that it doesn’t look too confusing or childish. In the lists of band names, the red and gold are used to divide up the names and distinguish between them, looking more appealing. There is a label above the main coverline saying 'world exclusive' in red and gold. This makes it stand out much more and draws attention to it, appealing to the reader.

Font: Unlike ‘Q’ and ‘Rock sound’, this magazine doesn’t put most things in capitals, making it have a less aggressive demeanour. The only things in capitals are the coverline at the top of the page to make it standout more, and the band names at the bottom two corners. This is to show that they are also important as they appeal greatly to the target audience. Even though the layout is ordered, the various fonts on the page make it look slightly more messy and cluttered. However, different fonts have different effects and look different. They put the main coverline in serif because it looks more important and different, whereas they put all the band names down the side in sans serif to make it easier to read. Whereas in other music magazines of this genre, the text is not gothic or rough looking, it is quite smart and simple. This gives off a more mature vibe. It is also quite a masculine font and so gives the impression that Kings of Leon are also masculine. The font of the title is spread out to make the short word fit the whole page and is in quite a basic font. It looks smart and the 3D masthead is a very effective look because it makes it stand out a lot more. The masthead is also in a red font making it stand out from the black and white image and background. This shows it is very important as it needs to be seen. The font in the main coverline is outlined in gold; this is very effective because it makes it look very classic and old fashioned. This relates to the issue as all artists and bands on the magazine seem quite classic and old fashioned.

Mode of address and language: The mode of address of this front cover is quite informal although like the other magazine, it uses cultural capital of audience. By using words that the specific target audience would relate to and understand it appeals to them greatly. For example; ‘rocks royal family’, ‘makes some noise’, ‘world exclusive’, and all the band names and artists mentioned. However, the language on this front cover isn’t as colloquial as ‘nme’ for example, as it isn’t aimed at a particular place in Britain, just Britain in general. The lists of bands names down the sides greatly appeal to the audience and draws them in because only people who truly like this type of music would know the many different groups listed.

Contents page

This magazines contents page only consists of a single page with lots of coverlines in small fonts. On the other page is a music advertisement for an artist’s new album that would appeal to the target audience.

Layout: The route of eye of this page goes across the title, through the image and article names, then back across the image. This shows that even though the article names are conventionally the most important, on this page the image is instead. It takes up most of the page leaving little room for a simple column of coverlines having different categories. The image is in all of the hotspots, once again showing its importance and dominance over the page. The primary optical area contains the start of the title and some coverlines showing that even though the image is important, it is vital that you look at those first. The layout is very ordered as there is a simple column of article names down the side making it clear for the reader to see. This has a more mature feel to it as it is smart yet simple.

            Images: There is only one image on this page and it is very significant as it takes up a lot of room, leaving little for the text. The picture is a medium mid shot as it shows his head and shoulders. This gives the effect of you mainly seeing his face to recognise him but also being able to see what he’s wearing. His costume looks very smart as it is a shirt, jumper and blazer which is also quite old fashioned yet stylish. There is the same theme as the front cover of having the image in black and white to make it stylish and quite classic, giving the reader a feel of what the magazine is about and the style of it. The main looks quite fierce and serious in the image; however his messy hair makes him seem quite messy and perhaps playful, contrasting his costume greatly. Even though you can only see his shoulder up, his body position looks quite relaxed which contrasts his expression. The background is quite plain and looks like a simple wall of some kind. This has the effect of keeping the focus on him rather than his surroundings.

            Colours: There is a consistent colour scheme that follows the house style of black, white and red. The black and white are basic colours that are simple yet make the magazine look smarter. The title of the page is in big, bold, red letters to make it stand out from the rest of the page showing its importance to be seen first. The article names down the side are in red with black descriptions and grey page numbers. All the different colours complement each other but distinguish the different information to make it clearer to read and understand what is what. There is a category near the bottom called ‘regulars’ in which the text is very small and all placed together. The only clear separating is that the page numbers are in red and the article name is in black. The box below this is in red to make it stand out from the other articles and to show that it is something different.

            Font: There are only two different fonts on this contents page, keeping it simple and easy to read. The serif font is used for the article names, the title and the name of the man in the image. The font looks quite masculine and smart giving a professional look for the magazine and ‘frank zappa’. The other sans serif font is used for everything else because of how clear and easy to read it is. All the main information that has to be small is in sans serif so that it is still readable for the audience. Other than the name of the man in the image and the title, nothing else is in bold, showing that these two things are important and are meant to stand out from the page, drawing people’s attention in.

            Mode of address and language: The mode of address is informal as you can tell by the language used. Phrases like; ‘booze-fuelled anxieties’, ‘latin guitar master’ and ‘power struggles’ appeal to the target audience and also relate to them specifically rather than everyone. This is because cultural capital of audience is being used where specific words and phrases are used that the target audience will understand.

Double page spread

Before the article starts there is a double page spread with a title, a stand first and some large pictures of the band members designed to draw people in. The route of eye goes across the faces of the band members to the name of the band, through the title then across to the stand first. This is to make sure that in a first glance of the page, the reader see’s the most important things on the page and the things that are going to appeal to them the most. The image and start are the title are placed in the hotspots because when you see it, who the article is about and the wording of the title would make you want to read it. The main image is placed in the centre of the double page spread and fills the whole thing so as to not leave any gaps and look blank. It is a mid-shot so you see them from about the thighs up. This is to give us a good look at what they are wearing which represents what type of band they are. It also shows their body position and face to be able to recognise members. Their clothing is quite smart and stylish and the slight black and white look gives it an elegant and old fashioned feel, following the classic house style of the magazine. The title is in a large font and overlapping the band members making sure you can still see their faces. It is in sans serif to keep it simple and readable; also the capitals seem a bit aggressive but stand out. However the stand first is in a much smaller font to distinguish between them and fit more of the page, it is also in serif to look more smart and old fashioned.

            Layout: The route of eye goes from the kicker across images of the band, through the article to an image in the text and across a pull quote. Once again this is so at a first glance, the reader see’s all the important things on the page, to appeal to them more. The kicker is in the primary optical area because its size and the way it stands out from the rest of the text looks very effective and appealing to the audience. The article text is in the hotspots because overall it is the most important thing and the bit that the audience need to read, this is the same as the terminal and dead areas. It is a very ordered layout to keep it simple and neat which makes it easy for the reader to follow. The text is shaped around the images at the top however the image in the text and the pull quote disrupt the text creating a more interesting page to look at that if it was full of text. It breaks up the article into smaller bits for the audience to manage.

            Images: There are a few images on the page to keep it simple and not too cluttered but also to add some colour to the page. The two images next to each other at the top show the band in some kind of gig or concert suggesting a profession and the type of music they are known for. The image of a mid-shot of a member of the band shows him singing and playing the guitar during a gig. This appeals to the target audience because of them liking the type of music and the band so they want to see more of them and know more about them. These images show a more personal side to the shallowness seen in other places as they are live images giving a sense of verisimilitude. The image in the text also follows this pattern by showing a stage and hundreds of people around suggesting a popularity about the band and also what type of music they sing, appealing to the audience.

            Colours: This page is kept simple by only using black, white and gold with bits of grey. The black, white and grey keep it simple, smart and classic, whereas the gold adds colour and gives a sense of elegance. The colour ensemble reflects the house style of an old fashioned and classic look, clearly appealing to a more mature audience. One of the images is in black and white with the one next to it in colour. This clearly distinguishes it as two different photos and also makes them look very effective and stylish. The colours in the image within the text gives a sense of reality that you wouldn’t get with a black and white image since you can see the time of day and the style and appearance of the stage. The black text is placed on a white background to make sure that it is clear and easy to read. It also creates a certain simplicity while still looking professional.

            Font: The man text used throughout the article is a serif to keep it looking smart and elegant and following the house style of the magazine. This also shows a more mature target audience as it looks more professional. The pull quote is in capitals giving an aggressive feel and standing out more because it seems like it is shouting at you. It is larger than the article font and placed in sans serif font to distinguish them easily apart and to make it stand out while still being clear to read. With each of the images is a small box with a caption in sans serif font to make it simple and to not stand out compared to the rest of the article.

            Mode of address and language: The mode of address is very informal as rather than a shallow factfile it is an in-depth article regarding the band and their music, appealing greatly to the audience with all the quotes and personal facts. The language is informal too because of the reasons stated above and the way the ‘diary’ type article seems to be talking to you personally. Cultural capital of audience is used in the article to better appeal to the more mature target audience by using words and phrases they understand and relate to them. These are things such as; ‘orders shots of tequila’, ‘’what the fuck’, and ‘perched on a bar stool’ suggest an older and more mature audience.

Content: The content of this magazine is article about indie/rock with bits of alternative and pop music (as it is al rounded) and artists to do with that type of music. The articles specifically are about: the magazines music chart, reviews of current songs and albums, a main article about Brandon Flowers and various other articles about artists and bands. There are also a lot of advertisements in this magazine, mainly about various albums and artists. There are also a few car adverts and clothing, showing an aim at a more mature advert.

Analysis of similar Products - Q

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.