NME double page spread analysis

Layout-  Nme have used one page for the picture and not text and the other page for all the text, this is the most common layout used for double page spreads in music magazines.  The name of the band being interviewed is a bold headline at the top of the text page and underneath there is a stand first giving more information on the article.  There is also a pink strip on the bottom of the text page with text on, it is in another colour as it’s a different article but also lightens up a dull page.

Typography– the article is in columns which is common for magazines and the font used for most of the text is just plain black which again is very common for magazines.  kickers are used at the beginning of the article and again towards the end to signal the start of another section of the article, kickers  are often used at the start of magazines and usually in a different colour in this case pink.  The headline with the name of the band is the largest font on the page and is in a different font as its meant to stand out.  An italic font is used on the stand first , it is in italics to show its separate from the rest of the article.

Mise-en-scene—  the only props used in the shot of the band is a long piece of knitting which has the bands name on, which they are holding as if they have just knitted and the two chairs that they are sitting on. The clothes they are wearing are their own and wearing nothing unusual.  There is also no special background used for the shot as its taken against a plain white background.  The prop is mainly used to brighten up the spread as it’s predominately white and the red knitting brightens it up .

Colour– The main colour used throughout the double page spread is white  and there are very few other colours used across it . There are aspects of  pink used on the drop caps and used on the box containing another article. And the text is black throughout the article.

Camerawork— the shot type used is a two shot as it fits both band members in and you can also see all their bodies as the distance of the shot is long. It also fits the knitting into the shot which is used as a why of incorporating the bands name into the shot as you can read ‘deathrays’ on the knitting. A plain white background has been used on the shot which means that the editor doesn't want to take the focus of the band themselves and so they are the only thing in the shot. 

Mode of address— NME is known for promoting a ’rock and roll’ lifestyle and often talks about drugs, alcohol and parties. This is due to the young target audience Nme has which is mainly teenagers. In the article about ‘DZ deathrays’ they mention drinking a bottle of jaegermeister in four minutes and house parties both of which mainly appeal to a teenage audience. The language is very informal and lots of the article is quoted. The article is written so it is talking directly to the audience so they feel like they are part of the lifestyle NME promotes and that the stars are talking directly to them.

NME front cover analysis

   

Typography- the font used on the masthead of the magazine (NME) is bold and in capitals to emphasise the importance, this is conventional for a magazine to have the masthead in bold and always features at the top of the page.  There are different coloured and types of fonts used on the cover story( 100 new bands you have to hear), this is completely   in capital letters as this makes it stand out more. Also In the text accompanying some letters are in bold and some are not and some are sans serif and some are serif font which is don't for effect and made to look ‘messy’ which is part of the theme on the front cover.

Route of the eye:  the route of the eye goes across the masthead through the cover story and the main picture which are placed next to each other and across the bottom  through the text accompanying the main article heading.

Layout- the layout of the front cover is cluttered. It is also an uncommon layout for a front cover as the main picture is not the main point of the cover as the cover story text is actually the biggest point on the cover (100 new bands). The cluttered layout makes the cover look more like a scrapbook layout and the picture looks like its been cut out and stuck on the cover. There is also another small picture used in the top right corner of the cover which is another uncommon feature for a music magazine cover. The cover story has also been positioned un-straight and so the text looks wonky and un ordered. This is an uncommon feature  of a front cover where the masthead is usually placed straight at the top of the page and the cover story across the bottom, with the picture being in the middle.

Camerawork- a long shot is used on the main picture as you can see nearly all  of his body (from head to legs) . This shot type is used as he is playing his guitar and so this shot is the best to show this.  The shot itself is in black and white which is used due to the magazine covers theme which is made to look like a scrapbook and so the picture is placed on a white background( which is separate from the front cover) background and so looks like it has been cut out and stuck on.

Mode of address- the magazine is directly talking to the audience, which we can see by the text ( 100 new band you have to hear) as the word ‘you’ directly targets the reader and so the reader feels as if they are part of the magazine. The language is formal on the cover which is unusual for NME who are associated with rock star lifestyles and lots of wearing, as there is no slang or swearing used on the front cover. As the magazine is aimed at a smaller audience than Q they can directly speak to the audience as they have similar interests and are all fans of similar music and genres ( mainly rock music).

 Mise-en-scene- the only props used on the cover is a guitar which is used as the cover model is meant to be a rock star and he is also wearing skinny jeans which is another thing associated with the genre (rock) that NME predominately aimed at.  By looking like this it is more likely to appeal to the target audience as the can relate to it . 

Colour- there is a consistent colour theme used throughout the front cover . The background colour is pink, this is used as its bright and instantly attracts the eye of the reader. There are only 3 other colours used : yellow , black and white. These are all used for the text on the cover. By not overloading the cover with too much colour it helps to make the magazine look more professional and easier to read as all the colour isn't too distracting.

Q double page spread analysis

Layout- the layout of the double page spread is ordered and Q has chosen to use a common layout with the picture taking up one page and putting all the text on the other page. An unusual design in the layout is on the text page they have used to small pictures in the middle column.  The text has been laid out in three columns which is common of magazines to put text into columns. A pull quote is also used which is placed on the page with the main picture. The first thing that the audience will see is the picture as it’s the most eye catching thing on the spread.  There are two kickers but no headline or standfirst on the text page.

Typography- the font used on the pull quote is bold and in block capitals, this is to make it stand out more as it’s clearly a quote that the editor wanted to be read. Two kickers are also used in the article, one of which is at the start and the other indicates the start of another topic. Kickers are commonly used at the start of articles in magazines. All  font is sans serif.

Mise –en-scene – the costumes/attire worn by the Coldplay band is all bright colours which has been used to match the bright background that the pictures have been taken on. The background used has been specially created for the photo shoot and is artificial so the shoot would have taken in a studio rather than an outdoor location and most likely using a green sheet of some sort. There are no additional props used in the photo shoot and the shots are kept basic.

Camerawork – the shot used is a long shot as it fits all four band members in and you can see the background behind them on all sides, which is important as the background is an important part of the shot. The shot is neither high angled or low angled and so does not affect how they are represented.

Mode of address- the magazine uses formal language throughout the text and does not directly talk to the audience.  The reading age is higher than NME as it’s aimed at an older target audience and is reflected in the content. 

q cover analysis

Typography- bold sans serif fonts are used throughout the front cover, this is used as bold fonts are more eye catching. The biggest font is the ‘Lana Del Rey’ (cover story) this is because it’s the main important article advertised and it accompanies the main picture, it also uses pink font which helps it stand out. All cover lines are in capitals to help them stand out. The text that accompanies the cover lines are not in capitals and are in a smaller sized font. The font used on the ‘Lana Del Rey’ is unusual and looks as if it has been written with lipstick and has been used to match the personality of the artist.


Layout- the layout of the front cover is ordered with text being positioned around the main picture and magazine title, this is a consistent layout used in every issue of the magazine. The picture is placed in the middle of the page and the masthead is placed in the top left corner of the cover. The picture is placed in the middle as it’s the largest feature of the cover and the biggest eye catching point. The cover story is placed near the bottom of the page and goes across the picture to show it accompanies it, this is a layout often used on magazine covers. The cover lines are on both sides of the front cover with text underneath each cover line in different colour and sized text. There is also another cover line at the top of the page. The layout used brings the picture to front and the masthead to back as you can see the picture covers part of the masthead. The date and price are located by the barcode in small font in the bottom right corner. All cover lines are in different colours.

Route of the eye: the route of the eye goes through the masthead across the picture and along the bottom through the cover story (main article). This is a common layout for magazine covers and is often used in music magazines.

Mise –en-scene – false blood is used as a prop on her face, this helps portray her character/personality and suggests that she is damaged. And her crown also suggests power but also may suggest she is unusual as it’s an unusual occasion to wear a crown.

Mode of address- the magazine speaks the audience formally as the language used is not directly directed at the audience. This is due to the magazine being aimed at over 25’s so the language has to be quite formal although the word ‘bloody’ is used.  Another reason that the magazine doesn't directly speak to the audience is that the magazine appeals to a number of genres and so has a large target population and so would not be able to directly speak to that target population as its vast and different.

Colour- there is a consistent colour scheme used throughout the front cover, the colours used are: Red, white, pink, yellow and black. Colours are used specifically with other colours on the cover so it doesn't look like to many are being used. For example yellow and black are used together as yellow is only used as a background on black font. White and pink are also used together a number of times. Pink is used on ‘Lana Del Rey ‘which is stereotypically a girly colour and she’s female. Red is used on the Q logo this is as its eye catching and helps the white Q stand out and connotations of red are blood and fire and so is associated with power.

Camerawork- A mid-shot of Lana Del Rey is used as the main picture on the cover. A mid-shot is used to so she is easily recognised and so is a big selling point for the magazine. The shot is slightly low angle to make her look powerful.

media prelim contents

media prelim cover

research into similar magazine audiences

NME

“The New Musical Express (better known as the NME) is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles chart, in the 14 November 1952 edition. In the 1970s it became the best-selling British music newspaper. During the period 1972 to 1976 it was particularly associated with gonzo journalism, and then became closely associated with punk rock through the writing of Tony Parsons and Julie Burchill. An online version of NME, NME.COM, was launched in 1996. Today NME.COM has 5 million users per month.” Wikipedia source

The target audience of NME is a younger audience from around 13- 25 which is very similar to the age group to that I found would be interested in the magazine I will be constructing. The content of NME is therefore aimed at a younger audience which is reflected in the contents and type of text included in NME. The genre associated with NME is mainly rock which fits in which fits in with the young target audience as the genre is generally associated with a younger target audience.

Q

“Q is a popular music magazine published monthly in the United Kingdom.

Founders Mark Ellen and David Hepworth were dismayed by the music press of the time, which they felt was ignoring a generation of older music buyers who were buying CDs — then still a new technology. Q was first published in October 1986, setting itself apart from much of the other music press with monthly production and higher standards of photography and printing. In the early years, the magazine was sub-titled "The modern guide to music and more". Originally it was to be called Cue (as in the sense of cueing a record, ready to play), but the name was changed so that it wouldn't be mistaken for a snooker magazine. Another reason, cited in Q's 200th edition, is that a single-letter title would be more prominent on newsstands.” Wikipedia source

Q’s target audience is more vast and appeals to a wider target audience as it covers more music genres and is aimed at a more vast range of age groups, though it is aimed at music buyers over 25 years old. This is reflected in the contents and language as the style of text and complexity is aimed at older readers. Q contains more contents than NME as it covers more genres and so is a bigger magazine in term of contents.


Rolling stone 

"Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner, who is still editor and publisher, and music critic Ralph J. Gleason.

The magazine was known for its political coverage beginning in the 1970s, with the enigmatic and controversial gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson.Rolling Stone magazine changed its format in the 1990s to appeal to younger readers, often focusing on young television or film actors and pop music. This led to criticism that the magazine was emphasizing style over substance. In recent years, the magazine has resumed its traditional mix of content, including in-depth political stories, and has seen its circulation increase." Wikipedia source 

The target audience of rolling stone is vast as it covers popular culture and more than just music, as it also follows film and politics. The magazine is not aimed at one particular age group due to the vast range of topics covered in the magazine, however the content is aimed at an older audience than teenagers partly due to their lack of interest in politics. rolling stone is aimed at both males and females as popular culture interests both sexes, although some articles inside the magazine may be aimed at more specific target audiences inside the main target audience. 

initial questionnaire summary

Initial questionnaire summary

Question 1. They were an equal number of males and females who answered the questionnaire as my magazine will target both males and females as a target audience so it’s important that there is equal representation of both genders in my research into target audiences.

Question 2. The under 16 and 16-25 age categories where the most popular answers, making up 70% of the answers between them. This shows that the magazine will have a relatively target audience and so will affect the content in the magazine, as the type of language will be simple and will be easy to read as a large proportion of the target audience are under 16 so there won’t be too many complicated words used in the text.

Question 3. A 65% majority said they read magazines monthly compared to 30% who said they read magazines weekly. From these results my magazine will be released monthly as the results point that this would be the most successful method to get the most readers.

Question 4. The questionnaire revealed that 45% would pay between £2.01 - £3.00, which is the most popular answer. From this I have decided to price my magazine at £3.00 which is a reasonable price for a monthly magazine as monthly magazines are usually bigger and contain more content than weekly magazines and so are priced more.

Question 5. The rap and R&B genres were the most popular genres from the questionnaire. Due to this these two genres will feature the most in my magazine, however I will try to feature the other genres in the questionnaire so that the magazine can appeal to a larger target audience.

Question 6. The questionnaire shows that the target audience prefer pictures to text. This means that in my magazine I will include lots of pictures to break up the text. This also links in with the age of the target audience as with a younger target audience the text will be simple and lots of pictures will be used.

Question 7. The questionnaire showed that the target audience want to see lots of different colours used in the magazine rather than specific colour schemes. From this I have decided to use specific colour schemes on the front cover, contents and double page spreads but will not use the same colour scheme over the whole magazine.

Question 8. The questionnaire revealed that the target audience would most like to see tickets to concerts as a special offer/ competition in the magazine. The magazine will offer tickets to a concert of the month of the issue in every issue in a competition that will be featured in the magazine.

Question 9. Everybody who completed the questionnaire said that they would like to see a celebrity on the cover. This shows that having a celebrity on the cover is very important and is a huge selling point. I will use a big celebrity artist in each issue on the front cover and an interview to accompany this inside the magazine.

Question 10. The questionnaire shows that the target audience expect to see articles on artists, album reviews and tour dates for artists. All of these will be included in my magazine and I will advertise these on the front cover of the magazine.

initial questionnaire into target audience results

Initial questionnaire into target audience results

The questionnaire was completed by 20 participants (equally 10 males and 10 females) of a range of age groups to get the best representation of the population to answer the questionnaire.

1.   What gender are you?

Male: 50%   female: 50%

2.    What age are you?

Under 16:40%   16-25: 30% 26-34: 15% 35+: 15%

3.    How often do you read magazines?

Never: 5%   weekly: 30% monthly: 65%

4.    How much would you be willing to pay for a magazine?

Under £1: 0% £1-£2: 35% £2.01- £3: 45%   over £3: 20%

5.    What genre of music do you like?

Rap: 25% R&B: 40% rock: 15% pop: 15% indie: 5%

6.    What do you like in a magazine?

Pictures: 60% articles: 40% other: 0%

7.    What colours do you want to see?

Bright colours (red, orange and yellow): 5% blue: 10%

 Black &white: 15% mixed: 70%

8.    What special offers would you like to see?

Tickets to gigs: 60% free music downloads: 35% other: 5%

9.    Do you want to see a famous celebrity on the cover?

Yes: 100%    No: 0%

10.                       What do you expect to read?

Articles on artists: 10%   album reviews: 5%

Artist tour dates: 0% all of these: 85%

initial questionnaire into target audience

Initial questionnaire into target audience

1.  What gender are you?

Male:   female:

2.   What age are you?

Under 16:   16-25:   26-34:  35+:

3.   How often do you read magazines?

Never:   weekly:   monthly:

4.   How much would you be willing to pay for a magazine?

Under £1:       £1-£2:   £2.01- £3:    over £3:

5.   What genre of music do you like?

Rap:  R&B:  rock:  pop: indie:

6.   What do you like in a magazine?

Pictures:  articles: other:

7.   What colours do you want to see?

Bright colours (red, orange and yellow):  blue:   black &white:  mixed:

8.   What special offers would you like to see?

Tickets to gigs:  free music downloads: other:

9.   Do you want to see a famous celebrity on the cover?

Yes:    no:

10.                         What do you expect to read?

Articles on artists:    album reviews: artist tour dates:  all of these:

preliminary task photos

media preliminary task photos taken