The NME started in 1952 and helped champion new British bands like the Beatles and Rolling Stones in the 1960s. Their covers from this era featured a single striking image with minimal text to avoid clutter. Q Magazine has an extensive music review section and uses a star rating system. Their covers vary the layout but consistently feature the masthead and minimize cover lines to allow readers flexibility. MOJO magazine, which launched in 1993, focuses on classic rock. Their covers typically use a darker color palette and prominently display the large masthead to emphasize their brand and serious tone over mainstream magazines.

1. Task 5
Genre Research
Robbie Wilson

2. NME
• In 2002 the NME started publishing a series of themed magazines reprinting vintage articles,
interviews and reviews from the NME archives. The paper's first issue was published on 7 March
1952 after the Musical Express and Accordion Weekly was bought by London music promoter
Maurice Kinn, and relaunched as the New Musical Express. It was initially published in a non-
glossy tabloid format on standard newsprint. During the 1960s the paper championed the new
British groups emerging at the time. The Beatles and The Rolling Stones were frequently
featured on the front cover
• All of the three covers for NME all focus on one single striking image on the front cover. It is a
consistent theme which they brought in, in the 1960s and 70s. By having one single striking
image it allows for less congestion on the cover and the reader can easily see what is going on in
the magazine and who is involved in the main story. Also the magazines stick to a limited colour
pallet. By having a limited colour pallet it means the reader can have an easier read and what Is
shown is not to aggressive on the readers eyes. Often simplicity is better to look at and not trying
to hard will appeal to a wider range of people. By having minimal cover lines means that there
are less cluttered lines throughout the cover meaning that the cover looks more appealing.

3. Q Magazine
• The magazine has an extensive review section, featuring: new releases (music), reissues
(music), music compilations, film and live concert reviews, as well as radio and television
reviews. It uses a star-rating system from one to five stars; indeed, the rating an album receives
in Q is often added to print and television advertising for the album in the UK and Ireland. It also
compiles a list of approximately eight albums, which it classes as the best new releases of the
last three months.
• The Q edition varies dependent on who the main story involves and what they want the reader to
see. The one consistent feature is the masthead with the sell line. In the later issues on the far
right they are included. On some however cover lines appear on the right or left. IN one
magazine there are none. By having a varied approach towards the layout will make the reader
interested in the magazine. If there is cover lines there are minimal as the main focus is on the
image. By having this approach the reader can make up what they want to read meaning that the
reader will appreciate having the option to chose what they want to read. Also the layout looks
more appealing with the lack of cluttered text in the magazine.

4. MOJO
• MOJO was first published on 15 October 1993; in keeping with its classic rock aesthetic and is
noted for its in-depth coverage of both popular and cult acts it acted as the inspiration for Blender and
Uncut. More recently, the magazine has taken to publishing many "Top 100" lists, including the
subjects of drug songs (Mojo #109), rock epics (Mojo #125), protest songs (Mojo #126) and even the
most miserable songs of all time (Mojo #127). To celebrate 150 issues, the magazine published a
"Top 100 Albums of Mojo's Lifetime" list.
• The Main feature that can be seen on the MOJO cover is often the use of a darker colour pallet.
This conveys a serious nature or a darker image showing that it offers more than a typical
mainstream magazine. Again though the sue of a limited colour pallet is used showing the basic
nature of the magazine and that they do not want to be a taccy mainstream magazine with loads of
bright colours. Finally a key image that can be seen is the masthead taking up large areas of the top
of the page. The use of a large masthead in the images shows that they pride themselves on the
name and they want the audience to see the title of the magazine.