- Total Guitar and Mixmag are British music magazines that target different genres and audiences. Total Guitar focuses on classic rock for an older male readership, while Mixmag covers dance music for a younger demographic. - The magazines' front covers use graphic design principles like the rule of thirds and different stylistic choices to appeal to their target audiences. Total Guitar uses a classic black-and-white aesthetic with the band Nirvana, while Mixmag uses bright colors and a casual font to seem fun and youthful. - The magazines further tailor their content and cover stars to match audience expectations of the genres. Total Guitar features Kurt Cobain holding a guitar to signal rock coverage, while Mixmag aims to attract niche

1. Joshua Millington Friday 2nd February 2012
Total Guitar (November 2011) & Mixmag (July 2001) Comparative Front
Cover Analysis
Total Guitar and Mixmag are two British magazines, which contrast in terms of genre which affect
the entire house style and content. Total Guitar focuses on classic rock, whereas Mixmag covers
modern dance music. Therefore to gain audiences they must target the audiences of the genres.
Using The Guttenberg Design Principleboth magazines have used the rules of third. It is done on
,
Total Guitar because it will satisfy the demographic of 20+ male rock fans, the title of the kings of
grunge Nirvana is featured in the primary optical field. The font is the convention of the band, and is
the same used on their releases; therefore the target audience can recognise it. The font is white
which stands out contrasted against the black background, this meets the codes and conventions of
a rock magazine, to feature the use of a black and white effect. The gold colour reflects the respect
and classic nature of some of the music acts that are featured in this issue, such as Nirvana and
Megadeth.
Just like the genre, the house style juxtaposes the dance magazine Mixmag. On Mixmag it is
coloured much more vibrantly because it is what the audiences expect. Bright colours comes into
conventions of the dance genre, it reflects the up-tempo music and outlandish culture/life-style. The
pink/red illustrates connotations of lust, vibrancy and partying. Dance music is targeted at a young
adult demographic 18-28 year olds; therefore the magazine is going to aim their magazine at this to.
If you break this word compound up “mix” connotes dance music, it makes the audiences think of
remixed music, associated heavily with the dance genre. “Mag” is a colloquialism of the word
magazine to give the magazine an informal look, also supported by the sans-serif font, which attracts
a young teen audience. This magazine targets the lower end of the jicnar scale; C2-E audiences
would embrace this. Whereas those at the higher end, A-C1 don’t have time for it, however Total
Guitar magazine aims at them because they can afford the expensive guitars disused. It is more
apporiate content to higher earners. Yet those of low income may still read, in dream of one day
having expensive guitars.

2. Joshua Millington Friday 2nd February 2012
Total Guitar (November 2011) & Mixmag (July 2001) Comparative Front
Cover Analysis
Every use of font on the front cover of Mixmag is sans-serif to make the magazine seem more fun
and more about style/image than actual context, like Total Guitar. The use of the colour pink/red
connotes a cheeky, sexy and mischievous atmosphere.
Dance music is a much more niche genre compared to universal rock music. However the magazine
can use this to their advantage as many young people of today are attracted to the idea of being
unique and individual, this magazine offers that by giving a range of bands/artists. The other
intention of doing this is to attract as many people as possible because these acts are not bankable
ones, one of them won’t sell 1000s of copies. However the renowned Nirvana are extremely popular
and bankable and would attract a very large demographic to the magazine.
When the audience’s eyes move to the left, a large photograph of the rock icon, Kurt Cobain takes
up the majority of the page. Total Guitar’s intentions here are to inform that this issue is heavily
focused on him and his nineties band. It will be expected to be about two double page spreads
inside. Cobain is stereotypically framed, from the mise en scene, it is evident the genre of this
magazine, his: costume, facial expression, props, positioning and lighting is what the readers will
expect. It is there preferred response. If he wasn’t: wielding a customised fender jaguar electric
guitar, jaded facial expression, leather jacket, sat informally and in a black and white effect –
readers will be confused and not purchase the magazine. For example, if he was: wearing a red
sports jacket, in high key lighting, happy facial expression etc. Like the dance band Ed Bangers of the
front cover of the dance magazine Mixmag (July 2011) audiences will be confused and perhaps not
buy the magazine.