Task 2 - Detailed Analysis of Music Magazines

1. Detailed Analysis of a Music
Magazine

2. The logo and mast head, is in the right hand corner of the page in the primary
optical area, showing it’s the first thing you look at when looking at the cover of the
magazine. This is important because it the logo and name of the magazine so is
important that it is seen first.
The colour scheme follows in both magazine
example I have used, giving it a common house
style, with black, white and also red colours
used, this appeals to the older audience of
ABC1s, as it is sophisticated and doesn't include
an overload of colours which are for a younger
generation. The colours seem plain and neutral.
The logo is an example of this using reds and
whites. The black writing on the front is to
contrast with the white and red, so it stands out
above everything else on the cover. This is so the
cover stands out from the other covers which
are bold, bright and messy, so that they contrast,
and people notice the plain covers in-between
all of the dark and bright colours of the
magazine covers.

3. Both of the two Q covers (Adele and Take That) are very
ordered, with a professional, sophisticated look and has
the information in select places so they are seen by the
audience in a specific order, resembling a newspaper, so
important things are read first. The text gets smaller as it
goes down the cover, in comparison to opposing
magazines like Kerrang and NME which are incredibly
chaotic and disordered for the young punky audience.
The writing on the Q magazine is very ordered and follows a
line whilst Kerrang is very jumbled. By the lines I have drawn
on both you can see that one is a lot more sophisticated and
follows an order than the other.

4. The cover lines are in the top right hand corner of the magazine. This top cover
featuring Take That also doesn’t have a lot of information on it, although there is
some little text on the bottom of the cover which has information about what else
is included in the magazine. The bottom cover features the cover lines in the
bottom left of the cover, keeping the information well away from the photo, so the
audience focus their eyes on the model.
The photo is in the centre of the cover, and takes up the majority of it, showing that it
is important and should be in the centre of the cover, with the cover story below or
above the image. The white background connotes neutralisation, and resembles
negative empty space, so the attention can be drawn to the artists in the much darker
colours. Giving more focus on the image of the artist instead of other information.
There is also no other images relating to other articles on the cover.
The language used on the magazine cover is straight to the point, and is eye grabbing
and catchy. It starts by using the artists name then follows with two or three limited
words, for example: Blows us away, A year inside, Last request. This is to pull in
people’s attention and to get them to read the magazine without giving away too
much information on the cover, so people get interested and want to read on, for
example: Keith Richards Secret Stash. This could relate to drugs put could also be a
pun, so makes you read on to find out more.

5. Similarities
The masthead are both in the top
left side of the magazine. In the
primary optical area.
Both follow a neutral colour scheme
of reds, blacks, and whites.
Both are laid out nicely in an
ordered way instead of being
jumbled and messy.
There are little to no other cover
lines on the cover apart from the
main articles.
The image of the band is also the
main focus for the cover.
Differences
The Rolling Stone magazine only includes
information of the people on the cover, whilst the
Q cover, includes other information from
throughout the magazine

6. Contents
The contents page is quite bright and is also not as ordered as what the front cover is.
House Style: The house style is the same as the front cover of the magazine, which is red,
white and black. The mast head is again in the same place, in the top right hand corner.
The font is serif and sophisticated, like the front cover. The font is serif so is quite
sophisticated, fitting in with the ABC1 class of people who buy the magazine. The white
and black of the letter Q, the word ‘contents’ and the words ‘Issue 298’ stand out from
the red back ground. This is similar to the contents which has black writing, standing out
from the white background. With excess information in red, as it is not necessarily the
name of the page, but actually what’s included. There are also red bars which separate
the pages, to make them easily readable. There are large numbers around the pictures
from the cover lines. The cover line pictures are important articles dotted around the
page. On this issue there is also a picture of the front cover in the top right corner of the
screen, with Dave Grohl on the cover. The same is also featuring in a large long shot in
the centre of the contents.

7. Layout: The layout of the contents is split into columns, this one being split
into three. This idea makes the contents seem more ordered and
sophisticated, so it has a real layout, with specific, meaningful places to wear
things go, instead of just information being put anywhere. The contents is on
the left hand of the page as, the left hand is where you read first. The centre
of the page is the artist Dave Grohl, who is seen to be quite important to take
up one whole section, meaning the article with him in it is considered to be
important. The final column is a selection of other cover lines, with images of
what they are, and where they will be found in the magazine.

8. Language: The language is basic but enticing, it doesn't say a
lot, so doesn't give anything away of importance. This is to get
people to read the magazine forward in the magazine through
interest instead of being told everything on the contents page.
The image showing Dave Grohl shows him in the appropriate
colours for the magazine. He is also holding a bass guitar in a
angry, maybe throwing position. This connotes that the main
might show thrill in his persona, and can imply that the article
would be interesting and exciting.

9. Conventions: I have compared the contents page of Rolling Stones and Q, to see the similarities
and differences between the two, to eventually devlop what is conventional in music magazine of
a similar genre.
Similarities
Both contents pages follow the route
of the eye. So is conventional
through these two big music
magazines.
There is an image of the main article
on both.
The follow colour scheme, and the
mast head is also in the primary
optical area on both.
The actual contents with page
numbers is on the left hand side of
the page, often where you read
from.
Differences:
On the Rolling Stone contents page there is a feature article on
the contents page.
The Q contents page is brighter in comparison so stands out
more in comparison. People would prefer to see strong bold
colours, instead of just white and black.

10. Double Page Spread
The main image is of a rock band names Linkin Park. The image
is quite relaxed and calm, giving the interview a normal less
professional look to it, this means that more people would
rather read the interview as it would be easier to read and
more interesting to read a less professional interview, more
about the band as people instead of them as how they are
supposed to be seen. The band are in their normal clothes,
which they would most probably usually wear when together
as a band. They are also standing with there arms crossed or in
their pockets, this puts forward a look of relaxation and shows
the audience it’s a regular interview about them, In them in
their nature.
Typography: The text on these double pages, is again the same
style as the other pages, keeping in with the white, black and
red. The large text of the pull quote on the left side of the
screen, is a very large, black sans serif font, dominating almost
the whole left hand page. The sans serif gives the article again
a less professional, more relaxed look, as their isn't an attempt
to look sophisticated, which it isn't.

11. At the beginning on the main story, there is a drop capital of 5
lines. This follows conventions of other magazines, pulling
people into read their article, making it appeal to more as it
stands out above the rest, trying to grab people to look at it.
Usually the drop capital would be of a different colour to the
rest of the article to contrast.
The Language is again a small sharp sentence which aims to
pull In the audience to read further on. “ Take a leap into the
unknown on a thousand suns.” This one sentence makes
people wander and question, making them read on. By
including one sentence that hints but dosent give anything, but
still includes enough vital information that will make the
audience want to read, grabs more readers and fans for the
band but also the magazine

12. Layout: When looking at this double page spread, you follow
the route of the eye, when glancing at it. The mast head and
title of the page is again in the primary optical area, and the
article, is in the terminal zone, so after looking at the centre
image and pull quote, you read the article. The article is divided
up into columns which is similar to how the contents was laid
out. This is conventional for magazines, and interview articles
are also usually split into columns. This follows the
conventional rule of three.
The stand first is in a orange box, different to the basic colour
scheme of the magazine, so it stands out above the rest of the
double page spread. The stand first is an attention grabbing
quote by the journalist to grab attention for the audience,
persuading them to read on.

13. Similarities:
In the Rolling Stone magazine the thick,
red text in capital letters, stretches
across the whole page, showing the
importance of the text. This is similar
to Q who has their black thick text,
contrasting with the white background
and dominating the entire left page.
There are drop capitals and stand firsts
on both pages, to make the article
stand out, and to persuade audiences
to keep reading.
Jaz Z, dominates the whole right hand
page of his article, whilst the band
Linkin Park attempt to dominate the
right hand page, though due to there
being many of them, the man on the
far left appears on the other page.
Differences:
The Image of Jay Z, is him in action
in a performance instead of a
photo shoot, like Linkin Park’s. This
attracts the audience to both of
them but in different ways. One is a
more intimate interview the other
features Jay Z on his job, so would
be him as you know him.
It also follows the route of the eye
in the Rolling Stone magazine, this
is due to it being more youthful.
You read the cover line, then you
follow his eye line, then follow
down to the small single block of
writing, whilst the top m