The purpose of the contents page is to inform the reader of where and what stories and features are in the magazine.

Colour

The colour scheme on the contents follows the colour scheme of the front page, with red white black and yellow used again. By using a white background it allows the attention of the buyer to stay on the text in the contents. Black backgrounds are used for the side headings to maintain the indie/rock style of the magazine yet also compels it to stand out so readers can easily navigate themselves around the magazine. The magazine logo is again printed on the contents page, printed in bright red with a white outline against a black background. This allows the logo to define itself and allows the reader to identify with the magazine. The page numbers are all in red colour allowing them to stand out so readers can easily find what pages they want to read.

Layout And Design

The layout of the magazine is not as hectic as the front page allowing it to be easier followed to help the buyer to understand what is in the magazine and how to easily navigate it. Also at the side bar there are clear headings splitting the contents into sections with clear bold font, making it easy for the buyer to quickly find a particular thing they are looking for in the magazine. The stories have page numbers next to them, this is an important convention to a magazine contents as it is an essential in order for the readers to know how to get to the pages they want to read about efficiently. At the top of the contents page in bold capitals it states 'NME THIS WEEK' connoting that this magazine is weekly and has a new range of feautures within it each week. Beneath that in smaller writing is the date to ensure readers know which edition they are reading. On the left side of the page there is a band index column showing traditional buyers where to find there favorite bands, but also a good selling point to the one off buyers who will want to specifically find the bands they are interested in. In the contents page there are also arrows next tot he text in which reflects stories on the front page.

Images

The main image in the contents page is the Astoria pub showing that it is an important feature within the magazine and despite not analyzing the actual front page of this edition of NME, this story about the Astoria was featured on the cover of this edition, showing that the magazine uses the stories on the front page on the contents page showing the importance of the stories. The image of Astoria pub is also anchored by the text beneath it again emphasizing its importance to the magazine. At the bottom of the page there are also photos of previous editions of the magazines advertising them to be ordered weekly and if ordered today you could save over £45 causing a good selling point to the magazine. This also connotes to one off buyers that the magazine must be good as it is successful as people want it ordered weekly.

Words Used On Cover

The language is simple and easily understandable suitable for the magazine target audience of young adults/teens.In addition to this the story head lines show what story there featuring yet don't give too much away compelling the reader to want to read further and find more out about it. Exaggerate language is also used for example 'The UK'S number 1 gig guide' a good selling point to the indie/rock music fans as its showing that this magazine features the best gigs in the UK which is an interest in the target audience.

Overall Impression

The overall effect of the contents makes it easy for the reader to navigate there way around the magazine. It shows where to find and what the main features of the magazine are.

Analyis Of Music Magazine Contents Pages

This is the contents page for the issue of Q magazine January 2010.

Colour

The colours used follows the same colour scheme adapted from the front page, with the use of mainly red black and white, typical rock genre colours. The red is used as background for the establishing heading 'contents' which is printed in black font, to allow the reader to immediatly be aware they are looking at the contents page. Red is always used for the Q masthead, therfore as regular readers look at the contents it will unconciously trigger in their head that the colour red is associated with Q. Throughout the contents, red white and black are used in reverse of eachother, to maintain the artistic fashionable look to the magazine. White is used for the background of this contents page, to maintain the attraction of the mature target audience, the white also allows the contents to look clear in order to make it easy for readers to quickly navigate there way around the magazine.

Layout

This contents page is unconventional of a typical magazine, as the contents page is spread over two pages. This in affect connotes to the reader that a large amount of stories and feautures are going to be inlcuded in the magazine, proving the readers have made a purchase worthwhile. There is a bar at the top of the page consisting of the heading contents, to again make it clear to the reader this is the contents page, and the issue number reinforcing the fact the magazine has been going on for a while, showing the readers its success. The writing on the page is structured neatly around the images to represent a professional look to the reader, as the target audience for this magazine is slightly higher class then the target audience of magazine such as NME and KERRANG!. Also, images of what are included in the magazine are scattered around the page to make it look more interesting as oppose to a page that is full of writing, the page numbers are situated in bold over the images so the reader can immediately see where the stories are. The image of the magazine front cover is placed at the top of the page, an effective way of allowing the reader to continuously associate themselves with what issue of the magazine they are reading.

Images

There are several images on the contents page, to make it look more fun and eye catching. The largest image is of Cheryl Cole, the main feature of the magazine who was also the main image on the front page, yet it is a different photo to make it more interesting. She is posing in a sexy manor, to reinforce the attraction of a male audience. She is dressed in ripped wet look leggings, very high fashion at the current time, yet also a good way to reinforce the rock genre of the magazine. By wearing fashionable items it is very appealing to all types of people again, and also a major attraction for young women who like seeing the latest fashions. The photo of Cheryl Cole is in black and white to establish it from the others, emphasizing to the reader that Cheryl Cole is the main feature of this issue. In order to reduce the amount of writing on the page, they have used images to present the stories as oppose to writing, this is an effective thing to do as it allows the contents to look more eye catching and appealing to the reader. Other images on the page consist of rock bands in action, emphasizing the rock genre of the magazine, yet there are also pictures of older artist such as Dean Martin which appeals to a more mature target audience.

How are the words used on the page?

The heading contents stands out clearly as it is printed in a clear font and is the only text on the red block at the top of the page. The issue number is the only other writing on the red bit at the top to emphasize to the reader that the magazine has been around for a long while connoting its success and professional qualities.

Overall Impression

The contents page follows the same colour scheme as the front page providing a professional feel to the magazine. Famous artists from past decades are used to attract the more mature audience who Q are generally aiming their magazine at. The use of photos scattered around provides the page with fun making it more appealing to look at as their is quite a fair bit of text on the page, and if there was too much the reader may think the magazine is boring. The main image of Cheryl Cole is used again, a typical convention of magazines so her importance is reinforced. The masthead is printed again at the top of the page, a typical convention again as it provides continuity to the magazine.

Kerrang Front Cover Analysis

This is an issue of Kerrang! magaazine from March 2004. I will be analyzing this indie/rock genre magazine for my coursework.

Colour

The colour scheme of this magazine is mainly black white, yellow and pink. The black and white aspect of the colour are both affective in making the magazine immediately look like a rock genre as they are typically indie/rock colours. However the contrasting colours yellow and pink make the magazine look unique and unusual as they are not typical colorus used on an indie/rock magazine, they also due to their fun and brightness add youth to the magazine and therefore appeal perfectly for Kerrang!'s target audience of teens. The magazine is clearly for a unisex audience as a lot of black is used and pictures of men shown, yet the pink reinforces the fact this is also appealed at young girls. The masthead is black portraying a dark rock side to the magazine, yellow is used for the heading 'ICONS' which illuminates this main heading on the front cover enforcing it to be the first thing the reader will notice. This is an effective selling point in manipulating the audience to see what will attract them to read on. Further more, the pink colour is used for the smaller heading '25 rock stars who changed your world' then alternative colours are used for the heading below. This allows the magazine to look exciting, and therefore connotes the the buyer that if the content of the magazine is also exciting.

Design & Layout

A strapline is situated at the top of the front cover, a typical convention of a music magazine. This consists of a slogan giving an insight about an interview that is in the magazine and allows the reader to want to read more of the magazine due to this teaser. The actual masthead is printed in a font that looks like it has been smashed, this represents rebellion perfect in capturing the attention of their target audience of young indie/rock fans who will have stereotypically acted in a rebellious manor several times. The main image on the cover is lying on top of the masthead, covering it in some parts. This connotes that the magazine is well known and established so the fans and buyers will automatically know what the magazine is without having to clearly see the masthead, representing the idea that the magazine is successful and should be good. In the center of the page, the main heading is situated clearly grabbing the readers attention due to its position, allowing it to be the first thing the readers notice. There are pictures scattered around the page and filling the majority of it, this creates a hectic and busy page reflecting the lives of the target audience (young teens). Finally the main image is situated on top of all other images showing its importance, and highlighting the fact that in this edition of Kerrang! Billie Joel Armstrong is the main feature.

Images + Pose/Hairstyle/Make Up

The main image is of Billie Joel Armstrong filling the majority of the page to highlight his importance to this specific edition of Kerrang!, attracting a large indie/rock audience as his music is indie/rock and very successful. The image is a medium shot allowing his upper body to be on show, and also allowing his eye contact with the reader to be distinct as it is not to far away. Having eye contact with the reader is essential in establishing a relationship between the reader and the magazine and making them want to buy it. The expression on his face is serious portraying this indie/rock attitude yet again, in addition to his pose which consists of his hands held up by his head creating a quirky and unusual image. This pose allows his wrist tattoos to clearly show reinforcing the rebellious attitude portrayed in the masthead. His hair is black along with his eye make-up presenting a gothic/dark theme to the front page attracting a rock audience who may identify with this look, also the medium shot allows his black coloured hoody to be on show again adding to this indie/rock image. Several other images are used of other artists involved in the magazine making it look more exciting as oppose to lots of text on the front cover. The majority of the other images consists of rock artists with dark make up on reinforcing this rock/gothic theme. Mostly all other images are of artists and their faces yet there is one at the bottom of the page showing a band at a gig getting grabbed by their fans, this represents a hectic situation and chaos again, and also allows the buyer to relate to that image as they have probably been to gigs like that.

How Are The Words Used On The Cover

As usual the masthead is the largest writing so it stands out and the magazines is able to establish itself as Kerrang! magazine. The font appears as if it has been smashed creating a sense of rebellion to the page effective as a stereo-typical indie/rock music follower will relate to that. The main heading on the page is in the center and really stands out due to the bright colouring, this allows the words '25 rock stars who changed your world' to stand out and would effectively draw in an indie/rock audience as they would want to know who these rock stars are as some of them may be their favourite artists. There is also a bit of text saying 'and more....' with the use of ellipses there reader will be compelled to read due to the teasing aspect of this.

Language

The language on this cover is all simple which is good as it is not intimidating for the young target audience of Kerrang!. It also allows the text to be easily read and understandable and creates a pleasant easy read for buyers.

Overall Impression

I think that this front cover is very successful in attracting the target audience of young teens, through the colour scheme which adds excitement, the chaotic feel to the page due to lots of pictures and text scattered around and using a very popular indie/rock singer as the main image on the front page. The cover follows The text is easily read due to everyday language being used which creates a pleasant text to read. The business of the page connotes that the inside will have a large content to attractive to a buying audience, and the bright colouring would make this magazine stand out from others on the shelf. By using a very famous indie/rock artists Kerrang! are cleverly manipulating the audience to want to buy the magazine as they will want to read about him.

This is NME magazine and is an issue from January 2009. NME is an indie/rock genre magazine which i will be analysing for my media research.

Colour

The colours used on the magazine consist of red, white, black and yellow representing to the buyers that this is a unisex magazine as it is not targeting a specific gender audience. Also the colours black white and red are normally associated with the rock/indie genre yet the yellow used helps to make a more exciting front cover allowing it to stand out from other magazines. The NME masthead is in bright red following the tradition allowing it to stand out and be recognized by traditional fans.

Design and Layout

The masthead is situated in the top left hand corner conventional of a magazine yet it is not top of the page like most magazines. Above the masthead is the banner where 'The Killers' a very successful rock/indie band in the UK are in white bold writing almost as big as the masthead. This implies to the audience that the magazine will feature a story on 'The Killers' appealing to a large audience of rock/indie fans (traditional audience of NME)as they are very well liked in the UK. The masthead is on a white background with red lettering so it stands out to the audience. There is a bright yellow banner across the page that has a teared edges proposing the idea that it has been teared out form a page. This creates a an edgy feel to the front cover again appealing to a young audience who would find the teared edge effect quirky. Bold black lettering is used against the yellow background stating 'the new music issue' highlighting to readers that this is new and up to date music magazine appealing to an audience who are interested in the newest music. The layout of the magazine is quite messy targeting teenagers again as it reflects there lifestyle. It also creates an exciting image as there is lots going on on the page connoting that the magazine content will also be exciting.

Images

The main image on the front cover is a medium long shot of Florence from Florence and the machine. At the time in 2009 when this magazine was made the band was new to the UK charts and were very successful so the magazine were targeting a broad audience of teens who would want to buy the magazine as the main feature is based on the newest craze in music. There are other images on the front page which are pictures of the other artists featured in the magazine, this allows the buyer to receive a good incite of what is in the magazine just by a quick glance of the front cover. The pictures are at an angle creating more of an edgy look to the magazine making it appealing to young teens.

Pose Hairstyle Make Up

The pose on the front cover is sultry and the way in which the things on the magazine are positioned her tattoo clearly stands out and looks as-if she is showing it off to the buyers. By making her tattoo clearly shown on the front page it adds to rock image of the magazine and attracts a young audience as they would think that it is cool and want one, yet the older generation stereotypically don't approve of tattoos and therefore would not want to buy the magazine. The artist is wearing bright red lipstick to maintain the colour scheme of the front page and also as at the time it was very fashionable. Her hair is red and reasonably messy adding to the wild rock genre of the magazine. This image of the artist on the front cover attracts the traditional audience of NME, young adults/teenagers who are interested in rock/indie as her image is typical of an indie/rock genre artist.

Language

Simple language is used all over the front page to appeal to an everyday audience, mainly young adults/teenagers as they would easily understand and identify with the magazine. By using the phrase 'rock n roll' on the magazine in bold red writing, it is targeting a rock audience as that phrase is stereotypically associated with rock artists and rock fans.

Words used on cover

The artists names on the front cover are in reasonably large bold writing that have contrasting colour backgrounds. This allows the text to stand out allowing the buyer to be able to read from a distance and gain an instant incite to what is in the magazine, without giving too much away. It also allows the fact that artist such as 'kid cudi' and 'little boots' are unconventional artists to be featured in a rock/indie music magazine, yet by making the artists' name stand out the NME magazine is establishing itself from competitions as it is suggesting that there magazine has more versatility then other rock/indie music magazines. With the *********** saying 'the new music issue NMES 10 tips for 2009' the magazine is emphasizing the fact that the magazine is new at the start of the new year 2009, and conveys a new fresh image of the magazine that will appeal to readers. It will also appeal to the target audience of young adults/teens as it connotes that only the newest music will be featured in the magazine.

Overall impression

The magazine is clearly aimed at a young audience of young adults/teenagers due to the rebellious hectic image on the front page. It successfully attracts an audience of indie rock music with the use of an indie rock artist on the front page, yet the magazine also manages to attract one off buyers by featuring r'n'b artists and a special motown tribu te which would attract a more mature audience. The magazine gives the buyer a good incite as to what is in the magazine by a quick glance through the use of the bold fonts used and due to colours and layout used on the front page the magazine looks exciting, resulting in a more appealing front cover for the buyers.

Analysing Magazine Covers

This is Q magazine an issue from 2010, this magazine withholds a rock genre.

genre.

Colour

The colours used on the front cover consist of red white and black, complimenting the image of Cheryl Cole's white face, red lips and dark hair. This creates an aesthetically pleasing front cover to attract readers. Also through the use of red white and black, generally rock genre colours, the colour scheme maintains the rock image of the magazine and appeals to traditional fans. ALso by presenting a rock image on the front cover, the magazine is appealing to large audience immediately as a rock image and sound is fashionable in the the modern market. Further more, the bright red and white colours again the dark black colours adds a splash of excitement to the page connoting to the reader that the inside of the magazine will also be exciting. Finally through the use of red black and white the magazine is targeting a unisex audience as there are no colours such as blue or pink which are targeting a specific gender audience.

Design

The layout of the page is conventional of magazine front covers and follows the traditional layout of Q magazines consisting of the large bold red and white masthead in the corner with the feature image below it. The masthead is extremely eye catching in red and white and placed over the main image with the bold white strapline at the top of the page in Capital letters stating 'THE UK'S BIGGEST MUSIC MAGAZINE'. This emphasizes the successfulness of the magazine attracting a larger audience as it represents the idea that the magazine must be good as it is the most successful. It also allows the magazine to stand out from a distance. Following on, 'Cheryl Cole' the name of the music artist covering the front page is printed in bold white font causing it to be one of the first things you notice when looking at the page. By making 'cheryl Cole' stand out excessively it is ensuring hte magazine will appear to a large market of buyers by making it clear that a very successful and popular music icon is the main feature and the main focus of the magazine.

Images

The main image on the front cover is a close up of Cheryl Cole a very popular music artist in England, targeting the magazine at mainstream music fans. However by converting a pop artist into an image of a somewhat rock artist with the dark hair and studded rock ring, it is attracting a wider audience of rock fans also it connotes to the readers that there is a wide range of music genres within the magazine. The glossy image shows that the magazine is of a high class and presents to the audience that inside the magazine there will be feautures of well-known artists as oppose to new upcoming bands. This cover shows she is launching her solo career and tells the audience this with her new song and album name located underneath the image.

Pose, Hair Style, Make Up

Cheryl Cole on the front is posing in a provocative manor by licking the ring she is wearing creating a sexy image resulting in the female audience aspiring to be like her . The seductive pose also attracts a male audience and is enhanced by the wet hair look and red lipstick which is also adapted from the opening setting of the film Sin City in which it is raining.

Language

The language used on the front cover is straightforward and symplastic targeting an everyday audience who will identify with the magazine. However with certain words such as 'Rocks' the language is aimed at rock fans who stereotypically will identify with this language. Through the use of the 2010 printed in bold white font at the top right hand corner of the page, a wider audience is being attracted as it represents the fact that the magazine is new and up to date yet broadens its appeal with the incite that inside is a feature of 'John Lennon's lost weekend' attracting a more mature audience as John Lennon would appeal mostly to the audience of his prime. The front cover consists of a hybrid image adapting the theme of the film Sin City which consists of intertexuality from the Film Noir. This allows the magazine to identify with several people who know the film.

Words used on cover

A pun is used on the front cover when it says 'three words cheryl cole Rocks' using the name of her new album and single 'three words'. This instantly allows the readers to identify with the magazine as they would have heard of the album and song and it stands out due to words being printed in different sizes and fonts and colours. Several different types of fonts are used on the front cover to make a more exciting front page with versatility.

Overall Impression

The overall front cover is effective as it targets a broad audience due to many different things on the front cover but generally young adults who are interested in the latest trends in music. It provides a good incite as to what is in the magazine at a quick glance due to the bold fonts and colours used. The front cover is affective as it consists of a well known pop artist who has been transformed into a rock look to follow the sterotypical genre of Q yet broadens the appeal as it shows other music genres are in the magazine also. With the use of different sized and coloured fonts the front cover looks more exciting allowing it to stand out on the shelf.