1. I chose this music magazine as
inspiration for my publication. The
cover-lines are bold and vibrant
which attract the audience. There
is a variety of different font
styles used, for example, the main
cover-line is bold to indentify the
name of the music magazine. In
contrast the explanatory text typed
in capital letters to outline the
content of the article.
I chose this music magazine because
it has similarities and differences
to the previous front cover I
analysed. I was attracted by the
simple design layout which
highlights the editorial pillars
and explanatory text. Overall, this
magazine is bold and appealing to
the audience. I will use this
particular magazine as inspiration
for when I produce my music
magazine.

2. Selling-line
strap-line
Master-head
Barcode
Kicker and explanatory text
Main cover-line
Splatter
Left third aligned to the left
and right third is aligned to
the right- therefore it is not
challenging the conventions.
A kicker is a short phrase found set
above the explanatory text. The kicker
can serve as an introduction or as a
type of section heading to help the
audience identify or assess an article
before committing to reading the whole
thing. This gives the reader a small
hint as to what the type of article they
are about to read.
The explanatory text provides a brief
description about the kicker. This gives
the audiences an insight about what the
article is about, therefore, music
magazine often make the explanatory text
short and snappy to catch the audiences
attention.
Explanatory text
A barcode is the
identity of a product
via a code which is an
optical machine-readable
representation of data.
Splatters are used to create
interesting effects that grab the
audiences attention. This can be
used to attract the audience with
the latest gossip, event or news. It
is usually used in informal
magazines.
The main cover-line is
the focal issue or event
that has happened. This
is what the target
audience are appealed by.
The master-head is the
brand or name of the
magazine. This is what the
target audience will
recognise. Therefore, the
brand needs to ensure they
have a good reputation and
well-established.

3. The language is informal which address
to a wider audience, and most of the
public sector. I can infer form the
language that the target audience for
this music magazine is between 16-21
years old, written by an American
author. This can be referred from the
word ‘DUUDE!’ which is used as the
selling line. The language is direct
which has an impact from the responses
received from the audience. It is
significant for the language to be
direct as this engages and persuades
the customer to purchase and read the
music magazine as they know what they
are to expect. For example, we can
identify the focus of this issue from
the kicker, ‘ROCK’S MESSIEST BUST-UP’.
This kicker is bold and it is
positioned in the central which
attracts the eye flow. The kicker
communicates with the audience
directly by outlining the content of
the article. And for the majority of
readers, they are attracted by these
types of articles which reflect ‘bust-
ups’ between celebrities.

4. There is a consistency with the
font applied to this front cover of
NME. Two sans serif fonts have been
combined together to distinguish
the main cover-lines to the
explanatory text. A sans serif font
is a typeface that does not have
the small features called ‘serifs’
at the end of strokes. A sans serif
font is appropriate for writing
annotations and clear heading. This
typeface is useful for bold heading
and master-heads. It has been used
as the main master-head in this
front cover because it gives a
professional finish to the magazine
and it is legible and clear to
read. Therefore, this enhances
effective eye-flow. The barcode is
positioned in the bottom left hand
corner, it is not noticeable which
is important as this does not
distract the eye-flow or the layout
of the page.

5. In the mise-en-scene, you can denote
two models being caught up in a ‘bust-
up’ or conflict. The costume of these
two models complement each other and
contrast. There are no props involved
in this shoot except for the casual
clothing and the model themselves. This
makes the image simple, which attracts
a wider audience. The body language of
the two models, appeal to the audience.
The lightening has been edited to add a
focal point on the faces of these two
models. This attracts the yes to the
facial expression. Therefore,
automatically the eyes gaze over the
main cover-line, ‘OASIS’. The selling
line and strap line is positioned in
the top left hand corner. This is the
commence of the eye flow. Therefore,
the first text the readers read is the
selling and strap line. This is so they
know how the magazine costs. Overall
this magazine is attractive and has an
effective use of eye-flow.

6. The colour scheme is appealing as the colour
of the font used complements the costume of
the celebrity photo shoot which is positioned
in the on either alignment of the page. This
is effective as it makes the eye-flow more
powerful. The colours used adapt to the
content of the articles, and the colours
represent the mood of the articles. For
instance, the kickers relate to ‘smashed
guitars’ and ‘bust-ups’ which reflect a mood of
anger. And the colour red symbolises this
particular mood. Instantly, the audience are
drawn to this magazine by the use of colour
and I can denote the articles which will be
included by the strong, vibrant colours.
Furthermore, the font is bold and the usages
of colours are limited to white, black and
red. This is effective and draws attention to
the kickers and explanatory texts. The
colours used are primary colours.

7. The use of white space
attracts the audience because
it draws focus to the mast-
head and the focal photo on
the page. This is effective
as it appeals to the audience
and it enhances eye-flow as
the white background
contrasts with the text,
which makes it striking and
attractive. The layout on the
page is interesting and
engages the audience due to
the eye contact made by the
model gaze. The eye contact
communicates the audience,
and it contact with the model
on the right alignment.

8. Skyline
Master-head
Barcode
Main cover-line
A barcode is the
identity of a product
via a code which is an
optical machine-readable
representation of data.
The main cover-line is
the focal issue or event
that has happened. This
is what the target
audience are appealed by.
The master-head is the
brand or name of the
magazine. This is what the
target audience will
recognise. Therefore, the
brand needs to ensure they
have a good reputation and
well-established.
Kicker and explanatory text
A kicker is a short phrase found
set above the explanatory text.
The kicker can serve as an
introduction or as a type of
section heading to help the
audience identify or assess an
article before committing to
reading the whole thing. This
gives the reader a small hint as
to what the type of article they
are about to read.
The explanatory text provides a
brief description about the
kicker. This gives the audiences
an insight about what the article
is about, therefore, music
magazine often make the
explanatory text short and snappy
to catch the audiences attention.
Explanatory text
Selling-line/strap-line
Left third aligned to the left
and right third is aligned to
the right- therefore it is not
challenging the conventions.

9. The language used in this magazine
is formally written in order to
promote the events to the audience.
This music magazine is more solemn
in comparison to the previous
magazine I analysed. The language
is more technical and directly, as
also seen in a professional
industry in theoretical music. For
example one of the kickers is, ‘the
memoirs of Keith Richards’. This
kicker is more grave, whereas in
the previous magazines, the kickers
were related to celebrity ‘bust-
ups’. Therefore there are different
genres within the music industry,
the gossip, then the more solemn
subjects and showcases. This
builds a formal relationship with
the audience which is provoked with
the image in the centre of the
page.

10. The cover-lines are bold and vibrant,
although it has been placed behind the
model gaze, because the brand is well-known
and the model gaze is famous, the users
automatically know the name of the
magazine. Therefore, we can denote that
this magazine is well established, so for
me to analyse this, it will help my for my
own music magazine. The kicker and
explanatory text have the same typeface,
but different size and style. The kicker is
bigger and bold which attracts the users to
the articles. And the explanatory text is
in a smaller size to give the reader some
description of the kicker. And as the font
is the same, the users can relate the
explanatory text and kicker together. The
master-head is a similar font to the rest
of the text which keeps a consistency
throughout the front cover. All of the
text is typed in capital letters, this
attracts the users instantly. However, the
capital letters are only used for on
explanatory text on the far right of the
page. This is because is particular kicker
and explanatory text are special featured
in this magazine. The featured article is
noticed by the audience has the format is
different from the other text; therefore
this attracts a wider audience.

11. The layout is simple and attractive. The text is
structured in the shape of the models body. In the
mise-en-scene where is a model leaning towards the
camera. The shot is a median high angle shot, which
makes the model look superior to the target
audience. This intimidates the audience to read
this magazine. The props within this frame include
a cigarette, jewellery (watch, chain, ring,
necklace), also known as ‘bling’ and a hat. These
props are associated and familiar with younger
audience, therefore this images relates and
communicates with the younger audience from the age
of 16 until about 22 years old. Using props which
relate to the target audience encourage them to
read the magazine as they can relate themselves
directly to the model gaze on the front cover. The
barcode is positioned in the bottom left hand
corner, this is generally the standard formatting
to position the bar code here because it does not
disrupt the eye-flow on the page – as the main
focal is the eyes of the model, which leads to the
featured kicker in the bright lighting. Similarly
the price line and selling line/strap-line is
positioned in the top right hand corner, where the
eye-flow starts. This is significant as the reader
knows how much the magazine is worth and then they
can judge the front cover. The selling line is at
the top of the page, where it states the main
artists in this magazine, as well as upcoming
events.

12. The colour scheme is limited and
selective. The colours have been
selected from the primary palette;
therefore this creates a bigger impact
on the appearance. The colours stand out
and attract the users instantly. The
colour scheme is consistent as a hint of
red has been used on the skin colour of
the model gaze; this makes the front
cover successful and attractive. The
black font relates to the black costume
and jewellery worn by the model.
Finally, the hat the man is wearing in
the photo shoot associates with the skin
colour and the red strand on the design
matching the skin tone. Overall, the
colour scheme is limited in colour, with
different shades. This is used as to
highlight shadow or lighter areas. With
the colours being limited, the yellow
exclusive text stands out and draws
attention to the eye. This attracts the
users to read this magazine.

13. The model gaze has direct eye contact with the
audience which makes the communication more
effective. The body posture of the model makes
the magazine look realistic and this convinces
the audience to purchase this magazine. This
photo has been edited in Photoshop. Changes have
been made to the face, where artificial
lightening has been added to highlight the face
of the model gaze, which is the focal point in
this magazine front cover. Therefore this
appeals to the audience, as the light tints
makes the white background stand out. As well as
highlighting the brighter areas of the image,
shadow has been used to complement the black
jacket which reflects the kicker and explanatory
text. The effect of black costume and shadowing
effect contrasts the white background which
makes the front cover more interesting and
realistic. The use of the white spacious
background is effect because it allows the text
to stand out which allows effective
communication to the public. A shadow effect has
been used to add a shadow behind the model to
make the photo more realistic. Artificial
lighting has been used where the feature kicker
is positioned. This attracts the audience as
this bright light contrast with the shadier side
on the left alignment. Therefore, this suggests
to the user that this kicker is exclusive and
one not to miss.

14. This PowerPoint has been presented to you by Rita Sharma
St Marylebone School 2010
Differences
 Target audience
 Language
 Genre
 Design layout
 Purpose
Similarities
 White background
 Model gaze eye contact
 Limited font and colour scheme
 Barcode positioning
 Unchallenged conventions
 White background
 Median shot, point of view angle photograph
 Limited font and colour usage
 different colour font to highlight exclusive feature
 Bar code positioning in bottom left hand corner