This is all of the research i conducted into existing music magazines of the indie genre, so that i could plan my own music magazine. This contains an analysis of 3x Double page spreads, 3x front covers and 3x contents pages. As well as this the readership and circulation of all 3 magazines.

1. Music Magazine Research

2. NME is a british music journalism magazine that has been published since 1949. It
was the first british paper to include a singles chart. It was particularly associated
with gonzo journalism. It then moved towards covering punk rock news.
Beginning as a music newspaper, before changing format to a magazine in 1998. An
online version of nme was introduced in 1996 becoming the biggest standalone
music site. Due to poor sales the magazine became free in September 2015.

3. The masthead is bold and in
block capitols showing the
magazines professionalism
and authority in the industry.
This whole front cover for an
issue of NME is an example of
graphic continuity as the bold
reds, whites and black of the
font engulf the cover.
Mise en Scene- both Alex
Turner and Miles Kanes
outfits and hair are the same
creating the idea of cohesion
between this group.
Generic to most
Magazines an
‘exclusive’ is
advertised on the front
cover to tempt people
to purchase as they want
To know what others don’t.
Quote requires some pragmatic
knowledge of Alex Turners history
In the Arctic Monkeys. This would
appeal now to both Arctic Monkeys
and Last Shadow Puppets fans
enlarging the target audience.
The Cream/Pink back drop
Is very smooth almost reflecting
the smooth apparel and
demeanour of the band.
NME presents itself as a trendy
modern magazine, through the
Mise en scene and colour schemes.
NME: Cover

4. The quote which draws most
of the attention on this page
Is designed to appear to have
been composed of other
Newspaper/magazine
clippings, showing she
doesn’t care about what
others have to say about her,
suggesting this is the only
magazine for musicians.
This particular image keeps in
check with the typical colour
scheme of this magazine, through
the woman's costume, which
Is red and black, like most of the
magazine.
Her pose is quite casual
In the medium shot which reflects
a lot of Lily Allens nature in and out
of the spotlight.
The actual text is small and
tight, filling a minor part of
the double page spread, yet
It is clear there is a lot being
said, suggesting that NME,
being aimed at an indie
crowd cares more about its
Image, which incidentally fills
a whole page.
NME: DPS

5. The contents page in NME
seems to always contain
some comical image or
Sub-headline relating to a Band.
This one in particular Is
reflected in the image
As the dim lighting suggests
The romanticism described
In the title, creating some
humor.
The contents page is very busy compared
to the rest of NME which seems more
relaxed and easy on the eyes, perhaps
by plastering this page with text and
Imagery (which typically should show
what the magazine has to offer anyway)
they can get away with the rest of the
Magazine looking more composed.
Amongst the busyness of this
contents page –which follows the
black and red colour scheme of
the rest of the magazine- the
striking yellow on black attracts
A lot of attention immediately,
Coercing people into actually
subscribing to NME.
A feature of most styles of written
media, the contents page provides us
with page numbers for articles they find
particularly interesting, allowing easy
access to the most prominent articles
In the magazine.
NME: Contents

6. NME Reader Profile
Being an indie magazine, the typical reader of NME are aged between 15-40 and on average 24, as
it advertises to the trendier members of the population. It is evident through research that the
average NME reader is heavily concerned with image, spending at least £650 a year on clothes. This
is possible as most of the population that read NME are in the ABC1 Bracket, 65% in fact. The
magazine appropriates itself to this target audience through the mise en scene and costumes of the
bands displayed on the covers. They typically always dress smart and the colour scheme is very soft
and appealing. The circulation of NME is at 308,606 copies over a 6-month period, yet the
readership reaches around 500, 000.
Jake Bugg.
Alex Turner Miles Kane

7. DIY is a fairly new magazine that was founded and first publ
The colourful rainbow colour
scheme appears very warm and
Inviting. Also matching the name
of Jamie XXs new album ‘In Colour’
The medium close up of
Jamie XX shows him looking
down away from the
camera makes him look
Quite lackadaisical matching
the colour scheme which is
tainting the cover.
The captions simply refer to other
bands, implying this magazine
focuses on the bands, not gossip or
advertisement.
The plain white masthead
Shows the magazine wants
to draw attention from itself
and to the bands.

8. How the text is laid out on either
Side of the large red ‘Vs’ is
almost symmetrical, creating a
nice graphic continuity over the
double page spread.
DIY: DPS
The imagery of the ‘Vs’ seems to
be included to fuel the apparent
rivalry between these two female
led groups. As red is used to
represent danger, the magazine
could be including such a large
mass of red to convey the anger
arising between them.
However this double page spread
Is designed to appear symmetrical
on either side, ‘Hayley Williams’
on the left side of the DPS, of
Punk group Paramore is dressed
In black and white conforming to
the colour scheme, yet
extravagant hair colour comes
through to show her carelessness,
which the magazine allows her
to express.
The right page of the DPS is
devoted to the other end of this
female grudge match, Lauren
Mayberry of Synthpop band
Chvrches. The medium long shot
of her looks like she is a stencil
drawing which looks
very surreal. She she appears to
be cowering behind the huge ‘V’.
Suggesting she is the weaker one
In this feud.

9. Four images are used in this
contents Page yet are collaborated
into a Montage to appear as one
image.
This is to create a strange special
effect that places certain members
of the band in the foreground and
background, suggesting their
Importance in the band.
This particular issue places this band
‘Bastille’ in images on both the
front Cover and contents page,
implying They are the stars of
the time.
DIY: CONTENTS The named articles are quite vague, simply
referring to other bands featuring in
this issue. This ambiguity is quite
Important as it entices the reader to find
out what is being written about these
bands.
Two of the band members can be seen
reaching or pointing out towards the
camera, as if trying to touch their fans
and readers. Perhaps showing that this
band loves being close to its supporters.

10. DIY Reader Profile
As the name of this magazine suggests it revolves around bands that are making it well on their own
as part of the indie music scene. Therefore the general readership of this magazine are mainly
interested in the earthier, real side of music. The typical age of a reader of DIY is on average 19
years old. They enjoy such hobbies as skateboarding and spend most of their money on street wear.
Less than half however of the people who read DIY are in the ABC1 clique at 43%. Which is not
actually a problem as the magazine is available for free in many music venues and stores. The
physical circulation of the magazine is around 40,000 a month, yet the readership tops 85,000.
Rat Boy
Ellie Rowsell Grimes

11. Mojo is another very popular music magazine, it began publication in 1993, initially being
Published by Emap until 2008 when they changed to Bauer. One of its most Prominent and
interesting features is its occasional inclusion of lists, including ‘Top 100 songs To listen to while
on drugs’ and ‘top 150 rock epics’.
However it does feature articles on most genres of music, it mainly features indie and classic
rock, like the other two magazine I have researched. Mojo also broadcasts its own ‘Mojo radio’
and ‘Mojo rocks’.

12. The plain white masthead resembles
that of DIY magazine, in that it
doesnt attempt to draw much
attention away from the actual band
or artist being featured, as well as
being plain white, the masthead is
also being partially hidden in this
Issue.
Whilst sticking to a bland yet
professional looking black and white
colour scheme, orange and green
are used to outline the guitar and
For some font creating a neon effect
Over the black background. Possibly
to express the flashness of the era of
Lou Reed.
The inclusion of a free CD with this issue
shows the effort that this magazine puts
In in order to connect with its audience.
The colour scheme of the CD art also
mirrors that of the magazine for
cohesion. The close up of Lou Reed also
makes for some intimacy between him
and his fans.
The advertisement of other articles
Within this issue on the cover is
quite limited, only to a thin band
along the top of the cover. This grey
band is also the only exception to
the adamant colour scheme, which
allows for some attention to be
drawn to the smaller stories.
MOJO: COVER

13. Mojo magazine tends to take
a professional stance with its
double page spreads, they
set out in a smart way as
often they are about serious
Issues.
For example the
thought provoking headline
quote ‘It keeps dragging me
back’ seems quite emotional,
Whereas other music
Magazines are less serious.
MOJO: DPS
The medium close up eye level
shot of David Bowie makes him
appear quite distressed, the
fact that we are also eye level
with him allows us some insight
Into him as a character.
David Bowies costume reflects
his persona of the late 70s in
which he wore denim jackets
and took lots of cocaine,
perhaps this is what the head-
Line quote is referencing.
The colouring of the pages is
quite a faded vintage look,
much like earlier published
Magazines.

14. MOJO: Contents
The urban looking backdrop of
this medium close up seems to
be an attempt to keep up with
other music magazines, as
Mojo was originally a classic
rock magazine. Yet the waning
popularity of classic rock may
have pushed Mojo to explore
other styles.
Morriseys costume is very smart,
which is intrinsic to his style, this
also reflects the manner of the
magazine Mojo which is quite
a formal, respectable magazine.
The ‘features’ section gives quite
a detailed description of each
article, yet still in a short brief
few sentences, showing Mojos
professionalism.
This quote from Morrisey is
Immediately noticeably important,
as it is the same sized font as the
names of the articles which,
compared to the much smaller font
of the article descriptions, is
distinctly bigger.
The inclusion of names of cities is
used to show Mojos huge
widespread popularity.

15. MOJO Reader Profile
This magazine is often associated with older generations as it tends to include more
articles about classic rock than modern contemporary genres. The average readers
age is of around 36-52, and most of these people are included in the ABC1 bracket,
at 82%. This is possibly because the generation that read this magazine are older
and more settled with steady jobs. A monthly circulation of Mojo is at around
80, 000 (based on the june 2013 circulation of 79, 345). However the actual
readership reaches higher at 120, 000.
Mick Jagger Bob Dylan Neil Young