Analysis of magazine front coversCover 1.NME Sept 2009

Dizzee Rascal Edition

FRONT COVER ANALYSIS

The masthead: Uses bold, strong colour and text suggesting different genres of music. Bold colours allow it to stand out and people can easily recognise the magazine and readers are able to identify it.

Use of flasher offer something extra : The flasher background carries colour theme, and helps to promote the magazine to readers as it shows the extra things they will gain by reading this particular magazine.

Background: The background is eye catching and represents the character of the artist displayed this gives insights into the genre of music he portrays and what the interview will be like. It promotes a party atmosphere therefore details what type of person Dizzee Rascal is, by using this background it attracts young people as this is what they are interested in.

Use of a pull quote: This helps to show the type of conversation inside, it helps entail how the artist is and what he stands for which helps to attract audiences.

The footer: helps show the less important things going on in the magazine yet still sells it

Barcode/ date/ issue/price : These help with information for nme company in order to see what sells the most copies to help gain more money

The main cover line: Uses big bold writing to sell the artist, the colours stand out form the background which allows people to see it more. The artist name is bigger than the other writing which implies that he is a big well known artist within the UK, because his name is larger it allows people to see it, because people recognise him, it will persuade them to buy this particular magazine.

The main image: shows the artist it takes up most of the page and the way he positioned makes him jump out at you and he is used to invite the reader. He is a well known artist that will attract a wide variety of people that listen to a variety of different music genres.

The sell lines/cover lines: The colour follows the colour theme helps to add extra information on the magazine the use of the word starring helps to portray the image that they are better and bigger promoting the musical image. They help to attract the target audience because they are what the audience wants to read about.

The header: Uses the information that there own reader s are interested in this attracts them more to this particular magazine, the language used helps to promote contents of the magazine even more. The use of the word ‘special’ makes the information within seem better than any other magazine that offers the same contents.

Analysis of magazine front covers cover 2. Music March 2006 Sarah

Chang edition

Masthead: The masthead used is simplistic, classic and mature. This reflects upon the genre of music that is portrayed within the magazine enabling the reader to have an idea of this before they even open the magazine. The use of the colour red which is used shows passion and excitement which is something the magazine like to imply. These ideas are further added too with the style and text type of the text. the mature look helps to reveal the target audience for this type of magazine ; older generation who are well educated and calming.

Sell lines: the sell lines follow through the colour scheme of red and black further creating a simplistic and mature look. They also help to add extra information to help grab the buyers attentions, the musicians name is large which helps to attract her fans and people interested within type of music she plays and creates. Furthermore, the writers use words such as ‘insane’ to help add interest within the items included within the magazine. It also helps to make the front cover exciting and appealing to wider audiences.

Main images: the main image helps to add colour to the magazine, the use of the musical instrument helps to entail the genre of music which is classical. The women portrayed is shot in a medium close up shot, which allows the reader to see her expressions which helps add emotion to the interview inside as you feel she is actually speaking to you. The artists eyes are looking directly at the reader which helps to create a friendlier approach too.

Flasher: the flasher is used on the front cover to grab attention, the word ‘free’ is bolder than the others because it makes the reader feel as if they are getting something extra out of the magazine. The reader is tricked by word s such as plus making them feel like they are getting a very good deal.

Header: this ties the colours in making the magazine look consistent and professional. It also helps to provide extra information on the contents of the magazine, they choose to use articles that there audiences are most interested within.

Barcode/date/price: the barcode helps to supply information for the designers and editors of the magazine. The date also helps to give extra information to allow the readers to find the correct issue they want. The price is important as this is what the audience are most interested within. However the designers choose to keep these parts of the magazine small as they are of less importance compared with the other parts such as the main image and cover lines used within the magazine.

Analysis of magazine front covers cover 3. vibe Kanye West edition

Header: the header helps to create a colour scheme within the magazine. The colours are bright and lively which is a representation of the music that vibe magazine portray, both feminine and masculine colours are used which helps the magazine appeal to a multitude of people. Also, the header helps to grab people attention with the contents they offer. ‘exclusive’ makes the reader feel that his magazine offers the best quality information which persuades them to buy the magazine.

Cover lines: the cover lines help to promote the main featured artist within the magazine. The text colours follows the colour scheme which helps to create a professional and organised company who create vibe magazine. The sell lines help to sell the magazine as they provide the catching information that there particular target audience want to red about. Words such as ‘his’ makes the interview seem more personal as the information seem as if he is directly speaking to you. By using the plus as an add on the reader seems to get even more within the magazine which makes them want to buy the magazine.The words used makes the reader feel as if Kanye West is giving you advice, people idolise him and therefore like to hear about his thoughts and opinions, which acts as a further pull factor for the readers to buy this particular magazine over the others.

Masthead: the main title is large eye-catching and follows through on the colour scheme, the word ‘vibe’ is large and takes the majority of the upper section of the front cover up. This is an important factor as people acknowledge the name and understand the big background it has, by making the name large people can easily identify it.

Main image: the main image is a close up image of Kanye west, his eyes are directly looking at the reader to make them feel as if the information is being spoken to them by him. The image is large which helps to create his persona as an outgoing, carefree person who is higher than most people who buy the magazine. The reader can see the emotions on his face which allows them to connect with the artist and understand his life a bit more. Also the clothes he is wearing match the colour scheme which makes him seem as if he fits in the magazine.

Logo: the little logo on the bottom helps to promote the achievements of the magazine. This helps to show how big the magazine actual is, and it has been recognised for it work. This makes the reader think that the magazine is of a good standard and should spend there money on it.