Music Magazine Research

ByDaniel Martin

Billboard1. Colourful Masthead, slightly covered by main image

2. Sell lines

3. Essential information, contact information, website and barcode

4. Main image

5. Main sell line and sub heading

6. Bait and hook stare, image of perfection.

7. Multi genre

1. The colourful title that fills the empty spaces is unique and also hints that it is multi genre due to the mixture of bright colours of blue, red, yellow etc. perhaps colours are for different genre’s and attempts to get larger audience. Or the audience may be put off by the use of bold colours as these are normally associated with Pop.

2. Sell lines used as bait and hook for all audiences as there are sell lines for different genres and main features just for the audience like DIY etc. This particular magazine leaves the music second and main things that may link to reader like world issues and DIY in order to get more information and seem more helpful to the audience

3. The essential contact information with the website giving opportunity for digital audiences as well as contact information. A weekly magazine with a high cost of £6.99

4. The main image of popular artists placed on the front cover for top stories, this main image covers the masthead so it is a popular magazine if the audience can identify it without seeing all of it. The artist vary from Bob Marley to Paul McCarty , introducing all audiences to popular artists or audiences get a chance to pick different issues depending on the artist on the cover. This issue has Taylor Swift who is normally associated with pop and country, however audiences may be persuaded by other sell lines around the cover and also because of the artist’s personality.

5. The main sell line and subheading are anchorage for the main image and are there to attract the audience to the magazine. This issue includes world news and helpful advice like DIY and money and leaves the music secondary.6. The main image of Taylor Swift is out of diegesis and is there to act as a bait and hook, because she looks directly at the audience to persuade them to but the magazine. Also she has been airbrushed to look like an image of perfection to seem attractive and the idea of what all girls should look like.7. The magazine is multi genre from pop to rock etc. it contains little of different genre to attract a large audience and get them involved with different genres the covers vary to suit the artist on the cover, for example pop artist is bright light colours while rock is a little darker.

Q1. Masthead always in same place. unique

2. Flash

4. Main image

3. Sell lines

5. Main feature

6. Barcode and price

7. Genre

1. The Masthead is iconic, unique and well recognised. With a simple but effective design.

2. Flash and extra sell lines alerting to audience to something big. For this magazine, the artists names are in bold and are normally the only thing that needs to be mentioned which shows that it appeals to loyal fans and that they only need the mention of the name to buy the magazine.

3. Sell lines used as bait and hook mostly kept together but using different colours. Mostly just naming artists and tours leaving the main imager to do most of the persuasion.

4. The main image is always an artist or band in a blank background so they can strike a pose like a photo shot, normally the magazine uses artists from the past. Every artist stares directly at the reader to persuade the to buy it

5. Main feature is highlighted to attract the target demographic to the magazine, main feature is the main image and has a buzz line acting as a bait and hook,

6. Barcode, website address and the price which is an incredibly cheap £3.50-90 for a monthly issue, which assures consumer loyalty. Plus the website appeals to digital audiences.7. The magazine genre is pop/rock which include well known and popular artists but mostly from the past as they are major news with the interviews. Plus the magazine also includes reviews and other platforms including film. In hopes of appealing to audiences more as it contains all these different platforms implying they only need to get information from this magazine

Rolling Stones1. skyline

2. masthead covered by main image

3. Main feature article

4. Issue date and price

5. Main image

6. Big bold sell lines

7. Genre 8. Mainstream news and political opinion

1. Skyline for extra information and is one of the first things the audience sees so it is something eye catching contains but words like ‘ultimate’

2. The masthead is a deep dark red and is iconic and memorable as the main image hides it but the audience can still identify it, implying consumer loyalty

3. Main sell line and article feature as anchorage for the main image. Placed in bold and colour to draw attention

4. Issue number and price, published fortnightly at a price of $4.50, the average price for a magazine and possibly hints that the audience are in a working job and possibly students to pay this much.

5. Main image of artists but also of celebrities and politicians which is eye catching, normally with a blank background, similar to Q, like a photo shoot to focus on the main person(‘s) magazine gets involved in other issues and platforms, not just music

6. The sell lines are big bold and some in a different colour so they are eye catching and draw the audience in.7. The genre varies like the other magazines such as Q and Billboard. With many different artists and celebrities that it is more difficult to identify the genre and appeals to mass market audience8. The magazine doesn't just focus on the music if also focuses on mainstream, public issues which is shown through the use of celebrities and politicians on the front cover. This may hint that the magazine publishes all the info for the demographic or that they also give and opinion as well.

Vibe

1. Skyline

2. Big bold masthead

4. Barcode and price

3. Sell lines

5. Main image

6. Background

7. Genre

1. Bold skyline at the top contain a pull quote to attract the audience and act as a bait and hook.

2. Masthead is big bold and simple therefore easily recognisable. For each issue the colour may very to suit the artist and the background. May possibly change colour for different genre and get in more audiences

3. Typical sell lines to act as bait and hook to target demographic, the artist in a different colour to draw attention and what they done underneath, normally the biggest news in the music industry that has happened recently showing they are up to date

4. The price would have a high price due to it being a monthly magazine, unable to find a fixed price but it will be expensive for a mostly issue and appeal to upper class market who can afford it.

5. Main image of the artist but also of other things like Barack Obama to act as the star attraction for the issue. Hints of political influence maybe and is an opportunity to use something big and join in the latest pheonomoen.

6. The background differs, from each issue. It may be the simple photo shoot photo to have main focus on the artists of a full blown background ranging from a distinct colour to and explosive background to get the attention and show characteristics of the artists. Once the audience get an idea of the character and genre they will decide if it appeals the them or not7. The genre contains a variety shown through the use of artists on the front cover. It contains a variety in order to attract a larger market rather than a small niche market.

1. Skyline

2. Masthead

3.Cover lines placed around the magazine

4. Covers/background

5. Main image

6. Puff- free and price

8. Genre 7. Pull quote and heading

1. Skyline detailing what the magazine contains, giving the audience full knowledge before hand. Maybe something massive placed at the top so the audience read it first

2. Masthead is big, bold and is the same iconic image in deep red and white outline

3. The cover lines are placed around the magazine sometimes in an organised manner or no particular order, depends on the cover. Each have its own information to appeal to all readers

4. The covers and background change to suit the artist. Some have a background or just one shade of colour and some change to suit the Christmas theme

5. The main images are popular artist and normally stare directly at the reader in order to persuade them to buy it, the artists sell the magazine 6. The price is £2.20, average price for the weekly magazine. However the magazine does advertise free offers for the reader in hope of gaining consumer loyalty7. The cover has a main heading underneath as anchorage for the main image. There are also a buzz quote to act as a bait and hook8. The genre had differed over the years from punk rock to indie music (independent music) and currently uses a few from each genre to appeal to all readers

Billboard Contents Page1. Header

2. Images and page number

3. Headings

4. Image

5. Info

6. Website and page number

7. Magazine name

8. Top charts

9. Additional information

10. Design and layout

1. The header is bolds and clearly states that the page is the contents page.

2. Few images of key articles with a picture underneath so the audience can get straight there.

3. Headings for the main articles and a little description underneath as well as the page number, the info is to act as the bait and hook. Same conventional style as any contents page, simple for the reader to understand

4. Image as a bait and hook for the main article will be the biggest image and so will have the most emphasis on where they want the reader to go

5. Information at the bottom of the page containing info about events and online for the audience, in order to introduce them to the main topics.

6. Website is there if the audience wish to go digital and also the page number of the contents page. Page number is conventional and the implication of digital website may be that most of it’s audience is moving online and it is persuading the rest to join

7. The magazine name is placed at the top for continuality and acts as a brand name to let the audience know who it is.8. The top charts for the best albums, songs and artists etc. are place on the left side for the audience to know what’s number one etc. a simple but effective, unique idea.9. Any other additional information is placed down the side of the page, just in case there is anything else the audience wants to know.10. The design is simple but clear: the charts on the left contents on the right and any other info at the bottom. Clear and effective way for the audience to read.

Q Contents Page1. Header 2. issue, date and

websites

3. Main image and pull quote

4. Headings

5. Page number with info

6. Sections

7. Design

1. Header placed at the top alongside the magazine logo, to identify the page and remind the reader like a brand name

2. The name of the issue is placed at the top, with the date and also the website including to social networking, maybe to persuade readers to go online.

3. Main image of the main article with the page number and a pull quote for a bait and hook effect. The image is similar to front cover images of having the band look at the audience and has a simpler body language reflecting the magazine’s genre.

4. Heading placed at the top to identify different sections like features, specials etc. all with the same deep red colours as the background like the masthead, iconic.

5. The page number is placed at the side before the name of the article and a little info so the audience have an idea of what the article is about. Placed at the top or bottom so the audience can speed through the pages easily to find the page they want.

6. The contents are separated into different sections for the audience to get to a certain place, also the different sections allow the magazine to group the articles together, for example the features first and later on the reviews and normal things like crosswords. Makes it easier for the audience to identify what they want to see and narrows down where the page is7. The design resembles the same as the magazine front cover and keep a continuous design as well as a similar colour. A simple design to have the page number next to the article, in columns, so the audience can read it easily and have a main image take up some space

Rolling Stones Contents Page1. Header is a website

2. Info beneath the headings

3. Main article

4. Use of images

5. Page numbers

6. Different media

7. Design and background

1. The header does not say if it is the contents page because it believes that the audience can identify it by themselves, instead I states the name of it’s website to persuade the reader to go online.

2. Information beneath each article to give description to persuade the audience to read it. Done in more detail than other contents pages, lets the audience know exactly what is in the article.

3. Main articles are on the right and in separate boxes to highlight them and give more detail to persuade the reader.

4. It uses many images to illustrate the articles, many of them are of celebrities from the stories, used as a bait and hook, images used for persuasion as the audience prefer images to reading.

5. Page numbers are shown on the left but not the right so the audience need to read through to find it, a technique that leaves the audience wanting more.

6. The magazine also uses different media and separates the articles under the different headings, so the audience get the most information from the magazine.7. The design is organised and simplistic, a little busy for the audience but is effective. The is little colour and apart from the magazines colour scheme of red. Plus the use of little colour places more focus on the main articles. The layout resembles a newspaper which implies that the audience is higher market and prefer reading, seems to contradict the images as they show young artists and a more rock n’ roll genre.

1. Stylish title

2. Background

3. Colour

4. Main image

5. List of articles

6. Layout

Vibe Contents Page

1. The main heading the identifies the page is big bold and done in an abstract way, where it continues on the next line. It is done like this so the reader can identify this unique heading to the magazine.

2. The background is plain with a grey colour palate. This places focus on the foreground, on the image and writing

3. The grey colour palate places focus on the foreground but also on the heart as it is the only object with colour. It is red and placed there by an unknown feminine hand, the connotation of this would imply love or lust.

4. The main image is of popular artist, Kanye West. His image dominates the screen and stares directly at the audience to draw them in. fans of the artist will be excited and read on to see if there's and article on him. His image is selling the magazine and the clothes his wearing, as they are fashionable and persuades the reader to get them. He connotes an audience through the genre of his music as well as the image, the idea of what men want to be and what woman want.5. The list of articles are placed neatly at the side for the audience to read, it also contains subjects like features and fashion. Gives information of what appears in the magazine6. The layout is simplistic: the bold heading, main image dominating the page and neatly placed list of articles. All done so it is clear, concise and easy for the reader to understand, nothing extra is added to confuse them.

1. Main heading

2. Band index

3. List of articles

4. Main image

5. Sneak preview

6. Puff advertising

1. The main heading reads ‘NME this week’ is unique to the magazine as most other magazine just use ‘contents’ to identify the page. Plus, it sounds more casual and friendly to the reader

2. The band index is used so the audience know who is apart of the magazine and where to find them quickly.

3. The list of articles are placed at the side so it is clear and easy for the reader to understand. It is also placed under categories like features and reviews.

4. The main image is of the main article and of the artist, to show what is the main issue, places more emphasis on the article

5. There is a sneak preview from the main article to act as a bait and hook to whether the audience want to read on.6. There is a quick advertisement at the bottom to persuade the reader to subscribe to the magazine and also gain consumer loyalty from them as well. Like every other magazine it attempts to convince the audience that it is a good deal so they appear trustworthy

Billboard double page spread

1. interviews

2. Main image 3. Article 4. Heading 5.Background

1. The articles may consist of one or more artists giving a review or and interview

2. The main image dominates the double page spread to promote the artist(s) and the image is more effective as the reader prefers to look at the image rather than read the words. It will be a full page image which doubles as a background, normally direct mode of address

3. The main article will be about the artist to promote them it may consist an interview, new artist or just a review of them. Anything that will promote the artist and interest the audience.

4. The heading will be bold and a pull quote to describe the artist. The heading will be in a style and colour that will reflect the artist and genre, e.g. the word ‘girl’ is in the colour pink and the heading is in a bold and official style like pop.

5. The background will reflect the artist whether it is one colour or an actual setting. The colour will reflect the genre like bold colours will reflect pop, however the actual setting background will seem more realistic and perhaps reflect the artist’s mode like the double page spread in the slide before hints that she is in the corner and seems deep and meaningful.

Q double page spread

1. Main image

2. Colours

3. Pull quote 4. Layout

5. Design

1. Main image on the left is a profile picture to promote the image.2. The colours suit the artist, for example the red side resembles either love or danger.3. There is a pull quote in a different colour to draw attention to it and is a quote from the artist themselves which will act as a bait and hook for the reader. 4. The layout is simple and concise for the reader to understand: image on the left, words on the write giving the article.5. Unique and smart idea from the magazine, use as bold letter of the artist’s name in a different colour to identify them and show off the iconic design.

Rolling Stone Double Page Spread

1. Design 2. Background 3. Images

1. The design changes for each artist, from professional and calm, to stylish and graphic, to dark atmosphere etc. changes to suit the genre e.g. pop may appear calmer while rock n’ roll will be much more darker

2. The background also changes to suit the artist, whether it’s pure white or neutral or dark background to resemble the artist and also the music genre

3. There is either one main image of the artist on one full page, direct mode of address almost daring the audience to read on. Or a number of images mixed with different parts of the article like Q&A or new single, possibly for a new rising artist and is letting the audience know everything that they want to know.

Vibe double page spread

4. The article1. Unique designs 2. Image 3. Typography

1. The designs are unique to the magazine in order to make itself recognizable to the audience and are changed to suit the artist and therefore the genre

2. The images are always of the artists and mostly are on one page, but there are times when there is use of more than one to get different views of the artist

3. The typography of the heading is bold and colourful and also unique to the magazine but also resembles the artist. Plus the actual writing must identify the magazine.

4. The actual article would be a review of the artist or an exclusive interview. Something that would interest the audience into knowing what is the latest thing that is happening with the artist.

NME double page spread

1. Unique design

2. Main image3. Stylish layout

4. Promoting the artist

1. The design is unique to the magazine so the audience can identify it.

2. The main image is used as the background for both pages rather than the conventional use of just one page, this makes it unique to the magazine.

3. The stylish layout is used to show the artist and also make it unique to the design.

4. Every article especially a two page spread is used to promote the artist and the magazine itself as the audience want to hear about these artist and seems very successful to use popular artists.