Identifying certain conventions on the front cover

Masthead

Cover Lines

Cover Line

Special selling line

Price

Main Cover Line

Masthead:Unlike any conventional cover the masthead is placed in the top left cover of the cover, which is known be NME’s trademark.As the name has been abbreviated as it is only three letters, if it was placed in the middle the space around it would look too bare. So by placing it in a corner it still stands out, yet has that sense of belonging. Contrasting with the monochrome colour scheme, they have still kept the masthead in red, but have incorporated bits of the colour scheme by outlining it in white, which subtly ties it all in together. The font is also in a serif font which keeps the magazine youthful as it looks more laid back and carefree, which the readers will be looking for as a magazine is for entertainment purposes.

Front Cover Image:As it is a special issue, celebrating 10 years of NME as a magazine, the main image isn't a usual NME photo shoot like image, but a montage of inspirational artists and bands, combined to make one image. This has then been changed to black and white and enhanced, to tie it all in together. Which I think works well, as they have selected the most influential artists of the decade and created a distinctive, edgy front cover image.

Cover Lines:

When first looking at this front cover image I found it hard to distinguish which areas displayed the cover lines as firstly they weren't in the usual places and secondly the cover lines were laid out like a poem, in the middle of the cover.

Which I then thought that maybe as the cover lines don’t actually tell you any specific information about what the magazine will entail and feature. The separate pictures of artists and bands must be used as a source for the cover lines as the bands featured on the front must also be featured inside.

The cover lines at the bottom are sans serif fonts, which adds a good combination as the masthead is in a serif font, so by having elements of both of these type of fonts, it keeps the magazine still professional and stylish. Also the main cover line, in the middle which reads ‘10 YEARS IN MUSIC’, the 10 is in a shiny material which when placed on the shelf in a store, will draw in the readers as it will catch their eye, and just from the 10 you can get an idea that it is a special issue.

Selling Line:The selling line has been adjusted to fit in with the current issue of NME as it say how it’s the ‘the story of the decade’. Unlike conventional selling lines, NME’s is placed above the masthead when usually it is just below. But as it is a one-off selling line, NME may have wanted to see it more clearly, making it read from one side to another.

Colour scheme:Overall all the features on the front cover is kept minimal and there is a sense of order and structure.The colour scheme is mainly monochrome with the occasional splash of red, used in some fonts.The red brings a sense of British-ness to the magazine and as it is a special issue, all the images are in black and white as it is a celebration of music and if all the individual images were in separate colours, some may come across as more superior than others.

Layout/Eye flow:The layout of the cover is also successful as from the masthead your eye line follows along to the right and down to the middle where the cover lines are, creating a continuous focal point.

LanguageAll language used is indirect, yet there is no use of colloquial language or any jargon.The language used is straight-forward and simple, so everything is clear and understandable.

Eye flow