BRAND EYE

This is a link for presentation in which I created four different brand eyes. I focused on magazines which I analysed before. This includes; Mojo, Q, NME and Mixmag. This task allowed me to develop my research of different music genre magazines. I particularly focused on their ideologies, how the audience views the product, what they perceive and what it makes them think.

NME MAGAZINE ANALYSIS
codes & conventions /  institutions

NME (NEW MUSICAL EXPRESS) - is a British weekly music journalism publication published by IPC, This particular institution is one of the largest branded media companies in the world which reaches more than 130 million people each month through the cross media convergence that allows the products to be distributed on varies of different platforms. It's the Uk's leading consumer magazine and digital publisher. The magazine is largely associated with rock and alternative music. The product includes; music, movie, tour and album news as well as reviews, blogs and videos. The information  is effectively distributed within the online website, social networking websites such as Facebook or Twitter but also life events such as festivals. 

 

 

FRONT COVER:

 

The  masthead  of the magazine - 'NME' is the largest text  visible within the front cover. The three lettered acronym is a shortcut for the magazine's full title - 'New Musical Express'. This makes the masthead more memorable for the readers. In addition, it also allows to increase the context within the front cover as the masthead itself doesn't take much space. The heavily looking font in a bright colour makes the masthead stand out against a plain and simple white background. This allows to bring audiences attention. Additionally, the positioning of the masthead within this magazine is quite common as it's often  in other music magazines  available on the market.  As the masthead being located in the top left corner of the magazine, it makes the readers look at it straight away as we initially look at the top of magazines at the first glance. On the other hand we can see that the 'NME' acronym is slightly covered by Mark Ronson's head. This has been done on purpose as the product became a well known magazine.

 

The barcode  can be seen on the bottom right corner of the magazine. This is because the barcode is not essential to the  readers, however it is needed to be there for sale purposes. The barcode includes key information about the magazines such as its price or the date. The text around the barcode explaining these information is written in a small font to make sure it doesn't take attention of the readers from the front cover.

 

The centre of visual interest in this magazine is definitely the image of Mark Ronson. The photograph has been set up to bleed within one side of the page.  The picture is relatively large, taking up a significantly amount of the page, causes the image to speak for the magazine purposes. Mark Ronson is well known in the music industry therefore in this case he is used to represent the 'music market'. Additionally, he is posing with a  prop which is a musical instrument. This  reinforces the idea of the 'music market. On the other hand by the simple, fading background behind Ronson's silhouette, the person is brought forward as no details catch our attention making the magazine relatively clear to understand.

 

The banner of the magazine has been placed on top of the page. The banner is quite  odd-looking, as it has a solid black background. This has been deliberately used to create a contrast within the magazines background but to also draw readers attention. In the banner we can see that from left to right, there is a variety of fonts used. Bold, fuzzy or thin. This wide variety appeals to different people therefore if a person likes a particular font style it will automatically drag their attention and make them to be interested in what the banner contains. In my opinion the main purpose of the banner at the top is to play a role of the magazine advert. This is because when the magazine is placed on a news stand in a shop we can only see the top part of the magazine therefore when the reader spots that the 'advert' contains interesting content they will go for it and purchase it.

 

Throughout the magazine we come across two types of cover lines. We can easily differentiate between them and their purposes, and why they have been constructed in such a way. There are cover lines which have a bold black text. This is followed by a comment in a thinner black text, whereas the second type of the cover line has a similar bold font to the masthead and the main cover line of the magazine. The use of the same colour links the masthead and the main cover line together. The cover lines which use a similar image to the masthead talk about the content in which  Mark Ronson is included in. However the cover lines which use all black text talk about secondary information which can be found within the magazine. Additionally, at the very bottom of the magazines page we come across a cover line. This cover line contains text which presents the artists which are featured in this specific issue of the magazine. By its simplistic look, with a white bold font the cover line creates a contrast as it is easily seen against Ronson's clothing.

 

CONTENTS PAGE:

 

First of all the content page includes the same font and the colour scheme of the magazine title.  By this the corporate image is followed through the magazine, additionally making sure the reader acknowledges what magazine he is reading. The use of red colour within the magazine acronym makes it stand out even more. On the other hand we can see a link between the front cover of the magazine and the content page as on both pages we can see a black strip going across the top of the page. In my opinion the idea of the 'banner' was continued to the contents page to create the same effect which in this case is to emphasise the 'NME CONTENTS' and by having the black background it draws our attention to the text.

 The small article which is positioned below the main image explains to us what is happening in the image above. This is rarely seen on magazines however it is a useful technique to introduce the reader to the topic and get him to read it. I can consider this article to be a buried lead and a kicker, as even by its explanation we as an audience do not fully understand what happened, therefore we are even more willing to find out the details. This means that  the main point of the story is being covered up in the moment we are keen to read on.

 

Right beneath the image and the article, we can see an internal advert of the magazine. This advertisement presents to the readers the subscription rate and the method to subscribe  the magazine. In this advert NME has used a black background which creates contrast in the same way as the banner does, however they have additionally used yellow text which is not used throughout the front cover or the double page spread, making the information stand out. For example; if a white background was used for the advert it would not be as effective as it is with the black background. They have included a special offer for the readers as we can see that the advert says "SAVE OVER £45". This can be  seen by the audience as a 'bargain' therefore the readers are more likely to subscribe the product. 

 

On the right hand side of the content page we can see that the overall information in the magazine has been sorted into various sections beginning from 'NEWS' to 'FEATURES'. This benefits the readers as they can easily spot the section which interests them.  It is a simple yet effective way of presenting information. To even make the information clearer for the audience, NME has placed special arrows to point out the content which was mentioned on the front cover. As a result, when the reader spots the cover line on the front cover, skips onto the content page and looks for what he/she is interested in. It allows the reader to easily find the information on what page number the exact content is mentioned.

The main image which is visible on the content page represents what looks like a rock band performing on the stage. The image looks  cropped as we can only see the main singer and the main guitarist. I can tell this as from my research I have found that the band "Kasabian" has 4 members. This cropping has been done by purpose as the magazine editor wanted to make it fit the page. On the other hand, by only showing the two main members of the band the people who know them will recognise them immediately as we consider these people as the pin-up members of the band. Furthermore, the image has been taken from the perspective of audience. This might engage the reader while looking at the image as they might feel as if they were at the concert.  

 

DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD:

 

The first thing we see while looking at the double page spread of the NME magazine is the image of the female sitting down on an object which is covered in a flag of United States. The image is relatively large, covering a single page of the double page spread which introduces us to the article. Due to the large image we can acknowledge that the article is about this particular character.  Additionally, the image size presents the importance of the person, in comparison to other articles which include small sized images. This also shows to the readers that the person is a famous and recognisable artist. This reflects how prestigious the magazine is as they feature people who are on a celebrity level. Although the image continues over both pages, we pay more attention to the left page as it contains the silhouette of the person. This creates a suitable background for the article on the second page. I consider this image to be a picture boost as it promotes the feature to the readers which in this case is an article.

 

On both pages of the double page spread we can find a variety of fonts used to present different purposes. The text which mainly grabs our attention is the text which is presented behind the females silhouette  saying "USA got the love". The word "USA" has been written in a tough, heavy looking font which presents the power of the country. On the other hand the phrase "got the love" has been written in a more freehand-looking, delicate font as this is what we associate with love. The clever use of fonts, makes the readers form an opinion associated with the female. All elements mentioned about make the artist being portrayed as a person who loves USA. This can be supported through the use of fonts as well as the props.

 

Moving onto the article on the second page we can see few types of fonts used. The first is the  same as  the phrase "got the love" and it's used to create a drop cap. This is very effective as it shows the connection between the phrase and the drop cap. Furthermore, above the article we can find a puff piece which depicts secondary information about the female in the image, making the information stand out of the context. This puff piece has been written in the same font style as the article. Overall the article is sorted into three columns with suitable column gutter to match the puff piece. By the use of column gutter the text in the columns is more spread out making it easier to read as the columns do not merge with each other.

 

 

 MIXMAG MAGAZINE ANALYSIS 

codes & conventions /  institutions

MIXMAG- is a British electronic dance and clubbing magazine. The product has been launched in 1982 and it covers the newest dance events, hottest music and club night reviews. The first Mixmag publication was in a newspaper format, however due to the house music development the product turned into a DJ magazine covering variety of dance music as well as introducing the clubbing culture. During this time Mixmag was owned by EMAP company.   Soon enough the DEVELOPMENT HELL bought took over the product. Furthermore, the magazine's target audience is based upon 12-24 years old male as well as female with clubbing interest. In conclusion, the product's individualistic specialisation made the magazine unique within the market scale. 

 

FRONT COVER:

 

This is the front cover of the 'MIXMAG' magazine.

 

One of the first things which catches the readers attention is the masthead 'MIXMAG'.  The font of the masthead is very curvy. This gives a modern look which successfully reflects the genre of the magazine. In comparison to other magazines, for example; New Musical Express, the masthead is spread across the width of the page, presenting a full brand name, not an acronym. As a result of this, the title can be easily read from a far distance on a shop shelf. Additionally, the simplicity of the masthead makes it more attractive and eye catching due to the clear colour and form. The masthead does not contain any 'fancy' graphics, as it's in clear and solid white colour. This makes the title very contrasting against other visible images or text found within the front cover. Another element which is worth mentioning is that the masthead of the magazine is placed behind the main image. This is used as the magazine is well known and does not need it's full name to be shown in order for the consumer to recognize it. The main image overlaying the title allows the front cover to be more interesting.

 

The main cover line has been placed in the middle of the magazine frame, which looks like a rectangular graphic shape. The font used for this cover line has been specifically chosen to be sharp and squared, as this makes the text stand out. The black filling of the graphic shape has brought the text even further onto the foreground due to the contrast within these two elements.  The main cover story  'SUB FOCUS' is the name of a famous electronic music producer. The text has been placed within the image. This automatically communicates to the readers that this is the main focus of this particular issue.  The rest of the cover lines is spread around the page. This has been done on purpose to make sure that the cover lines would not affect the main image. There is no text overlapping the photograph, allowing the image to bring attention of the readers. Furthermore, some of the cover lines are similar to the main cover line layout due to the black background. This makes them look quite abstract, reflecting the modern audience and music type. Additionally, the text becomes more presentable due to the contrasting background.

 

The header of the magazine has been positioned above the masthead - ''The Worlds Biggest Dance Music and Clubbing Magazine'. This makes it very eye catching, allowing the readers to automatically spot it when looking at the masthead of the magazine. The language used in the header is very persuasive. This makes the audience buy the product as well as see the magazine as value for money. Additionally, the header describing the magazine in this particular way makes the readers view the magazine in a more prestigious way. This may lead to a higher consumption.

 

 The centre of visual interest on the front cover of this magazine is definitely the main image. It is set to bleed with the margins, filling up the whole page. As a result of that the magazine does not include any negative space. This makes the magazine look more attractive and professional. The effect which has been applied to the image makes it look like as if it has been lit up by multiple colour lights. This effectively reflects the portrayal of clubbing which the magazine is based on. Additionally, the image is very bright. This can be linked to the club setting. 

 

The barcode of the magazine has been placed in the right, bottom corner horizontally. It is important for the magazine to contain a barcode in a visible place as it needs to be scanned onto the database while buying the product. It's an essential detail the magazine has to contain, otherwise the sale of the magazine would not function properly. Additionally, the barcode contains key information including the date or price.

 

DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD:

 

The readers attention within the double page spread is brought towards the 5 images. Each photograph represents a party setting in which the people are smiling, dancing or even making hand gestures. This demonstrates clear fun and enjoyment. This might build up a positive opinion about clubbing within the readers, as well as it might encourage the audience to join. Furthermore, the image on the far bottom right presents a POV image which portrays a close-up of a young adult dancing.  The image has being taken form a point of view perspective. This could make the audience think that they are on the dance floor while looking at the photograph. This makes the magazine more interactive. Furthermore, this particular image is slightly blurred. This signifies  that the person was still in the motion while the image was taken. This makes the image look more realistic.  In addition, that all of the images have a callout written on each of them, presenting a quotation of the people who were present in the exact party.

 

The overall layout of the double page spread is quite deliberative. The level of text and images is balanced making the double page spread more interesting for the audience. The column gutter  shows a suitable level of space which allows the reader for easy reading. Additionally, the sans serif text is very simple allowing the reader for fluent and error-less reading. As the text is in black colour, the white background makes it more contrasting. This creates a good colour scheme which again makes it easier for the audience to read.

The header "The Big 3"  introduces the readers to the page content. The header is written in a fancy font  which follows the style used within the masthead of the magazine. Additionally, the header is  placed against a black background and is surrounded by a thick white outline. This significantly makes the header stand out within the double page spread.  There is also a text underneath it saying "The best parties of the last month". This is considered as the caption as it explains to us what the title means.

 

Subheadings visible on this page including "Party Maison" or "Scouse house" have been written in a bold font which increases the visibility against the simple background. This empathizes the titles and brings them to the front. By their side we can see a retro-looking numbers which rate the nightclubs from 1 to 3. The retro font  underlines the party theme the magazine is advertising.  Right above the subheading there are = address information of the clubs, written in small text. However, it  has been highlighted using a yellow colour. This specific colour has not been used anywhere else within the page, therefore it makes the small text more eye catching.  As a result the reader can acknowledge where the club is placed and might record it for it's own personal use.

An exclusive feature which I have not seen in any other magazine other than this is one, is the "Need to know" column. This column presents to the readers the key information about the club or about a tour. This benefits the reader as he/she is told the latest facts around the specific genre, but also beneficial information about the venue he/she is reading about. Pink colour has been used to make this column stand out within the double page spread.  It represents energy therefore it relates to the energetic dance music, however  it also attracts the target audience as the information is bright and eye-catching.

  

CONTENTS PAGE:

 

Once the readership is looking at the content page, the first thing that catches their eyes is the main image within the page spread. The image represents a woman dancing in a nightclub, wearing a bikini top which portrays her in a flirtatious way. This might increase the consumption of the magazine from the male audience as they will be automatically attracted to the content, already from the very first page. The photograph is very clear and sharp however the background of the image is slightly blurred, which combined with the body movement  tells us that the character is having fun. This reinforces the idea of enjoying the time spent in a night club.

 

Towards the bottom of the image, there is a large page number designed in white, solid colour. The page number tells us that the content which is presented by the image can be found on page 109. Furthermore, there is a callout placed under the page number. This explains to the readers what type of content can be found on this particular page. This benefits the reader as it allows them to stay informed, as they are aware of what the magazine consists. Then, they are able to skip pages which don't interest them.

 

On the top right hands side of the main image we can spot the title of the page. It has been placed there for a  purpose as  it creates an introduction to the page spread. The headline titled "Contents" has been surrounded by a black box. A similar use of highlighting text can be seen on the double page spread of the magazine. This suggests that the magazine carries a consistent corporate image throughout the pages. This might be an example of the magazine's house style, which is consistently brought up every few pages. Furthermore, the  "Content" has been written in yellow filled text which has been also used in the double page spread when marking out valuable content.

 

On the bottom of the content page there is a section dedicated to "Your Free CD". It can be clearly seen that it has been selected out of the magazine frame as it has been separated from the rest using a thick black line. The text "Your Free CD" has been placed in the yellow section of the line which again reflects its importance to the magazine.  The columns below the line talk about the CD you gain with the magazine as well as presenting the track listed one by one. A free sample has been a favourite amongst various music magazines. The audience is more likely to purchase the product as they feel that they not only pay for the magazine but they also gain something back from it.

 

The overall layout of the contents page is quite simple but effective. The content is sorted into sections which makes it easy to understand,  not only by its target audience, but by anyone who picks up the magazine. The large amount of negative space makes the content page very simple and plain which allows the text to be easily seen, improving its clarity. In my opinion the editors of the magazine have done this on purpose, making the magazine look very professional.

 

Lastly,  the index of the features which can be found within the page, is positioned on the right of the contents page.  The subheadings of each topic are written in a bigger, bold font whereas their description is written beneath them in a thin, slightly smaller font. The readers become attracted by the subheading and then the topic is explained to us via the caption. The page numbers are written in the same font that has been used for "Contents" title.  Its style is pretty curvy giving them a slight retro look which as well represent the funky mood that can be found within the night clubs.

                                       MOJO MAGAZINE ANALYSIS
                    codes & conventions / institutions

MOJO - is a monthly magazine which provides it's audience with a dose of journalism as well as iconic photography. The magazine is seen by people as 'obsessed with music'. The content within the magazine varies from classic and modern rock, folk,soul, country to reggae, electronic and experimental, meaning that everyone can find something for themselves. This feature makes the magazine versatile. Mojo provides a valued brand by it's 'hand-made' experience in the mass market environment. As a brand, Mojo uses social media websites such as Facebook or Twitter allowing the product to be accessible for wider audience. The target audience for Mojo magazine are male aged 45-54.

FRONT COVER:

This is the front cover of a Mojo issue with Paul Weller as the main feature of the magazine. 

The masthead of the magazine is displayed prominently across the width of the cover. Unlike most magazines, the text is placed in front of the main image (wob effect) , projecting the magazine's house style as well as advertising the company brand.  The font is kept quite simple and legible. The main features and headlines are effectively standing out due to the large font size  but also due to the bright, red colour which may catch viewers attention even more.  In addition, the use of white colour is also effective as it combines very well with the white details within the main image. This accentuates the bold red and blue. 

Furthermore, excluding the picture boost in the top right-hand corner, the only colours used are red, white and blue. This makes the front cover appear more professional and thematic, as the colour composition seems to be structured effectively. These three colours echo the red, white and blue 'mod' emblem behind Paul Weller. This is quite clever as it makes the front cover more appealing and thoughtful.  

The image composition of Paul Weller is kept quite simple. The image lacks of full realism due to the unnatural skin tones. This makes the front cover look more interesting, as it brings attention to the subject of this particular issue. In addition, the image seemed to be desaturated and thus creates a shadowing effect. This fits in effectively with the general colour scheme whilst also appearing distinctly unique. This makes the front cover  more eye catching for the readers.  The effects placed upon the Weller's image make him look less real, almost as if he was an animated character. Furthermore, I think the main image is not too complex as it's kept very simple. This is balanced with the large amount of text surrounding the image, which makes the front cover look slightly cluttered. 

The cover line of this particular front cover is quite simplistic but at the same time eye catching. The cover line - ''Paul Weller'' is in the same font and size as other selling lines, however it's slightly separated from others. It's surrounded above and below by the white text which is less noticeable than the red text. This contrasts the bright bold red font with the smaller white font which makes the cover line protrude further than the other sell lines.

The sell lines are located either side of the main image, which create a slightly cluttered and busy composition. Although the selling lines are compacting on both sides of the front cover they still allow the main image to take the majority of attention. One of the most effective sell lines within the front cover is the pull quote in the top left corner saying 'Free CD!'. This would appeal to the readers and encourage them to purchase the magazine. This is a convention which is used within this specific genre of magazines. The second sell line (above the cover line) again uses the word 'free' - this time in a significantly larger font to the rest of the words surrounding it. When the reader views this area of the front cover, their attention would be immediately drawn to this word. 

CONTENTS PAGE: 

The content page has being named by the magazine's masthead 'MOJO'. The clear and large logo is very effective as it immediately brings reader's attention to the products name. Underneath the masthead there is a small list of cities included. This underlines the places where the magazine is iconic for music. 

The use of leader directly under the overline of the masthead allows to locate the date and issue number in a visible place. This is effective as it allows to inform the readers which issue their reading but it also gives an insight of how successful the magazine is, as this is already their '193rd' issue of the Mojo magazine. 

The image of the artist on the right hand side has been taken from a head shot angle. This is effective as it seems as if the artist was directly looking at the readers. This makes the reader feel more involved with the magazine due to the strong eye contact which builds a connection between the artist and the reader. Additionally, this might encourage the viewers to read the story.

The artist's outfit significantly stands out within the magazine's house style, which includes black, white and gold colour scheme. This is effective as the red, bright colour makes the character stand out even more. This is also achieved through the light, grey, plain background which allows the image as well as the features stand out even more. The red colour of suit is commonly associated with love and romance, violence and blood. However, red is the only truly vibrant colour within this composition. This can be related to the rock genre, as a lot of music within this category is often about romance, riots/ rebellion and agony. His positioning with the contents page suggests that he will be playing a big role within this issue.

Besides, the house style of the magazine (black, grey, gold colour scheme) is kept very simple. Due to the fact that Mojo magazine is targeted at older audience (45-54) these colours are very appealing, as they are not too bright or vibrant. This makes it more easier to read for the customers. Furthermore, the story lines are effectively separated using bold, large font. The over lines are in much smaller font as they contain more detail than the features headlines. The large, gold page numbers are appearing in front of the headlines. This is effective as they are clearly visible. 

The cover story of this issue is separated using two lines between the features and a pull out quote. The gold lines are successfully separating a large chunk of information about the 'Pink Floyd' band. The leader underlines the importance of this information, demonstrating that this is the main story subject. Additionally, the pull out quote at the bottom of the page is in a different font comparing to other features. This again underlines the main story and might effectively encourage viewers to read it.

DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD:

This is a double page spread which is covered by an image. The photograph is in black and white; this gives a strong feeling of time, but also gives a dramatic effect. Without colour, the viewer appreciates the lighting and textures of the scene. This is also effected through the contrasting composition. The dark tones of the image suggest sorrow, loneliness (as the subject is alone, in a dark room). Mojo uses images of the band when they were in a their popular years. This is effective as the readers remember them in this particular way. It would be more inappropriate if the band images were captured in present, as the readership may not recognize or appreciate the band as much. 

The only colour featured within the double page spread is the blue badge. Besides, the same badge is located at the front cover of the magazine. This link might significantly make the readers look at it more. Furthermore, the text within the introductory centre page spread has a minimalistic approach. The image and the design are the factors which encourage the audience to read the story. This double page spread is commonly referred to as a centre spread because it's located in the middle of the magazine. The later pages of the article contain more text. 

The headline contains lyrics from one of the band’s songs. “Talking about my generation” - this feature directly refers to the song “my generation”, the more dedicated readers are likely to notice this. Along with the text heavily relating to the band, the font used contains Serifs – which are associated with class and sophistication, as they are more traditional than bold sans-serif fonts. The font is visually appealing as it is grey and white colour. For example “Talkin’ about” is in normal size, but the font colour is grey. Whereas the “My” in the stand first is considerably larger and white – to make it more dominant. This gives the text some personality and enhances its meaning.

Features on the second double page spread that are different to those on the first double page spread: 

• Top half of the page contains numerous images, the images have borders that are similar width to the guttering of the text. This creates consistency.
• The images are noticeably lighter – and more subtle 
• The images feature various themes – such as chaos/destruction, friendship and perhaps loneliness. 

Q MAGAZINE RESEARCH
codes & conventions / institutions

Q - is a music magazine offering exclusive album reviews, featuring of new releases, film and live concerts reports as well as radio and television reviews. Q magazine was first published by EMAP Media Group. At the very start the magazine was outstanding comparing to it's competition due to it's high quality of production of monthly issue. In the early years the magazine was titled 'The Modern Guide to Music and More'. Now, the magazine as well as the EMAP company is owned by the Bauer Media.

FRONT COVER:

The header of the music magazine (THE UK'S BIGGEST MUSIC MAGAZINE) represents the popularity as well as recognition of the product, motivating and encouraging people to buy it. At the same time the header makes the people think why the product has been voted best in the UK. This might then persuade them to buy it.

The masthead of this magazine (in the top left corner) is more of a logo rather than a masthead due to it's simplicity. It's easily recognizable, one letter design which becomes memorable due to the eye-catching, bright colour. It becomes the first thing that the viewer looks at due to the clarity it reflects. Furthermore, the layout of the masthead conforms to the stereotypical magazine front covers as it appears on the top of the magazine and it is the first thing the reader sees. In addition, it covers the main central image of the magazine suggesting the importance of advertising the brand.

The main image of Cheryl Cole has been placed directly on the surface of the front cover. It effectively dominates the entire frame. This makes the front cover more appealing to the audience. The magazine effectively displays the music celebrity as she is well known for being in the music industry as well as being a judge in X-Factor which is also a music based program. This makes the reader interested in what the magazine has to offer about her. The image is also quite 'sexually appealing' due to the model's appearance as well as positioning. This might particularly raise sales of this edition due to the first impression which is based upon the expressive image. 

The cover line of this edition  revolves around music artist . The colours are either red or white. This matches well with the main cover line below, making the magazine very consistent due to the colour scheme which follows the style of 'Q' magazine. In addition, the editor has made the word 'rocks' in a large, red print which spaced out letters. Compared to the rest of the magazine, the font is relatively large and makes the word stand out, bringing attention of the viewers to the whole storyline. One of the connotations of red is sexual attraction and this is significantly reinforced by the central image.

Furthermore, a puff has been used to show vital information that needs to stand out against the front cover. Within this issue, John Leanon has been mentioned within the puff. This clearly depicts that there will be some information about him included within the issue. In addition, the banner has been located at the bottom of the page in black colour. This helped to structure the magazine front cover and appear to be professional.

The barcode featured on the magazine is located underneath the logo/masthead as well as the price of the magazine. The print is in very small font as the magazine is quite expensive comparing to other music magazines found on the market.

DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD:

This is a double page spread which I took from the 'Q' magazine's 2012 April edition. The main image on the left side is the same size as the whole article page which indicates the importance and authority of the celebrity throughout the article. The large 'L' letter which is overlaid on top of the article stands for the beginning of the subject's name - Lady Gaga. This is very effective as the audience can immediately acknowledge singers presence within the format. 

The large image demonstrates Lady Gaga covering her breasts. This makes the double page spread quite sexually appealing. Furthermore, this can be supported through the red colour, commonly connotating sex or love. In addition, red colour is used within the house style as well as it's considered to be used within the primary colour scheme. This is effective as on every page we can relate back to the magazine's brand.

A simple serif font is used throughout the article which suggests that more knowledgeable audience would read it as they would not be distracted by the images, as there is only one image included. The audience would be more likely to be focused on the full page article. Furthermore, the article is clearly paragraphed and constructed chronologically featuring quotes said by Lady Gaga, to show the exclusivity of the text. Furthermore, the separation of the main image with the article makes the double page spread appear more simple. This gives an aesthetic look to the page at appears more neat and clean.

A sub-heading in the top right corner is used as a chapter indicator so that the audience can turn the page/ or flick through the magazine and known immediately this particular page features. The kerning of the subject's name (L a d y G a g a)on the top right corner also communicates simplicity but also gives it a more  fashionable and preferred look to the font.

The layout of the article is formulated using the specific genre conventions. The article columns subconsciously make the audience feel as they have read more in a quicker time span. The columns also make the article more enticing as it appears shorter and more achievable to read. The column gutter between the text makes it appear less intimidating on the reader's eyes as they might be put off by the vast amount of information while flicking through the magazine. By having all of the relevant text on one page it appeals more to a mature audience who will still be enticed by the article rather than the images or pull- quotes.

CONTENTS PAGE:

The masthead of the magazine 'Q' is headlined along with the 'Contents', which are in a big bold text. This highlights the importance and purpose of this particular magazine page. In addition, the Q's logo is in a red box, which follows the house style of the magazine associating the red and white colour together with black text. 

In the top right hand corner there's an issue number as well as the date of publishing. The fact that is positioned here is vital as the date has to be clearly seen for the readers. It also blends in effectively with the rest of the 'Contents' colour scheme. Underneath the date, there are magazine's website details included. This is effective as although the details are in small font the date and issue number catches readers attention. This also allows the readers to have a clear and easy access to any additional services  the Q magazine is offering.

The main column within the contents page is focused on the features section which presents the main features and news that can be found within the magazine. Additionally, the page number is clear and large. This makes it easier for the readers to find what they are specifically looking for. The style of the features column is in a mixture of red, white and black fonts. The features title has a red banner behind it to draw more attention to the headline. 

The main photograph on the right hand side dominates the page, as it's the principal feature. The gesture of the model (Adele) is very delicate and simplistic. This is effective as she is gazing towards the camera, almost as if she was catching an eye contact with the readers. Her face and neck is slightly out of focus. This is another element which brings attention to her eyes. In addition, the fact that Adele's image dominates within the page layout, it makes it more appealing to the audience as she is a well known singer. 

In the bottom left hand corner there is an 'Every Month' information column which shows the features the magazine is offering within every month's edition. They have highlighted 'every month' with a large, red banner to make the text more eye catching. At the same time this makes it more appealing to the customers.

Furthermore, in the bottom right hand corner of the page, Q has included a review section which informs about  main articles within the magazine and their page numbers. This is effective as reviews dominate the magazine's content comparing to other features. This makes it easier for the audience to look directly into reviews rather than searching for them within the every month section or regulars. The layout of this particular section is quite simplistic and neat. The heading is in bold and large font comparing to other text sizes. This makes it more noticeable for the readers.

RESEARCHING DIFFERENT MEDIA INSTITUTIONS

Media institution is a company that owns large numbers of companies in various mass media such as television, radio, publishing, movies, and the Internet. Powerful institutions can influence attitudes, interests and beliefs of people on a world scale.

CLASH is a independent media which establishes popular music and fashion trends within their magazine. The product is published by the MUSIC REPUBLIC LTD, however it's owned by the Clash company. The magazine contains articles, reviews of new albums,interviews, informations about concerts and festivals (such as RockNess or Get Loaded) , videos, promotions, reader interactions features,forums, apps but also life events. Clash magazine is targeted at 18-35 years old, the 'download generation'. They target this audience by alternating the modern bands such as Coldplay to artists such as Jay-Z or Khanye West. It also attracts audiences that have an interest in fashion and film.

ROCK SOUND is a British magazine which is particularly focusing on rock music as well as punk,pop-punk and heavy metal. The magazine is published monthly by the EDITIONS FREEWAY institution since 1999, however the product is owned by Patrick Napier since 2004. The Rock Sound magazine is targeted at the audience aged 15 to 24, but also people who are significantly interested in this type of music. The magazine is also well known for including a free CD in most issues, which includes tracks from new albums. In addition, the magazine can be easily accessed in stores such as Tesco. The product can be also subscribed monthly. Rock sound is a successful magazine which confidently aims at being less commercial.

         RESEARCHING MUSIC MAGAZINES

In this particular piece of research I want to explore different types of music magazines. My aim is to create a list which would introduce different types of music magazines. This will then significantly help me with choosing direction of my own music magazine. I tried to find out a bit about each of the products in order to have an idea of what they are focusing on. 

 

Rolling Stone magazine has been published for nearly 50 years. The magazine became a great source for it's music reviews, especially new albums, movies and television shows. In addition, the magazine mostly focuses on pop culture, ranging from politics to social issues. 

The XXL magazine has been published by Townsquare Media. I'ts an urban lifestyle magazine that covers all aspects of hip hop culture. In addition, the XXL magazine focuses on music, style, sports and politics. 

The Complex magazine is a New York based magazine for a new generation of young men. Complex touches upon elements such as trends, music, art and design, technology, sport and video games with a strong focus on niche cultures such as street wear,hip-hop and graphic art.  

BBC MUSIC magazine is one of the best- selling Classical music magazines. It has been first published in June 1992 by the BBC Worldwide, however the Immediate Media Company has been the publisher since 2012. The magazine is focusing on classical music as well as jazz. 

ALTERNATIVE PRESS is a magazine which covers underground, alternative and punk music. It includes reviews, news and features on new music and style, information on upcoming releases and music charts. 

GUITAR PLAYER magazine is written for passionate guitarists who want to become better, more informed players. The magazine contains articles, interviews, reviews of different genres and products.

BILLBOARD is an American magazine which is owned by Prometheus Global Media. The magazine was first published in 1894. It contains latest news and music reviews, covers the hottest new artists and reports on trends and innovation in music. 

OPERA NEWS is well illustrated and intelligently written magazine. It contains profiles of new directors and designers, new productions, new singers and performance reviews from all around the world.