2. Cover Analysis
On the cover of NME, the masthead features a red and white colouring. This has been done to
connote balance of content to the audience. I have come to this conclusion as red connotes
passion and violent, whereas white connotes calm and order, drawing in both passionate fans
of the magazine and people who are on the fence about buying the issue. A full body shot is
used to show the main subject, without making the surrounding background of the image too
large. It has been made extremely clear that this issue is based on the rap sub-genre of music,
by using Dizzee Rascal as the main image, with a large anchored main cover line to connote a
big personality to the magazine’s audience. In the image, the rapper has been placed in a
crouching position with a large open-mouthed grin. This has been used to connote a sense of
equality, as if the rapper is crouching to be on the same level as the audience, providing direct
address by looking straight at the camera. The rule of thirds is also executed to denote Dizzee’s
eyes in the top left hotspot, reinforcing his connection and sense of equality with the audience.
His grin connotes joy and pleasure. To the audience this makes them feel more comfortable
with the magazine, feeling that they can associate with the rapper in the main image. The use
of a rapper on the cover, immediately denotes to the audience that this is a music magazine, as
well as making music seem like a more lively and energetic genre, about which they may want
to read. The fact that this is a music magazine also gives the impression that it has a mass
audience and the use of crouching in the image may give the impression that the issue is trying
to draw in some younger readers. The use of a rapper in casual wear draws in a more D-B class
audience, as these are the people who walk around dressed in this fashion. The rapper has
been represented as a happy, energetic and grateful individual. This is shown by the use of his
open arms, which connote love and appreciation to his fans, as well as the energy that he
conveys. The representation provided by the cover sheds a positive light on this rapper and
rappers in general, as stereotypically they can be associated with drugs and abuse. As well as
this, rappers have been represented as being creative and diverse, which is connoted by the
colourful graffiti on the wall behind the rapper. However, by including a gold chain around the
rapper’s neck, as well as the graffiti it may also give a negative representation of rappers as
money-hungry vandals. I believe that this has been done to contrast the positive
representations of rappers on the cover and slightly follow common stereotypes such as the
aforementioned.
3. Contents Page Analysis
To start with, the layout of the contents page is quite clean, as it is columned out and
everything is straight and jagged. This could shy some audience away as this may seem
somewhat violent or sharp and may accidentally represent a negative perspective before a
reader even gets to the main information. Overall the use of black and white, mixed with some
red connotes a very balanced, neutral pallet to counteract the violence that the red may
convey and providing a well contrasting set of house colours. It gives a somewhat sophisticated
and premium feel that is likely deliberate to represent music as sophisticated and premium,
creating a high-end stereotype which will be embedded in the audience’s mind. The anchoring
of the main image to a specific theme and set of pages is also an excellent way in which in
which the magazine can portray the genre as organised and content-heavy. On the contents
page of NME, the masthead is still present, in the same red and white colour scheme. This
gives a sense of continuity to the issue and is present to ensure that the branding stick in to a
reader’s head. The featured article’s image, featuring a medium shot focuses on a tour bus with
a music artist in front of it. This denotes a large bus, representing that the music industry and
it’s stars live a larger than life, grand lifestyle on the road. The bus is there to give the
impression that music is a large operation, requiring a large tour bus for a large crew. The artist
leaning on the bus creates a feeling of dependability between the audience and the magazine,
as the artist clearly has with their on-the-road home. The artists clothing consists a multi-
shaded tank top and a metal wristband, which may suggest that she is a punk rock musician, or
something along those lines. This is also reinforced by the black textured background and
metallic riveted border of the special article, which give the impression of an amplifier box.
Therefore, the image gives the audience an impression of the punk genre being grounded and
attached to it’s audience, creating a greater grip between the magazine and it’s indoctrinated
audience. Comparatively, the image, and contents cover as a whole paint the music genre
positively, as the only element to suggest otherwise is the presence of the jagged and violent
framework of the page. The contents page gives key pieces of information that the cover does
not, namely the different articles and their page numbers, as well as subscription information
and the dateline. These elements provide a greater depth of information to the audience and
gives them a reason to open up the cover and look further than just the cover page.
4. 2-Page Spread Analysis
The layout of the 2-page spread is quite simple, as it is clearly one main
image, however it has been covered half way through to continue the
structured aesthetic of the contents page. The main image denotes Dizzee
graffitiing a wall, which represents him and rappers negatively. The use of a
red jacket also gives the impression that he may have violent intentions,
which is another negative representation conveyed to the audience. By
placing a music player over the text, it reinforces the fact that this is a
music magazine, however the presence of several empty bottles of alcohol
yet again represents rapping and music in general negatively. I believe that
these items have been placed here to contrast the article with the rest of
the magazine, which appears to positively represent music and create the
same connection between Dizzee and the audience. It allows the audience
to see how music is a positive influence on individuals and in fact is not
related to the previously mentioned negative stimuli that may be linked to
stereotypes to do with rap and the music industry. This, very strangely
represents music as a positive genre, juxtaposing everything that can be
seen on the page. However, the article does unfortunately show imagery
relating to black, gangster stereotypes which makes this article negatively
represent them as alcoholics and criminals. The use of multiple colours
and a bold sans-serif font represent Dizzee and the music genre as fun and
creative, a very positive and hopeful representation. This is likely done in
the first horizontal third to contrast the negative imagery found in the third
horizontal third, leaving the article to bridge the gap. The spacing of
everything, excusing the article, is very loose and non-compact which fits
with the free and creative representation provided earlier. The article has
been kept well columned and structured to provide an element of
structure and represent the restraint and calmness that can also come
from the music genre. At the beginning of the article, a large, bold Y is
used to state that this is the start of the text and also represents the bold
personality of Dizzee.
5. Similar Elements Each page has a music artist in the main image to
consistently provide the impression that the audience
is reading a music magazine. Each image also has the
subject wearing clothes which are similarly coloured
to the house colours of the magazine, providing a
consistency with the page containing the image.
Black and white is used throughout each page and on
most copy. This is to provide a neutral house colour
scheme which allows colours such as red to stand out
on the page. It is also used to add some diversity, as
some pages use black text on a white background or
white text on a black background.
Each page involves the colour red. The logo of
the magazine is red and is used on the cover
and contents page to create branding. A red
jacket has been placed on Dizzee in the 2-page-
spread’s main image to further associate the
colour red with the NME brand.
A minor, legal detail present in each page is the
inclusion of the author, composer or photographer’s
name so that the audience is aware of where the
content originated.
