1. Analysis of magazine front covers
Cover 1.NME Sept 2009
Dizzee Rascal Edition

2. THE MASTHEAD
FRONT COVER ANALYSIS THE HEADER
The header has stuck to the consistent
This is bold and stands out so house style and allows extra information
that the target market can if required. It also rounds off where the
recognise it. This takes up quite title and image begin
a large portion of the magazine
to it can be seen. Also the NME THE SELL LINES/COVER LINES
sounds like ‘enemy’ which is
associated with rebellion which Attracting the reader to the magazine
hip hop music is linked to. as they give an insight into what will be
included in the magazine
USE OF A FLASH
This is offering the target THE MAIN IMAGE
audience something extra, The main image of a famous star,
this may attract them Dizzie Rascal as it says on the
further into buying the page, this is a recognisable face
magazine. and links to the genre people will
BACKGROUND be expecting to read about. It is an
unusual shot which makes the
The background looks reader take a longer look, the front
like graffiti which is a cover is image dominated as he
typical street stereotype, takes the whole entire frame.
this also is very colourful
yet the main image still THE MAIN COVER LINE
stands out.
The main cover line is the celebrity
USE OF A PULL artist’s name
QUOTE
RULE OF THIRDS/THE LEFT THIRD BARCODE-
This is something date/issue/price
Dizzee has said which The left third is usually kept free from cell lines THE FOOTER
intrigues you into what however this hasn’t happened here as dizzie is This is so the magazine is
else he has said leaning towards the left and taking most of the Giving a summary of sellable and so the reader
space up. His face will be in our direct eye line what the contents of the knows when it was issued,
abiding by rule of thirds however he isn’t magazine contains whether it’s new or old

3. TARGET AUDIENCE OF THIS IS NME
The target audience for this magazine will be somebody who
enjoys all kind of music from Dizzie Rascal’s rap to indie and
punk this edition focused on Dizzie Rascal’s genre of music
therefore he will be attracting those people, they are likely to
enjoy different types of music as NME cater for lots of types.
Their gender could be male or female however
stereotypically I would say male for this magazine in
particular, NME cater for both genders as different covers
have been female too. They would be in their teenage years
and come from a middle class family as they have money to
buy this music magazine to begin with which costs £2.49
every week which would be hard to manage without some
sort of stable income. You can tell the magazine is aimed at
this age group as without being young and tacky the
magazine still looks exciting with the way the photo is taken
and the big fonts that attract your eye and are easy to read
at a glance.
-The main image will initially attract the target audience as they will want to read
about Dizzee Rascal who appears on the front.
Also by mentioning the ‘Autumn Tour
-By naming the other artists this will also attract the target audience to find out
Special’ this is showing that perhaps the
about them.
reader may be working and have an
-The colours of red, white and black will also attract them as it looks cool and income so that they can afford to go to
stylish. these sort of festivals.

4. STRETCH AND CHALLENGE
ACTIVITY-
The New Musical Express, known as NME is known as an indie/rock
NME, is a music magazine in the United magazine. Including typical music
Kingdom, published weekly since March magazine content such as music news,
1952. It started as a music newspaper, reviews, charts, tickets, newsletters,
and gradually moved toward a magazine info on festivals, tours, clubs, concerts,
format during the 1980s, changing from rock, indie, rap and hip-hop as well as
newsprint in 1998. It was the first British exclusive photos of the artists from
paper to include a singles chart, in the 14 photo shoots.
November 1952 edition. In the 1970s it
became the best-selling British music
newspaper. During the period 1972 to NME features current bands and artists
1976 it was particularly associated with as shown on the right.
gonzo journalism, then became closely
associated with punk rock through the
writing of Tony Parsons and Julie Burchill.
It was initially published in a non-glossy The target audience for NME would be older teens
tabloid format on standard newsprint. into early twenties as the music is more mature and
On 14 November 1952, taking its cue established than young pop bands. The front covers
from the U.S. magazine Billboard, it are stylish and professional, quite minimalistic yet
created the first UK Singles Chart. with key details included. The front still attracts the
readers as the colours are bright and inviting like the
big bold fonts. The main image will also entice the
target audience as the artist will be somebody they
desire to read about.

5. Editor: Mike Williams
Categories: Music Magazine
Frequency: Weekly
First Issue: 7 March 1952
Company: IPC Media NME readers:
Country: United Kingdom MALE 69%
Magazine reaches: 1.1 millions music fans every week FEMALE 31%
Issued: every Wednesday AVERAGE AGE 24
WORKING FULL TIME 52%
WORKING PART TIME 7%
STILL STUDYING 29%

6. Cover 2, Billboard magazine, Bruno Mars edition
THE MASTHEAD THE SELL LINES/COVER LINES
The masthead is hid behind Attracting the reader to the magazine as they
Bruno Mar’s head this shows give an insight into what will be included in
just how important the the magazine, saying ‘Bruno Mars Big
magazine want him to look as Business’ you want to find out what is
he covers most of the name, happening. Also down the left side there are
this is unusual as the mast head listed classic artist names who the reader will
is usually very visible so readers know.
can tell which magazine it is. THE MAIN IMAGE
What we can see is bold, white
to stand out from the black The main image is a mid shot of the famous
background and very clear. star, Bruno Mars as it says on the page, this
is a recognisable face and links to the genre
people will be expecting to read about. The
BACKGROUND shot is black and white which Is very
effective and looks artistic as well as it
The background is completely drawing the reader in without Bruno’s eye
black which puts emphasis on line being the same as ours making eye
the text and image over the top contact. The front cover is image dominated
as they are allowed to stand out as he takes most of the frame. The main
clearly. It gives a mood of the image is anchored by his name so the
magazine and adds to how reader knows exactly who he is.
stylish it looks. This looks like a
mature magazine. THE MAIN COVER LINE
The main cover line is ‘50 years’ which
RULE OF THIRDS/THE LEFT THIRD takes a lot of space on the cover which is
what the reader is drawn towards.
Here rule of thirds has been used as Bruno Mars is positioned in the
BARCODE-date/issue/price
shot towards the right of the page so that there is room down the left
third for sell lines and other bits of information in this case it also leaves This is so the magazine is sellable and so the reader
room from Bruno to have his head tilted and to still fit. knows when it was issued, whether it’s new or old.

7. TARGET AUDIENCE OF BILLBOARD
The target audience for Billboard would be female teenagers
up to young adults. This is represented by the front cover as
it uses limited colours but still colours that pop out and are
eye catching without being bright and tacky, it is minimal and
not over the top like a young magazine may be to keep
children interested, Billboard does not need to do this. The
genre of this magazine is mainstream music from the charts
so this means they will have many customers from their
target audience that enjoy reading this magazine. The target
audience needs to be able to afford the magazine which at
subscription price is $99.50 for 50 issues which works out at
$1.99.
-The main image will initially attract the target audience as
they will want to read about Bruno Mars who appears on
the front.
-By naming the other artists down the left which this will
also attract the target audience to find out about them.
-The whole layout will attract the target audience as it
looks classy and artistic with minimal colours.

8. STRETCH AND CHALLENGE
ACTIVITY-
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to
he music industry, and is one of the oldest trade
magazines in the world.
GENRE
: Mainstream music from the charts.
INFORMATION INSIDE MAGAZINE Billboard was founded on
November 1, 1894, by
The Billboard Top 100’ William h. Donaldson and
James Hennegan. It was
Photos/posters Album advertisements originally titled
Billboard Advertising
Advertisements and it was a trade paper for
the bill posting industry
Interviews
Concerts
Billboard is now read in more
Articles on artists/bands than 100 countries around
the world. Billboard.com
Music reviews attracts more than 2.5 million
unique visitors each month.
‘The Billboard Top 200’ The Billboard Music Awards
is one of television's most
Page with lists of songs relating to each popular annual
different genre of music entertainment events

9. Editor Danyel Smith
Frequency Weekly
Circulation 16,327
First Issue 1894
Company Prometheus Global Media
Country United States
Website www.billboard.com

10. THE MASTHEAD Cover 3, SPIN special edition
THE HEADER
The masthead is very big, bold and
stands out with the white on top of the
Courtney Love cover The header gives extra
red background. The last letter is hid information and the issue
behind Courtney Love’s head this is number, by doing this it keeps the
because SPIN are confident that by only whole look well-ordered h and as
part of the masthead the reader’s will stuck to the consistent house
recognise the magazine. The way this is style. It also rounds off where the
done it puts more emphasis on the title and image begin
image of the star showing how
THE SELL LINES/COVER
important they deem her to be.
LINES
BACKGROUND Attracting the reader as just at a
The background is completely white glance they give an insight into
which puts extra emphasis on the text what will be included by.
and image over the top as they are
THE MAIN IMAGE
allowed to stand out clearly. With the
connotation of purity and innocence The main image of a famous star,
you get a sense of the magazine being Courtney Love as it mentions, this is
this way as the image looks soft and a recognisable face that the target
innocent too. This adds to how stylish audience will want to read about. It
the magazine looks and looks is an unusual shot which makes the
immaculate. reader take a longer look, as she
has her arms in shot and head
USE OF A PULL QUOTE titled. It is a mid shot from a high
‘I’m tired of being the town witch’ this slightly high angle to make her face
draws the reader in and makes them to seem closer to the lens dragging
find out more from what this quote the reader in. This cover is image
says, it is usually something interesting RULE OF THIRDS/THE LEFT THIRD dominated as she takes majority of
for the reader to pick up on. the page.
Here the photo is slightly towards the left
where the photo is usually towards the right THE FOOTER
THE MAIN COVER LINE
to fit in the left third but in this case most Is used to round of the magazine and
The main cover line is the celebrity cover/sell lines have been located on the have a border around the edge to add
artist’s name right. to the style.

11. TARGET AUDIENCE OF SPIN
The target audience for SPIN would be people who
listen to music from rock, alternative, country, rap, hip
hop, reggae, indie, rock, metal, blues, rnb etc.,
depending which week and who is on the cover
depends what kind of genre it is going for, so caters
for many people.
The median age for SPIN magazine is 29, nearly 40% of
readers are between 22-29 and 36% aged between 25-34 .
The magazine is highly priced meaning the target
audience will have to afford the magazine meaning
they looks probably be middle class as the magazine
is only monthly as well.
Statistics also show that the magazine is read by
more males than females at the ratio 61% to 39%.
Although this specific cover looks more suited to
girls whereas others are the opposite.

12. STRETCH AND CHALLENGE
ACTIVITY-
-The magazine is published monthly
-In the UK it costs 4.50 as it has to be shipped/flown
from the US
-In America the magazine costs $3.99
In its early years, the magazine was noted
for its broad music coverage with an
emphasis on college-oriented rock music
and on the on going emergence of hip-
hop. The magazine was eclectic and bold,
if sometimes haphazard. It pointedly
provided a national alternative to Rolling
Stone's more establishment-oriented style.
Spin prominently placed newer artists such
as R.E.M., Prince, Beastie Boys, and
Talking Heads, on its covers and did
lengthy features on established figures
such as Bob Dylan, Keith Richards, Miles
Davis, Aerosmith, Lou Reed, Tom Waits,
and John Lee Hooker—Bart Bull's article
on Hooker won the magazine its first major
award

13. Categories Music
Frequency Monthly
Total circulation (2011)
459,586
Year founded 1985
First issue May 1985
Company Buzzmedia
Country USA
Based in New York City
Website www.spin.com