Front Cover analysis

NME
NME is a British music magazine, which focuses on rock, alternative and indie styled music.

From the front cover, the types of articles which will be included in this issue are a main feature on the group, the gossip, rumours/hearsay on feuds between bands and artists, reviews, interviews and concert dates.

The targeted audience, of this magazine, are those interested in alternative, rock and indie styled music. This can be recognised by the type of artist and band featured on the front cover, either by being mentioned in the kicker or photographed as the main image, on the cover.

The type of gaze the artist, Beth Ditto, is giving is one of mystery. As she is peering over her glasses, with dark styled make-up and the brightness of her eyes is striking and almost hypnotic. The other two band members’ mode of address is insignificant, in comparison to the main singer in the band.

The band, The Gossip, is featured on the front cover. They are featured on the front cover as they were recently re-released their single, “standing in the way of control” (also mentioned on the front cover), in 2007. It was also chosen in the adverts for the series of skins, which ultimately made it popular, hence the word “skins”, in the cover line.

During the time of this issue’s release, there was a new rave and indie music trend. The placement of The Gossip represents the popular music of that time, giving a social aspect of the populations music taste, as the band is a mixture of both. The presentation of the band could be considered as electro, due to the glasses two of the band members are wearing and the main singer’s hair cut. The use of popular music of the time attracts readers in the music that is current and helps convince the viewer to look inside for more information.

There is a three colour palette scheme used on this front cover; red, black and white. These colours signify the rock and roll theme of the whole magazine. The yellow is only used to highlight "arcade fire" and in the virgin logo, located at the top.

Q Magazine

Q magazine is a British music magazine, which focuses on bands and artists which are most popular at the time. It is published monthly.

The front cover features Britney Spearsin a bikini and is pregnant, licking a lollipop. Front the front cover, it shows that the magazine's content will be 20 exclusive interviews with a series of different bands and artists. It also shows that an article about the 20 greatest albums and tracks of the magazine's "life". In the top right corner, it states that it is 1 of 20 collectable covers.

The target audience for Q magazine is for the older males. The way it is styled is similar to GQ and was modelled on Rolling Stones magazine. The front cover features highly successful mainstream bands and artists, which are listed down the left-hand side. Fron the cover, the interests of the target audience seem to be interviews, album listings, reviews and greatest listings.

The mode of address that the magazine seems to use seems to be to those who enjoy the featured artists/bands' music and those interested in the type of music featured.

Britney is featured on the cover because she is a successful artist and is featured in either the 20 greatest album/track article or features in an interview or both. That is why only her name features on the cover as "she needs no introduction", due to her status.

The colours used are simply red, black and white, similar to NME. This contributes the the rock and roll theme of the magazine.