Target Audience Analysis

The picture shows my typical target audience for the magazine I will be designing. For example, this is Calvin Stone, he is 25 and lives in a semi-detatched house in the urban-rural fringe between London and Hertfordshire. He dresses in a very smart casual way, often being a shirt, jeans and dark coloured shoes. He enjoys going to rock concerts, playing guitar in his spare time and going to the pubs on friday nights with his friends. Calvin enjoys reading; Q Magazine, Classic Rock, The Word and Revolver Magazine. With his favourite bands including; The Rolling Stones, Bon Jovi, AC/DC, Aerosmith, Dire Straights and Guns N' Roses.

Maslow's Hierarchy Of Needs

Psychological theory that was developed in 1943 for research into which priorities take importance over others. For example, "physiological factors" are at the bottom as they are the more most important influences in human life. Whereas "self-actualization" is at the very top because it is the least important selection of needs involved in human life. The pyramid consists of 5 stages, (bottom to top) Physiological, Safety, Love/Belonging, Esteem and Self-Actualization. The media industry of magazines fits into the hierarchy of needs theory in between Esteem and Self-Actualization. This is because if someone who is different feels they cannot fit into society because of the way they look, dress or other aspects of their personalities.

Uses and Gratifications Theory

The uses and gratifications theory, can also be referred to as the needs and gratifications theory. The theory focuses on why people use specific media (In my case: A magazine), to get specific contents. It is not a single approach, but a large wide spread approach to a media analysis. The common theme of uses and gratifications is that people use certain media products to get specific gratifications or needs. It has four stages; 

Entertainment:  The media product provides pleasure for the audience.

Social Interaction: Films, television programmes or magazines are common topics of discussion. We often use the media to continue this social interaction. 
Personal Identity: We can get an idea of ourselves and close friend groups from the way similar people are portrayed in films and magazines. We may identify with particular celebrities or people in the public eye, of which we may even use as role models.

Information: The media is full of information which we use on a constant day to day basis. 

Third Double Page Spread Analysis

The colour scheme of "Kerrang's" double page spread focuses around three main colours which are; black, white and red. On the whole of the double page spread, these are the only three colours that have been used, creating a constant flowing theme. This is because the black & white pictures have been used in the article, so in order to keep to this feel, the surrounding texts, backgrounds and headings have to be the same types of colour. The dark black represents the dark and indie side to the band in the article. (My Chemical Romance), The black also sets a one tone background on which the rest of the aspects are placed upon. The white is being used for text as is stands out most on a black background and it matches the bright patches on the photographs. This is done to keep the theme flowing throughout the design, making reading the article much more appealing to the audience. The red has been selected because there is a contrast between red, white and black, yet they all fit very well together. In this colour scheme the red shows parts of the page that are supposed to grab your attention, such as pull-out quotes, headlines and information boxes. Using a bright and loud colour like red, (on a black background) your eye's can easily jump back to the key information without having to search the page, as they will stand out.

The design of "Kerrang's" double page spread is old fashioned yet contemporary at the same time. All of the features fit together very well, following the same colour scheme creating a flow to the magazine, which is easy on the eye making it much more appealing to read. The largest image is on the left hand side of the page and it is of a singer from the band "My Chemical Romance". Then a series of smaller photos are in sequence along the bottom of the double page spread, which stretches across both pages of the spread. All the photos have relevance to the band "My Chemical Romance". The article is on the left hand side of the spread because this is where our eyes automatically look when opening a magazine, so being located here improves the chances of it being thoroughly read. Also, the article is divided into two columns, with a pug column going down the side of the page that informs the reader of MCR tracks. The headline on the spread is a pull out quote from the text, which is signified by the quotation marks. Such a headline intrigues and pulls the reader into the magazine, making them want to read on. Also, the headline has been written in red and white, which makes them contrast and stand out from the black of the background. This makes it much more eye-catching, increasing the likelihood of the audience noticing it first.

The images on "Kerrang's" double page spread focuses on an old fashioned nostalgic look, which is why they are in black and white. Also, the black and white images conform to the colour scheme of the spread (black, white and red). The main image is a medium shot of the lead singer from the band 'My Chemical Romance' holding a microphone, looking towards the floor. The other images are medium close up action shots of the remaining band members. They attract the audience because it shows an insight into the band's daily routine, and what happens behind the scenes. Most of the band's fans wont get to see into their recording studio, so by advertising that the article contains images that include such features, results in more interest being created.

The pose in the photos are typical of indie rock bands because they are shown posing in action shots from gigs or recording songs. For example, in the middle of singing whilst holding a microphone, playing an instrument, being interviewed and general music orientated conventions. These poses appeal greatly to the audience because they show an insight into the band that some people don't get to see. Although these poses mainly are used to attract and appeal to fans of 'My Chemical Romance', they also appeal to non-fans because they are very good photos that make you want to read the article. The poses represent 'MCR' as a typical rocking indie band.

The use of words and language on "Kerrang Magazine's" double page spread follows simple but effective conventions, just the same as "NME's" double page spread does I analyzed earlier. The headline is a pullout quote from the article itself, "WE'RE BEING THE BEST MCR WE CAN BE". It's coloured red and white so it stands out from the black background it's written upon, ensuring that it is very noticeable when the reader first looks at the spread. Most of the other font on the page is white so that you can read it on a black background. The pull out quote that has been used is a bold statement which grabs the audience's attention. It makes them want to persue this quote further because it it sets a good tone for the article, eventually resulting in them reading the whole of the text. Which is what the designers set out to achieve when creating the spreads. Other text on the page is their to inform the reader, such as "NEWS" at the top left hand side of the spread, and some track listings which go down the right hand side of the spread.

The overall expression of this double page spread classic and old fashioned, due to the black and white imagery and the way the whole spread conforms to three main colours, (black, white and red). It gives an archaic feel to the page, although the modernity of the indie rock band 'My Chemical Romance' contrast with it, giving a twist to the spread. The target audience for this spread range from teenagers up to people into their early thirties. Younger audiences will be more aware of "MCR's" music and style, where as the older audiences will be interested in the nostalgic photographs and the article itself. Overall, this double page spread is perceived to be positive and effective, due to it's portrayal of a modern band in an old fashioned way. I think many people would end up reading the whole article because everything about the spread makes you want to read it.

Second Double Page Spread Analysis

The colour scheme of this double page spread orientates around four main colours, which are; white, black, gold and grey. These four colours have been chosen to represent specific conventions on the two pages. This range of colours covers everything on the both pages of this spread, including all of the pictures, text and background. The white is a very pure, clean colour that forms the basis for most magazine backgrounds, which is why it has been used in this spread. The other three colours featured in this design all stand out when placed upon the white. Black contrasts with the white and is the best colour for text, which is why all the writing on this spread has been given a very dark shade, expect for the information which is meant to grab your attention first. Here the text is white and located within a black box, which makes it seem much bolder and brighter. This effect happens due to white and black being at opposite ends of the spectrum, resulting in a heavy contrast. Gold contrasts with the white and black of the rest of the front cover, breaking up the greyscale colours already present on the pages. Also, gold is usually shown to represent class, royalty and/or sophistication. Which is shown in the outfits the four people are wearing. The grey is just being used on some text and on parts of the photo, its main purpose is to soften out the difference between black and white. It makes the colour scheme of the pages much softer and easier to look at, which makes it much easier for the audience as they read the articles.

The design of this double page spread is spaced out and clean. All the colours on the page a clear, happy and pleasing on the eye. The image is of 'The Black Eyed Peas', but it places more emphasis on the member 'Will.I.Am' as his picture is the only one out of the quadruple that hasn't been faded. This has been done because the article is about him, so the designer wants to draw your attention to him first. The picture is located mostly on the left hand side of the spread, but it overlaps onto the right hand side of the spread. The article is in one big column going down the side of the right hand side of the spread, with the text being dived up by font being made bold and a pull out quote. The pull out quote has been highlighted in black and the font is white, making it contrast and stand out from the background. The main headline, "Will He, Wont He?" is bolder, larger and a different font to the rest of the writing on the page, but it still follows the colour scheme of the page keeping a nice flow on the spread. As I explained in the previous analysis of "NME Magazine" the image is on the the left hand side of the page because of the way our eyes automatically look at the left hand side of the page before anything else. As the focus is on the audience reading the article, the designers are going to place it in the position where you're going to look at first. In doing so, many more people will be compelled to read the article.

The image on this double page spread is showing music in a different way to rock, metal or R&B bands, as it doesn't necessary follow the typical conventions of a traditional music band photo. It is a long shot of the band 'The Black Eyed Peas' standing in a line, looking towards the camera out of the magazine. This is so that the reader can create eye contact with the picture, which makes the image more attracting. The image follows the same colour scheme as the rest of the spread, (black, white and gold), although the whole image hasn't got the same brightness level, as parts have been faded. Due to the fact that the article is focused on the band member 'Will.I.Am', so he has been made to stand out from the remaining three members. This has been done by fading the band members either side of 'Will.I.Am' so that his image is the brightest and therefore stands out the most. Drawing your attention to him first. The pose of the band is unusual as all of the members are posing with their hands, with three of the four holding their left arm and hand into the air at about head height. The two members on the left hand side have their legs closed, so both legs are touching whilst standing up straight. Where as the two members on the right hand side have a stance with their legs open.

The use of words and language on this double page spread follow futuristic and modern conventions, as the design uses fancy and eye-catching font. The headline is a rhetorical question, "Will He, Wont He?", which engrosses the reader, and makes them think about why this play on words has been used. This is coloured in a faded gold and silver tone, which stands out from the white background it's written on. These colours ensure that the headline is noticed on the spread, as well as a conforming to the colour scheme. Finally, a pull out quote from article is being used to break up the column of text. This makes it look like the amount of text is reduced because it isn't all in one big chunk. The audience will then be more inclined to read the article because they wont feel put off by the amount of text they see in front of them. It's an optical illusion that comes in handy when designing an article.

The overall expression of this double page spread is modern, futuristic and different, due to the image being bold and eye catching. As well as following the colour scheme of the spread by using gold, silver, black and white. These colours usually represent regal and posh objects, so this makes the reader feel that the article is of a high standard. Fans of 'The Black Eyed Peas' are being targeted in this double page spread because they are going to be most interested in the article about 'Will.I.Am'. However, many more people may be drawn into reading the spread because it's design is very appealing to the public. The age range this magazine spread is aiming at are teenagers to people in their late twenties. However, 'The Black Eyed Peas' are an established band and been around for a while, making them well known in the music industry. So there will be younger and older people who are fans of the band, and will be interested in reading the spread. Music isn't divided into specific age ranges, it's there for anyone of any age to enjoy. Overall, this double page spread is very positive and inviting to read, reaching out to fans and non-fans of the band. I think that the designers have created a very good final product.

First Double Page Spread Analysis

The colour scheme of "NME's" double page spread focuses on four main colours, which are; black, white, pink and purple. These four colours have all been chosen to represent specific conventions on the two pages. Black and white have been chosen by the designers because they are two very simple block colours that create a nice contrast. The two colours both compliment each other and most importantly for the reader is that black font on white background is probably the easiest colour of text to read. This is why loads of magazines and other aspects of the media use this double combination, due to the appealing contrast of light and dark. The black is also a big feature in the photo, where is represents clothes, darkness (shadows) and hair colours. The pink and purple are very close in the spectrum and are easy on the eye when you scan over the page. They have been used in the spread to break up the continuity of the block colours, which stops the page from getting boring or repetitive. These two colours are being used where there is font that needs to stand out from the black and white, for example at the start of the paragraph where the first letter of the sentence is within a purple square. They're also being used to highlight some text underneath a quote, thus making it stand out from the rest of the page. The final features where these two colours are being used is in two graphics located in the top right and bottom right hand corners of the right hand side of the spread. These have been made because one contains the logo of which the article is about, "New Noise", and the other is to follow on the pattern making the page much more pleasing on the eye to read.

The design of "NME's" double page spread is simple and easy to read. The whole left hand side of the page is is a long shot of 'The Chapman Family' sitting around a table, in a living room of a house. The picture slightly overlaps onto the left hand side of the page, but not by much. The rest of the page is taken up by the articles, which have been divided into 3 columns. The main headlines are in bolder and larger font to attract the audience's attention easier. The image is on the the left hand side of the page because of the way our eyes jump to a certain position on a page when we open a magazine. It's a natural reaction to automatically look at the right hand side of a magazine because it's the first thing we see when turning the page. As the magazine wants you to increase your focus on the article instead of the image, more often than not the picture will always be on the left hand side of the page. There is a pull out quote from the main article which has been made bolder and larger than the article, so that it stands out. Usually these quotes are interesting or amusing because the reader will want to know the full story from which this quote has been pulled out from. This results in them reading a lot more text on the page compared to if the quote wasn't there. There are also small squares around the text on the left hand side of the double page spread which are following the colour scheme. This has been done to create continuity throughout the magazine.

The image on "NME's" double page spread follows the conventions of indie photos, showing surrealism and unusual poses. The image is a long shot of the band 'The Chapman Family' sitting around a table, surrounded by people wearing blindfolds in the living room of a house. You are able to locate the band in the picture because they are the only people looking at the camera, whilst all the other people in the image are are blindfolded and looking in different directions. Indie bands can sometimes be looked down upon in society for acting different to other bands of their era, as they often don't conform to the conventions of society. This image is suggesting that they are as normal as everybody else in society, which is why the pose of the band is very casual and normal looking, as if they were just lounging around. Overall, the image is there to show the audience that indie bands are as normal as every other band or person in the world.

The use of words and language on "NME Magazine's" double page spread follows simplistic conventions, as there isn't any fancy or over the top wording on the spread. The headline is just the the name of the band that the article is about, "The Chapman Family". This is coloured in a white tone, which stands out from the brown and black background of which it is placed upon. This ensures that it is very noticeable when the reader turns the page onto the spread. The other font on the page is coloured black so that you can easily read it on a white background. Finally, pull out quotes from the text are being used to draw the audience into the article. This is done by choosing a very interesting or amusing passage of text from the columns of text, but then not informing the audience from where abouts in the article that certain quote was pulled from. This then compels them to read it all because they assume that the article will be interesting to read.

The overall expression of this double page spread funky and hip, due to the peculiar image and the conformance to the colour scheme. It shows that everybody is different and unique, suggesting that no-one is better than anybody else, no matter how they dress, act or sing. Which is a very positive message to give out to the younger generation that this magazine is targeting. A teenage audience is being aimed at by Kerrang Magazine because they are are the age range that will be most familiar with this band and their genre of music. Although this narrow audience range doesn't stop younger or older members of the public from purchasing the magazine if they are interested in the music genre being portrayed. Overall, Kerrang's double page spread comes across as very positive.

Third Contents Page Analysis

The colour scheme of "Vibe's" contents page focuses on three main colours, which are; grey, black and red. These three colours have all been chosen for specific reasons on the contents page. Grey is the main colour used on the whole of the page, its presence is seen on the background, on some of the text and on the main photo. The shades of grey differ greatly throughout, ranging from very light/almost white to a metallic mid ranged grey, creating a contrast but within the same colour spectrum. Black has been chosen because it is a dark, bold colour that stands out from the grey background. The use of black on grey is a very clever combination, they both compliment each other because they are in the same greyscale spectrum, yet set a contrast that isn't too 'in your face'. This ensures that the reader will be easily able to read the font on the background. Also, by using different shades of the same colour, your eye's are able to glance over and pick out the information easier. The small bit of red on the contents page is the only colour outside of the greyscale to be used. The reason for using such a small blotch of colour is to put a bigger emphasis on the meaning of which the red is denotating. The red represents passion, love, desire and lust, which is why the lady is holding a red heart over the point at which the man's real heart would be. So if the contents page used lots of bright, outstanding colours, the true meaning of the red heart would be lost, either glanced over or just ignored as part of the colour scheme. The page designers want you to focus more at this red patch and understand the meaning of it, which is why no other bright colours are located on the contents page. This has been achieved due to the of the existing contrast between red and the greyscale colours. So by using a bright and vibrant colour like red on a very plain background, your eye's can easily jump and focus on that key point, because it stands out tremendously.

The design of "Vibe's" contents page comprises of a bold headline which has been cut down into segments, "CO" "NTEN" and "TS" and is located in the top left hand corner of the page. This clearly states to the reader that they are on the contents page. The title "contents" is in a bold, black font and is easily noticeable at the top right hand side of the page, due to the contrast between the light grey background and dark black text. The articles and features in the magazine are displayed down the right hand side of the page, in the form of a column. This is rather small and takes up about an eighth of the page. There is a big image of a man posing, which fills up about half of the contents page. As the image is meant to attract the fans, instead of the text. This informs the reader about which musician will be focused on in the magazine. Many people tend to prefer looking at images instead of reading a lot of text. Which is why there is a big visualization. In the background there is a "V" which represents the capital letter of the brand name, "Vibe". It is coloured in a darker metallic grey, which stands out from the background, but is still light enough to avoid being too similar to the pigmentation of the main image. Overall, the features on "Vibe's" contents page are easily recognizable, with very little overlapping taking place as everything is very rectangular. The main reason for this is that there are 4 main features on the contents page; Image, Contents Column, Title and Background Image. They avoid overlapping, apart from the background image, which goes behind the main image and title. Thus making it easier for the audience to read and locate.

The image on this contents page is a medium shot photo of a Kanye West, with an arm reaching around his neck. The image roughly uses up about half of the page. It's purpose is all in the pose and the message that it is portraying across to the audience. As the arm coming from behind is clasping a red heart shaped object that is being placed on the Kanye West's chest where his heart would naturally be. Showing passion and love which the audience are supposed to pick up on, as the heart is the only coloured object that is out of the grey scale spectrum. This creates a bigger emphasis on the connotation of those emotions. This represents the audience because it is showing feelings of romance of which the reader wants to experience. As this is the only the only image on the contents page, it is telling the audience that this musician will be a big feature within the magazine.

The pose of the image on this contents page is represented by a position that promotes love, passion and romance. This attracts both a male and female audience because the romantic sensation appeals greatly to both genders, which is why in the image a man has been used with a woman's arm around his neck and onto his chest. The overall expression portrayed on his face is stern and blank, as if he is just staring into space whilst looking out of the page into the reader's eyes. The reason for using such an image is that it creates a sense of mystery as to why he is looking so serious, when there is a romantic feel in the picture.

The use of words on the contents page of Vibe Magazine are again simplistic and follow the conventions of a typical contents page, just like the NME and Kerrang Magazine contents pages I analyzed below. They are there to show the audience what is in the magazine, although the title saying "Contents" is broken up into sections to make the page seem more hip and funky. The title "Contents" is much larger, darker and bolder than the other text on the page, signifying it is the title and is one of the most important features on the page. Words are used on the contents page to direct the reader from feature to feature, within the magazine.

The language on the contents page directly addresses the reader, just like the other two contents pages I analyzed. The language is simple to read, making it much quicker for the audience to glance over. This in return makes the magazine more appealing to the reader, as they don't have to study the writing in depth in order to find what they are looking for.

The overall expression of Vibe's contents page is modern and mature, due to the way the image represents love and passion. Some younger audiences may not understand the meaning of it fully. Therefore Vibe's contents page is designed to appeal to fans of Kanye West and R&B music, because it uses one large photo of him to appeal to his fans that will want to read about him. However, many other people may be drawn into the magazine even if they are not fans of Kanye West, due to the large image of him on the contents page. The audience will want to read on to see if there are any more intriguing pictures of Kanye West in the article. The overall expression comes out as very positive, attracting more than just the fans of a specific artist. Many more people will decide to give his music a chance by the quality of a magazine review or feature

Second Contents Page Analysis

The colour scheme of "Kerrang's" contents page focuses on four main colours, which are; black, white, yellow and red. These four colours have all been chosen for specific reasons on the page. Black and white have been chosen because they are the two simplest and easiest to read colours you can use in a magazine. They look good together, both compliment each other and most importantly the reader is easily able to read black font on white background and vice versa, due the the contrast of light and dark. Which is why "Kerrang" are using a white background for the basis of their contents page, as every other colour used in the design stands out from it. The yellow is used as another contrast between light and dark colours. It's being used for page numbers and titles, orientating between yellow font in black boxes and black font in yellow boxes. The results of keeping this convention constant throughout the page makes the information easier to read, as the reader will know what he/she is looking for because it will be indicated by those two colours. Red has been used for a pug in the bottom right hand corner of the contents page. The colour red isn't being used in any other area of the contents page, it's use has been solely restricted to key information located inside the pug. (With exception to pigmentation in the photographs used on the page). This is so that it stands out from the rest of the aspects, which is the main convention of a pug. As I quote from my previous analysis of NME's contents page, "Too little colour contrast and the text appears boring and never ending, where as too much colour contrast can hurt the eyes and make the text too hard and confusing to read". The consistency of the colour theme on this contents page has been kept nonchalant and repetitive, making it very appealing to the audience and easy on the eye.

The design of "Kerrang's" contents page comprises of a bold headline which is located at the top of the page. This clearly states to the reader that they are on the contents page. The title "contents" is in a bold font and is easily noticeable at the top right hand side of the page, due to the big contrast between the use of light and dark colours (yellow and black). The main features and articles in the magazine are displayed in boxes, which take up half of the page. These boxes contain pictures of the band/artist of which there is an article about, instead of just plain text telling the reader what's in the magazine. This appeals more to the audience because most people enjoy looking at pictures in magazines, therefore there is a greater chance of the audience focusing in on the key articles. Secondly, the audience are able see which bands are in the magazine, making the contents much more lively and fun to look at. The names of the bands and the page number are written underneath the picture boxes. There is one big picture that that is roughly four times the size of the other pictures on the contents page. This gives a bigger emphasis on that article, suggesting that it is more important and is one of the main articles in the magazine. The increase in size catches the audience's eyes first, making sure that this is noticed before any other pictures on the page. On the right had side of the page there is a column which lists the least important articles in the magazine. These article are not supposed to be attention grabbing, which is why they are just informing the reader via text. The rest of the space on the front cover is being used by a pug, which uses the colour red to stand out from the yellow, black and white used around the whole of the page. The pug is advertising subscription details for the magazine. Finally, the last piece of space used is in the top left hand corner of the page, where there is a small blurb about "Kerrang" magazine. Overall, the features on the contents page are easily located and are in a simple layout pattern. There are no overlaps with everything being boxed off making the page very linear and easy to read.

There is more than one main image on the contents page, although they vary in size, with the more important one being a larger size. The larger photo is of the punk band "The Bronx" and is almost four times larger than anything else on the page. It's purpose is to grab the audience's attention before anything else, showing them that this band will be a main feature in the magazine. It adds more of significance to the article because conventionally, larger equals more importance. The smaller images are being used because they are showing the audience which other bands or artists are featured in the magazine. All the images used easily show the musicians' faces so that the reader can quickly identify who is who, with the help of text underneath each picture. The images appeal to the audience because of the Punk/Rock they are representing, of which the target audience of "Kerrang Magazine" will be followers of. On the contents page, the articles that have been assigned a picture are usually the biggest and most entertaining ones in the magazine. Which is why they have extra appeal placed upon them in order to sell the story to the reader.

The pose of the images on this contents page don't portray specific meanings to give extra appeal to the audience. Their uses are purely for making the contents page easier to read. In the photos, the artists are either performing at a live gig, looking into the camera or it is a screenshot from their CD cover. All the photos follow the same convention of being able to see and recognize the faces of the artists at a glance. This has been done so that the readers are able to identify the bands with as little effort as possible. This makes reading the magazine much more appealing and enjoyable. Images on a contents page don't have to be striking and overly eye-catching, because their job is to just inform the audience about what bands are featured in the magazine. The only necessary convention is that the artist in the image must be easily recognizable to fans.

The use of words on the contents page of Kerrang Magazine are simplistic and follow the typical conventions of a contents page. Which are written to explain and inform, telling the audience the content of the magazine. The importance of the text is signified by size, colour and effect. For example "CONTENTS" is much larger and bolder than the other text, as well as having an inverted colour scheme. The other font-in-boxes have black text on yellow background, where as the contents one has yellow font on a black background. Thus making it stand out from the rest of the page. Each word used on the contents page easily directs the audience around the magazine because the words are short and quick to read.

The language of the contents page directly addresses the reader, telling them what pages each article or feature is located on. The language is easy to read, because not many complicated words have been used. Making it much easier to glance read, which is makes the page much more appealing to the audience. The words and language have the power to manipulate the reader into focusing on famous artists, instead of lesser known ones.

The overall impression of this contents page is smart and modern, clearly showing the audience the key articles located in the magazine, thus serving it's purpose to a good degree of satisfaction. The page appeals to a wider range of people because it shows various pictures of different musicians instead of just one main image. It satisfies the interests of the reader by including different types of music genres and, as explained above, the use of more than one image. This expands the possible fan base out, creating a wider appeal range. For example, genres included on the contents page are; Electronic (The Prodigy), Rock (AC/DC), Indie (Fall Out Boy), Punk (Bronx) and Metal (Bullet For My Valentine). Also, the colours are kept constant throughout out the page and the layout is simple and easy to read. Which is another reason why the overall expression of "Kerrang Magazine's" contents page is positive and appealing.

First Contents Page Analysis

The colour scheme of "Q Magazine's" contents page focuses on four main colours, which are; black, white, green and red. These four colours have all been chosen for specific reasons on the contents page. Black and white have been chosen because they are the two simplest colours you can use for printing. They look good together, both compliment each other and most importantly the reader is easily able to read black font on white background and vice versa, due to the big contrast of light and dark. Red has been used because it is the colour of "Q Magazine", its used for the brand name/logo, therefore has to be carried on within the contents page, setting up a constant colour flow throughout the magazine. However the colour red isn't being over used in the contents page, it's use has been restricted to key information such as; small brand logos, highlights and page numbers. This has been done because of the existing contrast between red, white and black. It denotes the parts of the page that you will need to see in order to find your way around the magazine, e.g. page numbers. So by using a bright and vibrant colour like red, your eye's can easily jump back to those key points because they will stand out from the background. The green has been used in main photo on the contents page, as well as a similar shade on the page numbers announcing the "Oasis Special" part of the magazine. Again, this is to create a contrast so that the text will stand out from everything else on the page. Another reason for a change of colour is so that the font doesn't get too repetitive and monotonous to read, yet only being used in moderation is key to a good layout. Too little colour contrast and the text appears boring and never ending, where as too much colour contrast can hurt the eyes and make the text too hard and confusing to read. "Q Magazine" have got the balance and consistency perfect on this contents page.

The design of "Q Magazine's" contents page comprises of a bold headline at the top of the page that clearly states to the reader that they are on the contents page. The title "contents" is in a bold font and is easily noticeable at the top left hand side of the page. All of the features and articles in the magazine are displayed in a column on the left hand side, which takes up about a third of the page. There is a big picture that takes up half of the contents page, this tells the reader what band will be getting written about, also a big visualization appeals to the audience because many people tend to prefer looking at pictures instead of reading a lot of text. The final part of the space left of the page is taken up by a box that is a different colour from the contents column. This is because it has information about reviews, so by changing the colour tells the audience that the topic of information has changed as well. Overall all of the features are easily located around the page, with very little overlapping taking place as everything is very rectangular. This makes the page much more simple and easy to read.

There is one main image on the contents page, with a minor one as well. It is a large long shot photo of the band "The Courteeners" and roughly takes up half of the page. It's purpose is to notify the audience, showing them that that band will be featured in the magazine. The image is large because it adds more significance to the article about the band. With a bigger emphasis on the importance of this band means that the fans will be drawn in much easier. This is due to the fact that a larger image will be much more eye catching and appealing to fans of the band. If a small image was used, it wouldn't portray much importance on that article. Instead people may think it is just for decoration, just like the minor photo used at the bottom of the page. This photo shows a man leaning against a pillar, which isn't representing a band, it's just for decoration showing the audience the person who wrote the reviews.

The pose of the contents page is very tricky, as there is no pose in particular that the band are using. In the photo they are standing on a hill with their hands in their pockets, looking at the camera in a very casual way. This has been done so that the fans can easily identify the band by making eye-contact with the picture. Images on a contents page don't have to be striking and overly eye-catching, because their job is to just inform the audience about what bands are featured in the magazine. The only necessary convention is that the artist in the image must be easily recognizable to fans.

The use of words on the contents page of Q Magazine are very simple and don't really hold any hidden messages or fancy descriptions. The words are purely there on the basis of telling the audience all they need to know about the contents of the magazine. The more import text will be in a bolder type font or will be enlarged from the rest, reiterating the point of larger means more important. All of the words used clearly direct the audience around the magazine because the words are clear and easy to understand. However, in order to fit all of the information on the page the font size has dramatically decreased in size, making it hard to read from a distance. The font size is around 11/12 pt. It suggests the interests of the reader by clearly labeling the bands, and what features are in the magazine.

The language on the contents page addresses the reader by showing them what they want to see. For example, the more important and bigger features in the magazine will be in a larger font, making it much more easier for you to notice. Where as smaller less important articles will be in a small font size and located in a harder to spot position on the contents page. This has recently been used as a form of advertising because of the way the the language can manipulate the audience.

The overall impression of this contents page is positive and straightforward, clearly showing the audience the key articles located in the magazine, thus serving it's purpose to a high degree of satisfaction. This contents page is designed to appeal to a narrower line of audience because it only uses one large photo to appeal to fans of that specific band. Then other subjects will be mentioned in the list of contents, but text is less interesting than a picture. It represents the reader's interests by the use of these two features, the photo is appealing and the list of articles is easy to read.

Third Front Cover Analysis

The colour scheme of "Spin" is more complex than the other two front covers I have analyzed. "Q Magazine" and "Classic Rock" revolved around three main colours, whereas this front cover uses the same principle but breaks the boundaries by using different tones and shades. The three main colours used on the front cover of "Spin" are; Black, cream/white and red. The black represents the dark, somber and serious theme; which is shown on the cover image by the suits, shadows and expressions on their faces. Although not black, the background to the front cover is very dull and boring. This is so that your eyes focus on the photo instead of the background. The cream/white creates is used to contrast with duller shades of black and red. White is being used in the 'Spin' of the brand logo, a shirt and around/in some of the text. Finally, the red represents change, difference and possibly a minor theme of morbidity. Due to red being the colour of blood a connection with death and the underworld can be established, as the word "resurrected" is also being used. Also it's being used on the front cover to create a contrast and difference between the colours already present. This is because red really stands out from dark and light colours, which is why it's chosen for something that needs to be noticed or that needs to stand out from everything else. The magazine brand name follows the same conventions of "Q Magazine" with the red box at the top left of the page, with white font saying "SPIN" inside the boundaries of it. The white and black in Michael Stipes suit and matches the theme created by the strapline "Resurrected", which gives the feeling of a priest carrying out an exorcism.

The design of the of the front cover is again following a certain theme (Just like Q Magazine with Cheryl Cole), by using the three key colours discussed above (Dark Grey/Black, White, Gold). The fonts on the page alternate between black and white because by sticking to two compound colours throughout the magazine it makes it much easier to read. The use of this design keeps the page from looking too messy or jumbled up. All of the text written on the page is in CAPITAL LETTERS which makes it much easier to read from a distance and attracts more attention, because capital letters look more important and eye-grabbing. The font used for the headline is big, slim and simple, and is very similar to "Lucida Grande". The headline is the main header on the front cover and it's situated just under the centre line of the page, underneath the faces of the members of R.E.M. This is so that the text doesn't overlap onto any of the facial expressions and because the design want the reader to focus on both the picture and title. As they are equally important, this layout makes sure that is achieved. The fonts used at the side of the magazine is much smaller as it is supposed to inform you on what's inside the magazine, it's duty is not to catch your attention.

The image used on the front cover of "Spin" is a mid shot of the three members from the band R.E.M (Mike Mills, Michael Stipes, Peter Buck). These are the main feature in the magazine as their picture takes up 3/4 of the magazine front cover. R.E.M are a very well known and established american band, with many great hits. The two main features of the image is that Michael Stipes' hands are held out in front of him, and secondly that all three members of the band are looking straight out of the front page into the audience's eyes. This creates an eye-to-eye contact between the audience and photograph, which in return creates an interest increasing the likelihood of the magazine being purchased.

The pose is shown in the photo by the three members of R.E.M looking out of the page, you can see their body's from head to thighs, with two members their arms down by their sides. The photo has been taken like this so that the reader can establish an eye contact with the magazine. The pose and body language of Michael Stipes creates this paranormal and somber mood, with his hands out in front of him, which is something you would expect to find in a horror/scary movie. The overall look portrayed in the photo is very blank, sympathetic and expressionless, as if all three men are staring out of the page looking emptily at you. If the designer chose to use a lively, energetic photo it wouldn't tie in with the atmosphere created by the other features on the magazine. (E.g. Words used, colours used and fonts used.) Keeping in a constant theme gives enthusiasm and encouragement to buy the magazine.

How words are used on the cover; "Spin" The title suggests that there is a spin to the magazine, possibly stating that there is more than meets the eye to this magazine. This is because the title of the magazine doesn't tell you what the magazine is about, unlike "Classic Rock Magazine. Instead, "Spin Magazine" shares similarities with "Q Magazine" because they are both just brand names, but also they are one syllable in length making the names easy to pronounce and remember. All the writing on the front cover is easy to read due to the contrast of colours and the way they are laid out. Nothing overlaps or is written over in a similar shade of colour, making everything easy to read at a glance. The title, headline and strapline are large, noticeable and revolve around the main band shown in the photo. When the audience looks at the magazine in a shop they will know that the magazine will be mainly focusing around this main band, as they are the biggest feature being advertised on the front cover. The cover lines in the bottom left hand side of the front cover tell the audience what other bands/artists will be featured in the magazine. The words here are much smaller that the rest of the fonts on the front cover, as these are not supposed to grab your attention but instead just inform you. The main theme created by the words, as discussed in the previous paragraphs, is the way "Resurrected" fits in with the pose, looks and colour scheme. It's telling the audience that the band "R.E.M" are back in the headlines again and have been rejuvenated/reborn into the music world.

The language on the front page is rather simple and straight forward to read. The magazine grabs the reader's attention by composing the front cover up of mainly small words and very few sentences. This helps the audience quickly read over all the text without having to focus on long sentences, which could make them lose interest if the words used aren't inspiring. Two features I can identify on the front cover are; firstly, the use of BLOCK CAPITALS to gain more interest and suggest the information is more important. Secondly, the way words are used to play on the reader's mind, in a way letting them figure out why a certain word has been chosen. For example "resurrected", there is no explanation why it's there because it's been left for the reader to ponder over.

The overall impression of the of the front cover is rather positive, giving out a clear indication of what the magazine articles will be about. Due to the big, noticeable photo of the members of R.E.M that stands out from other magazines on a shelf. This front cover follows many conventions, with the contrasting brand name/logo in the top left hand corner of the page. The main audience this magazine is trying to reach out to are fans of R.E.M, fans of 'Alternative Rock/Punk' and people who generally enjoy reading about this type of music. The magazine reaches out to non-fans by the expression of a new life brought into the band. The main target audience for this magazine are people in their 20's - 50's, as they will more likely have heard of the band being represented on the front cover, therefore are more likely to want to read about these music artists. Therefore young children are not taken into consideration as a target market to promote Spin Magazine. Although, just because a teenage audience aren't particularly the desired target marketing age, it wouldn't stop them from purchasing the magazine if they are fans of R.E.M. Like myself for example, I'm a teenager and rather enjoy the works of R.E.M.