This layout has become a brand identity for NME magazine, from the logo to the colour scheme of red, white, and black; it runs through every issue. The sell-lines are placed, conforming with music magazine conventions, on the left of the page. Most music magazines feature a list or banner detailing the artists featured in the issue, but instead they use the sell lines along the left side of the page to display the popular artists featured in the magazine. The use of yellow and white text on a black background in the starburst makes the text stand out, and the yellow and white of the strap-line contrast against the red and black all combining to make the magazine stand out on the news-stands and appeals to readers. The mix of bold and normal and the range of fonts on the page make the words stand out from the background and make an eye-catching front cover. They have also used the same italics and font for the start of the article title and the quote to make the band name stand out in its bold font and the white is to highlight the quote to make the readers want to read the article. The use of the famous band name appeals to the reader as well because they already have a connection with them. Most music magazines feature a list or banner detailing the artists featured in the issue, but instead they use the sell lines along the left side of the page to display the popular artists featured in the magazine, and the use of popular artists in the genre makes the readers want to read what they have to say. The bar code is fitted into the bottom right hand corner of the page because as the eye scans the page, it is the last place seen. It also fits the conventions of magazines. By placing the price and website there along with it, it makes it easier for the reader to find the information they need. By having a website, NME has allowed the readers access to the content on the go, making the magazine more appealing than others.
The sell-lines are strategically placed to frame the main image, and by using a separate color to those used in the photoshoot, it stands out against the plainness. NME used a variety of buzz words that catch a readers eye and makes them want to read, such as; ‘special’, ‘shock’, ‘new’, ‘major’, ‘exclusive’, ‘brilliant’, and ‘first’. By placing these words in blood red writing, they are sure to capture a prospective reader’s eye. The wording of these sell-lines tell much about the target audience. ‘Ding! Ding! Round 2’ shows that they like drama and possibly violence. The repetition of words such as ‘new’ or synonyms like ‘first’ and ‘exclusive’ show that the audience have a need to be the first to know or to have something and are primarily ruled by materialistic needs. NME has made certain words in the text larger to attract the reader. By making ‘SXWS SPECIAL’ of a larger size they have made the message clearer and convinces the reader that they are reading a special issue rather than one just like the older volumes. By making the band name larger than any other text, other than the logo, they have drawn in the fans of that band that may not read the magazine and therefore opened up to a new audience. This goes the same for fans of the artists used in the strapline. In a stack of magazines, either the top or the bottom of the page stick out, and by having them bold on the top of the page, fans of those bands notice it quickly and want to read. For both of these examples, by using larger fonts on certain areas it will provide them with another reader. The red is attention-grabbing, and the yellow adds to that as the two colors together are usually a sign of danger. There is use of mode of address in the sell-lines, ‘ace’, to appeal to the target audience. By using slang that the target audience would use, it creates a comradery between the reader and the magazine.
NME has decided to use a portrait, medium shot of the two artists with their backs towards each other, aiming the camera directly at them at head height, against a white background. The overall theme of the image is dark and light. They have matched their dark hair and eyes with dark jackets making them stand out from the background and making the lines of their nose and jaw more noticeable. This is also achieved by the way they stand. Standing back to back gives an almost symmetrical look to the artists, from the curve of their heads to the sharp point of their chin; the only difference being height, to possibly show the similarities between the two artists. The contrast between darkness and light in this photoshoot also makes reference to the band’s name, as you can’t have shadow without light. To use a white font on top of this image really makes the words more obvious to people passing by. Hair and make-up is very simple, if there at all. NME has simply made sure that their hair is combed enough to look messy, as most indie music artists are supposed to be, and the overall look is very plain. By doing this, the magazine is giving off the impression that the music that the two men play is simple and classic, just like their looks. The straight faces play into the music magazine conventions for men, as they usually are void of emotion, and if they do; it is anger. This laid back attitude appeals to their target audience because they are portrayed as just two guys off of the street, just like their fans.
The name of the magazine stands bold and prominent on the page in red and white with a black border to make it stand out from the red strapline and the whitish grey background of the main image. The color, part of the color scheme of the entire front cover, has long been associated with chaos and anarchy, and rock and indie music has been associated with those same things; making it the perfect color to detail the front cover. A bold sans serif typeface is used that is consisted from very harsh lines, fitting in with the blocky layout style and the font used in other areas. Due to its long standing reputation as one of Britain’s main music magazines, they have decided to place the top of the model’s head partially over the logo. This could seem risky, as a prospective reader may not know what the name is and therefore not want to read it, but the placement is low enough to read the letters, and as previously stated, it is a well known magazine and logo.
Q Magazine’s colour scheme revolves around the magazine logo and the main image. By doing this, the magazine achieves continuity on the front cover that attracts readers. The colour scheme of this issue is the red and white of the logo, also in the image, and blue from the model’s make-up. By using purely white and some black text, the red of the model’s hair and of the logo becomes bold and catches the reader’s eye. Red and white also follows the brand identity that the magazine maintains. This also follows the conventions of music magazines as many, such as Rolling Stone and NME, use red and white as well as it represents both anger and purity; anger as in the emotion put into the music by the artists, and purity because of the reverence each magazine holds music in; it is seen as pure and an honest display of the artist’s emotions. The blue of this issue can be following the colour scheme put upon by the image, but is also a manly colour that appeals to the predominantly male target audience, as does red and white.
The magazine logo itself is very prominent on the page. This, along with every other aspect of the cover, is a method of capturing the potential reader’s attention. It is of a classic typeface showing that the magazine has experience and a legacy, yet the slogan, “Discover great music” shows that it is also modern and keeps up to date with the industry. It also displays itself as a help for the reader; it aids them in their love for music.
The layout of the text of this issue follows both brand identity and music magazine conventions by framing the main image in text. The boldest text relates to the image and is placed at the top, this is to display the main story and also place a name to the model for those that don’t know her. By placing the quote in different size and font, it not only draws the eye, but reflects the words; “I feel so alone.” The text is smaller to give emphasis to “alone”, and by making the quotation marks the same size as the quote, it does the same. “Woman on the edge” also draws the reader as it makes the reader empathize for the artist and makes them want to read on. By having “Florence” in the largest text, it shows that it is the most important facet of the front cover. Each band name is of a larger text than the rest of each sell line to show that the magazine holds the artist as important and shows the priorities of the magazine. This also applies to “gig”; by having it in bold it shows the reader, and those that may not know the magazine, that it is primarily based upon music. The use of small blue diamond bullet points and underscores appeals to the male target audience as it has been proven that men respond more to symbols than pure text. The puff follows the colour scheme and uses it cleverly to make the text stand out on the red hair background. By using a rhetorical question and a well known name amongst those who follow the music industry, the readers become attracted to the magazine further. Also, by using and repeating the buzz word “new” it pulls them in additionally. As with the rest of the cover, the puff uses slang, “where’ve”, to create a relationship with the readers. Other words used on the cover are “noisy git”, “blow-out”, “bastard”, and the previously mentioned “gig”; these words make the reader have a relationship with the magazine and compels them to continue buying issues. And finally, the layout has the barcode at the bottom left of the page as this would be the last place the eye would see. The box also contains relevant information to the magazine such as price and issue information. It is placed in a white box so as to not detract from the other text and to fit in.
The main image is of an artist, Florence Welch of the band Florence and the Machine, and that shows not only the type of music that the magazine focuses on, rock and indie, but also the success of the magazine. If a magazine can afford to have ‘big names’ on the front cover, then it must be a good magazine as it has had financial success. This also may draw new readers to the magazine as they may follow the artists, and not Q. By having a close-up of Florence Welch in the centre of the page, it shows that importance of her and her role in the issue. The reader will notice the image first, and then text, so it is important to have a recognizable, and bold, face on the cover. The general colour scheme of the image fits with that of the magazine; rich red hair, pale white skin and blue eye shadow. As stated before, this creates a continuity and familiarity between the magazine, the artist, and the audience.
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