NME Cover Analysis

NME is a music magazine aimed at 15-24 year olds, particulary young males who enjoy seeing their favourite bands at various venues and festivals. The magazine consists of montages of pictures rather than in-depth articles due to their readership. It sees its self as more as a newspaper than a magazine, as the title suggests, and reports on the latest gossip in the music world.

The title block tells us that the magazine is attempting to attract the youth with its bold lettering, the pointed 'M' also suggests that the magazine is 'cutting edge' and can offer new music to its young readers. The colours are also very bold which is something that the readership seeks as they search for who they really are. The title is also pronounced 'Enemy' which connotes the readership attempting to 'stick it to the man', it also suggests that the magazines enemy is popular culture, with this being the same enemy as the readership.

From the front cover, the magazine covers the latest news in music, there are puffs that read "Jay Reatard RIP" and "Courtney and Keef, Worst Duet Ever?", this tells the readership and potential readers that the magazine will cover the general news of the music world, particulary the indie genre. The puffs also suggest that the readership will know about indie music and non-mainstream music, you wouldn't expect a fan of The Saturdays to read this magazine.

They also use the buzz word 'Plus' to give the readership the sense that they are getting more content for their money.

The central image is of Gerrard Way from My Chemical Romance, NME wants us to feel like we have a relationship with him due having a direct mode of address. However, his body is twisted away from the camera and only half of his face is on view, this suggests that NME wants to create an element of mystery around Gerrard Way, they want us to know him but not the whole of him.

Gerrard is on the front cover due to the upcoming release of My Chemical Romance's new album. NME can take advantage of the huge fanbase of the band who will buy this new issue simply because Gerrard Way is on the cover. NME can also draw in a bigger readership as Gerrard is talking about their new album; My Chemical Romance have'nt released an album since 'The Black Parade' went platinum in 2006.

The anchorage text attached to the image suggests to the reader that My Chemical Romance have rebranded themselves. The text reads "My Chemical Romance, On Their Punk Comeback Album", this tells the reader that the band has developed since their last album. Also by having the quote from Gerrard Way attached the readership will feel like Gerrard Way is telling them directly about the bands new image and sound.

The overall image being portrayed by the artist is an uncaring one, it seems that the artist doesn't care whether we like him or not. Also there is an element of mystery surrounding Gerrard Way as his mode of address makes the audience feel as if he is hiding something.

The magazine follows a red, white and black colour theme with the title block following suit. This gives the reader the idea of mystery and danger, something that Gerrard Way also wants to demonstrate. Also if they used more than three colours the magazine could look trashy, this is something that NME wants to avoid as it would be off putting to its readership.

NME attempts to attract readers by mentioning numerous bands and artists on the front cover, the audience gets the sense that they will be getting more for their money. They also feature less known artists that dont really get coverage in other music magazines, so they appeal to a niche market. This issue also has new Gorillaz art and interview with them being a very popular band.

Block Title Analysis

• Target Audience: Males, 15 -24, although their main readership is in the category 15-44 the chances of someone over the age of 30 reading Kerrang! is slim. This due to the font, colour and connotations that the magazine title carries.
  The word 'Kerrang!' is onomatopoeic, it is supposed to sound like the voilent strumming of a guitar; this suggests the genre of the magazine which is rock music.
  Font: Distorted edges connoting urban and industrial living - the readers are 'rough round the edges' and have a more edgy look to them.
• Capital Letters - Attracts the readership through its boldness; directly related to the world being onomatopoeic, helps us visualise the guitar noise
  Colour: The black fits in with the readership as it follows the stereotypical view of their readers being 'emo's' and 'goths'
• The word looks as if it has been smashed; this connotes the recklessness of the readership and their lack of fear of authorities
• The 'A' doesnt follow the convention of the alphabet, as they chose to fill the letter 'A', this could be seen as a form of anarchy and is the magazines subtle way of 'sticking it to the man', something their readership can reflect on.

• Target Audience: Males, 15-24, although with this magazine it is more likely that the readership could be older than 24 than it is for Kerrang!
• NME stands for 'New Musical Express' this reflects the young readership who are discovering who they are and what type of music they like, the magazine offers self discovery.
• Font: Bold Lettering - Attracting the youth, being bold and reflecting teenagers want of being 'different'. The pointed bottom of the 'M' connotes the magazine being cutting edge and offering new music to its young readers
• Colours - The red, white and black connote boldness; something the readership searches for seeing as the magazine showcases indie music
• The readership probably spends their time seeing various bands in different venues.
• Heat magazine of the music world- heavily features gossip from the music world
• Prounounced 'Enemy' - again 'sticking it to the man' its enemy is popular culture, the same enemy as its readership.

• Target Audience: Males, 24-44, Mojo which means 'talent' appeals to the adult audience because it reports on all types of music.
• Mojo- connotes a type of power, directly related to the 70's when people started to express themselves and free themselves from various rules by experimenting with sex,drugs and music.
• Black and white colour theme connotes simplicity; something that the readership used to enjoy before we entered the 'pace age'. The font is also very simple too, again connoting the same ideology.
• The shadowing effect behind the lettering gives the readership the idea of night-time and going out and having fun.
• Classic rock, in-depth coverage of classic and cult acts - suited for the readership that looks for more of an article than a collage of pictures.

• Target Audience: Males, 24-44, (woman are aimed too), readership is older due to the fact the features are more in-depth, also the artists are 'serious' ones, acts such as McFly and Busted wouldnt feature
• The single lettered title is prominent on the news stands, seeing as other magazines have whole word titles
• Colours: Red and white - background of red connotes power and danger, with it standing out in the music stand and the white demonstrates how pretigious the magazine is. This is heightened by the fact that the rating Q gives a magazine features on the artists advertising campaign. Also the read and white would appeal to the English readership as these are the colours of the national flag.
• The 'Q' leans slightly to the left; this shows that the magazine not only covers mainstream acts but also 'left-field' acts that don't usually get coverage in the main news press.
• The shadowing effect connotes how Q's readership follows them; we trust in the magazine.
  

Analysing Magazine Covers

Q is a music magazine aimed at 24-44 males, this is due to the in-depth articles that feature in the magazine, also the artists that feature are the “serious” ones; this is not a magazine that covers the likes of McFly. The target audience would be interested in a wide range of music; they would also be interested in reading thorough articles on these acts.
The single lettered title is prominent on the newsstands, seeing as other magazines have a whole word title, this tells us that the magazine will feature only the acts that ‘stand out’. The ‘Q’ leans slightly to the left; this shows that the magazine not only covers mainstream acts but also the ‘left-field’ acts that don’t usually get coverage in the main news press. Also the shadowing effect connotes how Q’s readership follows them; we trust what we read in the magazine.
From the front cover, we can see by the puffs that the magazine will consist of articles on a range of acts; from Vampire Weekend to 50 Cent. It also consists of features on new artists as the puff reads ‘The 10 Best New Acts’ but also well established artists such as U2 and Biffy Clyro. The buzz word ‘Best’ makes the readership believe that Q magazine will only feature the most prestigious of artists, we also feel that they want us to have the best; they are giving us value for money.
The anchorage text attached to the central image of Cheryl Cole tells the readership that the main feature in the magazine will be on her.
The central image of Cheryl Cole has a direct mode of address; Q wants the reader to feel as if they have a relationship with her, they want the reader to feel attached to the Cheryl and therefore feel as if they have to buy the magazine. Cheryl is on the cover due to the fact that she has recently released her first solo album, she needs to promote her singles and albums for them to be successful. Also as Q is aimed at males, Cheryl Cole makes an attractive draw for readers seeing as she was voted number one in FHM’s top 100 sexiest females in 2009.
The anchorage text attached to her reads “3 Words ... Cheryl Cole, Rocks”, this is an intertextual reference to her album that is titled ‘3 Words’. Also the magazine is trying to detach Cheryl from her pop image; as she is in the girl band Girls Aloud she may not appeal to the readership on their musical credibility. However, by the edgy central image and saying that she ‘rocks’, the readership may start to believe that she has left her pop days behind her.
From the image, we get the idea that Cheryl is conveying the message that she is not only ‘sexy’ but also edgy. The image has an intertextual reference to the film ‘Sin City’, this is a film that Qs readers should be familiar with, and this ensures that the reader will not be alienated by the magazine and by the fact that a pop artist is featuring. The red lipstick connotes sexuality to the readership; this is due to the fact that it is predominantly by males. However, female readers may see the lipstick as connoting power, as we typically attribute this to business types when it’s combined with black clothing. This is also combined with the pointed ring that looks like a claw; for females again this would connote power; however the ring caters for the male readership as she is licking the tip in a seductive way.
From this front cover, females are being represented in a stereotypical way, no matter what magazine a female features on they are always shown in a seductive or attractive manner. This also stereotypes the readership as the magazine is showing us what we stereotypically want to see; males want a sexy image and females want to see someone that we can aspire to.
The Colours of the magazine follow a black, white and red theme; this is due to the reference to Sin City which also follows this theme. Also it ties in directly with Cheryl’s new ‘rock’ image and Q’s prestigious style. The colours and central image creates a dark atmosphere, but also a very ‘cool’ one, the imagery makes the readers aspire to be like Cheryl as she sheds her former image for this photo shoot. The Block title is also in red and white; the background of red connotes power and danger, with its standing out in the music stand and the white demonstrates how it is a prestigious magazine. This is heightened by the fact that the rating Q gives an artist features on their advertising campaign. Also the red and white would appeal to the English readership as they are the colours of their national flag.
The Slogan for the magazine reads ‘The UK’s Biggest Music Magazine’, this shows Q’s self confidence that it is the best magazine for music in the UK. It also gives the readership the sense that everyone will be catered for; if it is the biggest then it has to feature a wide range of artists from various genres, this is something that Q manages to do.
The fonts used on the magazine as simple, blocked ones. This makes the magazine easy to read at first glance, this ensures that they entice a broad readership as the font appeals to everybody.
The magazine attempts to attract the audience by mentioning a wide range of artists in the puffs, the audience are more likely to spot an artist they like in the long list. They also make the audience feel that they will be ahead of everyone else in the music world as they reveal the best acts of 2010, even before the year has fully started.