This essay applies to the music magazine double page spreads above:
These magazines are of the same genre and even from the same company, we can see a number of different codes and conventions constructing each front cover.
The feature image presents an indie style boy band in a number of poses and takes up most of the page, leaving little room for the straplines and headlines to sit without looking clustered.
At the top and bottom of the front cover there are two banners, each advertising other bands featured in the magazine. These banners help to make the cover look completed and structured. The price of the magazine is very difficult to see, perhaps because the magazine is quite expensive and the producers would rather the consumer to see what the magazine has to offer before they see the price. This is the opposite technique used by many other magazines as the price is often used as a lure.
The front cover of this NME magazine is colourful and clustered, giving it a relaxed, ‘who cares’ kind of flair. The masthead is bold and catches ones eye, so even if they don’t buy the magazine the ‘NME’ sign is easily recognised. This may mean things to different people, for young people the signified would be a trendy music magazine but for those of the older generations it may signify an immature magazine for music they aren’t particularly interested in.
The main feature of the magazine, the boy band, is typical of the indie/alternative genre. They fill their stereotype as they are a grubby looking, colourful clothed group of young men with floppy hair. In this case, the name of the band is ‘The Wombats’; the name of their band is the first thing that catches your eye when you look at the magazine as it’s in a bright yellow font, larger than the rest of the text. This is a lure to the consumer as most people interested in this genre of music would also be interested in this band.
The niche audience for this magazine would be young people aged between fourteen and early thirties, probably due to the bright colours and informal mode of address. The typography is fun and not sophisticated so may not cater for the older generations, or perhaps those who are hoping for a more serious magazine.
The layout of this magazine is still cluttered but is slightly less messy than the previous magazine. The bold colours help to distinguish the straplines from the headlines and the fact that there is only one person in the main feature image makes it easier for the straplines and headlines to be read. This time round, the NME magazine doesn’t look as light hearted as we can see a more depressive quote from Lily Allen and dark colours, perhaps to present the darkness in her. Once again there is a banner at the top and bottom of the page to help keep the cover well structured.
The next magazine is still from the NME brand but from a first glance could easily be a different magazine. The colour scheme is set mainly red and black, tidier in comparison to the previous magazine; it’s also more passionate as the colours present anger. This seems to catch the eye more and looks a lot less messy. The main feature of the magazine is Lily Allen, a female indie/alternative artist who often puts dark words in to contrapuntal jolly music. She is unsmiling, wearing lots of eye make-up and has straight black hair with a baggy checked shirt. This makes the magazine look almost ‘grunge’ style and on the left of the magazine is a quote from her interview, encouraging the consumer to buy the magazine. The magazine denotes a female artist with a baggy shirt and dark hair, however it could connote that the female indie music is becoming just as popular as male indie music and could present the myth that women are becoming more equal to men in society and the workforce.
