Deconstructing three

music magazinesAimee Corner

The Masthead of this particular music

magazine is unusual, the random letter ‘Q’

secluded on its own provides a sense of

mystery and foreignness to the audience, it

could portray many a meaning and it might

intrigue potential purchasers to buy the

magazine to find out what it contains. It is a

very simple name but that gives it a lovely

quirky feel to the whole magazine By placing

the white ‘Q’ on a startling red background

brings the masthead out despite the large

main image cover, this gives an idea of the

popularity of this magazine and that the title

does not have to be in the centerfold of the

page for the readers to recognize it. The

white and red colors connotate the idea this

is a ‘gossip’ type of music magazine keeping

people involved about the latest news in the

music business.

The colors used on the magazine are simple

and primary; red, white and black are not

extremely appealing yet they are very distinctive

employed upon the corporal grey background

and are highlighted efficiently drawing the

reader in to the articles the magazine is

offering. The red is used to engage people with

the most appealing articles in this particular

issue for example red is used on ‘100’ and

‘shocking’ to imply that it is an article of interest.

It is interesting how red is incorporated in

‘shocking’ as this word detects danger and hurt.

Most of the font on the sub headings is in upper

case, this signifies there importance and that its

not just the main article that can provide areas

of interest to people of all music genres

The main title on the front cover is the name of

the music artist which this issue is revolving

around, in this instance its Lady Gaga. The way

the ‘Gaga’ is positioned around her body gives

the impression she is breaking the words apart

and is stepping out of the cover, to indicate she

is the main attraction and its her the majority of

the magazine is focused on. The way the title

has been broken down by putting some of ‘Ga’

behind her and ‘Ga’ alongside in front her

implies she may be turning over a new leaf in

the music industry and that her old self and

older music is being left behind and is being

replaced with something fresher- more popular

This idea can be incorporated further by the tag

line ‘has RISEN’ which implies she is now

dominating music itself. This idea can be

enhanced further as it is laced alongside ‘move

over madonna’ suggesting that Gaga has

overthrown her and taken the pop queen title.

The white of the main title contrasts nicely with

Gaga’s hair color, giving her an almost angel

like effect against the other dark and foreboding

colors.

The main image is of Lady Gaga which is

staged in the center of the cover

indicating the issue will revolve around

her in particular, that she is the center

attraction. She is staring directly at the

public, this gives the effect that it would

be hard to walk past this magazine

without feeling she is watching you, this

eye technique is used to draw buyers in.

Her body language is relaxed which

indicates she may be open in her

interview, yet her posture is tall and

strong which implies a sense of

dominance, after all the issue is about

her. This is an extremely striking image,

especially since she is semi naked, the

black leggings she is wearing blends

accordingly with the grey background and

brings all focus upon her naked torso and

face. The fact that she is exposing her

flesh could imply she is trying something

new – especially around her music and

that this is symbolizing a new side of pop

music. The fact that she is covering her

breast may hint that she is still keeping

things in the dark about her radical music

transformance and that she will soon

reveal more news that will soon be

exposed. The image itself appeals to

Lady Gaga fans as everything is focused

on her. The way white highlights are

presented on her skin further signifies the

magazine is focused on her adding to the

angel persona

Black is used on the top of the magazine cover against

white font, to make the words stand out. This shows

that despite all the sections and articles included in this

magazine, this headline is still simply the most

important of all as it indicates how popular and the

respect people have to this music magazine

At the bottom of the cover it gives a preview to the audience

what else is contained inside this magazine. The editors have

included as much relevant information as they can, this is so

the articles can appeal to a wide range of people and help sell

more copies as customers will believe they will be getting

value for the money they are spending

Q Magazine- Lady Gaga Has Risen!

Billboard

Magazine- Cream of the Party

Scene LMFAO

The masthead is positioned behind

the main cover image. This implies

that it is an extremely popular , well

known music magazine in the US and

that most of the audience will already

be familiar with its name so having

some of the letters of the masthead

hidden isn’t particularly threatening to

the magazines marketing and sell out

rates . The lettering style incorporated

to the masthead radiates a neon feel

as if it was advertising a dance club

name, relating back to the theme of

the issue.

The background color used is jet

back in contrast with the

brightness meshed onto the font.

This contrasts heavily with the

stereotypical dance/party image

scenario the magazine is

portraying as LMFAO are highly

recongnised as the current kings

of the dance genre. The bright

yellows and reds on the lettering

gives a disco/club feel to the

whole outlook, this also helps to

brighten up the page and make it

more attractive to look at to the

audience. It allows the article

names to stand out, catching the

audiences gaze.

At the top of the cover it gives the audience

a preview of what else the magazine has to

offer. By conveying as much information as

they can onto the front cover, the editors will

likely sell more copies as the customers will

believe they will be getting value for their

money. The more articles in the magazine

the more people it will appeal to so the

sellout rate is greater. Yet again white has

been incorporated onto the font, although

the lettering is dwarfed by the larger main

sell line, the color used on these article

names provides a sense of importance and

the main story is not the only other area of

interest

The main image is of the dance

duo LMFAO which implies this

issue of Billboard will focus on

them. They are dressed in a

stereotypical party outfits (leather

jackets, gold chains) which gives

an indication to the audience what

genre their music is based upon.

Both artists are draped in

celebration confetti as implying

they have walked straight out of a

night club, this also relates back to

the type of music they produce.

The stance LMFAO are relaying is

that of a tired, slightly dazed

persona, as if they have been

partying all night, therefore living up

to their reputations as the ‘Cream

of the Party Scene’. Both are

looking directly at the audience,

ensuring their gaze will capture

those who walk past this magazine

drawing in potential customers to

buy it.

The use of shapes, for example such a this circle, allows other areas of

importance to be highlighted despite the domineering presence of the main sell

line and image cover.

NME-Vive the Resistance

MUSE

The editors of the magazine have

chosen to place the masthead in the

far corner behind the main image

which is dominating the cover. This

implies the popularity of this particular

music magazine and that the name

does not have to be placed directly in

the center of the page for the

audience to recognize it. The scarlet

red incorporated into the letters of the

masthead gives it a bold vibrant feel,

so even though it doesn't’t dominate

the theme it is still going to be noticed

even if it is out the corner of your eye

and that its presence is lingering

The primary color theme running through the

cover is red, black and white, these are very

distinctive stereotypical rock/indie colors

associated with the genre this magazine

chooses to focus on. The main cover artists

Muse are also wearing these colors to match

indicating that they are a rock based band,

this may provide a sense of security to the

buyers that they will be getting a magazine

that is generating articles about their music

interests and not another genre. The color red

is normally associated with danger, this is

relevant in the case of Muse as their interview

is about the ‘daring’ new album they have

released, corresponding well as they have

took a big leap in their music making, this

appeals to the audience as they may want to

find out more about this ‘daring’ album

The main sell line of the magazine is

the name of the music artist they are

revolving their issue around, Muse.

This is why the image of them is the

largest and most prominent, Matt

Belamy is central to the page as the

magazines main priority. The white

incorporated onto the font is bold

allowing it to stand out from the other

darker colors melded into the design,

the brightness highlights that Muse

are the core element of NME that

week and that the majority of the

magazine will revolve around them.

The font is extremely large in a

seemingly urgent manner, to re-

assert the importance of the bands

presence in the magazine.

At the top of the cover white has been used as a

further marketing strategy by the editors. This tells

the customers the results are in from a recent survey

and that they are finally available to the publics

interests. This provides information to festival

attenders and may encourage them to buy the

magazine for the latest gossip surrounding this scene

The other two band members of Muse are placed behind Matt in an

distant sort of stance whilst he is in the dominant character in the center of

the cover. This indicates that Matt is the most superior member and the

others are not as relevant with their importance not as high. This is

reasonable as Matt is the frontline singer, who writes, directs and sings all

of the bands songs so it seems respectful for him to take the limelight. The

way the band is positioned seemingly elevates Matt out of the cover giving

him a 3D similar effect, as if he is leering out the magazine to draw

attention to himself and coaching audiences to buy it. With the other band

members behind Matt it gives an admiring feeling that they are gazing up

to look at him to reinforce his dominance and security over them.

The remaining sell

lines are also filled

with white colouring.

Although the font is

not as large as the

main title, the colour

gives the impression

to the audience that

although they arent

the main attraction,

these articles are still

relevant and provide

a sense of interest to

everyone.