Name of Magazine

Names for Media

These are a selection of names I feel worth considering for my magazine. The black colour hasn't been put on to make them look "Emo" but just to be used as a simple colour so they are all the same. My favourites are "Independent Music" and "Extended Play". All are relevant to music, making them relevant to a music magazine. Most come from an older music generation, such as cassette and Extended Play (EP). I like this as it seems retro and makes for an interesting name, intriguing people.  

Name of magazine

Fonts for Media


"Extended Play" or "EP" is the name of an audio format that holds more than one single. It is relevant to music magazine and I am considering making it the title of my magazine, If I were to use it I would use the top font shown in this document. This because I think it looks elegant and would add an air of sophistication to the magazine, making it look top standard. The colours used are not set in stone at the moment I have merely used colours to my preference and ones which I eventually think will make an appearance on my magazine.

Mood Board

Inspiration



 I analysed this magazine before but I like the band it reviewed and I really like the style of the central image used. I like the use of the books and I plan to use a simialr idea for my central image as I think it createssomething which is good to look at. I like this central image and I think I might use fonts similar to the MBR magazine on my own creation.

Inspiration

This isn't a music magazine, obviously, but this is a magazine I read. I like this style of frornt cover as it is simple and easy to look at. I like this and I think that I will keep my magazine simple and easy. The fonts are unuasual and keep the front cover interesting.

Doube page spread analysis

The layout of this double page spread is interesting and one that I like. The space has been filled by the title which is quote from within the article and a picture of Lily Allen. The actual article comes below the main title. The title is designed to look like a newspaper headline and it looks brash. Linking to back to what the article is based on. The colour scheme is also brash with the three colour palette is red, black and white. Lily Allen is wearing a red top in the central image to link to the colours but it is also made of fairly brash colours, linking to the brash theme that runs throughout the article. The text of the actual article is split into blocks. Giving a rigid look below the casual layout of the features above. I like the black and white of the colour scheme I think it stands out well. Staying with the brash theme of the article but still remaining visually nice to look at.The pages overlap nicely, structured so that the writing remains on one side whereas the picture sits on the other yet the editors have allowed for a tiny bit of overlap, letting the whole piece fall together.

Double page spread analysis

This double page spread is unusual compared to other double page spreads from other magazines as it is predominantly picture and less writing. This gives something easy for the readers to look at and with a quote from the article on the next page "we used to get recognised at home as the queers with the tight pants on" most likely make them want to read on. The three colour palette is is Red, White and navy blue/black. This combined with the large image and little writing makes for a fairly simple appearances yet one which is pleasing to the eye. The font of the large quote is interesting and makes it easier to read and it has been said by the lead singer and this relates to the main image which is a picture of the lead singer. The black writing at the beginning of the article has been placed over the white pillow so that it is easy to read and has been placed in the very bottom right hand corner so that people know that the article continues on to the next few pages. Aspects of the central image match the colour scheme of the double page spread. The bible being held matches the red cover and the title, his black/navy jacket matches the darker font in the corner. It seems that the photographer has purposely used flash whilst inside the room to create a pale complexion on the lead singer. This is so that an aspect of his body matches the white of the pillow and the white colouring of the large quote. However I think by doing this they have made him look like he is ill, perhaps he is, I don't know? But it would look better if he had a more wholesome complexion, making the article look more inviting. The room he is in is a hotel room and it would seem to be one of inconsiderable cost. This suggests that the band feel like ordinary people, and don't feel as if they have "broken" the music world.

Double Page Spread analysis



The red, white and gold colour scheme works well, done to give the magazine a Christmas feel. The central image ties in well to the colours used in the article, with the lead singers jacket matching the colour of the title. This same jacket makes use of prominence, giving something for the reader to identify to, as most people understand the cultural meaning of a Father Christmas coat. The gold paper in the bottom right corner of the picture matches the writing below the title of the article, which is also in gold. The text is written in blocks broken up by sub headings in red, again to match the three colour palette of the magazine. Centered in the middle is a quote taken from the article, to highlight an interesting aspect and to intrigued the audience as they have highlighted an interesting aspect of the article, to make the readers want to read on. I think the design of the article could have been more interesting, they could have spread the image over the double page spread and place the writing below it.To create a more visually appeasing article. The actual image within the article is amusing but not very interesting as it seem to have been taken inside someones garage. Having an interesting image could have made the article look a little more interesting. The Christmas decorations at the top of the page make for an interesting visual affect and again tie in with the Christmas theme. The red and white colour scheme manages to tie in with NME's usual magazine colour palette. Letting readers associate with the normal magazine even though they are reading a Christmas special.

This contents page has a number of images on it. Each picture is from a different article within the magazine, this shows a reader what they can esxpect to come. It is clear form the three colour palette and the images and the style of design that Kerrang has a primarily rock genre. The three colour palette is quite a brash black, yellow and white. Allowing things to stand out clearly, like the orck genre it promotes. The yellow when put over the black stands out clearly, however I think that it looks fairly poor and that this magazines three colour palette is fairly disgusting. The contents have sub headings to help readers navigate the magazine. Beneath the banner of contents at the top of the page is the issue number and cover date. This contents page is quick and easy to understand, however the colour palette is disgusting.

Contents analysis

The banner at the top of the page shows what issue the magazine is from, what page is being read (contents) and what date the issue came out in. The page is centered on an image of James Blunt and the contents run down the left hand side. The page is broken up by the different colours used, making it easier to look at. The page numbers stand out as they are placed in red whereas the description of what lies on each page is in black. This also complies with the three colour palette of the magazine. The central image of James Blunt will have been one of the cover lines on the front cover. This is the second article in the magazine. The contents page however advertises what was on the front cover, this time it is "the Lennon issue" The magazine celebrates John Lennon's life and is keen to amplify the pages that the article lies on. They have made it more obvious by placing it in a box which breaks the page up and draws readers attention.

Contents analysis

The Band index runs down the left hand side of the contents page, allowing readers to navigate quickly to the bands they are interested in and most likely to listen to. The central picture inside the contents page is linked to the main cover story on the front cover. Reminding readers of the main story. The actual contents lie on the right hand side, with subheadings informing the reader what lies where within the magazine. Again making it easier for the reader to navigate the magazine. The colour scheme and the three colour palette remains the same throughout the magazine, this is why the colour scheme on this content page is red, black and white, typical of NME. At the bottom of the page there is also an advertisement for the same magazine, this is done so that if people like what they are are reading they can know quickly how to subscribe if they want to.

Front covers



Masthead: The usually red masthead has changed to grey in mourning of John Lennon. Alongside the masthead lies the reason that they have changed the colour scheme for people who hadn't yet realised. "The day the music died" is taken from Don McLean's "the day the music died" A song written about the death of musicians. This is fitting for the theme of this edition of NME. Beneath the masthead it says "National music express" This is NME's real name.

Cover lines: There aren't many cover lines but there are a couple on the right hand side of the cover in a small font. This is so they can emphasise John Lennon properly and as much as they deem fitting. The main article lies on the left hand side and it is about John Lennon so it is relevant to the cover. The cover lines match the three colour palette being used in this edition.

Three colour palette: The three colour palette used in this magazine is Grey, white and black. This has been used as they are typical mourning colours and NME is mourning John Lennon. They have used a tiny bit of red however, I imagine this has been done to keep relevant to NME's usual image. The lines at the top are red and this matches the cover line below the main article on John Lennon. The rest of the writing is grey, white and black to keep in the same line as the central image.

Central image: The central image is of John Lennon, it is all the original image and hasn't been cut out or placed on a different background. In this edition the image has set the three colour palette and the cover lines and the masthead have had to follow suit. The black writing in the colour lines all fit to his clothes and the white to his skin. The NME masthead grey fits in with the black and white picture. The bar code also fits in with the colour scheme.

Language: The language is simple and list like. Keeping it simple so the focus is put on John Lennon and his picture. The font is all the same, again to keep it simple.

Front covers



Masthead: The masthead covers the whole width of the page. The name "paste" suggests it is pasting the news of the media world and the music world. The font is important because it ties in with the artistic like front cover, and seems to flow across the top of the page making it easy and nice to read. Right below the masthead, but still being incorporated within it is the magazines tag line, making it easy for readers to associate that tag line with this magazine.

Banners: This magazine doesn't have a banner in the sense that it is outlined and made obvious it just has snippets of information laid in a line across the top of the magazine. Hinting at what is inside and what has articles on it. 

Central image: The central image image is connected to the pile of books on the floor. This refers to the article on this subject inside the magazine. With the use of the masthead, the image looks like it is popping very slightly out of the image. There are two layers to this central image however, one is the background which doesn't look as if it was connected to the original image but again ties in with the article inside the magazine. The second is the very faint leaves falling all around the lead singer of Death Cab. Showing a soft wild side, again linking in with the article, which is about him travelling to get in touch with himself again and write more music. The books relate within the article as well but also help create an interesting front cover. The image is clever because it makes me want to read more purely because it is interesting with the books on the floor and the soft colours, which also link into the three colour palette.

Three colour palette: The three colours this magazine has used on its front cover are brown, light orange and yellow. The brown and light orange match the lead singer in the central image. They match his hair, glasses and shirt whereas his skin colour matches the colour coming from directly behind him. The colours of the coverlines match the colours of the banner above him and they all work to give him a seemingly autumnal glow. The browny colour matches the masthead perfectly and all the colours match the idea in the article of him travelling to California.

Language choices: The main article is written briefly down the left hand side of the page. The rule of three has been used on the opposite side of the cover for "Family, funerals and folklore" also they have used alliteration. The editors have used three different fonts for the cover lines, they repeat themselves with each new article and they have made the writing bold in some places. The writing on the whole is pretty chatty.

Layering and background:  I can see nine layers on this magazine front cover. Adding depth to the image and making the magazine look fancy and actually making the reader want to read it. The background, the falling leaves and the colour schemes all nicely tie in with the "fall" or autumn theme running throughout the magazine and the background is in fact a floor covered by fallen leaves.

Bar code: The bar code as been placed vertically along the left hand side to try and keep it out the way of the central image as it does not fit with the colour scheme. It is small so that readers don't see the price easily. 

Front covers

Banner:  The banner can be placed either alnong the top of the magazine, or along the bottom or on both. In this particular edition of Q it runs above the main image and the masthead. It is usefil for companies to use banners  because the shelf in the shop could have many magazines on it, all covering the mastheads so the banner can be used as another feature to identify the magazine with. As well as this it becomes another way to advertise the magazine, oftn showing what articles lie within. This edition includes includes a "free CD" according to the banner. If placed alongside another Magazine of the same genre, advertising that "CD" could give Q an advantage.

Masthead: The Masthead or the name of the magazine is always placed at the top of the front cover to make it more identifiable. Because Q is such a short name for the magazine, it can afford to be covered a little by one of the band members heads. The Q title always uses the red colour scheme and has become asociated with it, making it easy to identify.

Central image: The central image is of the "Kings of Leon" on a road and it seems that they have been cut out and placed on due to the different layers of the magazine. Because the Q masthead is behind them it seems to make them stand out in front. Advertising to fans of the band and drawing attention because it looks unusual and interesting. The Picture ties in with the USA theme that Q had going on in this edition and also the band have been told to dress according to the three colour pallette on the magazine front cover. As is usual for the central image, it is just touching the masthead, to connect everything together better on the page. The image is interesting as it places the band on the road and connates that they might be travelling or touring.

Layering and background: On this front cover I can see 11 different layers. Layers not only make it easier for the editors to work on the magazine but also give the front cover and itinery inside depth for the audience. Like I mentioned with the central image, the background is strange because if you look at the bottom of the magazine it seems to be the natural, diegetic background, kept in the image from the original picture. But if you look up near the masthead they look like they've been cut out and placed in, making it seem like they are leaning out of the front cover.This adds depth, espicially by making the leadsingers head touch the banner at the top, by doing this they seem to create a kind of pyramid.

Language choices: The language on the front of the magazine is more chatty than formal and each sentence is written briefly, so that people can look at the central image and glance at the writing and quickly know what the magazine contains inside. The "Born in the USA" is informing us about the free CD that can be recieved from this magazine but has direct links to Bruce Springsteens song "Born in the USA". This is something that most music fans who read Q would understand.

Three colour pallette: The three colour pallette for this front cover is red, white and black. Apart from the blue pic in the "Born in the USA" coverline simply because by using a navy blue (so that it ties in with black slightly) they can create the "red, white and blue" of America. Q have based this editions three colour pallette with the colours that the fans of the "kings of leon" associate them with. As most people only see the kings of Leon dressed in Black and white, this has become their look.

Cover lines:  The coverlines in this edition of Q aren't in a the usual formulaic setting of one below the other which can be seen in previous editions. Here they are more jumbled, with the advertisment of the CD taking preference on the front cover to try and lure readers. The Coverlines on this magazine is the little box with the list of artists and a snippet of information on what is inside. This might have been set out in this fashion to lure readers with the suggestion, through use of a different layout that this edition would be different than previous ones. The "Born in the USA"  coverline is a useful advertisment tool and also the image of the pic makes people think that the music on the CD will be guitar and or Rock. Attracting the type of people who like to read Q.

Bar code: The Bar code is relatively small and has been placed in the bottom corner. Because it ties in with the three colour pallette it has been placed at the front. But if it hadn't, it might well have been placed on the back. It is quite small because it has the price mark on it and until people have made a judgement on the magazine, the editors don't want them being scared off by the price.

Magazine preliminary task