Although NME isn’t specifically a magazine that specialises in pop music, it does however feature a wide range of genres that are and/or very similar to pop. The magazine, better known as ‘new musical express’ is very popular with late teens and early twenties, selling thousands of copies each week. In the music industry it’s incredibly popular with many many artists attempting to be on the cover at least twice within their music career.
Language
Instantly from the cover I feel as if I am indulging in a magazine by the fireside. The radiance and warmth of the gentle scarlet font, NME logo and artist’s hair colour feels soothing and eases the readers mind. I feel that these certain colours have connotations of a warm fire side and are rather appealing. They send off such a simmering vibe making the reader feel relaxed, clearing their mind and making it easier and more pleasurable for them to read. They are contrasted with the gentle, radiant tan of the model “Florence
On the cover features Florence from Florence
In all sections of the magazine, font and textures of the writing stay pretty constant with there only being two different variations. The font has some similarities to the font Arial however it has that slight more cartoon-style appearance. This cartoon appearance is more visual on the main story line which is forecasted with a drop shadow to make it jump out of the page more.
On the cover, the image is actually of the artist getting out of a casual taxi on the street. This gives the audiences the impression of how she is just a normal person like us as to using limos and so on. Everything that features on the cover of a music magazine is purposely there and has an underlying meaning.
Unlike other music magazines that I have come across, the NME logo doesn’t vary in style to co-ordinate with the artist. Coincidently, the singers hair colour and the rest of the tones on the page just match the logo. As the magazine is so well established, they now have the privileges to moving the logo slightly behind a section of the artists head. In first editions this didn’t occur, however as over time people have become more familiar with the layout and glimpse of the logo, they now have the opportunity to do this.
Conventionally, the majority of magazines use a medium close up so that the artists feels more intimate with the audience. However with NME, they often choose to use a full close up which of course does the magazine cover just as much justice. As they use the space wisely on the cover, adding in just the right amount of content, the front cover doesn’t feel empty or desolate.
Insitution
NME is dispensed by one of the most successful magazine distributers in the UK UK
Ideology
All of the images and stories that are produced, never feature dishonesty or un-kindness. They represent all artists in a truthful light giving the readers a sense of dignity. The cover which I’m analysing at the moment gives off a very professional tone and attitude, making the whole magazine appear so much more mature to the rest which are currently on the market. It is very similar to the Billboard magazine which I have previously reviewed as each magazine upholds a lot of dignity and gives off really good messages. However I would say that NME is a little more risky but nevertheless is just as good.
Audience
Although hundreds of thousands of the NME magazines are read every week, only three quarters of the readers actually purchase it . As the target audience is mainly 15-24 year olds, this age range focuses mainly towards students that have a tendency to buy the magazine and then pass it on to their friends to read. This is really common as university students usually on average live with 4-5 other students. After asking around at Hull University
Represenation
Stories that are featured on the cover aren’t at all scandalous giving off a really positive impression. The magazine only appear to be saying what is really there and going on in society, as too expanding what maybe or isn’t even there which often causes trouble and sadness. The image isn’t at all sexual which even furthers the respect for the magazine, especially on this issue. Both artists are commonly known for sexual presentation however on the NME magazine they’ve cooled it down; keeping it still a little sassy however not extremely provocative.
Contents
Language
Continuing onto the contents page, the scarlet-red tones feature on both the left and right hand sides of the page. This creates consistency in the both the front cover and contents page giving it a house style/theme. Also, the red colours co-ordinate with the NME logo at the top, left hand side of the page. Once again this has connotations of a warm fire side – allowing you to indulge into the contents page and read on further into the magazine. At the top of the page in black, bold letters “this week” is aligned next to the NME logo. This shows up to date and exclusive all of the stories are. The black lettering I feel is a significant feature on the page as it co-ordinate with the dark tones of the front cover.
One of the good things about the contents page is how the font on the cover has stayed constant. Both are very similar to an ‘Arial’ style which is sleek, sexy and simplistic. By keeping this like this similar, the magazine doesn’t feel as hectic or as complicated. This links into the whole house style/theme category as features such as text, font and colour stay constant or are extremely similar.
Stories of importance in the magazine have been expressed by images, text and numbers. Main stories that where featured on the front cover have been expressed with high importance by their images on the front cover. For example, Pete Doherty who was highlighted on the cover, has been allocated an image and page number at the top of the page under the contents text. Where as a story that wasn’t featured on the front cover goes un-noticed at the side with a load of annoying page numbers.
Rather then having a large list of page numbers with a small headline, the magazine has only used the stories which would feature a higher importance compared to the rest. Exclusive interviews and reviews are much more likely to make the contents pages as to a story on how to play a guitar for example. Each page number that has been featured on the contents page has been categorised into either ‘News’, ‘Radar’, ‘Reviews’, ‘Live’ and ‘Features.’ This brings a sense of organisation to the contents making them more easy to skim read and get to the specific story that you want to read.
Beneath each page number that is featured is a summarised paragraph, almost acting as a small taster or preview so you don’t have to go flicking all the way through the magazine to see what the story is about. Next to only three of the stories on the contents page is 3 red arrows which again co-ordinate with the scarlet-red house style. This is almost the magazines way of expressing high importance of a story and bringing it the attention that it deserves. I am more likely to notice the story with bright red arrows besides it as to one without.
Insitution
Ideology
Audience
As the contents page isn’t entirely built upon images and large text, this shows how the magazine isn’t targeted towards teenagers of a younger age or children even. As it’s focused towards 15-24 year olds, it’s clearly going to contain a lot of writing with not as many images.
Represenation
Double Page Spread
Language
From even a slight glance, you can immediately see how the magazine has stayed consistent with it’s house style as the flag that the artist is sat on has gentle red tones. This contrasts with the hair of the artist on the double page spread as well as the red element on both the contents and front page. Colours on the rest of the double page spread stay neutral with grey and black tones which co-ordinate once again with the dark tones on both the contents and front page. As they all have similarities, it brings the magazine together as a whole as to it feeling fragmented.
As the artist on the front cover wears the same outfit as in the double page spread, the two feel don’t feel separated. Wearing two completely different outfits would create no visual connection between both the font cover and double page spread. She is presented though the main image on the double page spread in a provocative manner which relates back to the heated connotations of the red tones within the house style. As the images taken professionally of the artist on the double page spread, it matches the style of the professional standard which is featured on the front cover.
As a lot of the information given about the artist is in the double page spread, there is no need for prior knowledge of the artist. If there wasn’t textual information that supported her career in past years then the reader would find them selves lost within the article.
There is a great ratio of writing to visual imagery on the double page spread however as the text isn’t exactly readable, I feel this is a disappointment. I get the impression that the magazine has just tried to cram as much information as possible into the right hand corner.
As the background of the double page spread is just a simple backdrop, it makes the spread feel sleek and simple. There isn’t a great deal of different elements to the page which make it feel more refreshing and vitalising to the mind. Of course as to it feeling too heavy and complicated putting the reader off.
Next to the artist, the phrase “got the love” shows the intertextuallity of the double page spread as it’s providing a pun on one of the bands most famous songs. Not only does this make the title of the article much more significant and personal, it also makes it much more relatable.
On the right hand side of the page, the text feels way too small to read and quite frankly causes a headache when you start to read it. This would be my only negative comments on the double page spread as everything else is simply perfect. It’s presented in italics which cause an unpleasant reading experience and would put the person off from reading. The style also doesn’t have no relation to the house style which makes it feel separated from the magazine.
Just below the main headline is the byline which of course is the authors name as well as the photographer and stylist. This is a large convention through-out music magazines as it highlights the creator of the double page spread, giving them some slight credibility.
In the article on the double page spread, the language is informal and sophisticated yet at the same time has the chattiness that upkeeps the interest of the reader.
Insitution
Ideology
Audience
Represenation
Front Cover (TOTP)
Unlike all of the previous reviewed magazines, Top Of The Pops is monthly published unlike the conventional weekly publishing. The magazine enlists the usual pop requirements such as music charts, star gossip beauty advice and so on. It’s defiantly more diverse to the previous magazines as it upholds much more of a childish tone through both of it’s text and images.
Language
Immediately from the cover do I feel overwhelmed from the luminous pink colours and variations of images. It’s basically full to the brim with information and images which instantly makes the audiences mind feel too plagued – not good. The pink tones that are on the front cover have multiple connotations and the majority of which are girly and childish therefore infering how this magazine is targeted towards a younger generation of teenagers and most of which girls.
As the majority of stories on the cover all have equally sized images and text, it’s hard to see whether or not there is actually a main one. On this occasion I would have to say that ‘Justin Bieber’ it the main headline due to his image being slightly larger then the rest and with his text only being highlighted within a large circle.
Over time, as different editions of the magazine are released, the masthead at the top of the page varies in colour depending on the house style/theme colours. As this edition is mainly pink, you can see how the colours of logo have varied to white and pink. This makes it feel much more incorporated with the magazine and adapts with the colour tones. A bright green logo wouldn’t necessarily go with the pink tones of the background. This shows how the magazine adapts over time to create a variation so that the readers feel as if it’s fresh and different each time it is released.
Unfortunately, there is no font that features within the house style as there is such a variety. It’s made the front cover feel to complicated and hectic. It should of just been kept to a very minimal with a maximum of 2 or 3 varied font styles and colours
Beneath the Top Of The Pops logo is the magazine's slogan, however due to it being behind the artists head, it’s not readable. As the magazine has become so popular over time, they have been able to incorporate the logo and slogan of the magazine behind the artist. This is becoming a large convention with many magazines as they’re feeling the need to do this. I feel that once this has been done on a magazine cover then you know that you’re the magazine has made it! However, as I’ve never personally read the magazine myself, I’m unable to know what the slogan is, therefore meaning that I’m already missing out on sections of the magazine. If a new comer was to come to the magazine they would be absolutely clueless and would most probably dismiss the thought of even purchasing the it.
Due to this previous statement, I get the impression that the magazine isn’t necessarily for new comers, yet only really available to the current audience that it has. This is quite a bad aspect of the magazine as it will not able it to really lengthen it’s appeal basis, therefore bringing in a larger audience and a larger income. I think that this is most probably why the magazine is only released on a monthly basis.
Often enough, images besides the main image feature on the front cover as it keeps everything very sleek and simple. This magazine is a clear example of why this is a convention as it feel to overwhelming, cramped and messy. TOTP goes against the conventions of not having images on the front cover. However as this magazine is focused to children, you know that they’re not looking for perfection.
I feel as if TOTP is extremely similar to the style and nature of Cosmo Girl however it’s been weakened down for a younger audience. Both magazines feature stories about Pop music as well as gossip stories and fashion tips.
At the bottom of the magazine is of course the barcode and price both of which are two large conventions of music magazine covers. As they’re both presented in a solid white box, they don’t feel part of the magazine and just look odd. However as they don’t feel part of the magazine, then they stand out making sure you check the price out before you look at anything else.
Cover stories at the sides of the magazine such as “smuggle up to One Direction” are chatty and eye catching which encourages the viewer even more to purchase the magazine. I wouldn’t necessarily say that they where at all informative as each cover line is too summarised to learn much information.
Insitution
Top Of The Pops magazine is independently produced and released by the BBC which therefore means it has nothing to do with Bauer Media and so on. I feel like this is a bad aspect to the magazine as it won’t get the same amount of publicity and advertisement that Bauer Media can offer. This would therefore mean not as many sales due to the lack of audiences having no knowledge that the magazine even exists. I would personally say that the magazine is on a ‘low-down’ compared the NME or Billboard.
Ideology
Even if they wanted to, BBC would never be able to cause any controversy within there magazines as they have a lot of assets and good representations to maintain through-out the rest of their business. Due to this all of the content that is produced within the magazine is appropriate and utterly truthful. Besides as the target audience for the mag’ is so young, they need to produce content that won’t corrupt or cause bad behaviour for children of out generation. As soon as they do, all the parents of the children would soon bring the magazine down and give the whole establishment a bad name.
Audience
Stories that are featured on the cover aren’t at all scandalous giving off a really positive impression. The magazine only appear to be saying what is really there and going on in society, as too expanding what maybe or isn’t even there which often causes trouble and sadness. The image isn’t at all sexual which even furthers the respect for the magazine, especially on this issue. Stories, images and all other content need to be completely appropriate for the young audience otherwise there will be large amounts of complaints which would eventually destroy the magazine.
Represenation
Stories that are featured on the cover aren’t at all scandalous giving off a really positive impression. The magazine only appear to be saying what is really there and going on in society, as too expanding what maybe or isn’t even there which often causes trouble and sadness. The image isn’t at all sexual which even furthers the respect for the magazine, especially on this issue. Stories, images and all other content need to be completely appropriate for the young audience otherwise there will be large amounts of complaints which would eventually destroy the magazine.
Every time the magazine is released, it costs no more then £2.20 which is considered a little steep for younger teenagers. However as it is only released on a monthly basis I find It hard for a youth to cover the cost of saving almost 50p per week.
Contents (None)
For some strange reason Top Of The Pops never have nor never will have a contents page featured in their magazine. After trying to discover why by doing some researching, I’ve still not come across any reason as to why they don’t My only suspicion would be that children are more likely eager enough to get straight into their reading as to waiting around looking at contents pages. I know for a fact that when I was younger I often used to just skip the contents pages of magazines; I still even do now for the average gossip magazine.
Double Page Spread
Language
As both the double page spread and front cover feature the same colours and a few of the same fonts this therefore goes to show that a house style/theme has been used. I personally don’t believe that such a young generation would be satisfied from this however the magazine creators clearly did. The house style makes both the front cover and double page spread feel linked and almost co-ordinated with each other.
Rather then using two similar image for the front cover and the double page spread, the creator appears to have used two different images from different times of his career; both of which reflect how old he looks. In the pink boxes, the textual information is expressed in a very childish and chatty manner inferring how it’s trying to match the suitability of it’s audience. Rather the using sophisticated language and so on, everything has been kept to a low basis to really achieve what the target audience is requiring.
The double page spread has gone against the usual conventions of having the visual imagery on the right hand side of the page with the text of the left hand side. As young teenagers don’t necessarily know the conventions and don’t therefore automatically look at the conventional layout then the magazine pretty much gets away with it. Rather then using the conventions, the layout is more images focused within the middle and text circulating this.
At the top of the page, the title is reflected within the same colour scheme and font as the front cover. This is often conventional within pop magazines however on some occasions it isn’t. I feel as if the magazine is more organised and not as hectic when features that are on the front cover stay constant into the contents and double page spread.
One convention that the magazine has stuck to has been the byline that is focused as the bottom left hand side of the page in pink. The colour and text has also part in the house style having been printed in pink.
As the whole layout is completely different to what we normally see and have seen in the previous magazines, there isn’t much to analytically pick out.
Insitution
Ideology
Audience
Represenation
No comments:
Post a Comment