Music Magazine research- double page spread from Q

This double page spread is from Q magazine. It features Dizzee Rascal, who started as an underground rapper so has been around for a few years. However, only recently has he made a name for himself.

The image of Dizzee is mostly represented by the background. The graffiti on the background enhances the title “From Tags To Riches” as tags are a type of graffiti. Also, the other images on the page such as bottles represent a certain culture. Because Dizzee is from an area in East London, which is home to many black musicians and footballers, it shows his past. Because of this, this is stereotypically linked to gang culture and issues such as under-age binge drinking.

The main title of the feature "From Tags To Riches" shows Dizzee's rise to fame.

The way that the text is set out is very easy to read because it is in columns and it is easy to see which column to read first.

Music Magazine research- doube page spread of NME

Since the 1960's NME magazine has championed new British group, from The Beatles to The Rolling Stones. During the 70s and 80s, it moved through rock and punk music. This changed in the 90s as it started reporting about new indie bands. But the audience wnated to know about music from 'over the pond' so it introduced American artists that were new on the scene, such as Nirvana and Pearl Jam, also known as grunge acts. During the mid-90s it transitioned to Brtit-pop and the infamous war between Blur and Oasis. Nowadays, it focuses on new UK artists. In reality, it tries to follow the trend of music depending on the era.

This ideology is reflected throughout the magazine's interviews and features. This double-page spread is of Late Of The Pier, who are a relatively unknown British band who are in the dance-punk genre. This fits in with the ideology because NME focuses on new genres such as dance music. Also, the props and lighting used in the shot shows that the band may have an electro feel to them.

Music Magazine research- contents of Kerrang!

Unlike the previous two contents pages, Kerrang! uses several images. This may be because the artists featured may not be that well-known to the public so by using images, if the audience do not know what genres the magazine cover, they will after seeing the pictures. This fits in with the ideology of the magazine.

At the top is a letter from the editor. These are used in some magazines because it s as if the editor is talking directly to the reader and summarising the features in the magazine.

Also, in the top right hand corner underneath the contents slogan, is a quote from an interview featured. This are often controversial as well as eye-catching. This makes the reader want to read the full article to see if it's as controversial as the quote. Often the articles are nothig like the quote; it is just the quote is misleading or taken out of context.

The artists on the main section of the page with images are usually the artists featured on the front cover. This means that they will probably have a few pages on each of these artists.

The contents, like NME, are featured in a list down the right hand side.

Music Magazine research- contents of NME

The first thing the reader will spot is the main feature of the magazine "Albums of 2009 In The Studio". This will probably take up a big chunk of the magazine. Unlike Q, the colour scheme is very colourful. Instead of using just plain colours, there are decorated banckgrounds.

Also, on the left side, there is a band index. If you are interested in a particular band, you can flick straight to the page using this instead of reading the whole magazine.

The masthead is very clear at the top of the magazine. This is the same logo that is used to represent NME on the front cover.

The contents down the right side is split into sections so if you are looking for a particular section, it is easier to find. Also, it tends to be in chronological order so the further down the list, the higher the page number.

In the bottom right hand corner, the red box states "The UK's No.1 Gig Guide starts p58". NME is well-known for reporting on upcoming gigs. Unlike Q, which will only publish the big gigs that are announced months in advance, NME is able to promote gigs during the week due to it being a weekly magazine.

Also, at the bottom is the subscription box. Subscriptions often give a discount than if the reader to buy the magazine from the shops weekly.

Music Magazine research- contents of Q

This is an example of the contents page in Q magazine. The Q logo is right at the top of the page to establish the brand along with the issue, Ocotber 2008. The main image is of The Courteeners, who don't actually feature on the front cover itself. However, it still fits in with the ideology of the magazine. The Courteeners are a relatively new band and Q focuses on old and new music. Also, the image underneath is of Nick Cave who is quite a classic artist. They have seperated the features only in this month's magazine and features that are included every month. This is good for the reader as it establishes what kind of things are included in the magazine. Also, Q are well-known for reviewing lots of material and this is why at the bottom of the page, there is a section dedicated just for review page references.

The cover artist for this edition is Oasis. This is why they have their own column in the features sectio. This implies that Oasis will be featured a lot in this magazine so if the reader doesn't like them, they will not buy the magazine. Q only give special features to classic artists and Oasis fit the bill as Q has been a supporter of the band since they started.

The contents page is simple and well set out. It is easy to read and the colour scheme fits in with the magazine's iconography. Red, white and black are very "Q".

Music Magazine research- Uncut

Uncut magazine is a monthly music magazine based in London that mainly focuses on genres such as Americana, rock and alternative country. They mix having old and new bands/ artists on the cover to bring in a younger audience. This is Uncut’s ideology as it varies as to what artists are featured in the magazine although usually both old and new artists are featured every month.

The main image of the magazine is The Beatles. The image is a play on The Beatles’ classic album, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. On the cover of the album are various pictures of famous people from when it was made in 1967 so features such famous faces as Fred Astaire, Bob Dylan, Marilyn Monroe and Laurel & Hardy. However in this version, Jay Z, Eminem, Freddie Mercury, Jimi Hendrix, Thom Yorke and Morrissey are included to show the diverse change in music in 2009 compared to 1967. It is effective because it is one of the most recognisable album covers ever so customers will know what it will be about. It also includes a free CD that includes artists that inspired The Beatles.

Near the top left hand corner the coverline “All you need is… The Beatles” is a play on their own song “All You Need Is Love”. By using this, it instantly tells the reader who is on the cover without them having to look down to see the main image as it is one of their most well-known songs.

The other coverlines about all-new interviews and reviews include typical Uncut bands, in other words well-known and classic bands, such as Pearl Jam, Rolling Stones and The Stone Roses. This fits in with the ideology of the magazine of the rock genre as well as representation of its audience.

The masthead is in white to stand out over the colourful front cover. However, it is only partly covered so the reader can understand the name of the magazine. This may be because Uncut is not as widely available as other music magazines.

The dateline and price are across the top of the magazine, above the masthead, and has always been like this. The barcode is right in the far bottom right hand corner so it is not in the way of the main image.

Uncut’s target audience is middle-aged men from 25-45. This is portrayed in the representation because of the bands featured which tend to be older guitar bands, as well as some newer ones.

The institution of Uncut is IPC Media who also publish such magazines as In Style, NME and Now. Again, it produces a variety of magazines as well as specialist magazines. Their purpose is to make money as it is commercial. This means that it contains adverts and the content mostly concentrates on music and movies.

Music Magazine research- Kerrang!

Kerrang! Magazine is traditionally supposed to focus a heavy metal and glam rock although nowadays, it uses bands who have punk, emo, screamo and drum and bass influences. Also, it tends to use current artists on its front cover. For example, when it was first published in 1981, AC/DC were on the cover. Through the 80s and early 90s, it changed to feature glam rock artists, such as Mötley Crüe, Bon Jovi and Metallica. Today, it has more contemporary artists such as Slipknot, YouMeAtSix and Paramore that have graced the cover. This is also the ideology of the magazine as this is reflected in the type of artists on the front cover as well as featured in the magazine itself.

The main image of the magazine is of The King Blues, a relatively unknown UK band. The band fits in with the type of ideology which is of heavy metal and rock artists that the readers believe in as although The King Blues are a ska band, they have punk influences. As well as this, the shot is a medium close-up so that the band has full eye-contact with the reader. This shows that they are confident and maybe intimidating and not afraid to speak their minds. This is shown via the main coverline “Finally! A Band With Something To Say…”. Regular readers will know that sometimes the articles featured can be controversial so by using this coverline, it’s as if that compared to other artists to feature on the front cover, they have not fully told their opinions and this is the band that they’ve waited for to finally tell all. Also, the use of the hammer and cracked glass gives an extra effect as if the magazine is made out of glass.

The other coverlines include bands that are regularly featured in the magazine, such as My Chemical Romance, YouMeAtSix as well as a feature on their own tour, K! Relentless tour that is extremely popular amongst readers. However, by placing them in the bottom half of the front cover, it shows that the main image takes priority over the other features.

The masthead on this front cover is partially covered because the title is instantly recognisable anyway. Kerrang! Has been around for quite a while so has already established itself within the market.

The dateline is in the bottom right hand corner along with the price, barcode and issue number. The price is always in small print because the magazine publishers’ are hoping that because if you pick up the magazine and like the look of the front cover, you will pay whatever price just because you want to read it. It is a weekly magazine which is why it costs £2.20, which is cheaper than some of the other music magazines which are monthly issues instead.

The institution of the magazine is Kerrang!. However, it is published by Bauer who also produce Mojo and Q as well as other magazines such as Empire, Heat, More and Match!. Their purpose is to make money as it is commercial. This means it contains adverts and the content is mainly music as well as posters. It sells different types of magazine, some popular and some not so, as well as specialist magazines. Kerrang also has a TV channel, radio statin and a website like Q as well as their own K! Relentless tour once a year.

The target audience are males and females in the 13-17 age group who have a middle income. This is why the bands on the front cover now are more up-to-date and ten to have members in who are just outside of their target market, such as over-20s.