Analysis of Similar Media Texts

OK, so my first task is to look at various music magazines and work out what similarities and differences they have and then draw up codes and conventions of a music magazine so that when I get to planning my magazine, I know what elements I need to add to my magazine. 

So, after having looked at several music magazines such as Kerrang!, Q, NME, etc, I have come up with a list of codes & conventions that apply to the front cover, the contents page and the double page spread. Here it is:

Front Cover: 

• Use of different colours and sizes of font to direct the focus of audiences to specific parts.
• Specific colour scheme.
• Generally tend to have a lot of sell-lines.
• High-quality images that have relevance to either the artist or the article content and often tells what genre of music the magazine is about.

• Bar code with price, date of issue, issue no., and often the address of the website - price information can be either included inside the bar code area or outside. 
• Sell-lines often in capitals.
• Some thumbnail images.
• For well-known brands, part of the masthead, may be covered by the main image. 
• Clear, readable text.
• Interesting/eye-catching images, layout, etc – visually appealing.
• Language used for sell-lines is more fun than formal for most music magazines.    

Contents Page:

• Lots of images/thumbnail images.

• The image:text ratio is often much bigger in favour of images.

• The contents list may have a few sentences under each feature explaining a little bit about it to capture interest.
• On the images, there is a page reference on the bottom corner with a few words about what the feature includes. 
• Clear colour scheme that corresponds with the front cover.
• Use of 2-3 different fonts and font sizes.
• Includes names of the photographers of the cover photo and the contents photo in small print at the side.
• May have an advertisement (often about subscribing to the magazine).
• Some have an editor's letter - friendly, inviting tone to language.
• Language can be quite informal/friendly.
• Often has a lot of iconography (thumbnail images of famous artists)  
  

Double Page Spread:

• Quotes to break up the text and capture attention - the quote is often in capital, in a different font and in a bigger size than the main body. 
• Lots of images - different sizes. 
• Font of the main text is small with the first letter of the first word in a bigger font and in a different colour.
• The text is in columns.
• May have 2-3 different font styles but the main text is all in one style. 

• 

• The title is often big, in capitals, and in a different colour.

• Lots of small paragraphs.
• The language is engaging and varies in terms of tone according to the magazine but are generally quite formal. 
• It has lots of references to the music industry.
• Lots of mention of other artists.
• Interviews with artists normally consist of only the music aspect - nothing to do with their personal lives.
• Often give audiences access to information not attainable anywhere else - this can range from information on albums, tours, etc to the artist's personal opinions and take on things.

(Images from: http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/musicblog/2009/may/18/maggoty-lamb
                      http://gemma-at-wyke.blogspot.com/2009/11/double-page-spreads.html
                      http://lisarogers92.blogspot.com/2009/11/conventions-of-music-magazine-and.html
                      http://furnelle1.blogspot.com/2009/11/preliminary-exercise-as-practice-for.html
       https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Iv-q2-nMZZmEwWu0wlrsdwddtGoTrAFmBvq-uccNTjbivMzz-AMgJmm_t9UcqqJWfCo-nojjciX0Kl5cpp7H4yo7MFqbdePQdfK53BZ3I1JP32qCXlfUZVXi1tDzCDwjAohl7DPNjfIN/s1600/karang+contents.png 
                     http://dianasarkova.wordpress.com/2010/02/03/research-of-nme/
                     http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/music/sites/how-to/pages/journalist_02.shtml)