Analysis of NME front cover

Analysis of NME front cover and double page spread

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Layout-

When looking at the front cover of NME there is one picture that stands out this is a picture of lily Allen. The picture is a medium close up and an eye line match it grabs our attention because it gives the effect she’s looking at us. The picture is central and her head is slightly tilted to the side. The front page has articles scattered around the page and this makes the page cluttered. And as NME features mainly indie music this fits in with the indie style. The layout of the double page spread is still cluttered but it had order over it. It has a big title which draws people in to read it “people think I’m an attention seeker, but I’m just honest” underneath is the blurb and them underneath that is the article. The article looks like it’s a long read this could put people off reading it but because they use the next page to have a big picture of lily Allen it attracts people to read. At the top of the right hand page it reads “lily Allen” and at the bottom of each page next to the page number reads the date of the issue. The layout is simple and complex it draws people in and catches the reader’s attention.    

Colour-

The colours are the same in each issue yellow, red, black and white. The only other colours you can see are in the pictures on the front e.g. the gold chained necklace wrapped around lily Allen’s neck. The colours used are block, bold and aggressive this makes the atmosphere of the magazine and sets the dark, mysterious tone. The yellow used is very bright and vibrant this adds the likeability to the magazine. The colours are typically associated with boys but with lily Allen on the front I think this makes the magazine much more feminine. The double page spread uses the same colours as the front cover minus the yellow. It uses a white background with black writing and like on the front cover it uses the anchorage text which is white on little blocks with are black. It highlights the names of one the writer and two lily Allen in red. Lily Allen is wearing the same clothes which she did on the front cover and so again the only other colour used is the gold from her necklace and the unnoticeable colour of blue on her shirt.  

Text-

The font is all the same apart from two sentences, the anchorage text and the blurb. The text is bold, simple; mainly in capitals and different sizes this is to get more stories on it and to make the bigger/better stories catch people’s eye. The anchorage text is the biggest on the page; it is white text but on a black block background and really eye catching. The font is the same as the front cover just bigger. The blurb is then smaller and the actual article has a smaller font. Next to the page number and symbol where is says the date of the issuer the font is different and italic.    

 

Logo/header-

The logo is NME in is always the same it uses the same colours and is always in the same place on each issue. It’s red with a white outline and with black behind it. The logo is used at the bottom of the pages. It’s really small and almost unnoticeable. I think it’s really clever to place it there because it always reminds you what you’re reading and therefore it will stay in your head. 

Cover texture-

The cover texture has a glossy/matt finish. It’s not shiny but it does have a certain glossy look about it. The texture of the double page is different to the front cover it’s dry, thin and feels as if it’s very easy to rip.

Image-

The image on the front is a picture of lily Allen a famous singer/song writer. We can’t see where she is because of the white background. Lily Allen is on the front because she’s promoting her new song. The image on the double page spread is lily Allen in more of a relaxed pose but still looking aggressive. She has her hands on her hips promoting an angry/annoyed attitude. But it fits in with the article and text next to it. The image is blown up to fill the whole page this makes lily Allen look dominating and superior.    

Photography-

The picture is a medium close up and an eye line match. This is important because it gives the attitude of the magazine and the attitude of lily Allen. The photograph is a mid shot; you can tell lily Allen it bend forward with also shows she’s superior to the audience. On the double page spread they show her in a slightly more friendly way. Giving the picture the whole page.

Representation-

The representation is indie. Teenagers and young people both sexes but mainly boys and any ethnicity. The representation of the double page spread shows more nice and joking lily Allen.

Gesture codes-   

The gesture codes are very dominating, angry and aggressive. The front cover has three pictures. The main featured picture set the tone of angry which sets the tone for the whole magazine. The much smaller pictures are still aggressive with them both staring up looking startled.

Symbol-

There are no symbols on the front cover. The front is very much big shapes like circles and squares. I don’t think that this magazine needs any symbols because symbols don’t match with the magazine.

 

Information-

The front cover gives a lot of information but it mainly mentions names and bands, this so the target audience will buy the magazine when they see all these bands they like. They put two well known musicians with there stories on the front also is also to get most out of audience sales. The main feature is of lily Allen and next to her picture it says “lily Allen takes on the world” next to it reads “I can’t keep living like this” this is to make the reader get dragged in a wanting to read more. The two sentences both fit in really well with the picture and the magazine atmosphere this is to hit the target audience.

Mode of address-

The language used on the front is simple e.g. “in-the-studio-special”. The reader is being addressed up front and in an aggressive manner you can tell this from the picture. Although in the double page spread it is a slightly friendlier mode of address because then the picture fits in with the article.

Overall I think NME magazine is a good music magazine. I like to read it and think that I will use this magazine as inspiration when I design my own. But I will be careful not to copy it and will add a lot of my own ideas to the magazine.

 

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