Analysing music magazine contents pages

Using a date line on the contents page of a magazine is an unusual convention of a magazine as this is usually featured on the front cover.

The contents page uses the word features this is used so that they only have to mention the main pieces in the magazine. They then go on to add more detail on them to anchor it. this gives you an idea of what to expect.

The word contents indicates that it is a contents page. it is also in a very big bubbly font which goes with the them on the page of a plastic unreal world.

The contents also includes a quote from the featured artist. This gives the reader an idea of what her article is going to be about and what it is going to include. It is black, keeping to the colour scheme of the text on this page. It is also positioned away from the rest of the text by the bottom of the image of Katy indication to the reader that the quote is from the article on her.

the main image is Katy Perry with a shocked face standing straight up still, she is wearing a red/pink short skirt with a strapless white top she also has a bulky leopard print belt on and flowers in her hair showing her femininity and boldness. She is holding a giant blow up red mushroom matching to the colour of her skirt, it also overlaps the title which is a typical thing for magazines to do.

This contents page is not very busy and therefor allows what is on the page to stand out. The background is plain white also allowing the contents on it to stand out. It is a very fun and unusual contents page which represents the featured artist personality and attracts attention.

The articles mention on the contents page include detail and page numbers so are easy to find in the magazine.

There is only four stories that are mentioned on the contents age, this suggests that these are the most important ones and therefore the reader will go straight to read these articles, while they are looking for them they will probably come across another artist that they are interested in that wasn’t featured on the front cover or contents page and then want to read that as well.

The use of the ‘no1’ is effective to wards the target audience as they are interested in music so listing all the number ones will draw them in as they will want to find out all the different number ones. It also used subheadings for each of the different number one themes.

The contents page is split into two. This is good as there is a lot of information on this page and it breaks it up so that the reader doesn't get board.

The use of extra images other than just the main one is effective as it gives the reader and idea of other artists that are going to feature in the magazine and having a visual of them helps to indulge the reader.

The logo of the magazine is in the right hand corner of the column, it is used to remind the readers of what magazine they are reading and also to give consistency, also keeping with the same colour scheme, blue, yellow and black.

The main features of the magazine are in the centre which is where the eyes of the reader are drawn into, showing that these are the most important things on the page.

Uses the magazine to promote other areas that the brand is involved in with two subheadings, ‘online’ and ‘events’, this tells the reader that the magazine has a website therefor they can go on the website and be more interactive who the magazine. They also gather that the brand hold events and the reader would be interested in this and want to attend.

The image is a popular singer that goes with the genre of the magazine therefore will appeal to the target audience. The text around her is edited to fit to the shape of her body showing that she is the main thing there.

The colours used are mainly flat dull colours, this gives a feel of sophistication in the magazine however the bold streaks of blue neutralise this giving the magazine a funky feel.

The layout is very crowded and although it looks a bit messy it gives the reader a lot of information on what the magazine is all about.

Consistent colours of red, black and white are used thought the contents page and the whole of Q magazine, as the audience can then relate to theses colours.

The use of the word ‘greatest’ intrigues the reader as they want to then find out what the greatest albums are.

Page numbers are used to direct the reader to certain pages also making them pass other certain pages that they will then want to read.

‘Every month’ shows that the magazine has a consistently and the reader can therefor relate to the magazine.

It has the issue number on the top of the magazine, this is unconventional of a magazine however allows the reader to keep track of what issues they have got or I they have missed one.

The use of the word features is used in a lot of magazines and portrays that the articles listed are the most important ones or main ones and should be read first.

A description of each ‘feature’ is used to give the reader insight to what the article is about and weather or not they would want to read it first .

The facial expression on the guys face is very serious and focused which contrasts with the quote ‘I fart In your direction’ as this is a humorous quote. His face makes the reader feel watched and nervous and want to read the magazine.

His hair is casual and messy like he has just got out of bed, his face also looks recently awakened. however the clothes he is wearing are quite smart and fashionable so together they give the magazine a casual feel.

The quote ‘I fart in your direction’ is informal and shocks the reader as they want to know why he would want to fart at them and therefor makes them intrigued to read the article.

There is a dark grey background that would usually be used to make the image stand out however on this contents page the image blends in with the background making the reader look harder at the image.