Analysing Double Page Spreads In Music Magazines

Henrietta Dent

Drop cap

Article Title

Pull Quote

Anchor

By line

Caption

Grimes is a Canadian artist who follows the underground electronic and industrial music scene. She combines the colliding music genres; punk and pop, resulting in an individual psychedelic revelry. This combination is not as popular as the more well known music genres such as pop or rock. The image that has been used for the double page spread relates to the word ‘grimes’ as she looks grimey with dirt smudged on her face, tattered clothes and messy hair. This look could relate to the type of music she makes. The image is in black and white which reinforces the ‘grungey’ feel to the image.

This double page spread image does not conform to the typical rule of thirds as she has been placed directly in the middle of the left hand side page. Yet the image is still aesthetically pleasing as the lines run across her shoulders and her ear.As her music is quite individual and diverse this could be why her image has been placed directly in the middle rather than slightly to the left or right.

Image

All the typical conformities of a music magazine article have been used in this double page spread i.e. Drop caps, pull quote and by-line.

Font/Colour

The contrasting use of the drop cap and pull quote being both in pink adds colour and therefore makes it more eye-catching to the reader.

The article title is in a serif font. The article title’s font is in a large typeface and is bold and eye catching especially in black which allows it to stand out in contrast against the white background.

ARTICLE

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Claire Boucher is described as ‘being too off-the-wall’, this is shown by the image used. Her hair is dyed just on the fringe and she has unusual dirty looking make up on. She looks individual. The image has taken into account ‘off-the-wall’ and literally shows her standing off the wall. She stands out against the white wall which portrays her as individual.

The colours of the double page spread image directly portrays darkness as described in the quote above, ‘blacking out the windows’

The article is trying to promote Grimes as the article relates to well known musicians that link to her music style, whether it be her influences or who she literally sounds like. This allows her to be more relatable to the readers if they haven’t listened to her music before. The reader would most likely know the artists that they have linked her to and the readers who like those artists would therefore want to listen to her music.

Eye Flow

The double page spread does not follow the typical eye flow of a double page spread as the image is usually on the right hand side a double page spread. They have done this as the image is quite iconic and striking which draws the readers attention to Grimes therefore making it aesthetically pleasing.

As Grimes is not a very well known artist the editors have payed attention to this and put in the corner ‘100 new bands you have to hear!’. They are clearly trying to promote Grimes.

Contrasting Double Spread

Drop cap

Article Title

Pull Quote

Anchor

By line

Caption

ImageThe images chosen of Lana Del Rey portray her as almost heavenly and at peace, with her lying on the ground with her shoes off - she is clearly relaxed. The photo has been edited in high contrast and thephoto has been takenin broad day light in a park as the article title refers to her as a ‘Rey of sunshine’ which is a play on words .

The high contrasted photos give the effect of her glowing skin which makes her look graceful, elegant and almost angelic, which is the way they describe her in the article.

Font/ColourThe font chosen for the article title is in a serif font. It is a larger font size than the rest of the article to draw attention to the title and is in a light pink. Pink is quite a girly and innocent colour which is how Lana wants to be portrayed. As her low choral voice. The article title refers to her as a ‘Rey of sunshine’ which is a play on words.

The drop cap has been used to show where the article starts as it is not very clear due to the black fill around the article against the white background. This also adds to presentational value of the spread.

ARTICLEThe images in comparison to Grimes are more like polished beauty shots as she mentions in the article that she doesn't want to be portrayed as ‘slutty’ and that she wants to be taken seriously.

The article aims to promote Lana Del Rae and get her tickets selling as they mention that she is going to tour ‘the UK and Europe this month’.

Eye F l o

wThe eye flow for this magazine is the typical layout for a double page spread in a music magazine.

The eye line goes from the top right hand corner of the pages, to the articles in the middle of the left hand side page, then to the bottom right hand side of the pages.

The main image being on the right hand side of the double page spread draws attention to this double page spread as they flick through the magazine, so they reader will read the article and as the image is large and stands out.

In comparison to Grimes this photo shoot looks more formal and like a beauty shoot whereas in Grimes photo shoot it looks more ‘grimy’. This is also a lot to do with the type of music both artists produce