Music Magazine - Cover Analysis #1

Music Magazine Analysis #1

The New Musical Express (better known as the NME) is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved towards a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. The target audience of NME is approximately 70% male and 30% female. Also more young people aged between 15-30 years old purchase this magazine.

Firstly, featured on the front cover is a famous rock band member from “My Chemical Romance.” Featuring a celebrity on the front cover will attract a greater audience, possibly even beyond the targeted addressees. The photograph is taken as a long shot from an eye-level angle. It shows the subject as we would expect to see them in real life so it gives the audience a better perspective of him; his direct mode of address also invites the audience in to read the magazine since it makes them feel welcomed and acknowledged.

Furthermore, the models clothing also corresponds with the color scheme of the magazine which is red and black. Red is the color of fire and blood, so it is associated with energy, power and strength. Black is a mysterious color related with fear and the unknown, it usually has a negative connotation because of words such as blacklist, black humor and Black Death. However, black also denotes strength and authority; it is considered to be a very formal, elegant, and prestigious color, for example a black Mercedes or black tie.  These colors are used because they’re identified as typical rock band colors; this encourages the correct, specific audience to buy the magazine, which in this case, everyone with an interest in rock music.

Moreover, NME uses a clear-cut, bold, crimson, font for their masthead and it is the largest size text on the cover. As stated before, red often has the connotations of power and strength. However it can also be recognized as the colour of romance and love; rock bands frequently sing about these topics so the aim of the masthead being red provides the audience with an enhanced sense of what the magazine encloses. NME is also in block capitals so it gives it an edgy, powerful appearance; this is executed as it helps the magazine relate to the precise audience. A further factor I have perceived is NME’s masthead is easily recognizable as it remains in a consistent position and style from issue to issue, the color only changes occasionally.

NME’s sell lines are situated around the exterior of the magazine on the left and right hand side. The text is in a contrasting color from the background so it’s more prominent to the audience. It’s a smaller font size than the title because it’s less significant although the titles of the articles are in highlighted in red to symbolize importance. The skyline is located at the top of magazine which is a normal convention; it’s the second biggest font on the cover in black and red, advertising an update on a band. Positioning this at the top accentuates the significance to the audience; it draws them in to the story and influences them to purchase the magazine.