Music Magazine: Double Page Spread Analysis's

NME: 19th February 2011 

 
NME is infamous for its bright, eye capturing, interesting double page spreads and this issue is no different. On the first page is an image of the band: The Strokes standing before an empty flat looking cool in their rock and roll style clothes: leather jackets and sunglasses whilst standing in different poses looking like they have been caught by surprise on the camera. This is the only photograph that has been taken on this page of the band. This gives the image and article an equal balance of text to visual display which makes it entertaining to look at. The colours of the band's outfits contrast with the yellow page and pink as they are predominantly wearing black which also adds to the interest of the article. The image is very confident especially of the lead singer: this corresponds to the title: "Were Stronger Than Ever" which is a quote from the band.

Font has been used throughout the page which is similar; however capitals and colours have been altered. The title is in bold, pink capitals and is slanted to the left hand side which adds to the quirkiness of the magazine. Below is short text also in pink although it is in capitals and a lot smaller, summarising the articles main parts. There are two higlighted words in black. At the beginning of the article the T of 'The' is bigger in bold pink and covers 5 lines. Similarly this has also been done, but smaller at the start of the secound paragraph. The main story is written in three columns and is in plain, black, lower case text which is typical of an big article.

Additionally under the main title is a faint black banner with the name of the journalist who wrote the story. It is also at a slant with the text. The layout is very simplistic drawing attention to the image and story itself. However the colours: yellow and pink make it seem fun and appealing. 

Photoshop has clearly been used to enhance the image making the rock stars have good skin with no dark circles underneath their eyes this will have been altered using the healing tool. Also the photo is a lot darker so the contrast will have been changed. The text will have been coloured by creating a text box and the title rotated slightly. Also the background yellow will have been added on a lower layer whilst the text was added over the top. 

This double page spread is very appealing to me as i like the cool urban feel to the image and the colours contrasting against each other on the page. I also like how their is not a lot of text and the image is one of the main focuses. It is clear that this type of article would be targeted at a younger audience: teenagers and music fans in their twenties due to the young band and bright colours.           





Q Magazine: 21st January 2009


Image and title dominating this picture it is very aesthetically appealing to younger audiences due to the lack of text and the image that is very dominant and 'in your face' as it matches the main title: " People think I'm an attention seeker, but I'm just honest." The artists clothes are one of the only sections of colour on the page as most text is in black and white with hints of red. Lilly Allen's pose is confident as she wears a red checked shirt and has her hair cut short which is quite masculine symbolising and justifying the story as she is appearing tough. Her only feminine features is her necklace and eye makeup.  As the text is very busy and the image is the main part, the background is plain white as it would have made the article too hectic and would have distracted away from the article; although this isn't the focus on the page. 

Automatically capturing the readers eye the main title shows great design and detail as it looks like different letters have been cut out of a newspaper and stuck on the page. Thus also corresponding against the story as it states that people say she is something, but she is not she is the opposite. Different letters are in white bold capitals whilst some aren't, they all have a black box background and take up two thirds of the page. Other text is in lower case black and is centered at the bottom of the spread. Occasional words such as: 'Lilly Allen' have been highlighted in bold red. Alike the previous magazine double page spread, the first letter of the word in the story is bigger in bold. 

Unconventionally, columns are in four sections which again adds to the rebellious feel of the piece. There is a small description of the story above. The main title is scattered on top of the page and is on top of a part of the photo. Layout isn't too over the top as the image and text speaks volumes and it doesn't need to be over complicated. 

The software Photoshop have definitely been used to create the text using text boxes and cutting tools. The image appears flawless which of Lilly Allen's face which will have been altered using the healing tools. Finally the colour of the image has been brightened on the contrast setting. 

Overall this spread is quirky and interesting to the viewer; however i don't think it matches it's actual target audience of young adults as this type of article could appeal to younger people like it is a feature in a twelve year old's 'SHOUT' magazine.Although i think the text would distract a child of that age from reading. The style that it has tried to capture is a rock star, rebellious look which i think they have managed to create. It could be improved by making the title smaller and adding more text; then it may appeal to their older audiences.