Front Cover Analysis

Front Cover Analysis 1

This Q front cover is quite clever as it shows Lana Del Rey wearing what appears to be a night dress, along with a tiara, and a bleeding forehead. The immediate image does make her look slightly crazy, but when accompanied with the “Everybody’s mad for…” title at the side it becomes quite clever and funny. The use of puns then continues into the “So what’s so bloody good?” as she has a bloody face. This is an amazing way to make the magazine comical and I would like to try and use puns on my own front cover as I think they are an effective technique to draw a reader in, because they will have hope that the rest of the article is entertaining.

Another feature I will take from this front cover is the circle emblem this is a common thing on professional magazine covers, whatever genre. Another thing I like about this front cover is the way the title Lana Del Rey looks like it is written in lipstick, relating to her girly prom queen appearance, and also relating to her target audience of teenage girls. This would therefore attract her target audience to buy the magazine even if they were unlikely to before. All fonts on this cover are very effective and look good, apart from the fonts used on the logo, which could represent that this issue is modern and focuses on things new and cool, but the brand and the company have been around for a long time and are a classic, so they use traditional font styles.

Pink is the dominant colour of this cover and would probably work to the same effect of the lipstick style writing and will have been used for the same reason. All of the artists mentioned on the front all work in different genres, so this shows the variety of the magazine. The shortening of “Professor Green” to “Pro Green” adds to the feel that the puns of created, of a laid back and chatty magazine, alliteration is also used in the Kings of Leon title. There is a bar code, price and date on this front cover and will most likely be included on every front cover I will analysis. I will have to include these things as it is the most important feature of a cover to make it appear professional and like it would be available to be bought.

Front Cover Analysis 2

Q magazine have used for the main text and emblem white, red and black which is the iconic colours of Q, this adds to the stylish and classy theme of the magazine. At the top of the cover in bold black font capitals the magazine state it’s the 20^th anniversary special and they have therefore used 20 as a running theme throughout the front cover by having features linked to 20. This entices readers to buy the magazine as they buy into the idea of getting good value for money and getting 20 of ‘exclusive’ covers and interviews inside the magazine. 

The font is used in different sizes to emphasise the important details then have information about them underneath, therefore if the reader only glanced at the magazine the important details are transferred easily and more simply. The font on the left hand side of the magazine are in white, linking to the image where the celebrity is wearing a white dress, therefore linking the magazine together. At the bottom of the page is large text reading ‘BEYONCE’, this is very simple but bold emphasising that Beyoncé is so well known no introduction is needed and that her image alone can sell magazines. There are also a lot of explanative sentences used on the front cover; this draws the reader into excitement even to want to buy the magazine. The title of the magazine ‘Q’ is foregrounded over the image, almost in an arrogant attempt to make them seem more important than the celebrity on the front showing they are a big magazine.

The main image of Beyoncé is set in a very feminine natural background with a long shot of her looking directly at the reader, drawing them in and making them want to buy the magazine. The wide eyes, slightly opened lip and pin-up style pose are very suggestive and provocative attracting not only females but a male audience too. The clothing is very sexual and has a sense of older fashions to it making the image more ‘girly’ and fun; the white portrays a sense of innocence which contrasts to the provocative style of the make-up, messy hair and body language further adding to Beyoncé’s image.

The layout is simple with the large main image centred and the focal point of the magazine. The title of the magazine ‘Q’ is in the top right-hand corner of the magazine in the usual position causing that to stand-out to the audience. The text is neatly structured around the image giving a clean-cut stylish image that is normally associated with the brand. I will think about using the large main image on my magazine with text surrounding as I like the celebrity being the main selling point then including inside features in the text around the image. I will also think about the colour scheme I use as the white, red and black colour scheme on this magazine is portrayed as a stylish magazine, need to make sure mine looks as professional and clean as that!

Front Cover Analysis 3

Here again I have decided to analyse another Q magazine as I could then look at the contrast between the previous Q magazine and see what I will want to include in mine. Looking at the image of Madonna which is located in the same position, they have slightly covered the Q with the main picture; they have done this as they feel that the magazine is well known enough that readers will automatically know what magazine is and that Madonna is more important and well known than the magazine. They have also have covered it with the bumper number. This is making sure people see that this issue has 196 pages and is a bumper issue therefore more people will want to buy it.

The main colours of this magazine are red white and black; this is so keeping within the house style and making it look professional. At the top right hand side of the magazine there is a small list of other strap lines this is to give the readers some idea of what is inside the magazine and what the articles will be about. These are all different sizes and fonts making more important ones standout more than the others. All this different features are placed over the image reasons for this are because readers will want to be able to see properly what is inside the magazine rather than it been cut off been put behind the image.

Looking at the magazine there is a big bold title of “Madonna” in red this is because readers may not recognise the image of her and want to make sure people realise this magazine is all about Madonna and make them pick it up! However if you read it properly it shows a list of people that interview her from people like Russell Brand to girls aloud they have shown this as these are very well known people. Then underneath this they quote “stupid question! Next” this gives you a bit of a preview of what is inside and makes you more interested and eager to carry on reading. All the writing in the magazine is generally different sizes and fonts, to give it more of a dramatic effect and make some features standout more than others.

Having a picture of Madonna dressed with her hood up wearing a black coat shows that she is trying to look rebellious and that is the sort of music they are trying to represent. She is giving us a direct gaze through the camera this makes her look striking and scary looking. Also with her looking directly at you it drags you into the magazine.

Finally there is different coloured strip at the bottom of the magazine which is advertising another special feature of the magazine this is made to stand out so that it catches the reader’s eye before they buy it. They have used big bold capital letter for the words “ free inside” this is to make the readers think they are getting something free with this magazine. They have also put another picture on the bottom this is different therefore making you want to find out about it. My overall impression of this magazine is positive as it shows very clearly what’s inside the magazine in bold capital coloured words, therefore readers will have no problem reading this. It will also appeal to the readers as it has lots of different ideas of what’s inside on the front page. As I like these features of having lots of different ideas of what’s inside on the front page I want to consider using this on my music magazine when coming to make it as it will appeal to the readers. Also I like the idea of the banner across the bottom in a completely different colour making it stand out with something important wrote on it, this is something I will also considering using.

Front Cover Analysis 4

Q magazine have used 3 colours for the colour scheme of red, white and black which is iconic for the magazine and can be portrays a pretty much any theme as in this one it I shown with a rock themed image.  The colours when tied in with the image reveal a suggestive and more mature audience contrasting with Cheryl Cole as she appeals to a younger audience. Three different types of fonts have been used to appeal to a younger audience and maintain a rock genre magazine. The title overlaps the image implying an arrogant representation that the magazine is more famous and bigger than the celebrity on the front cover. These ties in with the banner at the top stating it is ‘the UK’s biggest music magazine’ further persuading the readers to buy their magazine, as it is the most popular and famous. The title at the bottom cleverly uses ‘3 Words’ to emphasise how famous and popular Cheryl is, that an introduction isn’t needed and her name itself will sell magazines. Also Cheryl Cole fans will know that ‘3 Words’ is a single that she released enticing them to buy the magazine. The use of different size fonts draws the reader’s attention to the most important inside features as well as reveal an ‘edgy’, ‘rockish’ style relating back to the image of Cheryl looking like a rock star instead of pop star. The texts surrounding the image is all very blunt and to the point allowing the reader to quickly know the main inside features and ‘big’ names that are being featured influencing them to purchase the magazine.

The image of Cheryl Cole is a close-up, front facing shot that makes the reader feel like she’s staring directly at them attracting them to buy the magazine. The dark eye make-up and red lips tie in with the colour scheme of the magazine, as well as reflecting a seductive image staring directly at the reader. The tongue licking the metal ring is extremely provocative making Cheryl Cole’s image appears as a rock star in comparison to her usual image helping to attract a wider range of reader’s; as well as relating to the title stating ‘CHERYL COLE ROCKS’. The water further adds to the sexual image of Cheryl as well as adding a ‘edgy’ undertone to the magazine helping to attract to a female and male audience.

The layout of the magazine is very clean-cut and simple. The text surrounding the image allows the celebrity to be the main focal point as well as highlighting the inside features. The house style of Q magazine is used on the front cover, using a close-up image with text in white, red or black allowing keeping the classic, mainstream stylish image of the magazine to remain. By placing a banner at the top it immediately highlights the magazine popularity, quality and reliability helping to draw in readers. By placing the introductory title for Cheryl Cole at the bottom and having the main point of the sentence in the largest font stresses the magazine’s music genre.  For my magazine I shall think about using the close-up image for my main photograph on the front cover as it draws in the reader and instantly sets the genre of the magazine. However my model for my magazine will be male, Q also do represent males and make just as much excitement about them. I will use a similar three palette colour scheme to make the magazine look classic and tasteful helping it to appeal to my target audience of females I want to achieve.

Front Cover Analysis 5

The Q is always in the left hand corner on every magazine this allows the reader to recognise the magazine straight away. As well as it been red with the white Q to make it stands out and be the first thing seen on the page.

This colour scheme red, white and black has stayed throughout the front cover and throughout every Q magazine after analysing so many. This keeps to consistent and within the house style making it look very professional and making the readers want to buy it. However on this issue there is a big gold circle presenting its 300^th issue making this eye catching and a big deal out of it as they will be very proud they have been producing successful magazines up to now. As well as it been big and gold, it is a circle which also helps it to stand out as there is no other shape like it.

The image used is placed to the right hand side of the page which is a bit different to the other magazines until you realise there is a fold and it opens out. Showing more of the hair and even more features this is something they have added to their 300^th issue to make it a bit different and stand out from other magazines. Before opening the fold I thought the image placed to the right side of the page looked interesting and different and thought about including this into my magazine allowing it to stand out from other magazines.

The text is all different sizes and fonts making it look like every other music magazine, this is also something I will take into consideration when making mine to make sure mine looks like a professional music magazine.  The title to this magazine is Adele with “blow us away” underneath I like how they have done this as her hair is blowing in the wind in the picture, this is a great link and looks brilliant. This is something I will consider when thinking about my title for my music magazine, and linking it in with the image used on the front cover.