Magazine Analysis: NME Contents

NME Contents Analysis

Image:

The image has been edited to appear distorted and subverts the usual layout of magazines which present a clean and clear image. This seems rebellious presents the brand identity of the magazine as being a culturally subversive one therefore reflecting the genre of the magazine as being an indie/alternative music magazine. I will also do this through editing my photos on Photoshop possibly in a similar style, however, I am also planning on creating a surreal look through the manipulation of lighting, for example in my own magazine I will manipulate the lighting of the main shot on my cover in order to promote a trendy youthfulness whilst still appearing edgy through the use of a 'star light' which will project stars across the close-up of my models' face whilst on another image I am planning on using a coloured light in order to create a hue type look across the image.

Language:

Through the listing of artists the magazine is able to put the music and artists at the forefront of the branding of the magazine and highlight’s their importance  to the brand of the magazine and targets an audience who are extremely passionate about music. Meanwhile, language and phrases such as ‘The big questions’, ‘anatomy of an album’ and ‘50 new bands for 2015’ ‘reviews’’, the magazine connotes ideas of knowledge as if the magazine is an all-knowing, one-stop shop for all things music which portrays the idea that the brand image of the magazine is that of prestige, despite it’s rebellious tones, it still dominates the market. Finally, language and phrases such as ‘soundtrack of my life’ and ‘things we like’ sounds extremely personal and reflects the intimate style of the magazine, it gives a close insight into it’s artist as well as creating a personalised relationship with the reader which implies of the passion it holds for it’s artists and readers. In my own magazine I will also use similar language to create a rebellious but personal tone, I will be talking about this more in-depth in a post on my article and a post on the planning and brainstorming on the title of my magazine, however, I am planning on creating ideas of rebellion through language through the use of swear words and taboo terms from the subject of my article as having read and analysed a range of alternative music magazines swear words seem to be a convention that don't appear in other magazines but seem more acceptable in indie/alternative genre's as it fits the style of music and many of the artists, also indie/alternative magazines generally aren't read by a younger audience or much older audience who may find this type of language offensive.

Layout: Positioning

The separation of the contents into separate headings creates a clear layout which is easy to read and so makes it easy for the reader, this presents the idea that the magazine really cares about it’s readers and wants them to easily navigate the magazine and find the stories that they want to read. I will also separate the contents of my magazine into separate sections under clear headings in order to make it easier for the reader to navigate the magazine, this can imply of the passion my magazine holds for it's readers and how it wants to make the experience of buying and reading the magazine easy and enjoyable rather than complicated.

Layout: Colour

The use of the red and black colours throughout the page creates a memorable brand image through the use of house style to create an iconic brand and also appears sleek and clear, again making the magazine easy to navigate. The red and black also holds implications of rebellion due to it’s associations with masculinity and passion. In my own magazine I will be using far brighter and vibrant colours however I will be employing a house-style as seen in NME through the use of a repetitive colour scheme of pink and black throughout.