Magazine Analysis NME

NME Magazine

THE COVER

1) The title: why is it called that? What does the title connote?

The masthead of this magazine is 'NME' which stands for new music express; this is because it is famously known for promoting and giving exposure to new upcoming artists who may not otherwise get promotion. This magazine has a target audience of 15-30 year olds, and this age group is associated with an interest in new music, therefore the masthead is relevant to who they are aiming at.

2) The masthead/title logo – analyse it.

The title being only three letters long makes it easier to remember, and saves space on the cover which would be taken up by the full name. It is written in block colours of red and white to make it stand out and contrast against the image; the three letters also create a shape which make it more recognizable with a clear brand identity. 

3) Is there a strapline? Analyse it.

The strapline for this magazine issue is 'Arcade Fire look into our eyes', with each word following the band name 'Arcade Fire' in separate boxes on different parts of the page because this is the magazines main feature. This strapline is very ambiguous and creates intrigue which encourages the reader to discover the real meaning within the article. The short words are positioned in a way which draws the eye around the page, subsequently leading the viewer to the images which relate to this strapline. I think this works well because it interests you in the article without completely revealing what is going to be covered; it also reflects the difference in style that NME has compared to other magazines who would choose something more conventional. 

4) What is the main image? Analyse the facial expression, direction of gaze, body language, 

clothing etc. How does this reach out toward the ideal reader identified above?

The main image is very unique as it has been photoshopped to have the faces of the band members without their bodies positioned around the page. One of the faces is larger than the others and is positioned in the centre of the page, making it the most eye catching image, and implying that he is the leading member of the group. The facial expressions are blank which causes the viewer to ask questions because usually main images on a front cover would be a medium shot of an artist(s) purposely making an expression. The eyes of the band members are looking directly into the camera which links to the strapline and adds to the overall concept of the main article; decreases the distance between the viewer and the group members. The background has the colours red, orange, green, blue, pink and purple all fading into each other, with the faces having a tint of the background colour they are surrounded with.

5) What others images appear on the front cover – why?

There are no other images because too many images would ruin the current concept of the cover, and the simplicity of the layout draws the viewers eye due to the amount of colour displayed. 

6) What content is promoted by the cover lines?

There are no cover lines about other articles, which I believe is to keep the focus on the main article and sustain the simplicity that other design elements on the page have created. 

7) Explain the connotations of typefaces (fonts), graphics, colours etc.

There are a variety of colours used for the main image and fonts which means that it does not appeal singularly to one gender, but stays unbiased and aesthetically pleasing to a large portion of people. Nearly all of the words on the cover are bold and eye grabbing which implies that it will be interesting, because the editor has agreed that it's worth being bold, for example 'inside Arcade Fire's hypnotic new album'. The typeface is kept consistent through the front cover to ensure a clear recognisable house style, this is then continued through the magazine. 

8) What sort of language/ language features/ language devices/ can you identify? How does the cover ‘talk’ to the reader?

The main theme of this cover, image and dominant article is ambiguity; intriguing language such as 'hypnotic' creates a sense of a control over the reader and compulsion to read. Short, snappy words which create the articles title are also frequently used during a hypnotic or psychic trance, emphasising the overall concept. A quotation from the interview is used on the front cover as a lure to provide a slight insight into the topics covered in the interview with Arcade Fire, and the word 'weird' is taken from this response and reflected in the style of language used elsewhere. 

10) Is there anything else distinctive about the cover/format? (eg size)

The distinctive title is iconic in terms of music magazines and therefore very easily recognisable by its block colours and simple triple letter format. The images are of very clear quality because they are not pixelated, and this makes the magazine as a whole appear of a higher quality.  The strapline's graphics have been created to appear as if the word outline has been cut away from the yellow background as the space which the word would inhabit is of the same colour as the background. 

THE INSIDE

1) How many pages are there?

There are 67 pages in total. 


2) How many pages of adverts?

13 of the 67 pages are advertisements.


3) Categorise the products advertised into types

Concert tickets, Alcohol, CDs/Downloads, Radio shows, Technology 

4) Make a list of the features/articles into types 

Interviews take up a large portion of this magazine, this issue has interviews with Arcade Fire, Flaming lips, Tame impala, Cate Le Bon and Bradley Wiggins. Celebrity news is also included in this magazine, for example, Kanye West's 'God complex', Lou Reeds death, and a re-telling of Keith Richard's famous drugs trial in Toronto. Lifestyle articles are limited in this magazine with the only topic in this issue being 'Are you taking to many drugs?'. NME is mainly about new music so there is also a 'reviews' section and a 'radar' page for new artists.
 
5) How many double page spreads are there? What are they about?

There are 11 double page spreads:
1. Essential new tracks
2. Lou Reed's death

3. Fresh Meat new TV series

4. Radar - new artists to listen to
5. Reviews 
6. Wet Nuns at the Queens social club, Sheffield
7. NME Gigs Guide
8. Arcade Fire interview 
9. Flame Impala interview
10. Cate Le Bon interview
11. Keith Richard's Court Case 1978

6) Are there "advertorials" where it is not clear if something is an article or an advert, or a mixture of both?

No, the advertisements are very clear, if they have information on the advert is it not a great deal, or enough to make the reader question whether it's an article. The articles have clear typefaces, graphics, and layout which causes them to differ greatly from advertisements.


7) How does the magazine achieve a unified "house style"? Think about language and mode of address, colour schemes, graphical elements, etc. 

The same typefaces are used throughout, with a consistent colour scheme. A lot of black and white is used with a pop of block colour on each page; in most cases this colour is red or yellow. Boxes are also frequently used around text to enhance it, and creating an almost 'scrap book' feel to the magazine makes it more approachable for the reader. The font is kept the same size throughout for the main text in articles, and unlike other magazines, NME occasionally uses swear words which reflect it's edgy, rock and indie music genre. 

8) Why is this house style appropriate to the target audience? What assumptions does it imply about the TA? 

This house style is appropriate because it has a youthful feel to it, and the informal tone through the magazine may attract members of its 15-30 target audience, who would not be interested in a pristine, conventional magazine. The colours are not appealing to only one gender, but covers all preferences, and the unorganised look would appeal to this audience as well because they would be looking for a layout thats different, and alternative to other magazines.