Analysis of two Indie/Rock magazine front covers

Analysis of a front cover• The music genre of this magazine is Indie, this is quite easy to tell as its clearly written

at the top of the magazine. The target audience is focused on older teens and young adults, this is because the cover looks quite mature, also the women on the front cover is half naked which suggests that this magazine is too old for younger children. The audience may be attracted to the magazine as it clearly shows the focus is just indie music and the cover also mentions that it’s a special issue celebrating 10 years of indie music therefore indie fans may be more interested in the magazine.

• The main image is of a young women, it relates to the magazine as on her neck painted are the words indie and 10; this relates to the magazine as the focus is indie music and it also focuses on the fact indie music is 10 years old. The image is the main focus of the front cover as people usually read images quicker than they read words and this picture gives a visual representation of indie music as it clearly says indie on her neck. The women is naked and it cuts of just above her breast which suggests indie music is quite freeing and natural. The make up in this magazine is very natural – with the only noticeable make up being faint around her eyes, this gives a natural effect to the magazine and suggests indie music is effortless. The colours used are also very neutral and soft which also creates a relaxed atmosphere. The image relates to the target audience as it is perhaps teaching young people to be free and to love their body and love indie music.

• The magazine is called INDIE this is effective as it clearly sums up the type of magazine it is and what to expect within the magazine . The front cover has 2 different typefaces and fonts, the fist one being block letters in capitals, this stands out and makes the magazine more eye catching and the next font and typeface is lower case and is sans-serif this makes it easier to read which is more natural and links to the magazine as it overall gives a neutral mood. The title is very big and is placed at the top of the page, the number 10; which represents 10 years of indie music is as big as the title which gives the effect that that piece of information ( the 10 years) is an important focus of the magazine. The rest of the text is displayed on the right in a smaller section which includes what is in the magazine. The language used is quite simple however alliteration has been used ( big bonkers birthday) this is effective as the magazine is about how indie music has continued for 10 years and the letter b is also following through all of the words.

Analysis of front cover• The music genre of this magazine is Indie/ rock music, this is slightly harder to

tell however stereotypically the band on the front cover look like a indie band and the bands names wrote on the side are of the rock/indie genre.

• The target audience is older teens and young adults 16-25 the audience would be attracted to the magazine as it looks mature and not childish however still has a sense of teenage hood because of the WE <3 NY. It will also attract the target audience as the text mentions things in the magazine like celebrity gossip which teens and young adults are more likely to be interested in.

• The main image is of a band holding loads of bones this relates to the music genre as the song that the band had just released is called get close the bone, this relates to indie/rock music because indie and rock music is usually more graphic and deep and bones relate. The image is simply then and a silver/grey background which puts the focus only on them, they are also quite close up with there bottom half cut out, the bones are held forward which shows the magazine is dedicated to music as the bones relate to the song and the bone4s are the main focus. The clothes the band are wearing can reflect the mood of indie/rock as they are wearing quite dark clothing. They also have some typical features of rock/indie like piercings. The colours used are quite dark apart from the man in the middle which suggests he is the lead singer the text and title of the magazine are in bright colours which show the importance of the text and make the reader more attracted to the text. The image relates to the target audience as the target audience will know the band and as they are the main focus will want to read into the magazine and see what its about.

• The magazine is called NME which means New Musical Express this is effective as the front cover is all about the bands new music and shows the audience that they focus specifically on new music. the majority of the text is In block capitals which stand out and are easy to read, the text is sans-serrif and is easy to read. The title is at the top which is common and the text has been placed around the band carefully not covering their faces. The colours of the text contrast with the picture as they are bright which will attract the reader. There is a lot of punctuation like explanation points and speech marks and there is a question that entices the reader in at the bottom which is effective as it will make them want to see what's in it and want to buy it