Q Front Cover Analysis

Masthead is in the left hand third, it a large white letter Q on a red background. Because of where it is placed it is the first thing you read, also because of how magazines are stacked it makes the masthead always clearly visible. Underneath the masthead there is a slogan which describes the purpose of the magazine. The masthead overlaps the main image which shows its importance.

The main image is a close up of the artist, Liam Gallagher, with his band mates in the reflection of his sunglasses. The fact they are merely a reflection in his glasses show that he is more important and the main focus. The background is simple making him stand out more and he takes up most of the space on the cover. His expression is limited and this adds to the effect of his cool, laid back persona that they are trying to represent.

The cover lines are all in sans serif text and are primarily in black text. They are in capital letters with the explanation of the cover line being below in red or gold. This use of red, gold, white and black text defines the house style and is used throughout.

The flash is in the top right hand third and is placed slightly behind the main image. The artists name is in larger black, serif text with the explanation of it below in read and black font again in keeping with the house style

The pull quote it quite informal with the use of the word ‘tit’ and also the ellipses entices the reader making them want to read the article. It is fairly large, black, serif text to match to colour scheme used throughout.

The bar code is in the bottom left third so it is the last thing you see, therefor the least important, as it contains the price so they aim to have gained your interest and convinced you to buy it before you actually look at the price

Q Contents Page Analysis

In the right third there is an image of the front cover which is slightly wonky.

Across the top of the page there is a red banner with white text telling you the issue number this is useful for people who are fans of the magazine and buy every issue is also shows how long the magazine has been running make first time readers understand the magnitude of the magazine and how successful it is

The list of the articles included run down the left hand third with black text and numbers and also red lines to separate them this fits in with the red, black and white colour scheme used throughout

There a several images on the page with large page numbers next to them the images have no description as music fans will know the artist and this reinforces the idea that Q is a highly established music magazine and its fans are big music fans

There are images of double page spreads again with no description but only page numbers this gives an insight into what is included in the issue

There is a ‘Q review’ this has an image and text and is separated from the everything else with the use of a red thick line, in keeping with the house style, this gives a small review on a band with the rest of the review being included further on in the magazine. It uses the colours red, black and white again and is the only red text on the page differentiating it and making it stand out

In the bottom left hand corner there is a small image of the masthead and the date of the issue it is placed here as it is deemed the least important information on the page and should be read last, if at all. On the right-hand third in the bottom corner there is the website also in the same sized small black text

Q Double Page Spread Analysis

Half of the page is taken up by a medium close up of the artist, Lady Gaga. It has a sepia effect applied to the image and is quite an explicit image. Her neutral expression and direct eye contact connote confidence and the chains around her neck are original and reflect the artists style.

Her name is placed in the right hand third in fairly large black text. ‘Lady’ is lowercase and italics implying the special emphasis must be applied to the word, ‘GAGA’ is in capital and larger text than lady contrasting the words

The article is broken up into 3 columns and then also broke up into lots of smaller paragraphs. It is quite a lengthy article with lots of text and next to no white space on the page

The most noticeable thing on the double page spread is the large red letter ‘L’ it covers the whole page. Everything across both pages is in black and white including the image so this bright red is instantly eye catching. The colour red connotes lust and danger and this is used to represent the artist. It also represents her importance as everyone knows that the L stands for Lady and it shows how big of an artist she is.

There is no drop caps on the first paragraph however in the 2nd there is a larger letter S which is 4 lines high and in bold serif text also in the last paragraph there is a drop caps latter I also in bold, serif text and 4 lines high

As on the contents page in the bottom left corner there is the Q website and in the right bottom corner there is the masthead and date of the issue

Q Magazine • Published by the Bauer Consumer Media which also publishes several other music magazine• Q magazine has an average circulation of 64,596• Is published monthly in the UK• Founded by Mark Ellen and David Hepworth as they believed there was a niche market as

there wasn't yet a magazine for the older generation who were still buying CD's.• Has a cover price of £3.90• First published in 1986 and was believed to differ from other magazines due to it's high

quality photography and printing, as well as having an older target audience• Its target audience for Q tends to be people in their 30's and 40's as it has a different mode of

address, more sophisticated and is based solely around the music as apposed to gossip and fashion as well which is often included in other music magazines. However it transpires that Q magazine doesn't appeal to many woman of that age.