ANALYSIS

NME Cover Analysis

The page is laid out with a main feature article photo of two rockstars a menu strip and a masthead in the left third and headline across the lower half of the cover. There is also a kicker across the top to inform you that this is a "special issue".

This layout is quite typical of a music magazine front cover with most magazines being produced in a similar template. The masthead (title of the magazine) is at the top as our eye would naturally fall there first, on this magazine the title 'NME' is in the top left. This is a particularly effective layout technique as it means it falls in the left third.

The left third of a magazine cover is particularly important in selling magazines as when they are displayed this is often this is often the only part of the issue that is on view when magazines are displayed in shops so it needs to be recognisable and eye catching. The menu strip is in this third so that possible audience could want to read more as they can see the featured articles and pieces as they are in clear view.
There are two images on the NME cover, the feature article photograph and secondary image which links in with both the secondary lead and is mirrored in the kicker at the top of the page. The feature article photo shows the front men of “the Kaisers and the Foos”. Their body language is quite casual and suggests a camaraderie between them linking to the headline which states they “rock together”
The secondary image is of fans at a concert or festival it both links with the secondary lead and frames the main image; this creates a particularly effective layout and also could make the main article seem like something to “shout about” as it seems the fans are cheering for the people in the main image.

The language used on this coverpage is also very eyecatching and reflective of the rock genre, in the menu strip the onomatopia is used the kicker shouts "chaaaarge" and uses  language to keep to the theme of the magazine such as "crashing" and "madness" this attracts the target audience as the rock genre in general is seen to have a "do what you like" and "free" attitude this ideology which the magazine is portraying appeals to the feeling of the audience wanting to emulate thier idols and keep there own values and interests, they want the "wild" lifestyle of the rockstars that is shown in the magazine.

The fonts used are mainly capital letters which gives an impression of something loud the lettering ‘shouts’ the information which is reflective of the rock stereotype that the magazine is aimed at. The colour scheme of red yellow and black is really bold but basic , the colours are neither masculine nor feminine so it can appeal to a wider audience and the block colours are eye catching giving the magazine a fresh look.