Magazine Cover Analysis 1

Q is a magazine aimed at a majority middle class male audience, with over two thirds of the buyers being male and 38% of them being between the ages of 15 and 24. Although the magazine focuses on music, it does incorporate aspects of a lifestyle magazine and does report on things that their readers are also interested in. 

The front covers use a similar bold writing throughout the front cover, with the only change being the iconic ‘Q’ and some of the writing on the gold banner to make the names of the artists stand out to the reader to persuade them to buy it if they are interested in that specific artist. Also, the white headline on the band makes it stand out as it contrasts with their dark clothing, as does the bright blue ‘Exclusive’ circle to grab the person’s attention if they walk past and attracts their eyes straight to the cover. There is a of a use a limited palette of colour with the red, black and white and the gold strip which makes the magazine look a higher quality and more aimed to the male, middle class market, but still suitable for a female and a different age range audience. They have limited writing about the actual articles of the front cover, which differs from some more female-orientated magazines and focus on the people that they’ve reported on to make people want to buy. The barcode is placed at the edge of the magazine as the want their reader’s attention to stay in the middle of the magazine and by being it at the side, it’s out of the way and doesn’t interfere with any of the headlines.

The positioning of the band is to make sure that their the main focus of the front cover and although their picture overlaps the ‘Q’ signifies that they are bigger and more important than the magazines normal look and the magazine is already recognizable and respected. The lead singer of the band is positioned in the middle and in front of the other members to show his leadership in the band and represents that he ‘fronts’ the bands image.

Although the artists featured on the cover are mainly aimed at a younger audience, some of the older bands can also attract an older audience which makes the magazine more marketable and suitable for a wider age range. Some of the musicians mentioned aren’t that well known in the mainstream audience which would appeal to the more alternative fans but Q also reports on many well-known and popular artists, which is likely to appeal to a broader market.

Being aimed towards a male audience, the adverts used are likely to reflect that but their music taste would also be taken into consideration. Music magazines often have adverts for bands performances and Q would advertise mainly pop, alternative and rock musicians which corresponds to the bands and singers that they write about in their magazine. Adverts could also include ones for technology and fashion, which the band could influence if their fans wanted to wear similar clothes to them.