Foundation Portfolio Task- Analysis of NME Front Page

The main task is to produce the front cover, a contents page and a double page spread of a new music magazine. I must use the minimum of 4 original images.
To expand on my ideas I have applied the LIIAR model to the genre of the magazine I am going to produce. I have decided to use the music magazines Kerrang! and NME as models to use as a template for my music magazine and to get inspiration and ideas for my own music magazine. I have also researched how LIIAR applies to these magazines.

NME

Language-The main feature which is the most eye catching on the front cover of NME has to be the amazing photographs. NME uses very few images compared to Kerrang! which is very busy. NME has one main image which catches the eye. There are no other images on the front so the front cover only gives an incite into the main article. The picture of the band on the front of the magazine will influence the target audience. The font is in block capitals. The masthead “NME” is in Red Block capitals and is in large lettering. The other stories on the front cover are in block white capitals in large lettering so they are noticed. Unlike Kerrang! Not many colours were used to make the writing stand out there was only limited coloring. There is limited writing as the picture is meant to put the message across that this is going to be one of many bands which will be interviewed.

Institution- The music magazine NME is published by the UK’s leading publishing company IPC. According to the figures they have almost two in every three UK women and over 45% of UK men read an IPC magazine.

Ideology-The ideology behind the music magazine NME is to inform the target audience which is people who are into indie/rock music about events which are happening in the indie world of music, to promote the genre of indie/rock music and to entertain the readers. The idea behind my music magazine is to do similar things to NME which is to give an incite into the contemporary world of music.

Audience- NME like Kerrang! has a similar age group they are aiming the magazine at. Again my music magazine is going to be aimed at a similar age group. Although these sorts of magazines can be enjoyed by anybody who is into the genre of music of rock/indie. According to the IPC media pack for the music magazine NME 70% of the people who buy this magazine are male, and the average reader age is 25 years old. The magazine also attracts people of higher economic stature, as 72% of buyers and within the ABC1 model. Furthermore, 65% of people who view the magazines website, "NME.com" are male, and 50% are aged between 16 and 24. These statistics reflect the people who would be most likely to buy my magazine of the same genre.

Representation- NME magazine has a more polished un-busy look compared to Kerrang. However, the images look more natural, and there are no pictures of gigs just one band. A large part of NME's identity is the natural photographs they do. However, on certain issues of NME it is busy with different bands on. On this particular front cover all the artists on the front are stood looking at the reader to draw the reader in to buy the magazine.