1contents page analysis

8/13/2019 1Contents Page Analysis

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I have chosen to analyse NMEs contents

page as this magazine is most

representative of the genre I am

attempting to emulate in my music

magazine. As expected, this contents page

maintains the same colour scheme that

encapsulates NMEs brand identity, with thewhite, red and black being the dominant

colours shown on this particular contents

page instantly expressing the familiarity

of the front cover to the reader and

prompting them to read on. Furthermore,

the banner shown here serves as a title to

the contents page, suggesting that the

target audience reading it will be

sufficiently intelligent and mature enough

to understand that it is a contents page

without a need for a title. Also, the title

and subheadings displayed here are all in

the sans serif font and are shown in block

capitals, representing the boldness and

masculinity of the target audience. As iscustomary with NME, only one central

image is used, with primary focus being on

the text and accessibility of the page

again highlighting how it is primarily

aimed at a slightly older audience with

significantly more interest in the music, as

opposed to the glamorisation of the artists

and the magazine itself.


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Again, the emphasis on

music is shown in the band

index, which essentially

lists all the bands that the

target audience will be

familiar with as they are

representative of the

genre, and this is

segregated from the rest

of the text in terms of font

colour and the gutter. The

language and mode of

address is informal, but

not oversimplified or

overly enthusiastic

showing that the magazine

is aimed for those with a

certain degree of maturity

yet still maintain a sense

of trendiness and

familiarity with the bands

being mentioned.

Moreover, the extra featurepromoting subscription

also stands out drastically

from the rest of the text

and serves as the most

eye-catching aspect of the

page, next to the dominant

banner, due to its changeof colour scheme and

rominent contrast.

This entices the reader

to pay the most attention

to it and consequently be

inclined to do as it says,

with its use of an

imperative consolidating

this point. Proceeding on

from this, the graphic

features and their

boldness prompt the

reader in the direction of

turning the page and

contrast the rough, text-

based appearance of the

page with bold, almostmodern aesthetics. The

articles on the main page

are also subdivided

under different

categories, in order to

promote accessibility and

break up the text, which

subsequently makes iteasier to read for the

target audience. These

are shown on the

furthermost right hand

side of the page, so the

main article has room to

be seen as the focalpoint of the contents

a e.


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his contents page differs

ignificantly from the previous

s it is extracted from a more up

o date issue of the magazine

ne that has been altered

ignificantly. The absence of the

asthead logo and banner is

vident, instead replaced by the

ormal looking INSIDE THISEEK title. Furthermore, this

n itself is an implication of the

lder, more sophisticated

udience that the magazine is

iming itself towards, as it more

eminiscent of the old newsprint

hat the magazine used to

ncapsulateconsequently

mplying that there will be moreocus on older, more classic

ands. In conjunction with this,

uotes such as bands are all

eally pussy these days

mphasise this point,

imultaneously showing focus on

he older bands as well as

uggesting that, despite the older

ge of the target audience, they

hould still have an interest in

he rebellious nature of the

usic.

Another significant change is the

colour schemeor rather, the

application of the colour scheme.

The recurring colours of red, white

and black are still present, which

allows the reader to understand that

it is NME by the formation of this

brand identity, but the boldness of

the red is only visible at one place.Ultimately, this demonstrates a huge

difference to the brighter, more bold

approach of the previous contents

page, again enforcing the older,

more educated new target audience

and indicating that the primary focus

of the magazine is the musicas

opposed to just attracting an

audience with colours andindications. Likewise, the

subheadings are also limited to a

small column surrounded by two

gutters, displaying that the overall

accessibility of the magazine has

been lessened in favour of the

promotion of the music itself.

Essentially, this is no a change to try

and attract an entirely new audience,

rather one to ensure that it is

dedicated to the older people of its

loyal fanbase.


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Despite the older target audience, the general

humorous/aggressive/laid-back mode of address is still maintained ,

corresponding with the brand identity of NME, and this can be seen

in the largest pull quote on the page I want to be like a boot

stamping on a human face forever. Consequently, this enforces the

idea that the magazine is still remaining loyal to its readership in

terms of general brand identity, while expanding to fit the needs of

the older members. Furthermore, the amount of feature articlephotographs has increased substantially from the previous contents

page, and all share music-related content. This puts further emphasis

on the artists which help define the genre, which is much more likely

to please fans both new and old, while also introducing a more

accessible element to the page in order to make up for the minimised

subheadings. Also, it is likely that the majority of these feature

articles have been seen on the front cover, and by allocating them

with page numbers and more pull quotes, the reader is even more

enticed to buy the magazine and find out the context in which thepull quotes were taken from. Proceeding on from this point, the

separation of the subscription text box from the rest of the page is

still present, and still manages to succeed in being the most bold and

eye-catching feature on the contents page, in order to show its

detachment from the music-based content and indicate that readers

should pay the most attention to it as it serves as the best financial

benefit for the magazine. Generally, however, this contents page is

largely different to the previous, in terms of layout, colours, and

general aesthetic. Despite this, it manages to illustrate that, if thebrand is established enough, then even significant alterations within

the magazine will still manage to be representative of the brand

identity, and readers will be able to instantly familiarise the content

with the fact that it is NME.

1contents page analysis

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