Analysis of Q Magazine Front Cover

Target Audience- The primary target audience for Q magazine is for both genders aged 17-25 as this is the age range that is getting involved with current music and want to know what is happening now. The majority of people reading this magazine would fall in the audience demographic at band C1 down to E.

Masthead- This masthead is effective because with the use of red and white within a square it stands out against the image behind it, although because the image behind has a different shade of red incorporated the masthead doesn’t become too in your face. This bold masthead box makes it stand out to the reader so that it’s clear to them what they are looking at and makes sure that the magazine title is more likely to stick in their mind. The size of the masthead also makes it stand out to the reader as it sticks to the common convention of being 1/8 of the page so that it is one of the first things that the reader sees so that they know the brand this magazine has come from. The masthead also has a strapline that introduces the ideologies of the magazine and gives an introduction to what should be within the magazine. This links back to the target audience as they need to be attracted into reading the magazine and the best way is through a magazine masthead that grabs their attention.

Layout- The layout of this magazine is fit for purpose because it represents a professional magazine cover that has information on the contents inside without it looking too busy or in your face. This layout features the use of one main close-up image which sticks to the convention of a main image being used that is either a medium or close-up shot. The text is then overlaid on this close-up image which makes the whole layout fit together. As the text is overlaid in even spaces it makes the layout still look confined even if the text is over the image. The different sizes of texts add different areas of interest on the cover and ensure that the layout doesn’t look too busy or overpowering for the reader. This overall layout links back to the target audience as they want the magazine to look professional and appeal to their ever changing tastes.

Colour- The colour scheme on this front cover is effective because it remains quite simple with linking the colours to the image that is used. The masthead uses the colours of red and white which stand out clearly making this a main focus. The red also links to the colour of the models hair putting these two in a colour scheme together. The majority of the text is written in white making this clear against the image of the model which means the reader can see what stories are inside and their attention is attracted to these details. The other colour that is used slightly in the writing is a bright blue which is from the colour make-up on the models eyes. This idea of linking the colour of writing with the colours used on the model means that there is a flow with the use of colours on the front cover. This links back to the target audience as they want something to look good without looking garish while using colours that remain modern which is why these colours work because they aren’t too in your face.

Images- The main image used here is a close-up shot that adds a focus onto the model and makes her the centre of the magazine front cover. This works well because it means the reader only has one main image to focus on instead of lots of different ones that would mean the reader wouldn’t have a main focus losing the effect of drawing them in. The pose that the model is doing shows her staring straight at the reader this shows the image being used as a way to attract people in. Through the fact that she is looking straight at the reader it makes it a direct address for the audience meaning they might like the feeling of being involved and therefore continue to look at the magazine. With this magazine front cover as well you can again apply the theory of Laura Mulvey’s male gaze as although her pose is as apparent as the other image of desire on the Spin magazine front cover this pose still has that same image. As it’s almost as if she is staring lustfully at the audience as if to capture them in. This is effective on the target audience because of the use of direct address it means the audience member feels they are being spoken to personally.

Typography- The most effective part of the typography on this front cover is the fact that it’s all in white which links all the text together because it’s all the same colour. This also means that all of the text stands out clearly because the white is bold against the image behind it. The different size of text is effective as well because it means that even though the text is all the same colour the different sizes and slightly different font means that it looks different. The different sizes also show each different section meaning it is easy for the reader to look at the snippets of information they want to, so that they know what they will find inside the magazine. The different uses of typography add another element of interest to the cover that attract the reader’s eyes and make them interested in the stories featured on the cover.

Conclusion- Overall I think this front cover represents the needs of the target audience well through features such as the masthead, and use of imagery that show an up to date appeal to the magazine directed specifically for the target audience. Also the other aspects of the layout and colour scheme create the professional appeal that makes the target audience want to read it because it doesn’t look tacky or too busy but rather as something they actually want to look at. These all have the effect of making the magazine into a brand that they target audience are interested in.