This is my rough sketch of my dps, giving me a vague idea of how i want my layouot to look, where i want the text and where i want the images.

Analysing the NME

Manic street preachers

 

The NME (New Musical Express) is a mainstream magazine targeted at young males that are interested in mainstream bands. NME is the most popular magazine for rock music on the market. Its main opposition is Kerrang. Kerrang averagely sells around 64-67 thousand magazines and NME sells averagely 70-72 thousand although Kerrang has topped NME on occasion.

First impressions of the front cover suggest the magazine is aimed at older rock fans, after analysing the front cover further i would presume a target market of around 24 to 40 year old fans and younger indie fans.

The sell line in the circle has modern band names inside allowing them to target the younger generations, the band featured on the cover is a band from the late 80's even though they are still making music and are in no way "ancient" the bands fans would majoritably be middle aged males, this added to the sell line with the "newer" bands gives them a wider target market.

They use just one colour; red, they use it very maturely to make to make the magazine sensible yet red symbolises danger, which maintains the mature rock status for the older readers. The positioning of the three members on the cover is very militant the red haired member has very square shoulders facing directly towards us with a direct mode of address. He has the Welsh flag on his cheek since Wales is his country of origin. This could be seen as a representation of battle as in medieval times when men on horseback would bear their flag on their cheek in the same way during battle. The other members are wearing slightly military jackets.

The positioning of the members on the cover there is a space to the left of them for the extra band member who they mysteriously lost. The image creates a direct mode of address with the audience and the two to his left and right are relaxed and smiling. The band looks mature and serious this is applying to the mature rockers who are know dads or business men and need to be mature but yet still have the rock spirit inside.

After analysing the NME cover I have come to the conclusion that NME feature "older" established bands and "newer" younger bands in an attempt to cater for a fairly wide rock/indie audience and report on new trends. In my opinion they have succeeded very well by establishing a clear target market.

First draft of front cover. Music magazine

Here is my first draft, im not very happy with the yellow star.

Magazine cover practise

This is my practise attempt on adobe in design to make a magazine cover.

Preliminary task

This is my practise attempt at a front cover for a school magazine. i used it it photoshop for its effects on colour.