Billboard Contents Analysis

This analysis is on Billboard magazine’s contents page. This layout is used in all issues of the magazine so will give me a good idea of how they regularly layout their magazines. However, Billboard doesn’t just use their contents page to show the readers where the articles will be in this issue. They also use it to list the latest rated albums and singles, this appears on the left hand side of the page and with the large title it stands out to the reader and brings in the reader’s attention.

The contents title is the first thing that catches the reader’s attention. This is because of its large chunky font and also the use of black on white which really contrasts and grabs your attention.

The three pictures of artists below the contents page are used to promote the artist that feature inside the magazine and is a quick way of the reader navigating to their desired page. The images aren’t just trapped in the box they’re positioned in and come over the top of them, giving the magazine an informal look. The use of the white text to show the page numbers on top of the pictures makes it easy for the reader to see them and makes it a good tool for the readers to use.

Below this the contents page is split into three sections, the titles have been coloured in black to stand out on the plain white background. The featured articles in the magazine have been written in blue. This makes them stand out and quickly points out the big articles in this issue to the reader.

Underneath is what we presume to be the feature article of this issue. The large picture of the band draws the reader’s attention in and then draws them to the article page for them to read about the band. In the picture they’re wearing casual clothes which shows they are a laidback band and shows there personality. They have no real expression on their face that could also show their personality or play a part of what genre of music they create. The background is fairly plain and ensures that the attention is on the band itself.

The layout of the page is very neat and well structured. All the sections seem to be organised into squares, therefore the page seems very well structured and neat. This gives the page a very professional look while also being very simple to read and making it easy to navigate the page. 

Q MUSE Contents Page Analysis

This analysis is on the contents page of the same Q magazine that was analysed earlier. The first thing that the reader notices is the very large picture of the Courteeners. This is a featured article in the magazine and this large picture is helping to promote the article. This contents page is completely different in layout and style to the NME contents that I analysed earlier. This one with the use of the house colours and the layout is the usual look of a Q magazine contents page.

Although the layout is very different the contents still looks very well structured and neat. The main articles are listed to the left hand side; this makes it easy for the user because all the articles can be found in one simple place. The title of ‘features’ lets us know that the articles listed underneath are one offs for the magazine and are defiantly ones to be checked out and are being advertised on the side because of it. The page numbers are set right beside the title of the article making it easy for the reader to find what they want. A sneak peak sentence is also underneath the title to interest the reader to find the article and read on. There’s another title underneath called ‘every month’, this is more for the regular readers which would read the articles they like every year and want to know where they’d be found in this issue.

The Oasis section below the featured articles section is given extra attention with the use of the rule of third; by having it in the middle of the page it attracts more of the reader’s attention. The change of colour on the title attracts the reader’s attention and then promotes the magazine articles to the reader.

The colour pallet used is the same as on the cover page, this gives the magazine a professional look with the use of consistency throughout the issue and also through the previous issues. By keeping the layout the same it makes it easy and familiar to the reader meaning there is more chance of them buying the magazine again.  

I believe keeping the same house style throughout my magazine is a great idea that I could defiantly use in my work. I believe it would give me a professional look and that if I were to make this regularly it would be easier to make it a popular magazine in this way. 

NME Maccabees contents analysis

This analysis is on the contents page of the same NME magazine that was analysed earlier. The first thing that the reader notices is the large title at the top of the page. This uses the rule of thirds and places it across the entire top third, making it very visible and obvious to the reader. The typeface used is fairly formal and a well-structured font that does fit with the structured and neat look of the page.

The page itself looks very structured and neat with the use of squares to keep every article separate from the others. All of the articles are also shown with a picture and a small introduction into them too. Also, all of the page numbers for the articles are in a larger font and made bold which is a good tool for the reader when they are looking for a specific article, they could quickly link the picture to the page number layered on top of the image.

The look of the background itself seems to be like very old paper which would link to what we assume the main article on the contents page is by the size of its picture and its position at the centre of the page in the reader’s immediate view.  The box tells us about where to find the free posters of 80’s icons. This again advertises the reward the reader gets for purchasing the magazine and also links to the old looking paper style effect that they have gone for the background of the page.

There is also a small section underneath the main box titled ‘plus’ that gives titles of other articles that feature in the magazine. Again this is placed in the middle of the page to ensure its one of the first things the reader sees.  

The page seems to follow a colour pallet of black and white; this again links to the retro appearance of the page and the main article on show on this page. Two different fonts are used on this page, the main one is used on the title and most of the text contained on the page. The second is a lot neater and more upper class and old fashioned. This again links to the main article shown on this page.

The use of minimal colour and fonts is a good idea that I could take for my own work as I believe it gives the page a very simple yet attractive look. I also believe the use of boxes makes the page simple for the reader whole also looking very structured and well thought about.