Detailed class analysis of

music magazine NME

By Chloe Tierney-Martin

Colour scheme: The colour scheme for this magazine is red,

black and white. The colour red is an intense and exciting
due to the level of energy it gives out. Red draws attention so
is a brilliant colour to use when wanting to grab the target
audiences attention. The colour black is authoritative and
powerful it connotes power, sexuality and sophistication. The
colour white connotes purity and cleanliness. It helps people
clear their thoughts. All these colours are unisex suggesting
Mise
en scene:
The mise
scene
on the
front
covertarget
is the
this magazine
appeals
to en
both
a male
and
female
graffiti
in the background. It has been placed as the
audience.
background to suggest that Dizzie Rascal has been in a gang
in the past but has now changed his life around as graffiti is
an illegal offence to commit often done by gangs. This is a
subverted stereotype representation because usually men
in gangs who have been in gangs look like thugs and have a
negative approach to life. However, Dizzie Rascal is the
The
mainheimage
is a happy
medium-long
of Dizzie
opposite
looks very
and has ashot
positive
aspectRascal.
on life
The
image
Rascal in a positive way.
as wemain
can tell
fromrepresents
the colourDizzie
scheme.
The way his arms are positioned shows he is welcoming this
creates intimacy with the target audience because it suggests
he is personally reaching out to them. The main image fits
into each third (rule of thirds) which shows that this is a
dominant and important thing on the front cover. It also
suggests
that the stories
are predominantly
about
Dizzie
Mode of address:
The language
used on the front
cover
on
Rascal.
The main
tells us that
the genre
this magazine
is image
very informal.
A quote
from Dizzie Rascal
himself is featured Im spreading joy around the world,
man! The use of the personal pronoun I makes the
magazine appear to its target audience because it creates a
The strapline
says
"16
autumn
special"
this
relationship
with
them
as page
they feel
Dizzietour
Rascal
is directly
appeals
to
the
target
audience
because
the
adjective
having a conversation with them.
"special" suggests that this is an exclusive story that you can
only get from this magazine issue and if you don't buy you will
The
audience
for this buy
magazine
is wellmiss target
out which
makes theprofile
target audience
it.
educated fans of bands and new music. They are men who
live in the UK. The audience will be dedicated music fans who
regularly buy the magazine. They will also be interested in a
wide rangeThe
of subjects
fashion
to film. in the left
Barcode:
barcoderanging
is veryfrom
small
and placed
hand corner so it doesn't take up any space, having a barcode
is essential as it is the law. The price is written in a very small
typography so the reader doesn't pay much attention and
because the target audience are regular buyers so will

Masthead: The masthead is called NME. It is written in

capital letters in a red bold typography with a black stroke
surrounding it. The colour red makes the masthead stand out
and the black stroke adds more detail to it. The masthead
uses the rule of thirds as it is in the first third so its the first
thing the target audiences eye will be drawn to. The
masthead needs to be bold and stand out so it comes across
Direct
address:
is using
direct address
as he is
as different
to the Dizzie
rest ofrascal
the music
magazines
out there.
looking directly at the camera lens. This is to attract the
readers as it creates a feeling on intimacy drawing them in to
The
main
cover line says "Dizzie Rascal" in a white bold
buy the
magazine.
font. The denotation of the cover line is that it is just the
artists name but the connotations complement the
connotations of the colour white. Dizzie Rascal got his artist
name from his violent behaviour at school when a teacher
named him "Rascal". The name "Rascal" represents the
madness he faced in his youth as he use to fight with
teachers and steal cars. The colour white connotes purity,
innocence, goodness and virginity. As the main cover line is
very cover
big and
in the
readers
face this
suggests
is
The
lines
in this
magazine
all follow
the that
samethere
colour
going
to
be
an
interview
from
Dizzie
Rascal
about
how
music
scheme. One of the cover lines says "Rifling through Coxon's
helped
turn his This
life around.
record him
collection".
suggests the magazine has a male
target audience because the noun "rifle" which is like the
noun "rifling"means a gun and stereotypically men own guns
not women. It could also suggest that Dizzie Rascal was
involved in gun crime in his past. The other coverline states
"Kasabian Maximo Park Yeah Yeah Yeahs Muse". This suggests
that the
magazine
hasaudience
a wide target
as theseisartists
The
niche
target
of audience
this magazine
men
all
come
from
a
different
genre
of
music.
between the age of 17-30, who are well educated. This target
audience has a love for technology, music and films. The
target audience belong to the social class ABC. The target
audience for this magazine is men who like hip-hop music as
Dizzie Rascal is a hip-hop artist. The secondary target
audience is women because some women like listening to
music stereotypically made for males. Rather than the target
The
genrejust
of this
magazine
for the
fansgenre
of the
music
audience
be for
hip-hop is
fans
of hip-hop
the magazine
as
Dizzieeach
Rascal
is making
the main
the have
maina coverline
is
changes
issue
theimage,
magazine
wide target
about
him and the background on the front cover relates to
audience.
the hip-hop culture. This suggests only fans of hip-hop music
would like this specific issue.

Page numbers: The page numbers are Editorial/editors letter: The mode of Masthead: The masthead on the
next to pictures and certain topics to address is informal, in the editors statement contents page is the same as the
make it accessible for the target the editor speaks in a relaxed manner using one on the front cover. This is
audience rather than reading through word like "eh" which is creating a repetitive and professional so the
audience
will
always
the magazine. This means the target conversation with the reader forming a target
remember
what
magazine
their
audience can go straight to the stories relationship . This makes the target audience
reading.
The
editors
also
want
to
they desire making the magazine more feel comfortable with reading the magazine
Main Image: The main image is a
createThe
a magazine
that will
in
Anchorage:
text below
thestay
main
appealable
The
dateissue.
which enticesnumber:
them to buy
another
dominant part on the contents Date/issue
the
readers
head.
image anchors the image as it gives the

issue
number
are
a
page. It also uses the rule of and
target audience a perspective and tells
conventional
aspect
on
a
contents
thirds rule as it fits in the centre
the readers about what they will read in
thirds it grabs the target audience page as the target audience will the magazine. It also gives them other
attention. There is synergy on the expect to see it as it keeps them information too.
Brand Identity: NME brand identity is
up to date
with the issues
the
heading/Title:
Theof main
front cover "16 autumn tour Main
magazine.
says "touring special". The the fact that they are modern, different
special" as that cover line relates heading
and exciting. This is because the colour
to the main image which is of a adjective "special" suggests to the
schemes are dominant all the way
tour bus. The model in the main reader that this article is not to be
through. Throughout out the magazine
image follows the house style of missed. It creates the idea that this
there is always lots going on which
is
an
exclusive
article
which
you
can
the NME magazine as she is
suggests to the readers that the
pictured in a medium long shot only read from this particular Sub-headings: The subheading are
magazine has as lot to offer.
standing next to a red tour bus magazine. The adjective "special" against a black background in a white
Mise en scene: The mise en also creates the idea that this is not
typography which makes the headings
with blacked out windows wearing
scene on the contents page is Article
just
an
ordinary
story
its
different
Titles/content:
Along
the
stand out to the target audience as the
a black and white t-shirt
being able to subscribe to the left
and hand
interesting.
side are the names of the colours create contrast. The use of the
magazine, it is placed in the right bands which follows the house style
larger sized font helps the reader as it
bottom hand corner so it doesn't as the typography uses the same
makes it more easy for them to navigate
Fonts: The fonts on the contents
take up any important space. The colour scheme especially as red is
around the magazine.
follow the same colour scheme and
option for subscription appeals to an eye grabbing colour it makes it
style as the front cover which again
the readers because if they accessible for the readers to go
follows the house style. This appeals
subscribe it is cheaper in the long straight to the article they desire to
Grab
quotes:
IN
the
left
to the target audience because it
run for them. It is also very easy read.
third
it
says
"
The
UKs
shows the magazine is professional
for
the
readers
to
subscribe
as
all
Borders around images: The main
No.1 gig guide" this grabs
and makes the magazine memorable
the
information
to do it
is
image
has on
a how
white
background
the
reader
as they will relate it to the magazine
them
for them.
surrounding
it which makes it look like a
Layout:
layout
the magazine
in
everyThe
time
theyof see
the font is
and
photograph this creates the idea to the
columns
which
makes the magazine
colour of
the font.
readers that this is a picture that was
appear
sophisticated
and professional to
taken on tour since the model is standing
Target Audience:
the target audience as it is easier to read
outside a tour bus and the headline says

Column width and positioning: The Captions: The caption in the Design: The design of the magazine
text is in positioned into four columns top right hand corner is in a uses very vibrant colours while also
and the text is integrated around the small font and says "Dizzie". following the house style of the
image as text is written around around This is there because it tells magazine. The double page spread isn't
the radio which makes the radio appear the reader what this article is jam packed as only the required
emphasised suggesting Dizzie Rascal is a about and links it to the other information is on there. This shows the
good artist as his music has appeared on pages about Dizzie Rascal magazine is professional as they are not
Page
numbers:
Page
the
radio.
The columns
separate
the text
Main
Image:
The main
image
is aalso.
Representation:
Dizzie
Rascal
is
trying
to cram to much
into the
readers
numbers
are
a
conventional
making
easy for
the
read. The
mediumit long
shot
ofreaders
Dizzie to
Rascal.
represented
as
to
be
a
changed
man
aspect you expect to see as head.
colours he is wearing is a white t-shirt,
from music as the main headline
the are part of the codes
black jeans and a red jacket which again
states "From tags to riches". This
and
conventions
in
a
follows the house style of the magazine.
suggests music inspired to stop
magazine.
The
page
The way Dizzie Rascal is positioned to be
participating in crime and look at the
number is in the corner of
Font
and
type size:
The
headline has
standing suggests he is doing something
more
important
part of
life.
the page because it is not
the largest font on the double page
he shouldn't be as he is holding a graffiti
the most important thing
can the readers know he is doing Use of images: At the spread which suggests that it is very
the readers need to see.
something illegal. The way he is standing bottom of the double page significant as it sums up what the
could also imply that Dizzie Rascal is spread there are images of article is all about. The words "tags"
Mode
Address/Language:
The
looking of
back
into his old life and
how empty bottles of alcohol. and "riches" are bold and emphasised
mode
address
in this
is a The denotation of this is which shows the reader the massive
music ofhas
changed
him magazine
to become
of space:
There
is no empty
space
very
informal
we canis tell
this
change
in Dizzie
Rascals
life that
he
better
man asand
the article
about
hisby
new just they are empty bottles Use
but
the
connotation
of
this
on
the
double
page
spread
however
only
the
clotheslife.
Dizzie Rascal is wearing as
made.
reformed
could be that Dizzie Rascal the right page contains writing and this is
they are very casual and the style of
lived an unstable life before because NME don't want to put too much
the
font is letter
very relaxed
and graffiti
like.
Large
start
of
and spent a lot of his time information onto the page because the
article (drop cap): The
getting drunk.
reader
will get bored
and not want
read
Profile/target
audience:
The totarget
letter 'Y' at the beginning of
it. audience is males aged 17-30. The
the article is in a larger font
play on words headline" From tags to
then the rest of the article
riches" appeals to the 35% of the target
which emphasises the word
audience that are students because it is
"you". This creates a feeling
simple and memorable. Having the
of intimacy with the reader
main image as Dizzie Rascal will help
as informal language is being
the magazine sell as he is very well
used
as
if
it
was
a
known. NME readers have a strong
conversation.
relationship with the NME magazine as
the target audience are obsessed with