Research - Music Magazine Contents Page - Similar Product Research

By Deanna Hammond-Blackburn and Emma Hall

The contents page DPS contains 8 main images that promote the different articles. The smallest image is a full shot of Noel Gallagher, who has his own section as he is the subject of the main image on the front cover. The image on the contents is small as it has already got a lot of exposure on the front, as well as a massive 9 page spread in the main magazine. In both images he is stood with a large amp, but in different poses. On the contents page, Noel is leaning against the amp in a blue shirt and jeans, very casually. This represents him as a normal guy; the magazine is focusing on his musical side rather than his physique. This fits the genre of the magazine, but breaks more common male representations. The largest image on the contents is a mid-shot of Adam Ant with a large dog. He is wearing mostly black with some red, which links to Q’s house style. The representations of this are again more about his music and personality than his physique, while his masculinity is being portrayed by being pictured with a large dog.

The contents page is split into sections, with headings written in the house style, with a white font on a coloured banner. The colours of the banners are very limited, using only grey, black and red. The page numbers are all quite small and there is a lot of text for each one, as the older readership of the magazine is more likely to have the patience to read through each section than a younger reader would. The page numbers are white in a red square, which resembles the ‘Q’ logo, while each feature has a red sans serif title, then black serif writing. This means there is consistency across the whole page, along with the shared sophisticated white background, and makes it all connect. The main heading of ‘Content’ is in a simple black font that would be quite uninteresting, if it weren’t for the cartoon characters integrated into it, which are linked to an article, explained by a short piece of anchorage text off of an arrow.

The language used on the contents is a mix of consultative and casual register, as the reader is likely to be intelligent enough to understand terms like “rendezvous”, but a s the contents page needs to grab attention quickly and encourage people to buy it with the magazine’s unique selling points, the tone needs to also be informal enough to make readers feel welcome and be invited in. Also, the readers of ‘Q’, predominantly male, tend to be quite dedicated to the music and so several language signs are used under the assumption that the readers will understand what they are referencing: “prancing hermaphrodites and a meat wardrobe, it’s got to be the Lady GaGa tour”, for example is only understandable if you live in the Western world, and have been keeping up with gossip about the singer.

The main features have text that cut into the pictures using a white box that blends seamlessly into the background for a sophisticated effect. ‘The Q Review’ has its own section off to the right, emphasised with double lines, a striking red banner and a large photo. There is also a flash to advertise its improved ‘bigger and better’ section which both emphasises and justifies this feature’s prominence on the page.

Techniques such as more subtle representations of people, smaller and more text for a slightly older target audience, a sophisticated and consistent background with integrated house style and more sophisticated vocabulary and signs that the readers will be able to identify with, should all be incorporated into our own magazine.