Analysis of front cover - Q magazine

In the January issue of the music magazine Q there is many different codes and conventions used. The title of the magazine Q is very prominent and it is one letter because people are more likely to remember the one letter rather than a few phrases. The title is located in the top left third and this is the third that people look at first when looking at a magazine or another piece of text. There is not much text used which is a marketing tool when attracting an audience because if the buyer will look at the magazine and see lots of text then they might be put off by the amount of text on the front page because the buyer only sees the magazine at a glance and wants to be drawn in straight away by something that catches the eye. There is a slogan “The UK’S biggest music magazine” this is located at the top to entice the buyer even more. The slogan is in white and the background of it in black. These are two contrasting colours which go well together. The magazine cover is dominated by the picture which fills up the majority of the front. The picture consists of various different music artists together looking right into the buyer. This is another selling technique because the buyer will be walking past the magazine in a shop and the audience’s attention will be brought to the magazine because they are glaring into the audiences eyes. The selection of music artists is varied and this suggests that the magazine will be looking to target a larger group in society. The title of one of the articles in the magazine is in the top right third which again targets the audience. The plain cover and less of text and things going on suggests that this magazine is aimed at an older more sophisticated age group.