Analysis of exsisting magazines

I have chosen to analyse two front covers from magazines that are based on the same music industry as my magazine. Also analysing a contents page and a double page spread from 'Mixmag' and 'ATM'.

Mixmag front cover:

This is the front cover of mixmag from September 2008. The image is the main focus on this cover, this is because it covers up the whole of the page. This image is mainly used to draw in male readers as it is a woman in her bikini. Choosing the write image for a front cover is vital because it tells the readers what the main subject of the issue is going to be about. Also to left of the image is a headline that is written in bold lettering and tells the reader (if they have not yet noticed) what the image is about. Down the right hand side of the page is a list of sub-headings that are also featured in the magazine. The theme colour of the front cover is white and yellow, which stands out from the colours of the image, making it clear and easy to read. The title of the magazine is in the traditional place of most magazines; at the top covering the page from right to left. The choice of language used on the front cover is very simple to understand, using a low level of grammar. This is because the reader who is likely to pick up this magazine is not going to enjoy reading the front cover if it is difficult for them to understand, also the front cover demonstrates the language that is going to be used inside the issue.

ATM front cover:

The second magazine i have chosen to analyse is called 'ATM', and reviews and talks about music of a similar culture to my magazine. It is slightly different to 'Mixmag' in the way that this magazine is based on dance music that is more drum and bass genre. This front cover is also covered with a large image yet again portraying what this issue is going to consist of. The name of this magazine is printed on the top left of the page, in a mustard yellow colour. The colour scheme of the front cover is gold and white, with the image and colour of the lettering matching each other. This is because the image on the front cover is of a artist called 'Goldie', and that is why the publisher has chosen the theme to be white and gold. The magazine also comes with a free CD, this is used to promote sales in the way that readers will be drawn in to this 'free' product and will be more likely to purchase the product because the reader believes that they're getting more value for money.

Contents page:

This is a contents page taken from 'mixmag' magazine, and is clearly stated on the top right hand corner of the page. It has a general layout with the page numbers written down the right-hand side, with the sub-heading of 'features' written above . The main image covers 2/3Rd's of the page, outlining what the issue is based on, in this case the artist Sam Sparro. The reader knows that the image relates to a page because down on the bottom left of the image is the page number, (this is what page the image is based on). Also, there is a smaller image of another page printed in between the title and the magazine page numbers. At the bottom of the contents page is a brief description of what the free item provided with the magazine consists of, in this case it a a C.D of Armin Van Buuren/ an image based on the item is also displayed.

Double Page Spread:

This Is the main Double-page spread of the same issue of 'mixmag' that is based on the main image on the contents page. The title of the page is printed at the top of the left page and is written in the colours gold and white. It is written in gold because the word used in the title is also 'golden'. The main image covers the two pages, leaving only a little space for writing at the very bottom of the left page, (the right page is fully taken up of an image of the main focus; Sam Sparro.) Underneath the title is a sub-title and briefly outlines what the page is going to be about, this tells the reader what the writing below is about, therefore giving the reader an opportunity to decide whether or not they want to read on. The main colour scheme matches the contents page being white and gold. This is done so that the issue can be easially related to 'Sam Sparro' of the issue, as it is specially based on the artist 'Sam Sparro; and he is familiarised with the colour gold (due to his single called 'Black and Gold'). The font is in white because it stands out from the image, therefore making it easy to read.