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 this magazine appeals to both a
Mise
en scene:
The mise
en scene on the front
male and
female target
audience.
cover is the graffiti in the background. It has
been placed as the 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
opposite he looks very happy and has a positive
The
main
is acan
medium-long
of
aspect
on image
life as we
tell from theshot
colour
Dizzie
Rascal. The main image represents Dizzie
scheme.
Rascal in a positive way. 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

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 as different to the rest of the music
magazines out there.
Direct address: Dizzie rascal is using direct
address as he is looking directly at the camera
lens. This is to attract the readers as it creates a
feeling on intimacy drawing them in to buy the
magazine.

The main cover line says "Dizzie Rascal" in a

white bold 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 big and in the readers face this

The target audience profile for this magazine

is well-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 range of subjects ranging from fashion to
film.
Barcode: The barcode is very small and placed
in the left 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 already know the price.
The genre of this magazine is for fans of the
hip-hop music as Dizzie Rascal is the main
image, the main cover line is about him and the
background on the front cover relates to the hiphop culture. This suggests only fans of hip-hop
music would like this specific issue.
Mode of address: The language used on the
front cover on this magazine is 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 relationship with them as they feel Dizzie

The niche target audience of this magazine is

men 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 audience just be for hip-hop fans the
genre of the magazine changes each issue
making the magazine have a wide target
audience.
The strapline says "16 page autumn tour
special" this appeals to the target audience
because the adjective "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 miss out which makes the target
audience buy it.
The cover lines in this magazine all follow the
same colour scheme. One of the cover lines says
"Rifling through Coxon's record collection". This
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
cover line states "Kasabian Maximo Park Yeah
Yeah Yeahs Muse". This suggests that the
magazine has a wide target audience as these

Main Image: The main

image is a dominant part on
the contents page. It also
uses the rule of thirds rule
as it fits in the center thirds it
grabs the target audience
attention. There is synergy
on the front cover "16
autumn tour special" as that
cover line relates to the main
image which is of a tour bus.
The model in the main image
follows the house style of the
NME magazine as she is
pictured in a medium long
shot standing next to a red
tour bus with blacked out
windows wearing a black and
white t-shirt
Mise en scene: The mise
en scene on the contents
page is being able to
subscribe to the magazine, it
is placed in the right bottom
hand corner so it doesn't
take up any important
space.
The
option
for
subscription appeals to the
readers because if they
subscribe it is cheaper in the
long run for them. It is also

Anchorage: The text below the

main image anchors the image as
it gives the target audience a
perspective and tells the readers
Grab quotes: In the left third about what they will read in the
it says " The UKs No.1 gig magazine. It also gives them other
guide" this grabs the readers information too.
attention because it suggests
this is the best ever gig guide
which cannot be missed
making them impatiently buy Sub-headings: The subheading
it.
are against a black background in a
white typography which makes the
headings stand out to the target
audience as the colours create
Borders around images:
contrast. The use of the larger sized
The main image has a white
font helps the reader as it makes it
background surrounding it
more easy for them to navigate
which makes it look like a
around the magazine.
photograph this creates the
idea to the readers that this
is a picture that was taken
on tour since the model is
standing outside a tour bus
and the
headline says
Fonts: The fonts on the contents
"touring special".
follow the same colour scheme and
style as the front cover which again
Target Audience:
follows the house style. This
appeals to the target audience
because it shows the magazine is
professional
and
makes
the
magazine memorable as they will

Page numbers: The page

Masthead: The masthead on
Date/issue number: The
numbers are next to pictures
the contents page is the
date and issue number are a
and certain topics to make it
same as the one on the front
conventional aspect on a
accessible
for
the
target
cover. This is repetitive and
contents page as the target
audience rather than reading
professional so the target
audience will expect to see it
through the magazine. This
audience
will
always
as it keeps them up to date
means the target audience can
remember what magazine
with the issues of the
go straight to the stories they
their reading. The editors also
magazine.
desire making the magazine
want to create a magazine
more appealable
Layout: The layout of the
Editorial/editors letter: The modethat will stay in the readers
magazine is in columns
of address is informal, in the editorshead.
which makes the magazine
statement the editor speaks in a
appear sophisticated and
relaxed manner using word like "eh"
professional to the target
which is creating a conversation
audience as it is easier to
with
the
reader
forming
a
read and appears neat.
Identity:
NME
brand
relationship . This makes the target Brand
audience feel comfortable with identity is the fact that they are
reading the magazine which entices modern, different and exciting. This
is because the colour schemes are
them to buy another issue.
dominant all the way through.
Throughout out the magazine there
is always lots going on which
suggests to the readers that the
Main heading/Title: The main
magazine has as lot to offer.
heading says "touring special".
Article Titles/content: Along
The adjective "special" suggests to
the left hand side are the names
the reader that this article is not to
of the bands which follows the
be missed. It creates the idea that
house style as the typography
this is an exclusive article which
uses the same colour scheme
you can only read from this
especially as red is an eye
particular magazine. The adjective
grabbing colour it makes it
"special" also creates the idea that
accessible for the readers to go

Main Image: The main image is a

medium long shot of Dizzie Rascal.
The colours he is wearing is a
white t-shirt, black jeans and a red
jacket which again follows the
house style of the magazine. The
way Dizzie Rascal is positioned to
be standing suggests he is doing
something he shouldn't be as he is
holding a graffiti can the readers
know he is doing something illegal.
The way he is standing could also
imply that Dizzie Rascal is looking
back into his old life and how music
has changed him to become a
better man as the article is about
his new reformed life.
Mode of Address/Language:
The mode of address in this
magazine is very informal and we
can tell this by the clothes Dizzie
Rascal is wearing as they are very
casual and the style of the font is
very relaxed and graffiti like.
Large letter start of article
(drop cap): The letter 'Y' at the
beginning of the article is in a
larger font then the rest of the
article which emphasizes the word
"you". This creates a feeling of
intimacy with the reader as

Captions: The caption in

the top right hand corner
is in a small font and says
"Dizzie". This is there
because it tells the reader
what this article is about
and links it to the other
pages about Dizzie Rascal
also.

Overall
impression:
The overall impression is
this magazine is very
By line: The by line gives
informal as the article is
credit to the writer and
written in a very friendly
photographer.
style. The friendly style
creates a feeling of
intimacy with the readers
as it makes them feel like
thy are at the photoshoot
and included in the
Profile/target
audience:
The
interview.
target audience is males aged 1730. The play on words headline"
From tags to riches" appeals to the
35% of the target audience that are
students because it is simple and
memorable. Having the main
image as Dizzie Rascal will help the
magazine sell as he is very well
known. NME readers have a strong
relationship
with
the
NME
magazine as the target audience
are obsessed with music. The

Use of images: At the

bottom of the double
page spread there are
images of empty bottles
of
alcohol.
The
denotation of this is
just they are empty
bottles
but
the
connotation of this
could be that Dizzie
Rascal lived an unstable
life before and spent a
lot of his time getting
drunk.

Column width and positioning:

The text is in positioned into four
columns and the text is integrated
around the image as text is written
around the radio which makes the
radio
appear
emphasised
suggesting Dizzie Rascal is a good
artist as his music has appeared on
the radio. The columns separate Design:
The
design
of
the
the text making it easy for the magazine uses very vibrant colours
readers to read.
while also following the house style
of the magazine. The double page
spread isn't jam packed as only the
required information is on there.
This shows the magazine is
Page numbers: Page numbers
professional as they are not trying
Representation: Dizzie Rascal is
are a conventional aspect you
to cram to much into the readers
represented as to be a changed
expect to see as the are part of
head.
man from music as the main
the codes and conventions in a
headline states "From tags to
magazine. The page number is
riches".
This
suggests
music
in the corner of the page
inspired to stop participating in
because it is not the most
crime and look at the more
important thing the readers
Font and typeimportant
size: The
headline
part
of life.
need to see.
has the largest font on the double
Use of space: There is no empty
page spread which suggests that it
space on the double page spread
is very significant as it sums up
however only the right page
what the article is all about. The
contains writing and this is because
words "tags" and "riches" are bold
NME don't want to put too much
and emphasized which shows the
information onto the page because
reader the massive change in Dizzie
the reader will get bored and not