Research and planning: Front cover analysis 1

'Q' Music Magazine

When you look at this magazine front cover the first thing you notice is that the main central image is of three different artists of three different genres, this tells us that 'Q' magazine is open to many genres and has a wide target audience profile. I would say the target audience is age 15/16 years upwards because all the artists are popular within the younger age groups. The image uses a long shot to show all three artists, this shot stands out to the readers because it is different to the more conventional and more commonly used mid-close up shot of just one artist. The layout is very simple, it uses three columns, on the left it has the masthead and all the cover lines, which are appropriate for the magazine, in the middle slightly to the right is the main central image and to the right is another cover line which is less important than the others as it isn't as bold and doesn't catch the readers eye as much as the others.
From looking at the main central image I think that the three artists are being represented as powerful and strong they all have a very confident, slightly 'cocky' stance. Both Jay-Z and Dave Grohl are stood in the same way with their legs apart and their hands in their pocket, they both look very 'cool'. Lady GaGa is saluting and holding her head high. These positions all connote power and strength as they each have to represent and stand up for their own style of music, it's almost like a competition between the genres. All the artists look like they are fighting over who is more powerful and successful.
The magazine sticks to the three colour rule well using mostly red, white and black although they have added in a pinky colour which isn't used in any of Q's other magazines. I think they have chosen good fonts and font sizes they are all really clear to read and the most important features stand out the most.