Research

The first magazine I am going to research is 'Q' magazine, a popular magazine with the age group that I intend to aim my magazine at (people still in education, around early 20's). 'Q' also focuses on the same sort of genre music as my magazine so i thought it would be useful to analyse a magazine that would be in direct competition with my own magazine.

"Q" was established in 1986, so the fact that it has steadily built a name for it self would make it hard to compete with, my magazine would have to have some "Q" doesn't. The magazine is released monthly, making it more exclusive, but also perhaps making it miss things out that happen in the month.

The issue I have chosen to anotate the issue of "Q" seen to the left. This issue demonstrates some of the key factors seen throughout every front cover of the magazine. A large masthead to the left-hand of the cover, in the conventional colours of red and white, that seem to be represented throughout all of the issues of this magazine. The colours red and white seem to be popular with music magazines, so I decided to use them in my magazine because they obviously work well and represent the genre well.

On this front cover is displayed another style I adapted for my cover, short titles that just feature a famous name that draws the reader in the want to know more. The reason I decided to use this is because I find it make's the cover look less busy, and more attractive because it is not cluttered.

Featured on this cover are also the things one would expect to see on the front cover of a magazine such as the release date, issue number, a plug for the website, a masthead and tag-line and also a photograph of a celebrity to draw attention to the magazine.