Analysis of Media Texts

Music Magazine Contents Page

This is a contents page from the music magazine “Mixmag.” These magazines are recognised as one of the best in dance music and are very effective in delivering top quality magazines to their target audience.

On this front cover the images are used very effectively to entice the target audience to read the magazine. The way in which the images have taken such a large percentage of the page reflects the magazines male readership as men are more attracted to visuals than woman. This could be a technique used to entice the male sector of the target audience to read on. Images tell a story of what’s inside without having to use words and demand effort from the reader. The images seem to be focusing typically on making the artists look cool as the main image portrays the artist drinking a beer with a checked shirt on which relates to fashion and the interest of drinking which both relate to a night out for the male target audience. This makes him seem cool because he represents them. The artist at the bottom right has shades on with what seem to be a leather jacket making him seem sophisticated with dark colours and very cool with big shades on. Nevertheless their background locations seem to be in very common locations such as the bottom right image of an artist seemingly perched on either a wall or even a bus and the main image with the artist in what seems a cramped back stage area. The fact that he is drinking a beer makes the image more relevant to fans as it makes him seem like them as this relates to the target audience as they go out drinking. This is an effective use of the image to entice the target audience to read on. The images also offer an insight to what is within the magazine as they are portraying what can be seen as two artists and a fan. The later, being the fan, is very significant to the target audience because it relates to and represents them so therefore the target audience is going to be particularly attracted to this page because it has a clear and obvious relation to them. The images show and briefly explain beneath them what the topic is but you can clearly see that there are going to be two artists from the main image and the bottom right who are most probably going to be interviewed and the bottom right image illustrated fashion which is clearly all topics you’d expect to e discussed in the magazine as the target audience either male or female. The images are very effective in reflecting the interests of the target audience. From the main image of the male singer, there are distinctive signs which represent the target audiences’ interests such as the beer he’s drinking which is an extremely common interest to clubbers who both male and female, this will attract them to read on as it shows the artist to be common. You could also say his clothing is very casual and common which some of the target audience can relate to and furthermore entice them to read the magazine. Also from the bottom right image with the woman dressed up which relates to the male target audience as the woman appears as a sex object in a club which is going to intrigue male readers and make them want to find out more. This could also refer to the male members of the target audience but overall is a common habit in which many of the target audience would be interested in and enticed to find out more. The images are constructed to make both the two men and the woman look cool but not necessarily glamorous as the backgrounds for the three images are not luxurious to any measure, for example for the main image, it seems to be situated in a small dressing room which is small and messy. This particular message might be that the fact that these people are seemingly presented in a common manner that some of their interests and habits may relate to you as the target audience. For the bottom left image of the woman she is almost lit up because of the use of the lighting on a dark background which makes her more significant and gives the impression that there is something about her in which the target audience wish to find out about. The lighting makes her seem glamorous and attractive and this could be referred to as a sex object which would entice the male sector of the target audience. 

The text is presented in a clear and conventional manner for a music magazine as it displays the main sections “VIP” and “Tunes” for example with related issues below each topic. The sub heading “VIP” signifies importance to the audience and makes the section seem important. From this word as the reader you get the impression that this section is about famous artist and experienced well recognised producers because VIP signifies very important person which therefore signifies clearly to the reader what kind of people are within the section. The other heading “Tunes” obviously relates to songs however it seems very casual and relaxed as this word is very informal and is used in favour of music which signifies that the magazine are making the section more attractive to the target audience as its language in which people use to refer to songs and therefore can be easily recognised and understood. The main sections are clearly evident through their use of colour being in the illuminous colour of pink in which stands out significantly to the reader and makes it easier for the reader to find what they’re looking for or interested in, in the magazine.

Beneath the main sections are articles and other relevant issues which are in bold so the target audience can pick out which article they are interested in and the use of the bold black makes it clearer to the reader. The mode of address used is very precise and to the point as every article is clear and easily understood for the target audience. As explained before the words “VIP” and “Tunes” used for the headings are very clear with their message yet also they tell you in these simple words everything you need to know about the sections. The language used is very uncomplicated and easy for all the target audience to understand and this is effective as no one wants a magazine in which doesn’t clearly show where everything is in a magazine. In terms of the textual size on the contents page it seems to go to the conventional technique off making it clear what is the most important textual information on the page. Illuminous colours are known as a consequence of dance music. This technique is effective because it makes it evident what the magazine is offering to the target audience. The image to text ratio is clearly more to the visual side with the images taking over the vast majority of this contents page which could signify that the magazine wants to attract more of the male target audience as visuals have been proven to be more attractive to males. Also it makes the reader instantly aware of the content inside the magazine.

This front cover does achieve brand identity evidently as the font type is the same in which is used in both “Mixmags” front covers and contents pages. In both the front covers of “Mixmag” magazines and contents pages there is a continued use of the illuminous pink used which is a consequence of dance music as well as the bold black which is a clear sign of brand identity as the target audience can clearly recognise that these colours are used in all of the “Mixmag” front covers and contents pages. The effect of the contrasting use of colour on both the front covers and contents pages of “Mixmag” is clearly evident and the use of contrast with the colour to illustrate the most important factors adds to effect which creates brand identity.