Q magazine frontcover analysis

•           Very slick style, all plugs and puffs are on the lower half of the magazine leaving arctic monkeys to dominate the majority of the cover. In front of the brands logo ‘Q’ but slightly behind running head, this is done to create layers upon the cover; this creates depth and so increases the overall quality of the magazine. Having a sleek, high quality style is clearly one of Q’s major aspects and aims; it’s a complete contrast to something like kerrang. This is mainly due to who their target market is, and what methods they have evolved to help sell themselves to those people.
•           Their seems to be a fair amount of negative space upon this cover, there is a backdrop of grey to the cover photo, grey is a very dull and plain that connotes Calm / Quiet, Conservative. Lacks energy, Decay / Decline. This could be considered a representative of their newer albums/ releases.
•           The logo ‘Q’ is reused throughout this magazine, for example just on the cover it is used in ‘the Q interview’ plug. The reuse of the Q logo is an important part of their house style. The reason behind this is to add context and a sense of familiarity to the magazine, as we as humans crave what we are familiar with, we like what we are used to, so with that in mind for Q to appeal to their key demographic they have realised that incorporating this idea into their product will do them no harm.
•          A total of 6 major colours have been used on this cover which is very unconventional, and even more so for a magazine like Q who generally like to stick to the norm/ conventions. In comparison the typography used is mainly one text, with the slight use of a second along the running head. This is conventional, so seems in some ways to even out what they have done to the colour scheme. This was purposefully done and this maybe because it would make it stand out on the shelves and thus appeal to their demographic as we not only crave what we know but also are intrigued to what stands out to us.
•           Other bands are featured on this cover that is not necessarily seen as conventional, in the norm or even within similar genre. This shows diversity within the issue and will help to strengthen their monthly demographic.
•           The intertextual reference to teddy boys and the 1950’s created here by arctic monkeys connotes a sleek style and may even relate to the bands background. Although to many this is a very different arctic monkeys to 12 years ago when the band first formed, which maybe the reason for agreeing to the photo shot and interview, it will help re-invent their style.
•           The band members are all looking in different directions, with only one looking into the camera. This connotes a sense of confusion within the other members but the fact the lead singer is facing us shows he still has control. It proves to us that he knows the directions he wants to take the band and does not need to be guided like many of the corporately enslaved bands are today.