Front Cover analysis 2

This is my second evaluation of a Music Magazine. I have decided to evaluate an edition of "Smash Hits!"

The reason I have decided to evaluate this magazine cover is because it is so different to an edition of Rolling Stone.

The magazine is clearly targeted at teenage girls. This is apparent in the house style of the magazine; every edition of this magazine uses very bright colour feminine colours, such as yellow and pink. This is a distinctive design that distinguishes it from its competitors. For example the Masthead of the magazine "Smash Hits!" is in the same colour and same text on every edition to attract regular audiences, it is familiar.

The mode of address is very informal and slang is used to appeal to their target audience.

The main attraction of the magazine is the picture of "teenage heartthrob" boy band Mcfly. This image can appeal to Richard Dyer's Star Theory. This is the idea that "stars" have some key features in common; a star is an image, not a real person that is constructed out of a range of materials. They are commodities produced and consumed on the strength of their meaning. Stars depend upon a range of subsidiary media, such as magazines, in order to construct an image for themselves which can be marketed to target audiences. The image is made up of a range of meanings which are attractive to the target audience; audiences are always trying to find out more about the star. The Masthead "Wild Boys!" which is followed by "The lads reveal their naughtiest ever secrets!" suggests how the audience wants to find out more about this boy band.

The mes-en-scene of the picture is a plain background which is pink, to, again, appeal to the teenage female market. The bright yellow banner at the bottom of the page tells us of more of the contents of the magazine. This is to help attract a wider audience, for example some members of the target audience may not be interested in Mcfly but may be more interested in other singers, such as, Christina Milian.