Deconstruction of a
Music Magazines
Double Page Spread

This double page spread is from the music magazine ‘Top of the Pops’. It is the best selling teen gossip magazine in the UK and is a monthly issue, published by BBC magazines. Originally the magazine was marketed as the missing link between ‘Smash Hits’ and ‘NME’, but its format was soon changed. The magazine now contains less music content and a greater demographic angle to young girls. As you can see in this double page spread it is not music based, it simply uses the media and the celebrities made within it and targets their audience. This double page spread is about the latest most popular movie, ‘Twilight’. The article is an interview with the staring actress Kristine Stewart. Colloquial language is used to create a conversation tone during the interview. Questions are asked about how she is coping with the new fame from this film and also about her teenage years.

The use of pictures on this page makes it more interesting for the younger audience as it doesn’t look likes there is just lots to read. We have one main picture of her posing and this is the background to the right side page. The other pictures are smaller and in pink boxes to help them stand out. The other pictures are action pictures of her going onto set or being interviewed.

The colour scheme of this double page spread consists of three colours, pink, white and black. The background of the text is black and this links in with the large picture of Kristen. All the questions are highlighted to the reader in pink and then all the responses to the questions are written in white. Everything that is in white seems to have a link to the actress, for example her name in the heading is white and also a quote from her is in white. In contrast everything in pink is from the writer of the article, everything they say and ask to Kristen.

The use of the stars and moon shapes on this spread links in with the film ‘new moon’. They have created a boarder out of these stars and I believe this links in with the magical feel of the movie. It could also reflect her recent fame to stardom. Altogether they give a younger feel to the piece and are codes for targeting their audience.

This is a double page spread from the music magazine NME. The magazine targets both male and female teenagers. The heading for this article on Lily Allen is a pull quote from something she says during the interview. This engages the audience to the piece as we want to find out how and why she has said this. The use of upper case letters makes the bold font stand out even more and contrast to the lower case letter used in the text below. There is an interesting use of graphology for the heading as each letter has its own separate size black background. This creates an appealing affect and makes it look like Lily Allen is saying it out loud.

The picture of Lily Allen covers the whole of the right hand side of the page. Her head is facing the side which again helps give the impression she is speaking. She is looking at the reader in her picture and this communicates how she is not afraid of what people think of her. It engages us as readers as her facial expression demands attention. The costume she is wearing in this image reflects her pop/indie music and links in with the colour scheme of the page. Her red checked top is fashionable and links in with the red text on the left hand side. Her pose is of her with her hands on her hips which is code for showing confidence and power. This position also shows off her tattoo which communicates her rebellious characteristics which are appealing to a younger audience.


The article begins with a drop cap ‘I’. This links in with how the magazine used to be printed in the newspaper. It also makes the piece target solely on the artists and connects us straight to her as the piece has a direct tone. The language used in the article is simple and easy to read. The use of colloquial language makes the piece feel realistic, therefore making the readers feel more connected to the artists. The lead text which is positioned above the four columns is larger than the main body’s font and introduces the article, making a reader want to continue.