Music Magazine Contents Page Inspirations

The first inspiration I have chosen for my contents page is the contents page form Q magazine. I think in this particular contents page spread is very effective here, by the fact that it is a double page and the contents in not text led, i would say it was image lead, and that is what i want my contents page to consist of. Since the text is on either side of the page and the images are placed in the middle of the two pages, this creates a organised look, compared to if the images and text were all over the place and this would create confusion with the reader/audience. The colour scheme follows the conventional minimalistic colours used in most music magazine, the red, white and black. The contents page follow the consistency with using the same colours throughout the magazine, with the red heading and the white background, in my magazine i will want to be following the same conventions. When you normally turn the page onto the contents page you will find they only there will nor ally only be one image, and this way it will be effective, i do not want to do that. i want to have images. I want to have one big image which will be the main article and essentially the double page spread. Then I will have little images as seen above to explain each other little story. My opinion is that this evokes more interest from the readers, as they have a sneak preview from the imagery used of what the feature may be about. What I like about this magazine contents page is that the images are not all one size and that they are all placed through the middle of the double page. Even though there are spaces with this page it still looks stylish and professional. For my magazine I would like to replicate the banner at the top of the page, I will place my logo at the top left hand side of the page and then put the date of the issue at the top right hand side. I chose this as I feel it would allow the contents page to be consist with the front cover. If my logo or front over got damaged or ruined in any way it means that all they will have to do is turn over the page and they will see my logo and they will know it is my magazine. I would also like to replicate how the pages within the contents page, are split into two categories features and regular pages. I think this would benefit the target audience and the readers as they would know what they are going to see every issue and what is just going to be inside a certain issue. It allows readers to see the new and exciting stories which will be featured this month, aside from the regular features.

The second inspiration I have chosen for my contents page, is a contents page from Mixmag magazine. I chose this particularly as this is the same genre and type of magazine as I will be doing. The other reason I choose this was because of the background colours. The way they have used the black makes the images seem more appealing and come across to they audience more. Not only the images but the text is easier to read if you use the right font and colour of the font which they have here. I will try and aspire from this layout and resemble it in my own contents page. I do not find the layout of the text an inspiration though as it is shown in a list format. To a reader, like myself, i found this boring and uninteresting to read and therefore not good for the reader, furthermore the magazine for not doing its job, which is entertaining people. 

This above is a contents page of Empire magazine, the reason that this has inspired me is because of the layout, regardless of the genre of the magazine. The way that the pictures are laid out is what I aspire to do in my final product.