ANALYSIS OF Q

For my music magazine analysis, I have chosen a magazine called ‘Q’. This is published by the Bauer Media Group and has been since 1986. The founders (Mark Ellen and David Hepworth) began the publication because of their dismay at the music press at that time.

The double page spread is taken from an interview with the remaining band members of the Manic Street Preachers; it covers ten pages out of the 178. This textual analysis will be mainly focused on the fifth and sixth pages of those ten pages.

The fifth page consists of a photograph, part of the interview in the question and answer format as well as a feature in the form of a hand written piece of paper. There is also a top border saying ‘Manic Street Preachers’ and the generic page number and issue date. A photo shoot had clearly been organised for this piece of editorial and the photograph is take from this collection of photographs. Nicky Wire (the man photographed) has been represented in a rather dull light in comparison to his usually loud and bold persona and lifestyle. The magazine may have done this for two reasons: to either show that the band has past its time and they are no longer young and wild, or it may purely be to challenge people’s expectations. The clothes he is wearing show that he is still into that particular sub-culture.

The next feature on the page is a ‘self-penned 14 point list to Q in full’. The list has been written by one of the band members and by putting an exact copy of the list on the page makes the readers feel as if they have seen something secretive. The hand writing makes it more personal. The list makes the interview more interesting as there is something else to read other than just the interview. The list creates a less formal structure to the 10-page article.

The writing in this page is mostly a question and answer style interview. It uses swearing in the interview (f**k it); mostly probably because the magazine’s demographic uses this sort of language, the editors are trying to publish the interview as real as possible and also for the shock value it offers. Facial expressions are also described such as ‘colossal cringe’. This relaxed feeling makes the band seem much tamer compared to how people may have previously perceived them; they seem more approachable. The interview has been written with the questions in red and the answers in black. It has been put into two straight columns and the photograph is also straight; by putting the list in a slanted position it makes it seem more casual.

The second page of the double page spread is not attached or linked to the first one in any way, meaning that there is no photograph, graphics or writing crossing over from one to the other, the photograph is of Richey Edwards (the most prominent member of the band), after he famously carved the words ‘4Real’ into his forearm. Despite the fact that it is only one photograph, the magazine can take this risk because the photograph is so powerful and effective. Usually a page would not flippantly waste on one photograph but it has done because of the impact this photo has. Another reason for the effectiveness is because of the mystery of Richey Edwards.

The interview benefits both the magazine and the band. ‘Q’ have managed to sell more magazines because they have the Manic Street Preachers featured in it, and teh band have received good publicity from it as well as a full page at the end of the interview to promote their upcoming CD that was talked about throughout the interview.