Front cover analysis - Top of the Pops

The target audience of this ‘Top if the pops’ magazine is aimed at mainly young female readers between the age of 10 -14. This is shown with the way the magazine is structured and the graphology used.
Overall this front cover is quite busy with a variety of different yet very bright colours and a selection of different images. The cover is dominated mostly in pink which straight away implies the gender this magazine is writing for. Other colours used include, bright yellow, blue and white -with a minimum amount of black. This is used to make things look exciting and to keep the reader interested and instantly attracted to this magazine with the bright colours that are used.
The amount of images displayed on the cover is also a successful way to attract a young girl’s attention. There is a main image to this front cover which in itself would catch the attention of a female audience, as it is High School Musical’s very popular and good looking Zac Effron. Although he is already well known and loved, this cool pose and happy expression makes him look very friendly and appealing to the audience. The fact that this image is covering the name of the magazine, not only shows this is the main highlight of the cover, but the successfulness and the popularity of ‘top of the pops’ in general. They are so well known they feel that the name of the magazine does not have to be the main importance. The other arrays of images are a lot smaller than the main image, but are randomly placed all over the front cover. This keeps the target audience interested and keen to read about all the things inside. Also the images all seem to be of famous good looking males, as these pre teens are beginning to find the opposite sex attractive and then of role models which every young inspires to be such as Miley Cyrus, HSM characters and Rihanna.
There is also a range of different font styles and sizes. This makes the cover seem more decorative and funky. The font is mostly sans serif keeping that young and informal look about the magazine. There is also quite a lot of text displayed on the cover along with everything else. However, they are all short snappy words and phrases such as ‘kiss & tell’ and ‘Christiano strips’, acting as the latest juicy gossip, which is a must know for every teenager. The advertisement of HSM posters inside the magazine and chances to win prizes also influences the magazine to be bought.
The usual barcode and price is added on the bottom of the cover.
My front cover will not contain as many colours, images and text as this cover. This is because my magazine is going to be aimed at an older more mature audience which appreciate a more simplistic and sophisticated look, and will not have to have too much going on to be drawn to my magazine.