Total Guitar: Inside The Magazine

Although we have mainly been analysing the covers and contents of a variety of music magazines, we have also looked closely at the inside of the content but mainly focusing on the double page spread. I chose the magazine Total Guitar as it was a monthly magazine and I felt it would contain a great deal of stories that I can get an idea from for my coursework.

By briefly looking through the magazine as well as the front cover I get the impression that it's mainly promoting the rock music genre; in my opinion I feel the publication fulfils the expectations of the genre successfully. Throughout the publication there are many different rock bands that are mentioned giving off the initial impression that it's initially a rock genre magazine, the music tutorials that are given in the content are to teach the reader how to play the guitar showing that although the audience would be interested in rock music they can have a chance to learn to play it themselves which is seen as another marketing aspect as well as fulfilling the genre being promoted. Also the way the musicians are dressed throughout the magazine give off the stereotypical assumption to the reader that the publication are portraying a rock genre, and they have a "Hot 10 for 2010" in the content informing the reader of what music products will be big in 2010 showing that Total Guitar are up to date with giving information.

There are a variety of different features throughout Total Guitar, but the major one that drew my attention as a reader was the double page spread featuring a popular rock band being Lost Prophets. The reason why this story is so significant within the content is because it links in with the main image used on the cover showing that they're the main focus in this monthly issue. The magazine's story on the band is of them being interviewed, by choosing this band to feature as the double page spread is essential and fits in with the reader profile of Total Guitar as the publication have chosen a successful, popular and well known band in the rock music industry. As they are popular the image and the cover line on the front cover of the magazine will instantly draw the audience's attention more as they'd be intrigued to what the main story entails. Another main feature in the magazine is a page on winning "3 Adam Black guitars" and would also link in with the genre that is being presented as the brand of guitars are extremely popular and would interest readers as it's another inducement, and giving them the idea that they can have a chance to win a prize would make them think they are getting more out of their money.

There is a 4 page spread in the content of Total Guitar focusing on another musician which is John Mayer, this links in with the reader profile as it gives an inside story to the thoughts and feelings the rock star has towards his career as the spread is primarily an interview with him. This would link to the reader profile as many young and older people would be inspired by John Mayer and the music he performs helping them gain a better insight into what it's like to a rock legend, also the images of him performing would interest the reader as there is an equal amount of images and text on the page. There are also album reviews in the magazine showing that Total Guitar are aware of the popular rock music in the charts and the fact that it's advertised on the cover shows that the publishers take into account the readers music interest. Also it gives off the impression that they are trying to give guidance to their taken audience showing they take interest into what they feel the readers would enjoy. There are a range of different songs that are presented at the bottom of the left third that show the different tutorials that the reader can learn in the magazine, showing that as well as reading about the rock musicians they can then learn to play their songs and the fact that the songs are popular to the readers would attract them to buy the magazine showing that Total Guitar are aware of their readership and what they think will initially interest them.

The main article I have analysed is the article on the popular band, Lost Prophets as it will enable me to gain a better understanding of how to lay out my double page spread when it comes to planning my coursework outline. I'm focusing on this article as the image of the band are on the cover of this month's magazine instantly gives me an idea that they are the main focus, the type of language presented within the content is very colloquial and suits the audience that Total Guitar are trying to attract as it's text shows a sense of a casual and a care free
approach.

Throughout the five pages of the story the publisher has printed a variety of quotes which are taken out from the main context of the story itself, by doing this it helps the reader gain an insight of what the story entails as it's a breakdown of the article making it easier for some readers. Also by looking through the article I've noticed that some of the content contains very informal language and swearing, which could link it with the type of audience the publication are trying to attract as it would be a much younger readership and the readers would be able to engage with the text presented. I feel the main article fits in with genre and intended audience through the use of language and Total Guitar have chosen a suitable band they feel their readers will take a great deal of interest in as they are young, popular and also extremely successful within the rock music industry.

By looking at the various double page spreads in the magazine they all reinforce my ideas about the audience as the language used is informal and colloquial portraying a sense of a care free lifestyle which therefore helps it to target young readers as their attitude towards music would be completely different as opposed to an older, more sophisticated reader. The style used throughout the issue is very consistent in terms of having a sense of a rock genre by the use of the different bands showing that Total Guitar are very modern as they make sure their readers are aware of the most up to date news for the month. Also all the images used in the double page spread have a connection with the article itself helping the reader get a better understanding of what the story is about as the bands would be easily recognisable to them.

The contents of the magazine is very busy and the page is filled up with a great deal of information of what's included in the content, there are a variety of images linking in with the articles mentioned giving them a sneak preview of what they can read and also links in with the younger audience as they wouldn't want to read as much so the different images balances the amount of text used. I feel that it links in with the house style as it lists a variety of bands the readers will recognise and has a variety of articles to interest anyone who purchases the publication. The main colours used on the contents page are red, white, black and yellow which links with the house style of the whole magazine showing the idea of consistency used throughout the entire content.

There are many products in Total Guitar which are advertised to the reader, which includes Blackstar Amplification company who are advertising different amps and I feel that they have chosen this magazine to advertise in is because it's based on rock music and some readers may be performers themselves meaning that they may need equipment to assist them in their band. As well as this product, there are many other things the magazine are advertising for companies such as CDs, music stores, music schools, various music websites and university music degrees; the advertisements mentioned all appeal to the reader as the magazine focuses on all types of rock music to attract the target audience. The fact that Total Guitar uses many advertisements for a degree in music shows they have an interest in their audience as this degree is for a younger audience interested in the rock music genre.

The different uses of interactivity providing ways for the audience to gain interest within the magazine include the various pages containing guitar notes for a reader if they're interested in playing the guitar. Also there are popular guitar tracks to download which could be a regular piece of content as the publishers would change the tracks in every monthly issue. There is a questions and answers page for Total Guitar's audience which helps them interact as they feel they're able to connect with the magazine company, all the interactivity could initially appeal to a reader to provide a sense of escapism and surveillance from their everyday lives. I feel the questions and answers help the reader feel as if they targeted individually and that anything they ask is important to the publishers providing a strong connection between Total Guitar and their readers.