Q Contents Page Analysis

Q magazine is a music magazine that is targeted at a young, yet sophisticated audience. Through research, I can see that clearly titling the page as a contents page is a convention throughout music magazines, Q being no exception. The brand name 'Q' has been shown as it is established and brands itself in a sophisticated way, by making the 'Q' a less vibrant colour. Another convention that is shown on this page also, is the anchorage of the main image and headline, the largest and most important feature being shown by size and attention payed to it- the image connecting to the main feature has a specific 'on the cover' piece written about it on the contents, trying to attract readers still and draw attention to that issues main selling point. Anchorage is used to make the most important or main features recognisable from the front cover, so that readers that have purchased the magazine because of a feature advertised on the cover can locate it easily.
Another convention of contents pages is for the pictures shown for anchorage have quotes from the feature, or at least on image does to attract and give the reader a preview. This quote is usually shocking or exciting, to draw them in without them having to read the whole magazine, and then this is advertised by putting the largest shown page number next to it to make it easily accessible.
The features listed are also usually in categories, again making them easier to locate, specifically an 'every week' or issue section, making the regular features reliable and consistently placed. The contents page colour scheme also follows the same one as the front cover, often linking again to the main image, the main contents picture and then the colours used in the double page spread. This includes the text, which is consistent to link the whole magazine together, and make it look less 'messy' and more aesthetically pleasing. Not all pages are listed, but all features are, in the allotted categories, usually in the same text unless in a different type so as to stand out for a particular reason, for example in the quote on the main picture, the 'none' is highlighted by putting it in a different colour, which draws attention to it.
Some contents pages include an editors note, however this can often be found in different areas of the magazine, editors sometimes being given a whole page for their article, so this is not a convention of contents pages, but it would not be uncommon to see one there.
On this particular Q contents page, there is no editors note as they have probably used more than one page for the contents due to the large pictures and amount of space used for other text and imagery. We can see however that it is directed towards a more mature audience, from the language used, which is sophisticated and has little slang, or swear words, unlike NME which is targeted towards a different type of music/audience. The pictures also indicate a type of audience, possibly slightly older, combined with the mature language, and also the ways the pictures have been edited. They have been taken to look like old types of pictures, particularly the lower one as it has a sepia effect, and a man is smoking a cigar, which has older connotations. However, Q is a music magazine that focuses on very different types of music, ranging from new chart toppers to old stars, and so by styling the picture like this makes it easily identifiable to readers interested in that kind of music, possibly older people, which would interest them quickly. The picture of the man singing has been placed overlapping both, and he is in a picture that has not been staged, it is assumed to be taken from a gig. This is Q reinforcing the fact that they are about music, and that is their main concern, and by overlapping this image above the other two staged pictures, identifies that real music is the most important thing.