Music Press

Music press from 1950 onward

1950’s music media

Aimed at men

Colours are basic, probably due to lack of technology

No CGI, but a little editing in the background

Function of media:

When the first magazines came out, people could feel 

more of an emotional attachment to their favourite artists. 

It drew peoples attention to music, and helped keep people 

up to date with the music world

1970’s music Media

Plain backgrounds

Less writing than nowadays

Easier to read

More of a celebrity image

Function of media:

Now those magazines were bigger and a more prominent

 in the public’s eye, lots of young people would go down

 to their local shop, to find out the music news that week.

 NME

Paper magazine to internet magazine

Fell to 50,000 sales from 200,000 sales in the 90’s

Only 1,200 subscribers on their website, so this shows a 

decline in interest

Function of media:

At first, NME would have been one of the biggest music 

magazines out there, but since the advance in technology, 

people get most of their information on social media and 

the Internet. Due to lack of sales, NME had to stop their 

paper magazine, and become a free, Internet magazine.

Present day

Front cover is more crowded than the 70’s.

 i.e. more cover lines and complicated house style

Lots more editing. This could be because of better technology,

 or because of society’s views of how 

celebrities should look.

More about the image as a pose to the music

Completely plain backgrounds

Colours are much more vibrant, and follow much 

more of a scheme. This is because the magazine will have 

built up and image over the many years, so they will 

keep the colours the same to be recognisable.

Same masthead as 50 years ago. Big, bold, often capital letters.

Function of media:

For people’s biggest celebrities to promote themselves,

 and to show that they are still relevant.

 An artist might go on a magazine if they are about to

 release a new album, or if there is gossip to talk about