Here is the contents page of XXL magazine: 

• This contents page of XXL magazine is quite plain and bold but does draw the audience eye
• The main text including the content of the magazine is on the right of the page, listed and also numbered
• The font of the listed text is in italics
• Contrasting with the font of heading and sub-heading which is bold and basic
• The picture is again the main focus on the page and is clearly linking to what is going to be included in the magazine
• This contents page has a bold black heading and a white sub-heading on a black banner 
• The sub-heading is linking with the picture on the page and again gives some insight to what the story on B.O.B is going to be about 
• The colours on this contents page are also plain with just the black and white 
• There is the magazine logo in the bottom right hand corner of the page (banding)
• The date at the bottom centre of the page

Here is the front cover of a Kerrang Magazine:

Kerrang! is a UK-based magazine devoted to rock music published by Bauer Media Group. It was first published on 6 June 1981 as a one-off supplement in the Sounds newspaper. Named after the onomatopoeic word that derives from the sound made when playing a power chore on an electric guitar, Kerrang! was initially devoted to the New Wave of British Heavy Metal and the rise of hard rock acts. In the early 2000s it became the best-selling British music newspaper.

• Kerrang has more of a busier front page compared to the two other magazines and this fits with its genre of 'rock'
• This front cover has a two red banners, one at the top and one at the bottom both with bold white writting
• There is also a white banner underneathe the title which draws attention to the bold black title of the magazine
• The main feature of this magazine is 'Biffy Clyro' the main picture on the front cover is him and his name is written across the middle of the magazine
• The colours on this front cover are black, white and red. These three colours are working well together as the white wrtitting is standing out becuase it is contrasting with the black and red
• There is lots of advertising on the front of this magazine more so than insights to what is inside like the other magazines
• At the top on the red banner there is an advert advertising a 'Download Ticket'
• Also there are adverts for 'FREE' posters within the magazine

Here is a front cover of a Billboard magazine:

Billboard is an international news magazine devoted to music and the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis. The two most notable charts are the Billboard Hot 100, which ranks the top 100 songs regardless of genre and is based on digital sales, radio airplay, and internet streaming data; and the Billboard 200, the corresponding chart for album sales.

• Again the picture of this magazines cover is the main feature
• Big bold title-White, drawing in audiences eye to the white space
• Blue background that is contrasting with the white writting
• Becuase the genre of the magazine is female music, Beyonce is an appropiate female to have on the front cover as she is a big part of female music
• The magazine is following its housestyle by have this red, blue, and yellow on the 'Billboard' like it does on all magazines
• Again with this front cover there are the smaller subheadings giving the audience an insight as to what is in the magazine

Here is the front cover of a Vibe magazine:

Vibe is a music and entertainment magazine founded by producer Quincy Jones. The publication predominantly features R&B and hip-hop music artists, actors and other entertainers. After shutting down production in Summer 2009, Vibe was purchased by the private equity investment fund InterMedia Partners and is now issued every-other month with double covers, with a larger online presence. The magazine's target demographic is predominantly young, urban followers of hip-hop culture.

• Vibe has a Large title in capitals and bright colour-the red is contrasting with the more plain colours e.g. Black and White.
• Big picture in the background of on of the main artists featuring in that magazine
• Font of the writing is quite basic and clear, able to catch the audiences eye and easy to read and understand
• The picture is the main feature of the cover again drawing in the audience eye
• Writing around the picture of main storys included in the magazine

Magazine Moodboard

I have created a mood board of all different front cover of music magazines following the music genres I am considering for my own music magazine project. It has helped me narrow down my options and now I am doing a R'n'B and Hip Hop magazine.

Similarites and Differences on Vibe and Kerrang magazine covers:

Similarities:
- Big Text; title, subheadings
- Dull background
- Simple colours; white, yellow and red
- Central picture, overlaps heading
- Barcode

Differences:

- Subheadings on Vibe are neatly around the boarder, tidy structure to front cover
- Kerrang text is overlaping the front cover picture giving it a messier look
- Different types of music; genres

Genres
I have chosen to produce a music magazine for my media coursework. I haven't yet decided what music genre to base my magazine on but it is out of:

- Hip Hop
- R'n'B
- Rap
- Reggae/Jungle