Magazine Research

Rolling Stone is a monthly magazine that is based in the US. The magazine was at first known for its musical coverage and political reporting. However, in the 80s its focus shifted onto a younger readership in youth oriented TV shows, film actors and popular music.

Straight away, the cover shows that the magazine's intended target audience is a young one, millennials. This is shown through the editor's choice of placing the singer Bruno Mars in the middle of the page taking up almost eight ninths of the page, according to the rule of thirds. By having all of the focus on the young artist, the attention of a younger audience is most likely to be attracted. It also appears to further target a female audience which is demonstrated through the way in which Bruno Mars is wearing an open shirt completely showing his chest. Also, the fact that Bruno's head covers half of the Rolling Stone logo conveys a heavy sense of importance to the artist as it appears almost as the editor believes that Bruno is more important than the magazine itself, this is further emphasised through the use of having him wear golden jewellery almost giving a sense of royalty.


A high sense of importance is drawn to the artist featured on the 2 page spread, Neil Young. This is achieved through the editor's choice of making it so that Neil takes up one entire page of the 2 page spread and nothing else is featured on the same half of the spread, this conveys a sense of high importance and the monochromatic colouring for the photo also conveys a sense of experience and greatness as though he is an immense symbol in the world of music. The use of lyrics for the first piece of text on the first page shows that this article in the magazine is intended for audience members who are familiar with Neil Young's work as this is a reference that only this part of the audience would understand. The use of the "golden" font on the line 'BE THERE NOW' in the lyrics connotes a sense of greatness as though Neil Young's shows are one of the greatest spectacles anyone could witness in their lifetime, also the lyric itself directly addresses the audience reading the article telling them that they need to go to Neil Young's concerts.