I am analysing the magazine XXL,which is a hip hop music magazine. The masthead of XXL uses the colour red and diamonds to present the text. The diamonds have connatations of wealth and "bling", which is heavily associated with the Hip Hop genre. This attracts consumers who listen to the hip hop genre, which is possibly the XXl makers target audience. The use of red is eyecatching and attractive. This makes it standout from other magazines and can therefore attract consumers more effectively than other magazines which use less brighter colours on their front covers. The use of diamonds to present the text , it can also be argued is a unique selling point. This is because it is very different to hoe other magazines present their masthead and therefore helps to make the magazine more attractive and unique. This is important to consumers because music magazine are placed next to each other in stores, so standing out is key if you want to sell your magazine. Just above the masthead there is also a puff, where it says, "A decade of dominance". Here the magazine biasly claims it has dominated the music magazine industry. This gives the idea that it is a trustworthy and established music magazine, which persuades consumers to purchase the music magazine.

The main image presents Lil wayne and BABY topless and posing. This main image can be read by different consumers in many ways, it has many media readings. This suggests that the music magazine is trying to attract a wide audience, this may because of the proliferation of the internet. The proliferation of the internet may also be the reason why XXL placed there website on the music magazine very clearly. The main image shows Lil wayne and BABY wearing a lot of jewellery and showing off there tatoos. This suggests that magazine editors of XXL are trying to attract a audience who are fans of the Hip Hop genre as there target audience. This is because tatoos,era caps and jewellery are associated with the Hip Hop genre. A male hetrosexual raeding of this image may be that the two male celebrities are showing support and protection to one another. This may challenge stereotypical representations of black males, representing this ethnic group positively. For this reason , it may be suggested that the music magazines main target audience is the black ethnic group, as they may be interested in reading about a positive representation of there ethnic group. Another reading of the main image may be that it is promoting or supporting homosexuality. This more likely to be the reading of audiences that are homosexuals. For this reason it may be suggested that the magazine is also trying to attract homesexual audiences to increase profit as the music magazine industry is a shrinking market due to the proliferation of the internet. Also th fact that the two artists are estblished and famous in the music industry suggests that the magazine is very well established and successful. This would attract a mainstream audience and help sell the magazine to consumers.

The main coverline of the magazine is presented in red and white. It is also quite large in size compared to other coverlines making it seem the most important. The size of the main coverline also make the magazine more eyecatching. the use of red and white , is very attractive and makes the magazine look more well presented as the colours go well with one another. All this makes the music magazine standout from other music magazines, which is ket to helping the XXL magazine sell. The use of both bold and sophisticated typography to present the main coverline, gives the celebrities a strong and succesful representaion.

The other coverlines on the XXL are presented on the XXl magazine are presneted in black and white text. This makes the magazine look well presented and pleasing on the eye, which helps to attract consumers as they may appreciate the design of the magazine. Both bold and cursive typography are used to present the other coverlines . The cursive typography represents the other artists mentioned in the coverline s as sophisticated and succesful. Whereas the bold typography represents these artists like 50 cent, Eminem and TI as powerful people in the Hip Hop genre. These artists are very famous making the magazine more interesting to consumers. This helps to attract audiences who are intersted in the Hip Hop genre.

The background image used in the front cover is of a house which seems to be from a ghetto area, possibly where the artists grew up. This background image shows that these artists are still humble and down to earth. This is because normally you would expect a very famous hip hop artist to have a Mansion in the background. Also as Baby and Lil wayne are shown to be quite big in comparison to the house we can say that this suggests that they are very big and famous in the hip hop genre. Here the use of camara shot has helped build this representation. This may attract audiences who are fans of the hip hop genre as they would be most intereseted ni reading about a famous hip hop artist.

Overall, we can say that the XXl magazine mainly aims to target audiences who are interested in the Hip hop genre. But also from the main image espicially we can say that the magazine also tries to attract a wide audience as the main has many media readings depending on how the individual interprets these codes. This may be because the XXl magazine makers may want to generate as much profit as possible.