Contents Page Research

So before I begin my contents page, I want to learn a little more about them so I know exactly what I should be aiming towards. I know my target audience will read magazine such as Kerrang!, Q, NME and Rock Sound so here is a mood board of various different contents pages I found of theirs:

I noticed various similarities differences in general between each of these contents pages. Here are a few things I noticed:

- Kerrang!: Uses many pictures in a grid like style. Sometimes features an editors note and an image of the front cover from that week. Follows a continuous colour scheme, the word 'contents' usually in yellow with a black background. They usually have a main image that is bigger than the rest, with others around it in squares. Each image has a caption under it with a corresponding page number. The index is usually in a column down the right hand side. They often have some kind of subscription offer.

- NME: Uses the title from the front cover on the top of the contents also, followed by the heading 'Contents' or 'This week' in white block capitals at the top on a black background. Features just one large main image that takes up most of the page. Usually has a subscription offer at the bottom of the page that runs right across the width. Has a main feature in the form of a caption which relates to the main image, much like a front cover does. Usually has a band index at the side of the page so reader can find exactly what band they are looking for. The main index is usually at the right of the page.

- Rock Sound: Also uses the title from the front cover on the contents page too. Fairly simplistic style often a large image of an artist is the background of the whole page. Not very busy on the page, the main contents index table is either on the left or right of the page, but sometimes in columns in the middle. Also usually features a quote from the artist in the image. The colour scheme is fairly simple, usually red, black and white or blue, black and white.

- Q: Much more simple and sophisticated than the others. Usually features one big main image of an artist or band with a corresponding feature and page number. Uses the title from the front cover in a smaller version along the top too, with the issue number and heading 'contents'. The main index is on the left of the page, with various headings and page listings.