Deconstructing Billboard contents page

This contents page belongs to Billboard magazine. What I find interesting is that Billboard doesn't make it so stated that this is their magazine, unlike the front cover where their master head was one of the largest texts. However in the contents page it is unnoticeable placed to the left hand side in the corner. It is almost hiding suggesting that inside is the most important thing for information to be given, not the company. 

Also on the left hand side is a list of page numbers and what the magazine features inside. It seems to highlight to the reader which are the most interesting and on trend stories there are that month. The contents page almost guides the reader to specific pages which the magazine knowns will hit their audiences interest. This is a good technique to use and something I would consider doing in my music magazine as straight away the reader will find excitement and desire in the specific stories.

On the other hand their is a fully body picture of the main image, suggesting to the reader that this is going to be the main feature throughout the magazine and how they hold some importance to the issue. The model looks happy and fun representing the pop genre, how it is symbolising what the younger generation should be about... YOUTH. By the model looking happy it motivates the reader into a positive mood and makes them want to and enjoy reading their issue. But there are secondary images on the contents page of other artists. This is important to include because if the reader doesn't like the main feature, then Billboard is still offering other interests to their audience. This is something I admire as I also don't want to limit myself to just one artist/band, I need to make sure that I am appealing to all of my target audience and exploring the whole of my genre. The secondary images are also at the top and neatly placed next to each other. By doing this it helps to bring back the idea of being organised and well placed. If the magazine appears to be to dysfunctional then the reader could get confused and get annoyed or irritated with the layout. Furthermore the smaller images are clearly labelled with pages numbers making it clear and easy for the reader to find the artist.

The contents page is also labelled into clear sub headings like "The Latin Kings" which also have page numbers referenced besides them, again supporting the idea of having a structured layout. However Billboard also offers to the reader different chances to explore a variety of genres, like the "The Latin Kings" and for them to see events involving "COUNTRY MUSIC". By Billboard doing this they are providing other genres to mix with pop and create new sounds. This is effective as Billboard are cleverly inviting a wider target audience base to their magazine very subtly and ambiguous.