Further music magazine analysis

The overall image of the Christmas issue of NME featuring the notorious celebrity manager Simon cowell conveys the diverse range of people that have influence on the music industry. Here NME conveys that music has changed though out out the 21st century, and where previously it would conventually be an artist them self's featuring on the cover, now as the music industry and the media evolves, so do the aspects impacting the it, such as managers or TV stars. This modern and innovative ideology, represented in the unconventional cover echoes NME's alternative, modern and forward thinking style.

The Christmas issue layout, with a snow covered title, Christmas decorations with a edgy twist and the piercing red white and black colour scheme all echos Simon Cowells sharp, witty and brutally critical character and mirrors his strong impact on the music industry. His devilish and cheeky facial express represents his personality, coinciding with the article title 'The Grinch speaks' which juxtaposes the Christmas theme also illustrates the unconventional alternative and individual concept. The tag line ' NME  goes head to head with Simon Cowell ' emulates that he may be see a enemy of alternative music as he is famously for manufactured, overly commercialised pop music, so intern by putting him on the cover it again echoes the controversial and confrontational ideologies of NME magazine.