Music Magazine Front Cover Research

Front Covers of Music Magazines

This image is of the front cover of the Vibe magazine. The colour schemes that have been used are quite bright and the blue from Kanye's top has been incorporated into the colour scheme of the text. This is a very clever technique to use as it allows a sense of continuity to be seen on the page. The pink and blue colours that are used stand out of each other which allows them to lift off the page, allowing them to be some of the first things you see on the page. However, the first thing that the viewers will see on the page is the image. 

The image has been taken in a close up position, and this has been done intentionally so that the facial expressions can be seen on the music artist. This allows the audience to recognise him almost instantaneously as the image takes up such a vast amount of the page up. The image oozes power and this is done through the expression used, which results in the audience becoming aware of the fact that he is a massive, powerful and influential character. This is also done in the composition that is used because of the fact that he is positioned in the middle of the page, and things that are placed in the centre of the rule of thirds, are done to show their importance.  Because of who the character is, it is clear to see that this magazine issue has been created for people who have an interest in Hip Hop, RnB and Rap. The mode of address that is used is direct mode of address, and this has been chosen to make the audience feel substandard compared to Kanye West, as he is in a very powerful position in the rap world. This is because of the fact that no matter where you move, his eyes are totally fixated upon you, making you feel nervous.

The mast head has been written in the largest font on the page and this is to make it clear on the page, and to make people aware that it is actually the name of the magazine. As I stated before, the colour of it matches the colour of his clothing. The mast head also stretches all the way across the page, and this has also been done to make it stand off the page somewhat. The way that it has been positioned behind the image allows the image to seem lifted off the page which gives it another dimension, and although the name of the magazine isn't completely visible, it still gives it a good effect. The fact that it is so large suggests that the company who creates this is massive as well due to the fact that the font is at such a large font. The style of font that has been chosen to be used in sans-serif. This has been done to make the magazine look less formal, more bubbly and friendly, so then the audience feel like they don't have to be of a particular class to read it. The style of font has been used throughout the page and this has been done for the same reason. Because of the fact that it appears less formal, it therefore assumes that the age of the target audience is quite young. 

The sell line isn't completely visible on the page. This has been done so that they can fill the page with as many cover lines as they can to make it seem more compact and full. The sell line has been positioned on the jacket and has been written in a rather different manner. This is because it doesn't follow the traditional layout for a sell line. This is because of the fact that they normally go across the page at the top or bottom of the page stretched across it entirely. However with this one, it has been done in the shape of a little square with the sell line written inside of it. This is a very good technique as it is something unique to the magazine and allows it to be different from its competitors.

The cover lines that have been used have been written in the same style font as the mast head. This has been done to allow a sense of continuity to the page, and adds a professional feel to it, as many different style fonts would make it look cheap and not very well made. They have been  positioned on both sides of the image but haven't went over it. This has been done to make it stand out of the page and this coupled with the fact that the image is over the mast head, allow it to work very well. They have been written in 3 colours, black, pink and blue and all of them are clearly seen on the grey/white background. All of the cover lines have been written in different sizes and this has been done to make the audience aware that some of the stories are bigger than the rest and are of greater importance. There has been a cover line placed above the name of the magazine, which will help sell the magazine when the viewers come to look at it. The has all three colours incorporated into it which allows it to be broken down, and the use of the pink and blue can help highlight the need to know information that is on it. 

With regard to other conventions used, there isn't really that many used on this magazine. The few that have been used are the issue of the magazine, and the URL of the magazines website. These have both been positioned on the bottom left corner of the page and have been written in a white colour. This has been done because of the fact that the rest of the cover is full of information and it looks good positioned there. They have been written in the white colour because as they have been positioned over the top of the characters clothing, the attention shouldn't be taken away from him or anything else on the page. So the white colour doesn't allow the attention to be taken from it, and allows it to be one of the last things that is seen on the cover.

The image that is used in the front cover takes up the majority of the page. This has been taken in a mid shot to allow the viewers to see what those who are in the shot, are wearing. The image is positioned in the centre of the page so that it is one of the first things that the viewers can see when they look at the magazine. However, it has been placed over the title of the page and allows there to seem like there are levels to the page. The way that the three characters are positioned make it look like the women is in charge as she is at the front of the trio, and the way that she has her hands placed on her glasses is a very dominant, controlling and masculine look. The tattoos and the clothing that the characters are wearing look quite Indy and Rock like, which suggests that the target audience for this magazine are those who like this genre. Also, the fact that the three people all are in a direct mode of address, makes the audience feel substandard in comparison to them. This comes down to the fact that no matter where you move around the magazine, or screen, they always appear to be looking straight at you. 

The mast head has been positioned on the left hand side of the page, and this has been done so that the image can be the clearest thing that is on the page. As the picture is of such a vast size, it means that it is the focus point of the magazine. The size of the font that is used isn't that big compared to the others that is on the page. This has been done because of the fact that it seems as a slight reminder to the viewers that this is the magazine. The colour of the mast head has been written in the same colour as the rest of the magazine cover. This allows a sense of continuity to be brought to the magazine and gives it its own individuality and style in comparison to other magazines. The style of font that has been chosen for the mast head and the cover lines  is sans-serif. This has been chosen as it is quite an informal style, as the more rounded text as opposed to the flicked text makes it look a more young font, which would appeal to the target audience who are of an age that it is teens and upwards. This style has been included throughout the page as it wants to be seen as a young magazine.

This magazine doesn't have a sell line as such, but NME are renowned for getting the biggest groups at the time for their magazine. So this in itself, is a pretty effective sell line.

The cover lines that have been used have been placed on a red background which gives the magazine a colour scheme throughout. The colours of the text that have been used are red, black and white. These colours have been chosen because they all stand out amongst each other. The white and the black contrast each other and the red allows them to stand out. The font that has been used is the same throughout the front page. This has been to make the page look more professional and make it look less tacky as many different style of fonts would make it look cheap. The cover lines have been placed down the left hand side of the page, across the top and bottom of the page and on top of the image. The choice of putting it down the left hand side is so that the page looks like it has a specific layout. It makes the page look clearer as it allows the page to have less things placed all over the page. The way that the cover lines down the left hand side have been placed behind the image so that it gives a level to the magazine. Also, the fact the cover line in the middle of the page has been placed over the top of the image, allows there to seem like there are many different levels to the magazine. This is further solidified by the cover line across the top of the page which is placed over the top of the image. They have the images placed in what look like photos as the cover lines as well and this has been done to give the page a different look and have some different to other magazines. However, on the mast head, there is a flick just above the first letter "S" in the main cover line. This has been done so that it looks like a speech bubble without the actual bubble. The speech bubble effect that has been used on the word "gossip" has been done because the word gossip, is another word for speech. Therefore the speech bubble, can therefore be used as a cheeky little effect on it. This makes it look the trio of people have some thing interesting to talk about and this is backed up through the use of the word gossip.   

The magazine does have other conventions placed onto it which make it look more like a magazine. It has a bar code positioned in the bottom right corner of the page which allows people to see t hat it is a genuine edition of the magazine. There is also a the web address of the magazine placed in the same place as the bar code. This has been done so that the audience who are going to be looking at this can easily find the information about the magazine they need. Also placed in this area is the price of the magazine and the issue number. This has obviously been done for the same reason as above.

The image that has been used on the front cover takes up the entire page. This has been done so that the audience can recognise the person in it from their face, as well as the name on the cover line. This means that the image has been taken at a mid shot to close up, so that the face can be seen clearly on the page. The composition of the image has Hayley Williams positioned in a very masculine pose. This is evident in the way she has her hands placed in a boxing style, which is traditionally a very masculine sport. This could show that she is an important person within her band as she is the only one who is shown in it. The image is also one of the clearest on the page and has her placed in the middle of the rule of thirds. This means that she has to be of importance, as whatever is placed inside the centre is usually important. The way that this image is presented suggests that it is for a rock magazine, and this is further illustrated with the name of the magazine. The colour that has been used in the background of the magazine is a grey colour and this contrasts with the pale coloured skin of Hayley Williams and her orange hair colour. This allows her to be one of the clearest things of the page as she stands out so profusely from the dark background. Also, the fact that a direct mode of address is being used allows he audience to feel slightly inferior to her. This is because no matter where the audience move around the screen, it always looks like she is looking right at you. This element of power is generally associated with rockers, as they are usually personified as quite powerful and hard.

Kerrang doesn't seem to have a sell line on the magazine, but it does seem to have an artist who seems to be big at the time it was released, so the fact that it has done this, could mean that it uses the artist to be the sell line.

The mast head that has been used has been written in the largest font on the page. This has been done so that it stands out off the page allowing it to be seen as the second clearest thing on the page after the image. The colour that the font has been written in is white. This has been chosen so that the colour of the font matches with those used on the cover lines, allowing a house style to be created. The effect that has been utilised has been done so that it matches with the genre of the magazine. As it is a rock magazine, and the stereotype of a rocker is to smash things up, the shattered effect on the name of the magazine, fits with it perfectly and works very well. The mast head has also been stretched across the whole page and this has been done to make it as clear as possible and stand out. The mast head has been written in a sans-serif style of font. This has been chosen because it is quite informal and a young style, whereas a serif font has more flicks on it to make it look more formal and older. The fact that the name of the magazine looks like it has little pieces of it missing from it, help it look young. This has been chosen because the target audience is of teenagers plus, and teenagers stereotypically have no respect for their belongings, and break them. So the mast head, with things missing from it, does look somewhat like a teenagers belonging.

The colour of the cover lines that have been used are black, white and red. The colour red has been chosen because of the fact that the red represents blood that would normally be associated with more hardcore rockers, which could possibly suggest that the magazine's target audience is more inclined to hardcore rockers. The cover line that is linked with the main image has been placed inside Hayley's fist. This technique is a very unique one and has been used to help add to the effect of the cover page. The orientation of this cover line has been tilted slightly so that it fits perfectly within the fist. The cover line across the bottom of the page has images white have a border of a white line around them. This has been done so that they can stand out more from the page and look like they are more off the page due to the fact that they are bordered. The cover line are the top of the page could be potentially used as a sell line due to the use of terminology that it uses. As it is placed across the top it is one of the last things that will be seen one the page, and the colours that are used help make it seem important, as the important words can highlighted in white. They background of the cover lines are black, and this has been chosen so that the red and white writing can stand of the page as the black colour lifts them of it somewhat. All of these things that have been mentioned help target the audience as they all have been aimed in grabbing the attention of them.

Finally with regard to the other conventions, the magazine has a bar code on the front cover which makes it look like an actual magazine because of the fact that most magazines do have a bar code on the front page. Underneath this there is also the price in three different currencies that make it seem like the magazine is a more global magazine.Above this is the issue number and underneath the price there is the web address for the magazine. These have all been placed in a small font because of the fact that it isn't going to help sell the magazine in comparison to the mast head, main image and the cover lines.

The mast head of the magazine has been written in a sans-serif font and this has been done to appeal to a more younger audience. This fits perfectly with the genre of music that the magazine has been created for, which is dance. Therefore the fact that the dance is generally associated with young people and the font appeals to a more younger audience complement each other greatly. The use of the white colour of the font allows it to be seen easily off the page as it is easily seen from the background it is placed on. The mast head has been positioned in the middle of the image as it is over the top of the girls arm but underneath her head. This has been done to help show the name of the magazine and the women's face. It has also been stretched across the top of the page so that it is clear enough to be seen, as it makes it look larger than it should be. This has been done to promote the name of the magazine so that it stands out amongst its other competitors when it is placed on the shelf.

The sell line for the magazine has been placed across the top of the magazine above the mast head. This has been written in a sans-serif font and this has been done to keep up with the feel and look of the house style that is used on the magazine. It has also been written in bold so that it does stand out on the page. But as all of the cover lines have also been written in this font, it doesn't really stand out as much as it was intended. The colour that has been used is a yellow and this has been chosen because of the fact that the yellow and blue contrast with each other, meaning that the yellow can be seen clearly on the blue background. The use of the words "worlds biggest" make the magazine seem bigger than what it actually is. This is because those words suggest that the magazine is world renowned and a massive hit. A second sell line that has been used, which isn't technically a sell line but would help sell and promote the magazine is the use of the CD that is being given away free with the magazine. This would help with the sales of the magazine because the fact that the free gimmick is available would entice more people to buy  the product.

The main image that has been used takes up the full page. The image has been taken in a medium to long shot which allows nearly the full figure of the women to be on display. The composition of the image has the women placed in the centre of the page. This allows her to be the focus of the potential customers attention and the outfit that she is wearing, helps draw them in further as she is wearing a bikini. The glasses that she is wearing add a bit of mystery to the image as we are unsure whether she is looking at use or in another direction. This could be perceived as quite a flirtatious and a seductive look as the audience become intrigued by her eyes. This image fits with the genre of the magazine as what she is wearing looks like something that women would wear when they go on holiday, and dance music can be associated with holidays as when on holiday, youngsters usually go clubbing. The matches with the sell line which comments on dance and clubbing, and font that is used, as is a quite young and informal one. 
The cover lines that have been used on the magazine have been written in a sans-serif font. This as was said before, has been used for the target audience to recognise it as a youngish magazine. The colours that have been used are pink and yellow. These colours have been used because they appear on the free CD that is being given away with it. By using this on the cover allows a sense of a colour scheme to emerge on the page as it they have been incorporated on every cover line that is on the page. The use of the yellow allows it to stand out because it contrasts but the pink is quite difficult to see on it. All of them have been written in bold writing so they seem larger on the page. The main cover line that has been used has been positioned on the page separately to the rest of them. This has been done so that the potential customers are aware of what the main story actually is. This has been written in a bold font with shadow underneath it, which allows it to seem like it is above the page rather than being placed on it. The use of the white with the yellow on this cover line complement each other and add to the holiday party going theme, as they are summery colours. The less important cover lines have been placed down the right hand side of the image and this helps show the woman as clear as possible, as there are few times that she has something placed over the top of her. The last cover line that is located in the bottom right corner above the bar code has been written in a black colour font, which is a completely different colour than what has been used everywhere else on the page. This is because of the fact it helps break the page up more catches the readers attention. But, because the font is not written in bold, it doesn't stand out as much as the bold text.
The other conventions that have been included into the magazine cover that help make it look real are the use of the bar code, the price tag shown and the edition number. These have been placed on the front cover of the magazine because this is generally the norm. The location of it in the bottom right corner has improved the layout of the magazine because it helps round it off and give it a professional feel. The colour of the font of the price and edition number has been written in white and this has been done so that it doesn't distort any of the attention away from the actual cover. It is quite difficult to find which is what it has been designed for so this has been successfully carried out.

The mast head has been positioned at the top of the magazine. It has been split in two so that the "BBC" section is in the top corner of the page and the "Music section is underneath. The "BBC" piece of the text has been placed in the top corner because it doesn't want to be seen as important as the Music section. It wants to be there as a reminder that it is from the company, and it is focusing on Music as it's chosen subject. The BBC section has been written in the same style as it is in every product they have created, so that it can be recognised easily from people because it is a very common logo in Britain. The music section stretches across the and has been written in a red colour. This colour has been chosen because of the fact that it  stands out amongst the white background and means that it will be one of the first things that is seen on the page. The font that has been chosen is quite authentic and subtle. This is due to the use of the italic font on the "U" which is unusual as the whole word is usually in that style font. This gives it a more up market feel as it looks like a more sophisticated magazine for people who like a more upper class, classical genre of music. This is emphasised in the image as it shows off the violin in the ladies hands. The font of the mast head has been written in a serif font. This has been done to make the magazine look a lot more chic and classy which matches the style of music that is represented in the magazine. However, the cover lines that have been used have been written in a sans-serif font which juxtapose with the mast head which allow the mast head to been seen more sharply. This could mean that the magazine is trying to branch out to a younger target audience and attract them to this genre .

There has been one definite sell line used that has been positioned across the top of the page but there has been a more subtle one which is placed just underneath the name of the magazine on the right hand side. Firstly the sell line across the top of the page has been written in a thin font which although written in black, doesn't jump off the page and grab all of the attention of the audience. The passage underneath could be perceived as a sell line as it is written in bold, and could sway people to buy the magazine. However, the second sell line which is on the right of the mast head has been placed on an orange circle which allows it to be seen easily as it is a change from the white background, allowing it to be seen better. This has been written in Black to draw the attention of the audience to make it clearer, and the small piece of information that is underneath it has been written in a red colour, so that it can be read without any trouble.

The cover lines that have been placed on the page have been put around the image so that it allows the image to be the clearest thing on the page. This helps the overall look of the magazine cover as it improves the layout and it's overall appearance. The fact that the image has been placed over the mast head also allows it to look like the page has many layers to it and makes it look like it has greater volume. The picture has been taken at a mid shot which helps the viewers see the ladies clothing and the instrument that she plays. From this, they can see that she is wearing a pink cocktail dress and this allows them to associate her with wealth, and this mixed with the instrument which is a violin, enforces this viewpoint. This is because you would traditionally correlate this instrument with wealth, high status and class. The fact that she is also placed right in the centre of the page could possibly suggest that she is an important or upcoming figure in the classical music world. Because of this, it would appeal to the target audience who are of an older generation.

The cover lines that have are on the page have been written in a mixture of fonts. Although this normally would decrease the value and appearance of the page, it doesn't do that as it helps break the page up in different sections. The main cover line has been written in an alternative font to the rest of them and this has been chosen so that it allows it to be obvious to the readers that it is the main cover line. This has also been written in a separate colour to the rest of the so that it is distinctive from the rest of them. The fact that the name of the lady has been written in the red and a large font, helps her stand out of the page as it helps promote her and the audience to become aware of. The other cover lines that have been used have all been written in a black colour font and the features of the cover lines have been written in bold so that the audience can see it rather clearly without having to look to hard. They have also used images as cover lines as well, which help show what is going to come up in the magazine, as opposed to using text.

Other conventions that have been used on the page to help the magazine look real, are the use of a bar code, price, edition number and web address. These have been done so that it is clear to the readers that if they has any queries or questions they could look on the website as a means of contact with the magazine. The price and edition number have been written in bold writing and this has been done so that they can stand out amongst this cluster of information, so that they can be easily identifiable. However, the name of the web address has not been written in bold because it isn't seen as important to the magazine as the edition and price.