3. Vibe
This magazine cover complies with the uses and gratifications theory in a
number of ways. One is the eye contact in which the artist on the cover is
making, almost with the audience, the reader. This is significant to making
the reader feel involved and that the cover artist shares a certain
relationship with the reader for this direct eye contact, making them feel
more inclined to purchase the magazine more than if they were looking
away. The second method the magazine employs on suiting the theory
and making it appeal to their target audience is the use of colour, in the
text used and the background. Firstly the background is a plain
grey, almost like a plain canvas, implying that the magazine or Eminem
doesn‟t have to do anything major, seek special attention to get noticed
and be a selling magazine. Secondly the text takes up a colourway of
red, black and grey. Sitting on the grey plain canvas background these
bold colours make the text firstly easier to read or notice straight
away, but more importantly makes the magazine appear like it‟s not trying
to sell itself by putting a mix of fancy colour mixes and styles to get people
to buy it. This leads on to the font size and the style of text used on the
magazine, which Vibe goes with a solid, block type font, with the
masthead going down to the bottom sell lines getting smaller in size.
Using a big font for the title certainly makes the magazine more eye
catching.
4. Q
Q magazine here have gone for using the cover photo as its centrepiece and main
attraction, with little bother for sell lines and even features of the magazine. As the
uses and gratifications theory states the idea is to capture the reader‟s
attention, and it is then that they hook themselves in the media piece for whatever
need, in this case simply cognitive, the magazine is giving its target audience the
information they want and expect, the latest goings on in the music industry. The
use of such a high quality picture on the cover surrounded by hardly any
features, anything to particularly give the magazine away as such once again
reiterates the lack of attention the magazine producers need to put in on the cover
to gain mass attention. This technique basically counteracts the norm. Another
factor to point out when looking at this cover in relation to how the magazine
presents itself to sell to its target audience is its house style logo of Q, always
positioned in the top left corner of the cover in its forever present red and white
colour scheme. This makes it seem like it‟s just maintaining its status as one of the
biggest magazines when you can look at the magazine and recognise its Q, they‟re
one of the biggest in music for magazine publishing. Furthermore the colour that it
takes up each time is a pure royal red with white. This makes it seem as though it‟s
coming across as direct, it will supply the cognitive needs its target audience
expects. It stands out additionally because of the simple but effective pure bold
style font, immediately catching the reader‟s eye upon first glance. Lastly, the line
at the bottom states it‟s an “exclusive subscribers only cover”, increasing its appeal
factor as it‟s the only magazine of its kind with this character, it makes you feel
special like you‟re one of a select, elite group able to bask in the glory of this
stunning cover.
5. XXL
This magazine employs more sell lines and titles to sell the magazine than
Q, and it does seem like this is the technique XXL are looking for. The first
thing that catches the eye is the picture of rapper Jay-Z. Firstly the fact that
he is smoking a cigar makes him appear rebellious and has that “bad boy
factor” which can appeal to teenagers. Also the fact that he is wearing
“shades” signifies an air of dangerousness and perhaps mysteriousness.
The title XXL, is shown in a large white font onto a red background
bordered by a white rectangle. This is a clear attempt to try and make the
title stand out so instantly you know what the magazine is, no gimmicks.
Furthermore just above the title they display the words “premier issue”.
This makes the reader feel as though they are about to read the upgraded
version of this magazine, but it doesn‟t necessarily have to be this in
reality, its probably a few more pages added onto the end but its this
theory, this method that so well complies with the uses and gratifications
theory which is making the reader feel like the magazine is actually better
than it is without realising in an attempt to sell the magazine to its target
audience and perhaps gain new customers in the same action.
6. Zink
This is the cover of Zink magazine, a music magazine aimed at around 14
to the early 30s trying to cover a range of genres to satisfy a variety of ages
in its target audience. This is identifiable through firstly the cover
photo, which features artist Kid Cudi smoking a cigarette, again similar to
the XXL cover in which a rebellious character, cool and on trend is the aim.
The pose he employs is to be noted additionally, he takes up a hand in
pocket, slouched, almost like he isn‟t interested or doesn‟t have much
care, which gives the impression that once again he is defying the rules, a
bit “bad boy” if you like. Conjunctively the other feature of this cover that
signifies its aims to satisfy 2 ends of society and age in its target audience
lies in the „plus‟ section, which contains the names of artists such as
Christina Perri, and Ashley Tisdale. These are artists of which who‟s music
tends to appeal to younger teenage girls, and Ashley Tisdale, formerly of
shows on The Disney Channel.
Looking at this cover from an overall perspective then, the reader will see
this as a magazine appealing to two different kinds of reader, differing
tastes with the contrast of the cover photo and the actual cover
features, the sell lines
7. MixMag
MixMag is a dance/club style magazine which features interviews on various
DJ‟s, and the latest general news on this genre throughout the world.
The magazine employs a unique and individual, and simultaneously creative
front cover image, a DJ, Subfocus, with the image of himself mirrored
vertically shown on a clear, fresh beige into black shadow fade. This is an
attempt from the producers of the magazine to make the cover stand out in
the book shop, with the fresh vibes going on reflected through this colour
scheme and the innovative design of the mirror edit. This magazine also uses
subheadings and sell lines to further attract the audiences attention, primarily
and initially the ‟10 page special section Sub Focus‟ lets the reader know
what is included in the magazine but also appeals to a direct audience with
the genre of dance and club music taste by stating that Sub Focus will feature
in the magazine, appealing to of course Sub Focus fans. But most importantly
probably is the „10 page special section‟ sub heading, which makes the
reader feel this is in fact an upgraded, „special‟ version of the magazine in
which the specified section will include amazing things, things only this reader
can behold and that‟s why they will want to pick this copy up, because this
section sounds very appealing indeed.
The overall house colour scheme of the cover combines well and comes off
very smart, and professional, particularly the black text boxes holding beige
and white text.
