1. The CD cover flatters the audience and makes
The image is the largest, most eye catching
them feel special as the ‘real’ fan will deconstruct
part. The star is the unique selling point and
the image, colours, lettering and initials and
one of the reasons fans will buy this CD. The
realise who the artist is. It excludes people who
horns give a clue as to the nature of the
aren’t fans: they aren’t part of the exclusive club!
stars perceived image: Rebellious, satanic,
This refers to the ‘uses and gratifications theory’:
evil etc. the fans like to see themselves in
people use the media to make sense of the world
this way too
and like to feel that they ‘belong’
Gothic font: this
gives a clue
about the genre
Religious imagery: of the music.
the devil.
Suggests
Not the artist’s
rebellion?
full name: the
fan will
recognise the
image and the
initials
Abstract images: the There’s Archaic, religious
artist likes to defy language, linking in with
convention and Goth rock imagery. Font
exclude an air of isn’t neatly done either:
mystery seems jagged or
slashed…
Use of colour black for
The star has pale face, dark eyes and lips. border: this also gives
The left eye is clearly seen. In clues to the music
He isn’t smiling; this gives a ghoulish, ‘un-
Manson’s videos and pictures he genre
dead’ feel to the picture. It would go against
wears a contact lens to make him
the stars image to smile! The picture isn’t
look unusual: he again defies
stereotypical in terms of sex appeal or
convention and his fans will
attractiveness! Parental advisory sticker:
recognise this as part of his image.
industry regulates itself. This
The make-up (big dark lips) is also
gives a warning to whoever
part of this challenge to
buys this CD that there may
convention.
be language and content that
could cause offence. This is
always seen in the bottom
right hand corner, on the
front of a CD cover.

2. The spine has the name of the album and
the artist’s name: practical reasons for when
it is on a shelf. The clenched fist logo is a
universal symbol of power and protest
which reflects the band and the album
The font style is
block capitals
and looks a bit Image: a magnifying
jumbled to glass perhaps
reflect the punk suggesting the band is
genre: non- looking closely at
conformist? issues, or is socially
aware?
Parental advisory sticker: the industry
Bands logo: not complex, part of the bands regulates itself. This gives a warning to
use of red and black. Looks like a warning whoever buys this CD that there may be
sign. Fans can decode the ‘danger’ element. language and content that could cause
This fits with the bands rebellious protest or offence
political edge.
The production details: in small print as this isn’t so
The use of colour is very basic: black, white important to the fans. It contains the necessary details
and red. This suggests that it isn’t a pop and legal information such as copyright, production
album! The colours are reflected in the team, and record labels etc. the bands web address is
bands clothing too and are part of the slightly larger and uses red font as fans may want to
image. The lack of polished, glossy designs access this: another part of the way bands can be
fits with the rebel or punk idea that the marketed today.
band are trying to put across.

3. Image: dressed in a pale pink which
Genre: The bright is an overly feminine colour. The
Star border: Britney surrounded by multiple colours link to the fabric is net & chiffon, materials
stars. Ties in with the circus theme but also genre of music she often associated with ballerinas
sends a message to the audience that represents which is subsequently linking Britney to
Britney is still a ‘star’. And the colour blue is ‘Pop’. Britney vulnerable & sweet little girls. Her
a cold colour though perhaps suggests that herself is a hair is blonde & wavy, mermaid-
Britney’s stardom has gone cold recently. representation of esque again linking her to the
Thick border makes her look trapped. Pop itself; you feminine.
Connoting her celebrity life which is crazy wouldn’t expect
and ‘circus’ like her to be doing any
other genre.
Body composure: makes her
look like she’s begging for a
second chance to show the
world she’s not as crazy as they
think she is. Her true fans will
still see her as the innocent
Britney and look past her
Title: set out like an actual meltdown.
circus title. Connoting that
she’s the star and she’s ready
for her curtain call. The way
the title goes up and down
could connote the ups and
downs of her life such as the
public breakdown The word ‘Circus’
suggest to the
audience that this
album will be
entertaining, lively &
fun. However, the
word also has
connotations of
“freak shows” &
perhaps is to indicate
that Britney feels the
public have looked
Red border & font: the font is upon her like a clown
reminiscent of old circus at a circus or at a
posters, tying in with the freak show
whole theme.
The bold red font could symbolise her
strength to carry on after her whirlwind
career and the little yellow outline could
symbolise the little bit of happiness she has
left in side. Could link to her facial
expression? She has a half smile, not too
happy and not too sad…

4. Image: She’s behind the piano
keys connoting that she only
lets the good side show & she
uses the piano to help her
through the bad time. Also the Sticker: this gives the buyer a glimpse of two
lighting on her body & face is of the songs that will feature on the album.
bright and her skin looks It also reminds the fans what they came to
flawless almost like an angel. buy the CD for in the first place which was
for the hit single. And in turn they’ll be
rewarded with more songs on the album.
Title of the album
on the front cover
Front cover: only
is a typical
has info of her and
convention of a CD
what her fans
cover along with an
know her by. This
image of the artist
allows her fans
and name of artist
and wider
even though it’s in
audience to see
the title.
her head on when
they see the
album on the shelf
in the shop
The piano represents the genre
of music the album belongs Audience: people (her fans) will buy
too. She’s an RnB, Soul artists this album if they want to have a calm
therefore her music will be day to their selves (escapism) etc. And
mellow and soothing Facial expression looks like
because the album is called ‘the diary
she’s scared. Her mouth is
of Alicia keys’ its definitely going to
open slightly, connoting that
have slow songs on it because people
she’s finding it hard to speak
go through hard times in their lives,
so she decided to put it into a
celebrities don’t have it easy
diary of songs, hence the
title.

5. Image: a piano that looks good on one side
and broken on the other side. Ties in with
the front cover image of the good and the
The typical conventions of a CD back cover
bad side of Alicia keys
are present on this album such as the track
names, order of tracks etc.
The layout of the track list is
like how you would write in a
diary or any book. It goes
from left to right. Everything
is linking in with the title.
The production details: in small print as this isn’t so Lettering/font: like the front cover, all the
important to the fans. It contains the necessary details font size of the track list is in lower case and
and legal information such as copyright, production not in bold or anything fancy. Could mean
team, and record labels etc. Alicia keys’ web address is that she’s stripping her celebrity image and
in small print as fans may want to access this: another telling it like it is. No gimmicks just plain
part of the way bands can be marketed today. truth.
The colours are basic: dull colours
like brown, grey, and white

6. The spine has the name of the album and
the artist’s name: practical reasons for when
it is on a shelf. Also has the record label on it
aswell. These can be seen on both spines
This is the back of the booklet
that’s inside the Album; the front
cover of it is the face of the
album. The image is the back of a
book (diary) which also has the
production details embedded on
to it.

7. Few of the inside pages of the
booklet, featuring a few
pictures of the artist. The
brown, grey, white and blue
colour theme is consistent
throughout the album.
The print has
handwritten parts
symbolising a diary.

8. Title: bubble writing symbolises fun, the red
font can symbolise the heart which links to Mise-en-scene: the pink cotton candy cloud
love, anger, passion etc. basically strong signifies youth and young love. Young love
emotions. It also represents the pop genre makes you feel like you’re on cloud 9
and because the writing has that balloon (teenage dream). This attracts a young
look to it, it makes you think of fun times audience of teenage girls which is who her
like going to a theme park etc along with the fans are. Blue skies signify a perfect day.
cotton candy.
Image: feet are up like
she’s in love. Cloud in
the sky connote she’s
on cloud 9 above it all.
She has a sexual face
expression which as
mentioned before
could be exploring her
sexuality. Or she could
Title: ‘teenage dream’ is also be trying to attract
coloured in candy cane a male audience.
style. It’s dripping which
connotes that the
teenage dream isn’t all
that it seems.
Image: Full body shot of Katy Perry Parental advisory sticker: the
showing that she’s the unique selling Title of the album industry regulates itself. This gives a
point. Teens are at the stage where on the front cover warning to whoever buys this CD
they explore their sexuality etc. she is a typical that there may be language and
naked with just a piece of cotton convention of a CD content that could cause offence.
candy covering her private parts cover along with an Also explicit content is not what you
protecting her innocence (saving image of the artist would expect to hear or see in a
herself for ‘the one’). and name of artist. typical pop album or video.
There are eye
catching colours.

9. Typical conventions of a
back CD cover. Track
names, image, colour and
amount of tracks on the
CD.
The spine has the name of
the album and the artist’s
name: practical reasons for
when it is on a shelf. Also
has the record label on it
aswell. These can be seen
on both spines. Spine font:
bold red letters also
representing the pop genre.
The production details: in small print as this isn’t so
important to the fans. It contains the necessary details
and legal information such as copyright, production
team, and record labels etc. the artist web address is
slightly larger and uses red font as fans may want to
access this: another part of the way bands can be
marketed today.

10. One look at how the
inside of the booklet
looks like. The song lyrics
are present so the buyer
can sing along to the
song and learn the lyrics
so they feel special.
Back page of the
inside booklet. There’s
an image of her in a
handmade sweet
costume in a black
background. This
could signify the good
and bad things.