The document provides details about the design choices for various elements of a music magazine cover and contents page. For the cover, the designer placed the masthead at the top in large typography and included a tagline. The main image features a female artist looking at the camera to draw attention. Cover lines along the right promote various artists. On the contents page, images of the front cover artist and another are included along with section headings and editor's notes. Social media links are also included. The double page article spread features a large image of the artist and headings that overlap the image. The article text includes paragraph separation lines and a pull quote.

1. Front cover…

2. Masthead and Tagline…
I placed my masthead across the top of my page as that is where most mastheads are placed on music magazines. It is the
biggest typography on the cover. The masthead is slightly eroded as it fits in with my genre it is also capitalised as it allows it
to stand out more. Other than putting it in a different colour I kept it black as it is a colour used a lot for R&B. The masthead
name is related to music as it is a music magazine and the codes and conventions of the magazines will show a clear
indication that it R&B. My tagline has gone along side the masthead, this will show that it is the tagline as it is on the side
connected to the masthead. This will create a logo for the magazine so if the magazine becomes well known the magazine
will get easily recognised. Both the tagline and masthead are related to music which I like as it shows that the magazine is all
about music.
Dominant image…
For my main image I got the inspiration of Billboard. Even though I wanted a mid
shot Billboard gave me the idea of the facial expression and pose. Making my
model look into the camera draws the audience attention as it is like she is
looking straight at you. I was always going to use a female for my artist to draw
attention to female side of my target audience other than having a muscular
man with a lot of chains. This also, might make a connection with my female
target audience as they may see the artists as somebody to look up to. Instead
of having the artist in the middle on the front cover I placed her further to the
left so all my cover lines are together. The artist is covering the masthead
showing she is more important and well known than the magazine itself.

3. Top banner…
I got the inspiration from Vibe magazine with Hard Edge on the front for my top banner, the only thing I changed was love
songs to R&B songs to fit into my genre. I included a top banner as I like the look of them on other magazines and I like
how they tell readers what are going to be in the magazine other than being a sell line. The banner may also bring back
memories to people as it is songs since 2000.
Bottom banner…
The bottom banner is three artists that is also going to be included in the magazine but, there was not enough room for a
cover line on the side. It is also, a different way that Vibe showed cover lines. This idea was from Vibe's magazine but instead
of putting it at the top I put the banner at the bottom so it looked more involved with the other cover lines. It is also different
and allows me to add more artists that people might be interested in and may by my magazine. However, I made them a
different colour so, they stand out from the black text around it. They are also, a different font so it doesn’t clash.

4. Date and website…
I wanted the date below the masthead as I have only seen this on one magazine which would be Vibe. I copied the
layout of Vibe as I really liked it and didn’t see anything to change. I didn’t put the weekday as it will be available through
the full length of the month until the next issue comes out the next month. I have included the year so people who
collect them or keep a magazine will know which year it was made in when they look back. Underneath the date I added
the magazines website so people no where to go if they want anymore information about the issue of the magazine they
have purchased or even just about the magazine itself. On the website there is also a yearly description for the magazine.
I liked how Vibe made the date and website stand out if a different way. By having the one writing black and the other
having white writing and black background.
Barcode…
I decided to place my barcode on the front of my magazine other than the back as I prefer the look of other music
magazines that have done this. I got the inspiration for my barcode of NME as they have quite detailed barcode and I
wanted mine to be as detailed as possible. I included the prices in three different currencies, the date, website and
institution. I have put it on the left hand side because all the cover lines are on the right and I think there will be too much
in that corner.

5. Main sell line and Sub heading…
The main sell line, subheading and puff I copied of XXL. I liked the style as the typography stands out on the white background
and looks 3D. I put the main sell line across the body of the artist as it clearly indicates who she is as the sell line is her name. It
gives a name to the artists on the front cover and since her name is one of the biggest text on the front cover shows she is
important. For the main sell line I copied the typography as it stood out with the 3D effect and the white text on a grey
background. The subheading is telling readers what the article will be about and gives them an indication if they would want to
read it. I wanted to make the article slightly personal as more people are interested about information that they don’t know. I
included the word ‘my’ to show readers that it is all about her. I put the main sell line a darker different colour so it doesn’t take
the attention away from the main sell line. The sub heading will also be in capitals as It makes it stand out in a different way
other than having it a bright colour
or having large text. I included a slug
like XXL as it shows people that, that
article is exclusive to the magazine.
So, having exclusive above the main
artist will make more people what to
read that particular article. It also
means that no other magazine has
done an interview with that person
yet which could make more people
pick up the magazine.

6. Sell lines…
I put all of my cover lines together as it makes it easier for people to view all of them if
they are all together as they wont have to look all over the front cover to see who is
going to be featured in the issue. Having them all next to each other means not one of
the sell lines stand out more than the other one. Here you can see I have placed the
artists name and a little description of what the article inside will be about. I had the
artists name in bold and capitalised so there name would catch peoples eyes, this is so
people will know who will be featured inside the issue of the magazine. The
description underneath is a normal font and around half of the size of the artists
name, this is because people will only want to know about the article if they are
interested in the artists. I put both text in different shades of black because, I have
already made them different sizes to stand out. I included various different artist to
suit everybody's interest in R&B. I done this because people who like R&B music like
various different artists and makes more of a chance of people picking up my
magazine Because, I have included artists from all aspects of R&B. Some of the artists
are in the charts and others are popular within the industry. In between each sell line I
have put a thin line to divide them, to show a clear separation. I also think it makes it
look neat and professional as other magazines have done this as I have copied of the
XXL magazine.

7. Contents page…

8. Layout…
When looking for my inspiration to create my contents page I came across Q’s contents page and I really like the layout
as the text and images are noticeable and stand out. I copied of the layout completely as it allowed me to include all of
the text I wanted and made room for a dominant image and a sub image which I originally wanted to include. I have
made it so the contents page is a lot more simple and less crowded as I think that will work better with my target
audience.
Heading…
The heading is the same typography as the masthead on the
front cover as it will make the magazine pages match and
make people remember the magazines name as the
typography will be recognisable to the reader. Since it is the
same font as my logo it is similar to having my logo on the
page. I made the heading across the top big and named it
contents as it means people who are flicking through the
magazine will be able to see quickly where the content page
in so they can find the article hey are looking for quicker.

9. Editors note…
For the editors note I copied of Kerrang as I liked the look of there's editors note the most. I put it at the bottom of
the page as it did not clash with the rest of the text. I started the same way as Kerrang by saying hello readers and
copied the way he numbered his points. In the text the editor talks about what is in the issue and what is her
favourite part. I made the image much smaller as the text is more important than image. Also, not many people
read the editors notes to look at the image of the editor. I added in the editors signature as it shows that it is by the
editor and that it is his work. The signature, date and an image is all common things included in the editors note.
Social media…
I included social media on my contents page as I thought it was the
best page to put my social media on this page as it is all about
information in the magazine. Putting the magazines social media
inside the magazine allows SOUND to get publicity on other
platforms as people may check out the social media if they are
interested more in the magazine, want to keep up to date with
everything or even to interact with the magazine more. Some
readers might not know what other platforms the magazine is on
so having them in the magazine shows readers that they have
social media.

10. Images…
For the dominant image I used a full body Image of the same person
that is on my front cover, this was because she was the main
attraction in the magazine of this issue so a lot of people would read
the article on her. The model has the same outfit on as it makes it
noticeable for the readers. For my dominant image I got the
inspiration of a Vouge contents page that I came across and really
liked the image. So the model is not creating eye contact as I do not
need to draw the audience in on a contents page as the front cover
has already done that. The poses on the models are the same except
I have used a full body image. I also included a sub image on my
contents page as I never added a sub image on the front cover. I
added the image on an artist that was also featured in my magazine
and I chose this particular image as her article was about her music
video and the image I chose looks like a music video type of lighting.
The sub image is a different camera shot as I did not want there to be
two shots that are the same as it would not attract people to both
images if they were the same. So, I made the sub image a close up. A
close up worked well with the sub image as it concentrated on the
artists face and showed the colours well which linked in with the
article that was about her.

11. Text…
There are three different banners that feature articles, features, editor notes and every month but, four different
sections on the page. All of the headings are capitalized as they are the title of each section. I got two of the headings
names of Q. Two of the banners are burgundy with the other one being black this is to show a clear separation of the
articles and other information on the page and the banners are for each new section. Underneath the features and
article title there are a variety of artists to attract people to read certain pages. All the artists names and main
information is in capitals as they are the main thing to do with that page. But, the text underneath the artists name is
much smaller because, people will only read what the article is about if they like the artist. The numbers are mixed
up because, if it was in chronological order it would be boring and repetitive so mixing it up makes it more appealing
and more eye catching.

12. Double page spread…

13. Image…
The dominant image is looking down, meaning she is not creating eye contact
but the artists is looking at the text instead, so she is drawing people into
reading the article that is about her as she is looking down on it. This looks like
the artist is interacting with her text. Her posture makes her look relaxed which
creates a calm atmosphere for the page and links in with the article as it is
calm and about her life. I used a waist shot as it means I have used three
different camera shots so none of the images of the artists are similar. She
takes up half of the double page spread as it shows her importance and status.

14. Heading and Strapline…
The typography for the heading is the same as the masthead on the front cover and the headline for the contents page.
This is because, it is the main article of this issue of the magazine so, having the same typography shows it is important.
The article title is the name of the artist so people know that it is all about her. Also, the article title is going across the top
of the page and into the dominant image which I got the idea of Billboards magazine. The strapline is going to be centred
underneath the heading because it makes it stand out and is more clearer to readers. I put the strapline the same as what
the subheading was on the front cover so it is repetitive. The colour of the text is black as It matches the rest of the article.
Both heading and strapline is in capital letters to catch the readers eyes and make it dominant on the page.
Drop cap…
The way I have placed the drop cap makes it take up a lot of space on my double page spread and it grabs the
readers attention more. I got my drop crap inspiration is of Q. The drop cap is the beginning letter of my text and I
have slightly faded it so the black text will stand out better which is on the drop cap. I have made the drop cap the
same typography as the rest of the text so it links and does not look fully out of place. Just like the heading it
overlaps with the image so there is not a clear separation with the photo and the rest of the article.

15. Text…
Since, my magazine is aimed slightly towards the sophisticated side of the music industry. So, my article is
aimed more towards the more mature audience as there is a lot of text as it is more detailed other than a
question and answer as that is seen for the younger audience who don’t like to read detailed paragraphs
unless they are really interested in the artist. As, the interview is exclusive a lot of people are more likely to
read the article. The gutter lines on the page are inspired by the article on the right of Jessie J. I liked the
look of the separation that the lines created in the article so, I also added the lines in-between the
separation in the paragraphs as I thought it improved the look of the double page spread. I also added a pull
quote which I got the inspiration of NME’s magazine. I put it in the middle of the article and overlapped the
other text at the side to make the pull quote stand out from the text around it. The colour is not black and is
burgundy as it would have clashed with the other text to much. Since, the pull quote grabs so many peoples
attention on the page I wanted to make it quite personal to the artists so more people would be intrigued
about why she is saying it.