This front cover of Billboard magazine features Canadian artist Drake. The text is justified to draw attention to the main cover image of Drake. The coverlines stand out in yellow and black against a desaturated background. The colorful masthead uses multiple colors compared to typical music magazines. The desaturated background and image emphasize the bright coverlines and title to attract readers.

1. Colourful
masthead to
attract
readers
Large cover image
of popular artist
(close-up)
Artist’s name in big,
bold letters on main
cover line to attract
fans of the artist
Popular event
featured in
magazine
Key
coverlines in
yellow and
black
Bar-code and price
Desaturated
background to
make writing
stand out
Website
Text is
justified on
both sides of
the
magazine
Dateline
Puff

2. Layout - The text on
this front cover of
Billboard magazine is
justified. This
technique is used in
many other magazines
as well, and it is used
to attract more
attention to the main
cover image, who for
this issue is Canadian
R&B and hip-hop star
Drake.
Coverlines – The
coverlines on this front
cover are black and
yellow, which stands
out from the
desaturated
background and makes
them easier for
readers to see them.
Masthead – The masthead
for Billboard magazine is
very unique as it uses an
array of colours; white, red,
yellow, light blue and light
green, compared to typical
music mastheads made of
one or two colours, such as
Kerrang! and Q.
Background – This magazine cover uses a
desaturated background to divert more attention
to the coverlines and articles as they use much
brighter colours
Main Image – The main
image is also desaturated to
match the background. This
further emphasises the
colourful coverlines and
title, and it also gives the
cover a more mature,
professional look.

3. Masthead in signature
colour.
Names of several
artists/bands within
the magazine
displayed on the
front to attract their
fans to read the
magazine.
Price of magazine and
date of its release.
Strapline of main
article.
Barcode, price and date.
Interview with popular artist
to attract more readers.
Info on an event related to
the magazine’s genre to try
and encourage readers to
take part.
Several different fonts
and colours are used to
make the cover more
unique and vibrant.
Three more important
sections in the magazine
are displayed here,
helping to attract more
readers who would be
fans of these artists.
Writing is mostly justified onto the sides of the cover.
This helps give the cover model more attention.
Rhetorical question directed
towards the reader to interact
with them.The mise-en-scene for this cover is generally vibrant.
However, Alex Turner is wearing a black shirt and also has
dark hair which is a contrast to the rest of the cover. This
implies that he tries to do things differently to the people
and the world around him.

4. Masthead
Header showing a
major feature of the
issue
Cover model’s performer
name in big, bold letters.
“Exclusive” attracts attention
as it is the first place where
this interview will be seen.
Quote from the cover model
QR Code to allow readers
to access extra
information using their
devices.
Barcode, price and date
Straplines for other features
included in the issue, other
artists’ names are used
Text is justified to the sides
to give the cover model
more exposure
The mise-en-scene is used to denote T.I’s personality. The lighting on this cover is relatively dark as this has
connotations of aggression and power. He is also sporting a cap and gold chains which suggests that he is
successful and stylish. The picture is a close-up of the model, this gives the impression that he likes to get up in
someone’s face and also further implies aggression.