Musical magazines conventions

1. How do we know the genre of the
following magazines?
Leah Aston

2. Rock summary- Classic/hard rock magazines

3. Element Typical convention The audience.
Colour scheme Rock magazines tend to use very dark
colours e.g. reds and blacks, to emphasise a
moody or ‘dark’ look.
Audiences will see this colour scheme- the
dark colours, and assume it’s an edgy or
‘classic’ magazine. The colours may also
attract audiences, as fans, or may be
deemed as ‘emo’ or ‘gothic’ would take note
of the colour scheme, and link it back to
their personal preferences.
Photography The images used are generally of rock
musicians, who look messy, have long hair
or messy make up. They’re also posed with
rock attributed hand gestures e.g. horns, or
use props such as guitars or amplifiers. The
lighting may be sometimes dull, as to give
as moody or gloomy look, or bright as to
amplify the make up colours (shown with
the Marilyn Manson cover)
The style, or the musician used in the cover
of these magazines is very important to the
audience. Images of bands playing live may
draw a bigger audience as by reading the
article attributed or seeing the pictures may
make them feel like they were at the show.
Also, if the artist used on the cover is
‘loosely’ linked to rock music- or the genre
the magazine is writing about, then
audiences may backlash, so the writers
have to be careful in their choices.
Writing style/fonts The language used may involve swear
words (classic rock cover- f*ck doctors) and
also quotes that trail off, or have an implied
meaning that would make the audience
want to read on (“I’m not afraid to die…”)
the language may also talk about ‘taboo’
topics e.g. religion, sex, politics, death
Audiences may find these topics edgy or
cool, so they’ll want to read about these
subjects – may meet a persons personal
integrative needs. Also, the language used
makes the magazine seem daring or
rebellious, so fans of the rock and roll genre
will read these articles and attribute these
to themselves, perhaps to again gain
credibility?
Text/picture ratio With rock magazines there’s generally a
main image, or a main image and one small
one. Although, the background may only
hold one image- as to not defer attention.
Rock magazines may not have a lot of
information on the front as to not draw
attention from the main image, or so the
audience buy the magazine to find out
more.
Overall look Rock magazines generally give off a moody,
careless, or edgy attitude to the audience.
Audiences may see this and attribute
themselves to this attitude, so they then
may buy this magazine as it seems personal
to them.

4. Indie summary- Indie rock magazines

5. Element Typical convention The audience.
Colour scheme Indie magazines use dull or mute colours in
the background, or on the artists clothes.
Colours include blacks, dull greys and a
little bit for red or a bright colour to draw
attention to certain parts of the magazine.
The colour scheme for Indie magazines are
quite minimal- usually using dull greys and
mute blues. Fans who see themselves as
that kind of person e.g. not very excitable,
or as liking bright colours- so fans will see
the colour scheme and are likely to pick it
up.
Photography Images include artists mostly, and
sometimes use props such as guitars, but
mostly wear sun glasses or smoke
cigarettes. Artists are usually slouched and
not giving direct eye contact to the
audience. The location may be outside, but
is sometimes in studios with dark
backgrounds or just plain white. The clothes
that the artists wear are quite messy, e.g. a
t shirt or a loose suit.
Indie magazines tend to use images that
are taken outside as to give it realistic and
less fake look. Fans like this as it gives the
magazine a sense of gritty realism, where
as pop magazines use images from studio
shoots where the artist is perfect made up
and polished. Indie fans like the almost
messy and casual look, so fans will see this
and attribute it to themselves.
Writing style/fonts Indie magazines usually use straight
forward language, and plain text fonts such
as Verdana or Calibri.
Indie fans prefer not to know any trivial
information, so everything will be in the
magazine and rather the important things
would be inside the magazine. Fans like this
as it isn’t crowded, and it’s easy to
understand the information.
Text/picture ratio Indie magazines tend to have minimal text
on the front or just a medium amount- they
aren't very cluttered- and have focus on the
main picture of the cover.
If the magazine isn't crowded, then it
means that the magazine doesn’t hold any
trivial information- which indie fans like.
Overall look Indie magazine’s give off a careless, kind of
causal attitude. Many of the artists on the
covers have a ‘teddy boy’ look, e.g. arctic
monkeys or Jake Bugg. The font of the text
and amount exemplifies the idea that what’s
inside the magazine counts- rather than
giving putting information on the front just
for the sake of it.
Many fans of indie music dress quite
casually, or have a kind of careless,
whatever goes attitude, so many people will
see this magazine and attribute that kind of
attitude to themselves- therefore making it
likely that they’ll buy the magazine as they
see themselves in it.

6. Pop summary- Pop magazines

7. Element Typical convention The audience.
Colour scheme Pop magazines generally use bright and
electric colours as to draw attention to the
magazine itself. The colour scheme also
gives it a ‘fun’ and ‘young’ mood. Pop music
magazines tend to use baby shades of
colours, e.g. baby blue or baby pink and
mostly primary colours- which also give off
that childish atmosphere.
Many of the fans of pop music are most
likely younger- so they’ll appreciate the
colour scheme as they’ll like these colours.
Also, it creates a kind of ‘innocent’ or
‘bubble gum pop’ mood, which many fans of
pop music like- so they’ll be likely to buy
this magazine.
Photography The images used on the front covers of pop
magazines are taken in studios rather than
in live shoots or taken outside. This means
that it has a plain background, e.g. white,
so they can add colours to the magazine
without them blending in or disturbing the
colour scheme. Pictures have direct eye
contact, and taken with ‘sweet’ props such
as flowers of acoustic guitars. Most of the
time these magazines do not use props and
rather use just a central image so they can
add more text. The lighting is very bright-
as to highlight the multiple colours used.
Fans of pop music magazines don’t really
like covers that use images taken outside or
in live events, so the use of images taken in
studios creates a clear background and
image for the viewers. Also, fans like direct
eye contact as they then feel that they’re
involved, and closer to the artist.
Furthermore, the bright colours of the
image brings attention to the artist-which,
to some fans, is the main reason that they
buy the magazine.
Writing style/fonts Pop magazines use a variety of fonts (or
just the same font but in italic or bold).
Also, the fonts are quite fun or childish e.g.
comic sans- it depends on the artist on the
cover. They also use a restricted code with
their language, they don’t elaborate often
and do not use complex vocab so the
audience (mostly young) can understand.
Fans of pop music are generally quite
young, so the use of restricted language
instead of the elaborated code makes it
easier for fans to understand as it doesn’t
involve complex vocab. Also, usually, fans
of this magazine will speak in the language
as well, so they’ll feel connected to the
magazine.
Text/picture ratio The covers of pop magazines tend to be
cluttered with text and images- mostly
overlapping one another *shown with the
top of the pops magazine* and mostly just
add lots of information as to grab attention.
The fact that most of the content is on the
front magazine through the use of cover
lines makes it easier for the audience to
know whether they’re going to buy it or not
– as they’ll see what they like and buy it.
Overall look Pop magazines have a childish- child
friendly look, unlike rock and indie- as
they’re catering to a young audience, where
it’s likely the magazine is bought by the
parents for the child.
The audience of pop music magazines like
the childish and fun mood, so they’ll
immediately see it and attribute it to
themselves.

8. RnB summary- RnB magazines

9. Element Typical convention The audience.
Colour scheme The colour schemes of RnB and rap
magazines are quite dark as they use bold
colours such as red and black.
The audience of RnB music most likely like
these colours, so they’ll see the magazine
and link the colours back to themselves –
meeting their personal needs.
Photography RnB magazines mostly use lower level shots
to make the artist seem bigger and most
likely scarier. Images can be either bright or
dull, and unlike pop magazines, they mostly
use black or grey backgrounds instead of
white ones. The artist is usually the pinnacle
of the cover – the focus of the camera is on
them. Also, the artists hold direct contact
with the audience, as if to give off a scary
or volatile look . The cover mostly uses
props such as guns and headphones, and
are usually dressed in minimal closing –
showing tattoos and muscles. Artists may
also wear sunglasses, as they give off a
mysterious mood.
The audience like the fact that their
favourite artists are on the covers of these
magazines- and in the focus of the camera.
Fans see these artists and usually buy their
magazines as they like the artist, and have
a deep connection with them – usually
trough their music. Also, the audience of
these magazines like the gloomy or ‘bad
ass’ look that these magazines give out, so
they’ll also buy them on this basis.
Writing style/fonts RnB and rap magazines use aggressive
language or different types of slang, or
informal language. The fonts may be quite
big and bold as it creates an atmosphere of
power for the magazine.
The audience like the aggressive language
that the magazine uses, and the use of
slang, so the audience will see this use of
language and attribute to themselves and
buy the magazine. Also, the reading age for
these magazines is quite high, so the
audience is likely to be older- e.g. 15-
around 35.
Text/picture ratio RnB and rap magazines generally don’t
have a limit to the amount of text that’s on
the front, sometimes they have a few or
sometimes a lot. This may come down to
the artist that the magazine uses, for
example, if the magazine uses a famous
artist, they may not use many cover lines
as it would draw the attention away from
the performer.
Audiences like the fact that the magazine
producers understand what makes an
important artist, so they’ll be likely to buy it
if there is a large picture on the font-
especially of their favourite artist.
Overall look RnB and rap magazines create a gloomy
and aggressive mood for the audience.
Fans like this, and attribute it to themselves
so they buy the magazine.

10. Country summery- Country magazines

11. Element Typical convention The audience.
Colour scheme The colour scheme of country magazines
are quite light and vibrant as to represent a
countryside and fun, quirky mood.
Audiences like this as they like the fun and
quirky atmosphere that country music
brings.
Photography The photography used on country music
magazines vary. For example, sometimes
they’ll use images that were taken in live
performances or pictures taken in studios.
Also, they’re likely to use direct eye contact
if the image was taken in a studio, but not if
they’re in live performances. They’re also
likely to use props such as guitars or
microphones, or images taken in medium
shots if in a studio, or from lower angles if
in live performances.
Country music fans like the live
performances aspect for magazines, as it
makes them feel like they’re at the concert.
Also, the use of direct eye contact makes
the audience feel like they have a
connection with the artist, therefore making
it likely that they’ll buy the magazine.
Writing style/fonts The font varies between different types of
country magazines. They usually use san
serif fonts and use block lettering, as then
it’s much easier to read. Also, they may use
short sentences that intrigue readers, such
as ‘rags to riches’ or ‘road warrior’ – this is
also country-esc, so it further compounds
the country theme.
Fan’s of country music magazines like the
short sentence’s such as ‘rags to riches’ as
it leads them to wanting more and wanting
to read on.
Text/picture ratio There is no real image to text ratio, as it
differs from each magazine, but usually
they’ll use a lot of cover lines as to promote
reader interest.
Readers like to know what they’re buying,
so if there are many cover lines on the
front, then fans will see it, and buy it on
those terms.
Overall look Country music fans like the country-esc
atmosphere that these magazines have.
Audiences like this as they link themselves
to these attributes, so fans are likely to buy
these magazines as they can link
themselves to it.

12. Classical summary – classical magazines

13. Element Typical convention The audience.
Colour scheme Classical magazines use mostly dark tones,
such as blacks and greys, and highlight
these with whites (usually the title, or some
of the performers clothing)
Audiences like this as it adds to the mood
that classical music connotes.
Photography Classical music magazines use live
performances often and sometimes use
images taken in the studio. They often use
props such as instruments, and in studio
taken images use direct eye contact, and
most likely in live performance taken
images, they wont use them. Furthermore,
they sometimes use hooded lighting as to
create a dark, mysterious atmosphere.
Fans like the lighting use at they like the
mysterious atmosphere that classical music
magazines use. More over, they like the live
performance taken images as it creates a
connection between the audiences as they
feel like they’re there. Furthermore, the use
of direct eye contact also does it, further
compounding the fact that fans will buy the
magazine.
Writing style/fonts Classical music magazines tend to use
elaborated code in their wording, as it’s
likely that older, more educated people will
buy the magazine- so it creates a
professional mood for the audience. Also,
the fonts used are usually serif, as that
further compounds the professional mood.
Audiences like the fact that the magazine
uses an elaborated code, as they’ll link
themselves to the professional atmosphere
of the magazine. Also, the serif font does
this also, meaning that fans are more likely
to buy the magazine.
Text/picture ratio Classical music magazine varies, but mostly
they wont use a lot of text because then it’ll
take away from the atmosphere of the
image.
Audiences like the image use, so they’ll be
likely to buy the magazine based on this
premise.
Overall look Classical music magazines creates a
mysterious atmosphere- done by the colour
scheme and the use of photography.
Audiences like this, as it creates an element
of mystery to the magazine, which means
audiences will buy it, also because it had a
professional atmosphere to it- linking to the
audiences personal integrative needs.