This document analyzes magazine advertisements for three musical artists: Mumford & Sons, The Killers, and Jessie J. It discusses elements like typography, imagery, color schemes, and record labels to understand how the ads are promoting the artists' brands and new albums. Key points made include that the artists' names are usually largest to emphasize their brand over the album, images and colors reflect the artists' styles and genres, and including popular song titles can attract new fans. Record labels are also analyzed to show the artists' pedigree and promotional experience.
2. Mumford & Sons Typography – The same colour for all the font on the
advert is used to ensure a continuous flow within the
advert. Various different typography styles and font sizes
are used for different parts of the copy. The artists name
‘Mumford & Sons’ is in the largest font size of the whole
advert, this is so that it is made clear to whoever sees the
advert who’s music it is. Some consumers regardless of
the music will buy an artists music just to support them as
they like their previous music. The album name ‘Sigh No
More’ however is in a smaller font size compared to the
artist name this could be because the album is the second
most important copy on the advert; the font used for the
album title is also in the same font but not in bold.
Album Title – The placement of the album title being
under and smaller than the bands name could be a sign
that no matter the album, the bands name needs to be
first priority and what attracts people to the poster. This
is often the case with many promotional outlets, the
name of the brand is more important than the actual
product being sold – Mumford & Sons are essentially a
brand.
Main Image – The main image consists of what looks
like four separate polaroid style images of each
member of the band. The use of the polaroid style has
connotations of being old-school and rustic, it helps
build up the image that the band have made for
themselves. The genre the band are classified into is
indie folk/rock folk, this is well represented by the
lighting used for the images and the instruments being
held by the band (acoustic guitar, accordion, double
bass and a banjo).
Pull Quote – The quote from the magazine ‘NME’
indicates to any onlookers that the music the
band made is of a very good standard. Also just by
the fact that the quote is from this magazine
reassures anyone viewing the advertisement that
if NME says they’re god they must be good, this is
because NME are very established magazine that
people trust; people who listen to the type of
music that they report on will trust their
judgement.
Hits – The three song titles across the bottom are
the songs that are most recognised by fans or even
people that don’t listen to the band and only know
of those songs. This is beneficial for the group
because they can gain fans from this, if someone
knows of a song and finally finds the artist who
sung it they try listening to their other songs as
they might like them too. This is good for Mumford
& Sons because then the word spreads about their
music and their popularity will grow, this in turn
make them more successful artists.
Record Label – ‘Island Records’ is the record label that
Mumford & Sons are signed to and ‘Gentlemen of the
Road’ is the bands own record label but also the name of
their 2013 tour. Island Records was founded in 1959 but
since 1999 is owned by Universal Music Group (UMG).
UMG was initially founded in 1934 as Decca Records USA.
This shows that the record label Mumford & Sons are
signed to are well established and know what they are
doing; they are experienced in the music industry and
know how to make an artist successful with the right
promotion.
3. The Killers
Typography – The font of the band name is different
to the rest of the text on the advertisement. The
album name is the only font that is not written in
white, this may be because the band want the
album that they are promoting to be the focus of
the advertisement however even though the album
name is in black to stand out the bands name is the
largest font. The significance of the bands name
being the largest font is that even though in this
situation the album needs promoting, at the end of
the day the artist is the most important. The artist
name is what represents the music and is in other
terms the brand that sells.
Album Title – The album, ‘Day & Age’ is the
bands third studio album from 2008. It was after
this album that the band decided to take a hiatus
and Brandon Flowers the lead singer released his
solo album ‘Flamingo’ in 2010. The band have
also called it their "most playful record" with the
album making use of saxophones, steel
drums, harpsichord & tribal chanting.
Record Label – The Killers are signed to ‘Vertigo
Records’ which was first launched in the UK in 1969
and its parent company is UMG. Vertigo Records
mostly sign artists from the genres of hard rock,
progressive rock, pop soul, heavy metal and glam
metal. The Killers make their music within the genres
of alternative rock, post-punk revival, new wave and
heartland rock. Other artists signed to Vertigo
Records include Metallica and Razorlight.
Hits – The three song titles across the bottom are the
songs that are most recognised by fans or even people
that don’t listen to the band and only know of those
songs. This is beneficial for the group because they can
gain fans from this, if someone knows of a song and
finally finds the artist who sung it they try listening to
their other songs as they might like them too. This is
good for The Killers because then the word spreads
about their music and their popularity will grow, this in
turn make them more successful artists.
Main Image – The main image is essentially the whole
background. The image is formulated in a mosaic pattern,
following a purple and white colour scheme throughout
the whole top half but when travelling to the bottom half
of the background more browns, yellows and orange
colours come through. The yellows and oranges when
intermixed in the manner they are on the background,
create a pattern of a spitting fire. Fire has connotations of
warmth, heat, anger, passion, desire and destruction.
This may reflect in some of the lyrics on the album.
Moving back to the top purple half of the advertisement
there is a white moon in the sky, the connotations of the
moon conflict with the connotations of the fire at the
bottom. Some connotations of the moon is love, serenity,
peace, calmness, intimacy and romance. One way of
looking at it is that the top half could represent Heaven
and the bottom half could represent Hell.
Website – The website allows anyone looking at the
advertisement to know were to find the artist online
they wish to. Also the website probably contains any
extra information fans could be looking for such as
merchandise or where to buy the albums.
4. Jessie J Colour Scheme – The colour scheme of black,
white and gold follows through throughout the
whole advert. Black has connotations of power,
elegance, strength and authority. The white of
the background acts as a plain canvas for the
main image to stand out against. Gold has
connotations of success and achievement due to
linked connotations of luxury and quality.
Typography – The typography used for Jessie J’s
name is how her name is always written in
promotional pieces for this particular album. It is
the biggest text on the page to draw maximum
attention to it. Also the colour of her name is
gold which has connotations of quality which
could be giving the reader a reflection on what
the music on the album is also going to be like.
Main Image – The make-up and nails
worn by Jessie J are mostly black which
may reflect the theme of the music, it
suggests that the music could be quite
dark and deep or even about serious
topics. Her facial expression has very
provocative connotations but also at
the same time looks as if she is singing
or about to sing.
Hits – The copy on the advert includes mention of
the most successful song on the album so far to
entice audiences to buy the album. Also as this is a
debut album for Jessie J the fact that the song
mentioned is a song that features B.o.B. which is a
well known rapper appeals to a wider audience.
Additionally if people have heard of the song
mentioned they are more likely to see this
advertisement and go and listen to her other songs. Record Label – In an era of music industry
transition they have proven effective, as
Universal Republic has continued to grow in the
industry's declining years. Universal Republic
become a stand-alone label after Universal
Motown Republic Group was shut down in
summer 2011. One year later, it was renamed
back to Republic Records. Some other artists that
are also signed to this label are Ariana Grande,
Kelly Rowland and James Blake.
Website – The website allows anyone
looking at the advertisement to know were
to find the artist online they wish to. Also
the website probably contains any extra
information fans could be looking for such as
merchandise or where to buy the albums.
