cover page analysis

1. The title of the
magazine consists of
a large, bold font to
ensure that the cover
is recognisable and
noticeable by the
target audience. By
ensuring that the
font remains
consistent through
other issue of this
branch of magazines,
it becomes easier for
the target audience
to identify that this is
a music magazine
which could
persuade them to
purchase it.
The designers have decided to do yellow on black for the
title of the issue and the main article. These colours used as
this suggests that a black panel behind the yellow type
would improve legibility.
The darkened background used
allows the main image and the
supporting text to be more
noticeable and more striking.
This allows the reader to
highlight the important articles
within the magazine.
‘The Race Issue’ is included as
the main header to this issue.
The text is in block capitals and
consists of bright colours. This
could suggest that the designers
are attempting to highlight
other important issues that may
drift away from the music
genre.
The barcode is situated in the
bottom right corner. This is so
that this does not interfere with
the main image and supporting
captions on the cover. This is
included for sales purposes so
that the reader can purchase it
from a store or shop.
The caption to support the main
image, ‘This Year Drake Became
King’ consists of a large, striking font
to try and capture the attention of
the audience. The font may be
familiar with the Drake and
therefore shows relevance and
maintains consistency. The symbol
at the end of the text could highlight
that this is an important article and
therefore persuades the audience to
purchase it and read the content
within.
The main image clearly shows a close up of
Drake. The close up of his face emphasises
that he is the main attraction to this issue of
the magazine as well as the seriousness of
the figure. This is expressed through the
figure’s head point downwards slightly and
looking directly forwards to a perspective
that his eyes are watching the audience and
follows them. This could be a method of
persuasion to buy the magazine or to just
grab attention.
A rhetorical
question is placed
here to further
support the main
header. This asks
the reader about
their personal
views on the
matter. This
directly targets
the audience and
can persuade
them to buy it as
this concerns
them as they are
directly targeted.
The other articles
listed within this
issue are
positioned
vertically and
orderly. This can
emphasise maturity
surrounding this
particular issue as
other issues of Vibe
do not present
these additional
articles in a format
similar to this.

2. The title of the
magazine consists of
large ‘Q’ with a white
font colour and a red
background. The ‘Q’
is in white and is bold
to enable it to stand
out from the
background. This
could imply that the
magazine is
important and
possibly powerful.
The designers of this magazine have decided
to use white on black for the title/logo. The
tests carried out by Karl Borgrgrafe to show
which colours worked best together, in which
white on red does.
The lightened background is used to
subject Adele’s image to make her
more striking and therefore more
noticeable and more appealing to
the audience.
‘The 300th
Issue’ highlights a
milestone of the company that
designed this magazine. Additionally,
the content within this could be
completely irrelevant to the rest of
the content within the magazine but
remains genre related as it mentions
‘Paul McCartney’ who is within the
music business.
The other articles
listed along the left
side of the magazine.
The sizes of the text
are varied, this
suggests that the
larger texts
emphasise that the
article is reasonably
large and important
compared to the
smaller sized texts.
The colours used for
the text are black on
white and red on
white. These colours
are striking to grab
the reader’s
attention and are
some of the most
legible combinations.
The barcode is situated in the
bottom right corner. This is so
that this does not interfere with
the main image and supporting
captions on the cover. This is
included for sales purposes so
that the reader can purchase it
from a store or shop.
The main image shows a close up of Adele posing
erotically. This can be a marketing skill to
persuade potential readers to purchase the issue
as it could feature images of Adele such as this
cover image. The close up of Adele’s face
emphasises that she is the main attraction of the
issue and therefore contributes to the main
article. The image shows that she is facing directly
at the camera to a perspective that his eyes are
watching the audience and follows them. This
could be a method of persuasion to buy the
magazine or to just grab attention.
A quote is placed in
front of the main
attraction as a short
summary of a
performance either
by another media
source or by Adele
herself. This will
persuade the
audience to read it
so they can read the
article to understand
the quote. Other
quotes positioned
around the image
are of a smaller text
size to this one. This
suggests that the
magazine consists of
more music relate
articles but are of
less importance
compared to the
article revolved
around Adele.

3. The title of the
magazine is
positioned directly
behind the main
image of the
magazine. However,
the title is not always
completely visible on
all or most of their
issues. This shows
that the company
has structure to their
magazines and
therefore could be a
trademark symbol of
the company as it is
instantly
recognisable and is
consistent.
The other artists
featured in this
issue of the
magazine are
positioned
vertically. The
layout for these are
organised and
appears
professional. This
could express
maturity within the
magazine and
respect the work of
these artists. This is
an adapted style
amongst most
issues of Rolling
Stone.
Other artists and bands are also listed in the header of the magazine. These
shows there are an excessive number of artists that are included in this issue
but may be positioned in the header to maintain professionalism and
maturity. The text here is of a different font style to highlight that these
articles may be about artists that may not be all genre related but are of
importance.
The magazine title
consists of large, bold
title in a font style
that could resemble
the 1960s. This can be
interpreted by the
title as it says ‘Rolling
Stone’ which closely
relates the rock band,
‘The Rolling Stones’
in which the magazine
have adopted a style
to support this time
period in which the
rock genre was at its
peak. The colour of
the font is red on
white, which is striking
to grab the reader’s
attention and one of
most legible
combinations
The text box here
has no direct
relevance to the
music genre but is
another article that
is included with in
the magazine. The
box is tilted on a
slight angle to
maintain a similar
structure to other
issues of this
magazine. The
maturity of the
magazine is
retained as only
two colours used to
allow it to stand out
amongst the rest of
the magazine and
the changed in text
sizes to portray
more important
aspects of the
headline.
The main image of the magazine
is a mid-shot of Bob Dylan. The
photographer and designers have
decided to make the image black
and white so that it stands out
from the white background. This
can also be used to emphasise
that the magazine mainly focuses
on the period of time when rock
was at its peak.
To support the image, a
larger caption is also
presented with it. This is to
make the cover seem more
interesting in appearance
whilst supporting the main
cover image. The text is in
white so that it stand
amongst the main image.