The document analyzes three music magazine covers. It discusses how each cover uses visual elements like prominent images, fonts, colors and positioning of text to draw attention and convey what the focus of the issue is. For the Beyonce cover, her large close-up image takes up the whole background and the bold font highlighting her name emphasizes she is the focus. The Justin Bieber cover uses his central image and bold text about him to signal his inclusion, while the Rolling Stones masthead is recognizable despite being partially hidden. The Chris Brown cover draws attention to his image through his red shirt matching the color scheme, with font sizing indicating what the primary story is about him. Common across the covers is use of visual hierarchy and

1. Analysis of 3 music
magazine front covers

2. The main Image on this
particular music magazine is of
Beyonce and it takes up the
whole of the background. It is a
close up of the artists face so we
can clearly see that this issue of
the magazine will be based on
her. The artist is looking directly in
to the camera therefore it draws
more attention and would help
to catch the readers eye. It
would also instantly attract to
Beyonce’s large fan base as
they will know that a lot of the
magazine will be about her and
the upcoming event that she is
taking part in which is advertised
on the front. This will help to
achieve a large target
audience. All of the sell lines
included are also to do with
Beyonce and the main sell line
includes her name in a large
bold font and is in capitals. This
will help to emphasize the fact
that the event is large and will
excite the reader to buy the
magazine in order to find out
more. There is a common font
colour scheme of white as it
stands out well against the
background of Beyonce,
however there is a number of
different fonts used which show
different levels of importance.
For example, the artists name is
in the clearest and boldest font
where as the location of the
event is in a more fancy and
sophisticated font.
The masthead is in the
biggest size font on the
page, this is so that it draws
the most attention and is
the first thing that you read
on the cover. This is
important as it will attract to
the fans of this certain
magazine that read all of
the issues. Which is why the
same font has to be used
and also the same colours.
The vibrant colours in the
masthead also draw
attention as this will be
something that the target
audience recognise after
seeing the masthead on
every other billboard
magazine. The cover also
includes a barcode,
website and date in the
bottom left hand corner.
They are the smallest things
included on the page and
in the smallest fonts so that
they don't take the
attention off the main
purpose of the magazine,
however they are still
important and need to be
included. For example, the
date helps because if some
readers are collectors of this
certain magazine it well
help them to find out which
ones they have purchased
and which ones they
haven’t.

3. The main image is of the
artist Justin Bieber, is takes
up a lot of the page and
would draw attention to
his fan base as it implies
he will be included in a
large part of the
magazine. He is making
direct contact with the
camera which would also
attract the reader. The
masthead ‘rolling stone’ is
in a rather small font and
is partly hidden behind
the main image. This
implies that the magazine
is already very well known
therefore it doesn't matter
because it is still
recognisable by only half
of the masthead shown. It
also helps focus on the
main image rather than a
big and bold title which
would defeat the
purpose. The main colour
scheme of the cover is
black red and white. All
three of these colours are
used in the fonts and go
well together. The
masthead includes all
three colours as it is in red
with a white outline and
black shadow which
helps to create effect.
As well as the colours
being used on the fonts.
The artist is also only
dressed in these colours
following the colour
scheme. It helps the
magazine to look more
organised rather than
many different colours
being used, making it
look tacky. The biggest
text on the cover is
‘JUSTIN BIEBER SUPER
BOY’ it draws in the most
attention as it is also in
bold. This implies that it is
the main sell line even
though it is on the side
rather than the top or
bottom. However it
suggests that the main
focus in on Justin Bieber
and will inform his fans
that there will be things
inside the magazine to
read on him. The only
other colour used on the
magazine is a yellow box
including a sell line. Even
though it is the smallest
sell line on the page. The
use of the bright colour
out of the colour scheme
suggests importance and
will draw the reader in to
see what it is about.

4. The main image is of the
well known artist Chris
brown, It is a mid shot
therefore it doesn't take
up the whole of the
page, however the
background of the image
is blurred out and most of
the text is covering it,
therefore the main focus
is on Chris brown. We are
also drawn to the image
of the artist as he is
dressed in a bright red t-shirt.
This draws attention
because red is also used
in a number of different
places on the cover as it
is part of the colour
scheme along with white
and green. The masthead
is the biggest font on the
page and is also in
capital letters, It stands
out in white against the
blurred out red
background. The type of
font used is the same
used for every other vibe
magazine, therefore it is
recognisable to the
familiar target audience
and doesn't loose
attention even though
the main image is
covering part of it.
All of the other sell lines
are also in capital letters,
however we can tell their
level of importance by
the sizing of each one.
The biggest sell line is of
the artists name and is in
the same font and colour
of the masthead.
Therefore it shows it is the
main sell line and how
Chris brown will be a big
focus inside the
magazine. This will attract
to his fan base and they
will want to purchase to
read and find out more.
There are also two
bubbles on the page
which both include a
colour out of the colour
scheme. This bright yellow
colour helps draw
attention to these small
bubbles and makes the
reader want to find out
what there are about. The
positioning of these also
catches your eye as one is
put directly on to the
beginning of the
masthead, which is the
most important text on
the cover and is also the
first thing that you read.
The barcode and price of
the magazine are also
included as they are
important to have on
every magazine.