2. Billboard Magazine Background Information
• Billboard is a weekly American music magazine that
maintains music charts that track the most popular songs
and albums in many different categories. One of the
oldest trade magazines in the world (founded in
1894), Billboard is internationally recognised.
3. Magazine Focus / Features
• Billboard is popular for it’s exclusive charts and therefore
focuses on reporting the latest news / trends in the music
industry.
• Consequently the main magazine features are the latest
music related stories and record sales of the week.
4. Target Audience
• Billboard music magazine’s target audience is any person
interested in music as it does not focus on a specific
genre of music and therefore isn’t restricting to any
audience. Despite this, the magazine focuses on popular
and commercial music, so consequently it is more
interesting to a person who likes popular “mainstream”
chart music so generally the teenage and young adult
generations.
• The main target audience is based in the US, as Billboard
is an American music magazine, however it is accessible
to those in other countries although the popular music is
generally different in other countries i.e. the UK.
6. Use of colours The white masthead stands out from
the black background and makes the
cover appear more professional.
The use of black adds to the
dramatic effect and makes
the cover look dark and
“sinful”.
The use of red and yellow
adds warmth to the otherwise
black cover. The red makes it
appear exciting and also
adds to the effect of sin or
danger.
The name Beyoncé is written
in gold which makes it seem
important as it is the main
focus of the magazine. The
colour gold also implies rarity
or preciousness.
7. Position or Point of View
The head-on position of
Beyoncé's silhouette
makes her appear
challenging and rebellious.
This coincides with the
dramatic effect of the
colours creating a sinful or
dangerous image.
Standing in a dominant stance
in the centre of the page, which
draws the attention of the
reader.
8. Layout & Organisation Conventional placement of masthead
The cover doesn’t look overly busy, making
it more professional and not overloaded
with information.
Use of typography behind the
silhouette makes the cover more
artistic and giving a more classy
impression.
The fonts and typefaces used stand
out and are clearly presented, making
it clear what the magazine is about.
9. Contents Page
The layout of the contents page is similar
to that of Billboard’s website
(http://www.billboard.com/)
10.
11. Contents Page Colour Connotations
Black: The use of black is powerful
and sophisticated. It contrasts with
the other colours used on the page
and denotes authority.
Blue: Strongly associated with
trust, calmness and
sincerity. Adds brightness to the
page as mainly grey, black &
white are used otherwise.
Yellow: Contrasts well with the
black, white & grey and makes the text
stand out.
White & Grey: The colours grey and
white look simple and clean, they
contrast well with the black used and
don’t detract attention away from the
pictures and information on the already
busy contents page.
