The document outlines codes and conventions for music magazine front covers. It discusses various design elements including the masthead, main cover image, background, cover lines, pricing/date information, quotes, lists of artists, and splash text. Elements are strategically placed and sized to draw attention to key stories while maintaining a consistent house style across issues. The goal is to intrigue readers about the magazine's contents and entice them to purchase the issue.

1. Codes and conventions
of Music Magazine
Front covers

2. Bold Masthead usually 1 or 2 words. The Masthead
(title of the magazine) usually has connotations to the
genre of music that the magazine is focused on. It is at
the top of the page and mainly central, sometimes to
the left. It will always be the biggest text on the page.
The Main Image is central to the
page and is posed suitable to the
genre. The image will always be an
artist and the pose/theme of the
photo will convey the attitude of the
music they create/ the genre that the
magazine entails. The image will be
a direct mode of address.

3. The Background is plain (block colour or
white)/simple so that the main image is able
to stand out and have an impact. It will
always fit with the house style of the
magazine.
Main cover line anchors the meaning of the
main cover image and feature article and
sometimes also gives a small overview of the
article. It will always be the second biggest text
on the page, after the masthead.

4. Important information: Price,
Date and Barcode usually in
left/right bottom corner of the
page. Small so that it does not
take attention away from main
cover focus or put off buyers.
Multiple cover lines around the Main cover photo, rarely over lapping
this image. Cover lines are ambiguous and give small amounts of
information about contents inside, making the reader want to read on.
The cover lines will feature the most popular artists in the issue to
attract people to buying/reading the magazine. They are usually 12pt
and fit with the house style of the cover.

5. Sometimes quotes from the feature artist is used to give an insight
to the article. These will be the most interesting quotes of the
article in order to make it seem exciting so that the reader will want
to read and find out more.
Lists of bands that are
featured in the magazine are
frequently used for insight of
what's inside. As well as this,
buzz words such as ‘Exclusive’
and ‘Plus’ are used so that
the magazine seems exciting
to the reader.

6. A splash(or puff) is often used on a cover to
highlight an important point/ feature in the
magazine. More important cover stories
have bigger font sizes so it is clear to the
audience and the ‘big’ stories stand out.
Punctuation is rarely used as text
on the cover is brief and is there
to give an overview of what is
inside. Despite this, Font use is
usually consistent in cover lines
and no piece of text will share the
masthead font

7. Main cover image is usually a medium close up, featuring
from shoulders upwards. This allows a clear direct mode of
address. The image is always well lit and varies between
different genres (eg- High key for Pop, Low key for Indie)
Each cover complies with a house
style making the appearance
aesthetically pleasing and not
cluttered, mismatched or too
colourful, contributing to the ideal
Mise en Scene of cover.

8. Positioning statements such as ‘New Musical Express’ for
NME or ‘The Music Magazine’ for Mojo are sometimes used
to give an understanding of the music magazine within the
market place. They usually relate to the genre too- for
example Mojo is a popular music explaining the positioning
statement ‘The Music Magazine’.
Subsidgery images may be
used on the cover and
represent a smaller cover
story.