This document analyzes conventions used in album covers and tour posters, including typical visual elements like the artist's name and album/tour title. It discusses how specific design choices on Ed Sheeran's album cover and tour poster are meant to represent his personal identity and promote his figure to audiences. These include a close-up shot and casual outfit on the album to portray him as passionate about his music, and high-contrast lighting on the tour poster to draw attention to Sheeran as the dominant artist being promoted. Overall, the analysis examines how visual rhetoric on the covers is crafted to appeal to target demographics and effectively market Sheeran as an internationally recognized music star.

1. Album Cover and Tour
Poster Analysis
Presented by Charles Mossman

2. Album
Covers

3. Typical Conventions –
Album/CD Cover
• Main Image
• Artists Name
• Album Name
• Logo
• Close Ups

4. This is the name of the artists
in who is being promoted to
the demographic . The Title “Ed
Sheeran” will help stimulate a
popular and attracting figure in
regards to the artists reputation
in the music industry. A wider
range of the demographic
population who comes across
the album cover will become
more familiar with the artist.
The overall physical appearance of the
star is represented from a close up
shot who seems to take-up most of
the album cover itself. This could
possibly connote that he is seen as
having a dominant and significant role
in regards to the artists representation
and career in the music industry
helping to promote his figure.
In terms of graphology, the font and text style
signifies an informal approach. This suggests
how this album covers is suited towards the
genre of indie/pop and therefore more suited
towards a demographic of young people.

5. This symbol marked on the album
cover could help connote a certain
identification in regards to the
artist making him seem more
recognisable when the symbol
appears elsewhere
A persuasive feature added to the album cover which is used to answer and display
what this media product has to offer its audience. In this case this album cover quotes
“The BRIT Awards winning multi platinum debut album” which implies that the product is
offering and promoting a well known and popular artist who is recognised internationally.
This would give the audience the insight that they are buying a product worth while.
The Orange housestlye helps to
reveal the artist personality and
characteristics. For example the
colour orange could possibly
connote joy, enthusiasm and
attraction which may suggest the
theme of the artist songs.

6. The front image used here
displays the artist of the album.
His body language and head
tilted down may indicate that he
is vulnerable. The
representation may connote
that he is also passionate about
his music and possibly his
songs may provide an
emotional response to the
audience.
The mise en scene such as
the artist costume appears
causal but neat which may
imply that the artist may much
so care about his appearance.

7. The text displayed has a
very simple font on front of
the album cover in
comparison to other album
covers such as Ed Sheeran.
The simplicity may help the
audience to concentrate
more upon the artist figure
rather then the songs ,
stimulating a very important
and dominant figure.
The coloured theme has a
faded grey scale
housestlye. This may also
help the audience to identify
and recognise his personal
identity in regards to being
different from other artists. It
may imply a certain mystery
in his music.

8. Tour
Posters

9. Typical Conventions – Tour
Poster
• Band/Artist Name
• Tour/Album Name
• One Main Image
• Event Dates
• When it goes on Sale
• Where you can Buy it

10. This is the main image which displays
the artist being promoted. This helps
the demographic to make a link
between them. The image shown also
display a similar graphlogical outlook
in regards to the album which would
aid in merchandising.
This display the name of
the artist so the audience
can clearly identify the
artist who is being upheld.
It is presented in a large,
clear bold font so that this
feature is clarified. This is
normally the main element
of the poster

11. Tour dates presented to the
audience. Used to advertise
the live show and ticket sales.
Logos used as sponsors
which would help to give the
tour poster a professional
outlook.
There is a certain black and yellow house
style to the tour poster which is similar
from the artist most recent album. These
colours would help to give the artist a
professional outlook making him seem
more appealing and attractive to the
target demographic. Yellow and black
would give the connotation of an
overpowering and dominant figure in this
case which would imply that this artist
has a high level of importance within the
music industry.

12. This can clearly be seen as the
main image of the tour poster as
the artist is taking up most of the
poster himself. This clearly show
to the audience that he is the
artists being promoted.
The tour poster uses a similar
housestlye in regards to the most
recent album which would help in
the promotional aspect of it as well
as well as the artist.
The name of the artist is clearly stated
on the tour poster. This is presented in
a larger font compared to the other
parts of the text so the audience can
clearly see who and what artist is on
tour.

13. Dates and locations as
to where the artist will
be touring.
The use of the higher key lighting
and lower key lighting used upon
the artists body would impose an
important outlook and help the
audience to divert their attention
more upon the artists himself. This
representation may connote that the
artist is revealing himself in regards
to his life experiences.
Logos used as
sponsors