This document analyzes music posters for Jay-Z, Jessie J, Florence + the Machine, and Beyoncé. It discusses the use of codes and conventions in the posters like different fonts to highlight the artist's name, images of the artist, release dates, and colors that relate to the artist's brand or music. Semiotics like the symbols used and how they create narrative links to build the artist's image are also examined.

1. Music Poster Analysis
Nikhil Patel
A2 Media

2. Introduction
• For our media coursework we need to create a music video, dig-pack
and advert or a chosen artists song.
• For the music video we needed to show out skills an idea and how
we can show the themes and ideas in the song through camera an
film. We focused on codes and conventions to make sure our video
either conformed or subverted stereotypes. The codes and convention
used included costumes, lighting, camera angles, shots, scenery vs.
narrating and visual effects.
• For the digi-pack and advert we focused on similar things such as
camera angles, costumes, scenery, props, acting, location, makeup
and editing, however we also focused on typography and color
balance.
• We focused on the exploration of the synergy through online media
such as YouTube, MTV, websites, radio, newspapers and magazines.

3. Notable Semiotics /
Codes and Conventions
Conventions
• Record Labels on advert
• Image of artist
• Release of dates
• Social media links
Codes
• Center lining of text
• Different fonts
according to genre
Semiotics:
The adverts themselves have limited signs although they do have audience
narrative links with the use of star image, fonts, images and artist graphics.
They may also have symbolic signs that relate to the location or intention.

4. • The first advert analysed was the
advert for hip-hop artist Jay-Z’s 2009
release of Blueprint 3.
• This is Jay-Z’s 11th studio album
therefore he does not need a lot of
promotion to garner an audience that
will definitely buy the album. This is
connoted in the layout of the album
because its constructed of three colors
red, white and black with not a lot of
stuff in the image.
• Also we can see how Jay-Z’s name is
in a different font compared to the rest
of the fonts, this is to make the artist
stand out so people know who the
main important person is.

5. • This is Jessie J’s 2010 debut album release
for Who Are You.
• The artists face takes up half the size of the
poster, this is because its her debut album
therefore the promoters want the audience
to recognize her and her music when
people see her to build a sort of
relationship.
• The font for the artists name is different to
the rest of the poster, its bigger and bolder
than the rest. This is to promote the artist.
• The use of gold could signify some of her
resent songs from that year they may have
received a gold plaque. So this could
promote her success in some songs.
• The release date is different compared to
the text around it, this is so that it stands
out to the audience so they know exactly
when to buy tickets.

6. • The picture is of the artist. She is not looking at
the camera and does not have a connection with
her audience. The image is abstract and follows
the theme of the album “Lungs” by showing
such organs. The pastel colours are typical for
the indie genre and is the only colour in the
advert.
• The title of the album is the largest text in the
image as it’s the product being sold. The large,
simple and structured font used here clearly
stands out on the page. There is only colour in
the picture which allows the white lettering to
stand out on a black background.
• Not only have they included the name of the
artist but it is in form of the artists logo, this is
important for creating a brand within the music
industry and as this is her debut album with a
major label, it needs to be clear who this
woman actually is.

7. • A cross is visible which suggests that the artist is
Christian/Catholic which suggests that the artist is a
respectable well mannered artist with morals and
values, unlike many artists today
• In this image you can see the artist has a very
natural look, minimal makeup is visible on her face
and she is topless which promotes purity. This
promotes the artist as pure, holy and suggests that
she is a very clean/natural person.

8. • Dark gold jewelry is worn on her fingers,
wrists and chest region. The way in which
the gold is forged in a dark and hard manor
suggests has an angry or powerful character.
• The artist has a ton of black makeup which
promotes danger, fear and in this case
bravery.
• The text Sasha Fierce promotes the fact that
she has a different persona, in essence a
different name to her real stage name. With
this different persona she promotes herself
as a brave, outgoing and bossy person.