The document summarizes the key elements of the front cover of Billboard magazine. It discusses that the magazine targets young females aged 15-26 and focuses on pop music. The dominant cover image is of Justin Bieber, which will appeal to the target audience. Additional cover lines feature other popular artists like Ellie Goulding and Lady Gaga to reach an even broader readership. While maintaining a mature representation, the magazine utilizes bright colors and informal fonts to appeal to its young audience.

1. The Front Cover

2. Background Information

American magazine owned by Prometheus Global Media

First published way back in 1894, making it one of the
oldest trading magazines in the world

Started specialising in the music industry from 1960s
onwards.

Weekly issues, circulation of 13,000+ and is decline.

There is a Billboard Music Award ceremony.

Versions in Turkish and Brazil as well as English
(suggesting large audience in those countries)

There is a Billboard Hot 100, which is hugely popular

Informal mode of address, though maintains a mature
representation.

3. Target Audience

Target audience is young females from the age of
15 to young adults at the age of 26.

Concentrates on Pop music (e.g Justin Bieber) but
also has features in other genres such as RnB and
Rock.

Considered as a mature Pop magazine, rather than
the stereotypical image-filled front cover, with
very little text to be seen. Therefore, it could be
suggested that the magazines current purpose is to
contrast that stereotype.

4. Masthead

The masthead sticks out from the rest of the content on the magazine cover,
advertising the magazine like a Billboard would do. It also conforms to the rule
of thirds (as it is in the top third)

However, the cover line for the Justin Bieber is very close to being the same size
as the masthead, which is unusual for a music magazine (or any magazine).

The masthead if fairly simplistic, with iconic coloured in circles in some of the
letters – with the usual letters being covered up by Justin Bieber due to the
masthead underlay. This could be argued to be an immature, child-like feature
which would then contradict the earlier statement that it is a mature magazine. In
my opinion, this would be the only feature to contest the mature overall look,
and therefore should be overlooked as it is a feature that is instantly recognizable
on the shelfs in shops and effectively acts as a logo.

Once again, there is no strap line included (the same as NME and VIBE which I
previously analysed) suggesting that it may be in-fact an unpopular technique for
music magazine producers.

5. Lead cover line & Pull Quote

Simply: “Justin Bieber”. Short. Sharp. Effective

It can be said that the world's biggest music star doesn't
need much more of an introduction, with his name alone
selling copies – no matter what he has to say in the article.
This may be why the font size used is very close to being
the same as “Billboard”; like he is more important than
the magazine brand.

Also, as everyone knows he is, a pull quote can overlay
his name, adding further interest to the lead cover line

The pull quote is “Everything I do, is to be the greatest”
which is a fairly average quote, but as I said, his name
alone is usually enough for Billboard's female target
audience to buy the magazine.

6. Layout & Colour palette

The house style of Billboard is to have a brightly coloured
front cover (e.g red, blue, green, yellow) but isn't used
ridiculously like some Pop magazines, which helps
maintain it's mature status which I discussed previously.

The layout of cover lines is prominently along the left
hand side of the front cover, in a well-placed manner,
unlike some Pop magazines I have studied, that tend to
throw cover lines and images all over the place.

The cover lines are split by appropriately sized spacers to
avoid confusion, again maintain a classy, professional
look that is of course expected from such a prestigious
magazine.

7. Serif Font & No additional images

This accompanies the informal mode of address of
the actual text, as Serif Font looks more casual,
and informal.

No additional images once again reinforces the
mature, professional look that Billboard strive for.
It may also have been influenced by the fact that
the dominant cover image is Justin Bieber, which
has taken over almost all of the layout. (e.g
masthead underlay)

8. Dominant cover image, Direct gaze
& Pose

As previously mentioned, the dominant cover image is of superstar
Justin Bieber, which in itself is massive for Billboard in terms of
selling copies.

He is placed central to the magazine in terms of rule of thirds,
filling the centre of the page from top to bottom. This domination
signifies his importance.

The direct gaze, like all dominant images, captivated the audience's
attention, and as it is Justin Bieber it will probably melt the hearts
of the majority of the readers.

To coincide with the direct gaze, Bieber's pose is the completed
opposite of Jake Bugg's (NME) and Eminem's (VIBE), as he leans
over, closer to the camera. Though this is not what I look for in a
magazine, it is completely understandable that a lot of people do,
which is why Billboard have purposely taken advantage of it.

9. Secondary Cover lines

Includes more popular artists such as Ellie
Goulding and Lady Gaga, reaching an even larger
audience – including their large fan bases.

10. Secondary Cover lines

Includes more popular artists such as Ellie
Goulding and Lady Gaga, reaching an even larger
audience – including their large fan bases.