Analyzing music magazines; front covers, contents page and double page spread

1. Codes and conventions
MAST HEAD/LOGO: A
basic design in bold black
writing with primary
colours to make the logo
seem more interesting
and different.
DIRECT MODE OF ADDRESS: This
can draw the reader in creating a
personal relationship.
BACKGROUD: The colour of
the background could attract
more female readers as pink
is stereotypically a girls
colour.
SUBHEADING: Plain bold yellow
font. The use of yellow is eye
catching as its one of the only
colours presented on the front
cover.
MAIN SELL LINE: Featuring
a popular artist name
creates entices readers.
MAIN COVER IMAGE: Slightly off
centred but is the feature of the
magazine.
MAKEUP/HAIR: Obvious makeup
used to enhance appearance and
attract male attention.
FLOWERS: Represents femininity .
TEASER LINE: Tells the reader
what to expect inside.
LIGHTING: High key, draws more
focus onto the subject.

2. Codes and conventions
MASTHEAD/ LOGO:
Largest piece of font on
the front cover and eye
catching, includes pops
of primary colours (red,
blue and yellow).
BARCODE: usually placed at the bottom
right or up the right-side. Along with it
will sometimes be the date or month of
the edition, a price, their website and
it's issue number.
COLOUR: The colour purple is very eye
catching as it contrasts mainly with
the grey causing it to be a pop of
bright colour.
MAIN SELL LINE: The artist name
is advertised as well as her
featuring the front cover.
DIRECT MODE OF ADDRESS: This can
draw the reader in creating a personal
relationship.
SECONDARY LEAD: Sneak peak of
what’s inside – makes reader want
to read on.

3. Codes and conventions
MASTHEAD/ LOGO: Largest
piece of font on the front
cover and eye catching,
includes pops of primary
colours (red, blue, green and
yellow).
MAIN SELL LINE: The artist
name is advertised as well as
her featuring the front cover.
This will attract fans, males and
females.
DIRECT MODE OF ADDRESS:
This can draw the reader in
creating a personal
relationship.
BOLD FONT: Used to
emphasise the famous
landmark.
BARCODE: usually placed
at the bottom right or up
the right-side. Along with it
will sometimes be the date
or month of the edition, a
price, their website and it's
issue number.
POSE: Mouth slightly open and
eyes are slightly squinted which
seems seductive and will attract
male attention.
COLOUR: The picture itself is
quite neutral and he makeup
looks natural.

4. MASTHEAD: The
masthead is the biggest
and boldest font on the
page which indicates to
the reader what the page
is.
PICTURE: The celebrity (Katy
Perry) is dressed up matching
with the inflatable giant
mushroom she is holding. This
is unusual but would appeal to
a female target audience. The
mushroom has connotations of
fantasy imagination and fairy
tales which are often
associated with young children
and women which also
suggests this is aimed at a
young female audience.
NEGATIVE SPACE: This is used to make the
page look more sophisticated and simple.
It includes everything the reader needs to
know.
INFORMATION: There is information on the right
hand side of the page and it is very small, so its
difficult to read for some people. Information is used
to entice the readers. By using Katy Perry as a small
sub title and her being on the contents may suggest
the magazine is subjected around her which attracts
a huge fan base.

5. CONTENTS WORD: The word ‘contents’ is
used as the biggest font on the page
which draws attention to the reader so
they can indicate what it is. The writing is
bold and not all on one line which
contrasts with the background and
makes it unique.
MASTHEAD: The masthead is
very simple as it only consists of
one letter ‘V’ which represents
the magazine ‘vibe’. This makes
the magazine more recognisable
and well known which could have
an impact on its marketing. The
colour is grey which is what the
main colour is based around on
the contents page.
PICTURE: The image is of
Kayne West who has an arm
wrapped around his
shoulder covering his chest,
holding a heart which is the
only colour used on the
contents page. The colour
red stands out on this page
as it is bright and
immediately attracts readers
and may infer a women is
trying to win his heart.
SUBHEADING: The font used is stylish
and elegant which relates with the colour
scheme. Also its bold which easily guides
the reader of what they can read into.

6. COLOUR SCHEME: There is a lot of colour
used which helps attract its target
audience which I would guess to be 11-16
year olds. Having colour draws attention
to the contents especially using a contrast
of colours together that stand out.
LOGO: Reader can be aware of
magazine there reading and it gives
the brand more recognition.
DIRECT MODE OF ADDRESS: Reader
can make a connection.
CONTENTS NUMBERS: Numbers
are bright and attractive. This
would easily guide young readers
where to go.
SUB IMAGES: Used to promote
stories within the magazine
corresponding with page
numbers to access the story
quickly.
LAYOUT: Very busy,
surround with lots of
images which can be
quite confusing.
However is appealing to
young readers as it is
simplistic with the
colours used.

7. MASTHEAD: The masthead includes the
word ‘gospel’ suggesting she is some
kind of god. This adds to it because her
name is the biggest font on the page in
a different colour (pink).
LAYOUT: Article is vibrant and
exciting. This matches Nicki’s fun
personality and music style in this
best way to represent her.
MAIN IMAGE: Nicki is placed
almost in the centre of the
page with the her name
positioned to the side of her.
The image grabs the readers
attention as she is dressed in a
patterned costume with bright
accessories. Her lipstick
matches the colour of her
name, signifying they are the
same person.
DIRECT MODE OF ADDRESS: Looking into the
camera, gives the impression your making a
personal connection with the reader which is
most commonly what magazines do to attract
readers.
DESIGN BALANCE:
The article is evenly
spread across the
two pages. All the
text is in neat
columns and overall
how its laid out
works well.
COLOUR: Having the overall
theme colour to be pink
would mainly attract girls.
However having Nicki being
the subject would also attract
her fans as well.

8. DIRECT MODE OF
ADDRESS: By looking
directly at the reader,
this helps invite the
reader into the article.
DROP CAPITAL: Using a drop
capital helps the reader where to
start reading and makes it look
more professional.
PICTURE: The main
feature is Florence from
the band Florence and
the machine. All the
colours linked together
with Florence's hair and
the American flag. She
is placed in front of the
text showing she is
more important than
the text.
COLOUR: The main pop of colour
is red which corresponds to
Florence’s hair colour which
draws us to the main focus which
is her.

9. PICTURE: Lady Gaga
is takes up one side
of the double page
spread which
resembles her
significance and
importance.
COLOUR: The
portrait of Lady
Gaga has a greyscale
theme which makes
it look elegant, old
and classy.
The double page
spread is made up
of three colours
black, white and
red. Red is used on
the large letter ‘L’
placed on the 2nd
page of the double
page spread which
is the first letter of
the artist’s name
which again shows
that this magazine is
focused on her.
DROP CAPITAL:
There is normally
only one drop capital
used in an article,
however there are
two within this,
perhaps suggesting
there are two
important points of
this article.
HEADER: There doesn’t
seem to be a title, however
its just the artists name.
‘lady’ is all in lower case,
with a fancy font while
‘GAGA’ is all upper case,
exaggerating her last name
so it stands out to the reader.