The document analyzes the codes and conventions used in the front covers of several music magazines: - Clash magazine uses a simple white title and images to attract readers. It contrasts images with actual appearances. - NME uses a bold red masthead, consistent colors, and multiple images/text to provide information and intrigue readers. - Fader features a prominent artist with minimal text to sell copies using the artist's popularity. It uses a personal image. - i-D uses a simple black and white image of a fashionable model to attract its target audience of fashion-interested youth.

1. White and bold title (san serif) - simple
design so portrays the style of the
magazine - title stands out against
background
Music artist is the most prominent aspect
of the front page - Matty Healy from the
1975, intrigues fans and attracts female
gaze
mise en scene - costume is a suit and long
brushed back hair - this contrasts with
Matty’s actual appearance therefore this is
what the magazine is also trying to do
because the name of the magazine is
clash
Background colour is bland and
neutral - so image and title stands
out
sub heading - bold and same font and colour as masthead to
create brand recognition - 1975 stands out so that it attracts
the reader and fans - shadows used to create a unique style
not usually a convention for magazines but I think it is effective
Small amounts of text - simple,
portrays magazine - white colour to
stand out in front of the image - also
gives information about what is going
to be in the magazine
Barcode - helps consumers sell
the product and creates
professionalism

2. Codes and Conventions of the front cover of Clash magazine
- The magazine has a bold, simple white masthead, this is constant throughout CLASH’s issues. This creates professional
consistency, which makes it easily recognized by the reader also it is a common convention for music magazines.
- The house style of the front cover only tends to use the colours white, black and pastel pink. This makes sure the front cover
is subtle, this breaks the conventions of most music magazines and perhaps is designed to create brand recognition as it has
a more unique and artistic sensibilities.
- The cover seems quite plain and simple to be trendy and attract a more indie audience, this is a minimalistic idea which I
would like to use in my magazine. This is a convention of Clash, however it breaks the convention of wider music magazines.
- The model is the main subject of the cover, a common convention of music magazines is using direct mode of address but
here it doesn’t, but on most CLASH covers it does use direct mode of address. In this circumstance, it makes the model
seem quite casual which conveys the simple theme and attracts the target audience.

3. Masthead is bold and red - eye
catching - recognisable - house
style red, white black and blue -
(gender neutral colours)
anchor text ‘free’ entices the reader - it
anchors the meaning of the magazine -
suggests something unique
Cantered additional images in colour,
adds and extra element to the
magazine - makes it less formal -
also informs the reader what the
magazine is about
The model is a close up shot and is
the main thing on the front cover -
allows to see his facial expressions
and body language - relates to the
strap line ‘The Streets legend is
back. Why so glum’
Direct mode of address - creates
relationship between reader and
artists
Larger and red text - san serif -
artists name to attract fans -
eye catching, also allows
reader to know whats going to
feature in the magazine
Hermeneutic codes -
rhetorical question - intrigues
reader and makes reader
think and want to read more
Mini headings - stand out larger font
than normal text - stands out to the
reader and advertises different artists
- allows the reader know what
articles are in the magazine
Info of what the
article is about
attracts reader
colour scheme - red, white
and black follows house
theme
Mise en scene - juxtaposition
because artist is wearing a suite and
this contrasts with the artists style
White background to
make the image and text
stand out

4. Codes and conventions of NME front cover
- The magazine has a bold red masthead that remains the same throughout all the issues. This creates a sense of consistency
within the magazine and makes it easily recognizable for the readers recognition.
- The house style also remains the same throughout, the magazines tend to use red, white and black. These are seen to be
quite gender neutral colours, this means the magazine isn’t aimed at a specific gender, therefore makes it more lenient for
sexes thus creating a wider target audience.
- The white background makes it easy for the text to be legible over the top of the image
- Lots of information on the front cover, using lots of text and multiple images to attract the attention of the audience, a
common convention to music magazines to intrigue readers.
- Mike Skinner is the main subject of the front cover, I like this effect as it attracts the reader/fans and informs them what the
articles in the magazine is about. This is a common convention for music magazines and I would like to use this in my
magazine.

5. Masthead obstructs the artist
image - usual house colours -
Bold and white - stands out
against the image and
background
Issue information - white and bold
Fader is well known for having a
main artist on the cover - featuring
big stars - this allows this to sell the
magazine
‘Tyler the Creator’ in white san serif -
bold - informative, captions the image
Reasonable high key artificial lighting
- good clarity of image
Reserved expression by holding
his hoodie - links with Tyler the
Creators style because he is cool
(ideology) which attracts their
target audience - Fader‘s target
audience is less conventional to
most music magazines more
minimalistic/indie
mise en scene - street blue hoodie -
attracts target audience
direct mode of address - creates a
personal relationship with the reader

6. Codes and conventions of Fader front cover
- Fader magazine usually includes a well known artist on the front cover as it attracts audience because of the artists large
base. This makes the cover look very minimalistic, as it has no text at all except the masthead and the name of the artist
which is positioned below the image. This is done to help ensure a dominant reading from the target audience, and they
believe that the artist is able to sell the magazine. I really like this idea of this stylized look and I want to use it in my own
magazine.
- The image of the artist is the main theme on the front page of Fader magazine. It takes up the majority of the page and
overlaps the mast head showing its importance. Most music magazines I have looked at use a popular artist on the front
page, this is usually the main feature of the magazine.
- The artist in the image is facing the camera, giving direct mode of address which allows the audience to feel as if they have a
personal relationship with the artist. His facial expression gives the image a focus of interest as it is eye catching and different
to most emotionless magazine covers.

7. i-D is a magazine dedicated to music, fashion, art and youth culture. Although it isn’t exclusively a music magazine I
really like the house style and theme of this magazine and would like to reflect this in my final task.

8. The front pages of i-D magazines
have a simple and mature style
which attracts an older crowd
however, the target audience for the
magazine ranges from 15-24 years
old and are of working class and
capable to afford the magazine.
Layout - fairly simple - main theme of
the front page is the image -
creativeness to keep readers
engaged
Front cover - no text or multiple
images - this is what draws the
young well off women that the
magazine is targeted at
Masthead is simplistic and its quirky as it is sidewise - this creates brand
uniqueness and therefore attract the target audience and perhaps identify
themselves as outsiders of the mainstream culture
insists of a well known
very successful young
model in the fashion
industry - covering her
eye to maybe a
reference of the name of
the magazine as this has
been used for a few
other issues as well
mise en scene - nail varnish
attracts the target audience who
are interested in makeup - subtle
and naturalistic to match the
target audience which is the
working class - fashionable coat
because it represents the model
who is a fashion model also
attracts the fashionista’s
This is typical cover for
i-D magazine
Front cover is black and white - this
is a common convention of i-D
magazines - gives a more formal feel
which attracts the middle class target
audience