A Level Media Studies A2

1. GENERAL
CONVENTIONS OF
MAGAZINE ADVERTISEMENTS FOR UPCOMING ALBUMS
By Katie Hughes

2. LABELLED EXAMPLE 1 –
LANA DEL REY – BORN TO DIE
Artist Name
Iconic imagery featuring
artist.
Album Name
Release Date
External promotional web
links
Mention of promotional, pre-
released tracks
Record label
HOUSE STYLE
TYPOGRAPHIC
Two distinct stylised
fonts- one block, bold
capitals (dominating) the
other is more fragile and
delicate reflecting upon
the nature of Lana Del
Rey’s music.
COLOUR
These colours were
deliberately chosen to
assist the overall
conveyed image,
inducing washed out
feelings of boldness and
stability reflecting upon
the indie scene.

3. LABELLED EXAMPLE 2 -
Artist Name
Iconic, associated
imagery
Album Name
Release Date
Mention of promotional,
pre-released tracks
Review from well-known
external music company
Discreet promotion
of up-coming tour
HOUSE STYLE
TYPOGRAPHIC
A similar style consisted
throughout the media
product, basic clear font,
alters in size and colour
denoting importance.
COLOUR
These colours were
deliberately chosen to
assist the overall
conveyed image,
creating indication of
boldness and strength,
reflected in the nature of
Mallory Knox’s music.

4. Examples for this presentation

5. Artist Name
 Usually one of the most dominating aspects of this particular media
product – essential for recognition from the audience so they know
exactly who is being advertised if unfamiliar with the iconic imagery
representing the artist.
 To achieve this dominating outlook, certain stylistic features are
applied to maximise effect. These potentially include; use of a more
contrasting/ stand out colour, a larger font size, or a more bold font
style.

6. Album Name
 Also constructed in highly noticeable, clear font as this is also very
important information supplied by the product.
 This is achieved through use of the same effects previously
mentioned toned down to make this the second most dominating
element of typographic content. S
 tylisation of this component will follow the products consisted house
style, which in this sense resolves around typographic style,
manipulation and variation. For the album name, this is generally
determined by the nature of the backgrounds iconic imagery and
the chosen font style for the more noticeable artist name.

7. Iconic Imagery
 Usually taken from the album artwork for that particular album
advertised drawing a direct link between product and promotional
material enabling easy recognition for the audience/ target
audience.
 This also improves the aesthetic of the product, inducing a strong
sense of professionalism and visual strength achieved through
extending the album cover creating what could be described as a
range of products. This is necessary to ensure a clear connection
can be obtained by the audience drawing them directly to the exact
product advertised.

8. Release Date
 An essential feature of promotional album advertisements for
albums with upcoming release, the release date is usually located in
the lower region almost captioning the image. This typographic
component must be dominating as it is important information. This
is achieved through use of spatial districts and stylistic choices.
 The majority of examples I have chosen for this presentation were
subjected for newly released albums as opposed to upcoming
albums so therefore this feature is not relevant.

9. Mention of Featured Tracks
 As a selling technique, often there will be mention of successful pre-
released material which will feature on the album. This gives the
viewer the impression the whole album will follow through with a
similar trend, likely suited to their likes and interests. This
strengthens their inferred ideas and assumptions surrounding the
product.
 Aesthetically this writing will be less dominating than previously
discussed type, with the actual songs being exaggerated in some
way to make these stand out upon initial glance.

10. External/ Promotional web links
 These generally feature in small on the bottom of the product,
subtly promoting more of their media on a different platform. This
potentially causes their target audience to redirect their focus from
this printed source to digital media forms and consume more
media this way. This improves their desired popularly and publicity.
The inclusion of this typographic content will follow the set house
style, strengthening the visual qualities of the product as a whole.

11. Reviews from External
Companies
 This is less conventional, yet frequently seen as a selling factor,
displaying opinions given by well known institutions capable of
controlling the success of media to an extent. The inclusion of
positive feedback here generates the idea that the product is of
high quality and worth your time and money, persuading the target
audience to purchase and consume this particular product.

12. Various Media Form
 This is frequently mentioned enlightening the audience of the
potential products subject to consumption offered by the institution.
This includes products such as CD, Vinyl, Download and any limited
edition features, enabling greater diversity and choice, further
satisfying their needs. This is displayed in less dominating
typography achieved through using less contrasting colour/ tone
and a smaller size, yet still following the set house style for aesthetic
purpose.

13. Production Credentials
 The inclusion of logos representing those companies responsible
for the success of the product are displayed in small at the bottom,
providing ownership and credit for their hard work . This association
between artist and company helps promote one another through
synergy, strengthening their success through this mutual
connection.

14. House Style
 House style is a term used to represent themes and correlations
spread across media products. This includes typographic
components, editorial techniques, colour schemes and general
interpretation of the product; these are controlled to create a
flowing graphic outcome.
 Every successful media product will have a developed, set house
style limiting the stylistic attributes to a constrictive theme,
strengthening the overall aesthetic when these components are
combined.
 This house style will be dependent upon the visual correlations of
the albums imagery setting a specific trend in aesthetic. This
generally reflects upon the nature of music produced by the artist.

15. Convergence
 The Convergence of all these conventional aspects will result in a
successful, professional standard outcome to derive, effectively
promoting the product to the target audience. This is achieved
through developed knowledge of elemental success built over time.