This Rolling Stone magazine cover uses a hot pink color and nude image of Lady Gaga to appeal to both male and female audiences. The primary cover line promotes an exclusive interview with Lady Gaga, while secondary lines discuss politics and music festivals. Black and grey text stands out against the white background and pink image. The magazine's fonts and layout conform to its 1960s style while still attracting new readers with controversial celebrity coverage.

1. COLOUR COVERLINES
The Rolling Stone logo has been adapted into a hot pink colour which The primary cover line is ‘Lady Gaga Tells All’ which attracts
adds to the femininity of the artist on the cover and reinforcing the the audience because they are interested in celebrity
appeal to their female audience. This cover defies the conventions of perspective; this lures the audience in as they would want to
using the colour of the masthead onto the cover lines as well. By only know secrets about her life which suggests are only available in
using black and grey on the cover lines this draws attention to the this magazine. The smaller cover line ‘Obama’s General | Why
colourful centre image and the magazine logo. Black is used on the more he’s losing the war’ lures the audience as it suggests that the
central selling points of the magazine as it stands out and draws magazine know reasons other people don’t. ’Summer Double
attention to them first, with the grey giving an insight into the context. Issue’ is a cover line above the masthead and indicates the
The white background gives it a sophisticated and modern look to the magazine has more to offer than usual which is a selling point.
magazine. It also enhances the main image and the cover lines. The three Another cover line ‘Wet, hot loud | 4 days at Bonnaroo’ relates
colour palette of this magazine is hot pink, black and grey. to the music news which the magazine is famous for as
Bonaroo is a U.S. music festival. This also leaves an enigmatic
sense because listing the names of artists who were present will
attract fans of their music: ‘Elton John | Eminem’.
AUDIENCE FONTS
From this issue we can tell
that the audience for the The font used on this cover goes
magazine would be adult against the conventions of a
men as they would be magazine which corresponds to
attracted by the nude woman the typical rules of having a
on the cover. However, since mixture of fonts and sizes. The
Lady Gaga is an icon it would font is nor male or female
also draw in her female orientated and is all in upper
admirers since she is case – despite the height of the
recognised for her font – so pragmatics wise is
flamboyant artistry. Rolling shouts on the page and grabs
Stone’s target audience age is the attention of a glancing
from 20+ since it often customer. The smaller cover
features controversial artists lines use the same font which
and news coverage as well as has been expanded in width and
being politically informed reduced in height to create a
(see ‘Obama’s General’). bulkier font to address the more
Rollingstone focuses on pop persuading lines. Although this
culture and liberal politics is not noticeable and may be
which is published every 2 mistaken for a different font it
weeks. The magazine has allows the same style on the tips
built up a reputable of the font. This style conforms
magazine brand since the to the original 60’s style of
1960’s which draws in a Rolling Stone, which the
regular readership. masthead font is in since its
founding in the 60’s..
MAIN IMAGE
The main image here is a SPACING & OTHER
recognisable music artist COMMENT
‘Lady Gaga’ which correlates On this music magazine,
with the music side of Rolling negative space is used such as
Stone which it is renowned near the main image’s knee and
for. This image is BY SIAN LYNES shoulder and legs. This allows
controversial as the artist is the text not to look so intrusive
nude and only wearing a bra THE MASTHEAD to the image. It also adds
in the form of a gun for exclusivity or rarity to the icon
which she is holding. The central image of ‘Lady Gaga’ is covering the masthead of on the cover who remains the
However this controversial ‘Rollingstone’ which suggests that there is a certified readership main focus point whilst
and innovative image relates and that it is still recognisable even if it is obscured. By having a conforming to the rule of thirds.
well to Rolling Stone who bold and spaced out tag line of ‘Summer double issue’ above the Leaders are also used in the
have always featured magazine masthead it draws immediate attention since the logo form of dashes between each
controversial images on their has been moved as it looks out of place. This is also a unique cover line to move the
cover, the most famous for selling point as the audience feel they get more for their money audience’s eye onto the next
instant being John Lennon and should be drawn to buy it as it is a special issue in feature swiftly. The balanced
and Yoko Ono. This striking comparison to other ‘ordinary’ issues. The masthead logo creates look of the text and colours
image aims at both a male the letter ‘R’ as an ascender to give it a striking look. The close overall makes the magazine
and female audience who kerning of the masthead letters give it a theatrical look. The appeal more to a customer as it
would be interested in the banner is placed directly right underneath the masthead so the is not too ‘busy’ and would not
meaning why the artist chose audience can draw quick information about the specific put them off buying it since it is
such a niche pose and who publication of this issue such as price, website, and date and issue not cluttered. I should use a
are fans of her previous number. similar approach when creating
work. my magazine.