The document analyzes two music advertisement posters. It discusses various design elements and conventions used in the posters, such as the main images featuring the bands, album names, quotes and reviews from music magazines, release dates, and ways to purchase the albums. Typography, color schemes, and composition techniques are examined in conveying genre and promoting the products. Key conventions like the artist and album names, reviews, and purchase information are discussed alongside ways some elements subvert typical conventions.

1. MUSIC
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POSTER
ANALYSIS X3

2. Artist name/logo
Name of the
album being
advertised
Record
company logo
(Mercury
Records)
Main image of the
band that features
on digipak layered
over a cityscape
image
Album review
quoted from Q
magazine
Release/download
date
Advertisement slogan,
hint to what the
product contains for
promotional purposes

3. The main image is a photograph of the band themselves, posing very moody and thoughtful, a stereotype of the
indie genre. The genre is depicted from the costume and hair cuts of the artists, which are both quirky and casual.
The neutral hazy colour palette evokes a vintage feel to the main image, again highlighting the indie music genre.
The weak colours of the main image remind me of old vinyl covers in which indie albums were traditionally played
via and are still fashionably brought today in vintage shops. The photograph of the band is layered over a night
photograph of a typical British street, linking back to the roots of the band whom were all born in Twickenham. The
bright lights of the urban landscape are muted where a vintage filter has also been applied manipulating some of
the original colours. The two photographs are merged by a decreased opacity, emerging them to form the main
image of the poster. The combination of the images can link the name of the album ‘Last Night on Earth’ showing
the scene where they would spend their last night, possibly their home town. The audience’s eye is immediately
drawn to the main image due its large size and dominance on the page.
Following the Z theory, the artist name ‘Noah & The Whale’ is first convention read on the page by the audience
which is also positioned in order importance of the highest value. The large dark sans serif font is used
accentuating the name of the band as a brand as it is their logo seen across all their media products.
Directly underneath the main conventions confirmed to, is the name of the album which is being advertised ‘Last
Night On Earth’. In keeping with the main typography colour of black, a different font style is used which is slightly
italic. The italics create a more relaxed feel against the boldness of the other font in addition to adding more style
and quirkiness to the overall design.
Another convention confirmed to is a review from popular Music magazine ‘Q’ which indie audience members
would immediately recognise and thus trust. Seeing a positive quoted review from a well-known relevant
institution would persuade audience members as they are more likely to trust their opinion. This quote is the only
piece of text coloured differently in a light red (taken from shades in the main image) making it stand out against
the other text as it has been taken from another source.
At the bottom of the page the release/download date is included, a convention of a album poster informing the
audience when they can purchase the album being advertised otherwise without this information the product
would easily be forgotten. To promote the album further and make it seem more appealing the slogan ‘Includes
the single L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S is used, which was the 5th highest selling rock single of 2011 in the UK. The popularity
of the song will be recognised by audiences making them possibly interested in the rest of the music produced by
the band.

4. Artist name/logo
Name of
album being
advertised
Website address
Record label logo
(moshi moshi
records)
Main image
featuring artist
Release/download
date
Ways to access the
album
Popular songs
included in album
used to promote
and sell album
further

5. The logo of the artist is significant to the way the name of the artist is presented, as it is clear a product
produced by them is being advertised. The use of the logo creates a sense of individuality and identity, promoting
the artist as brand against other musicians. The calligraphy font is only used for the name of artist making it
different from the other textual conventions on the page in addition to making it easy to recognise or understand
what artist is being advertised.
The main image depicts the colour palette used for the design of the poster, consisting of dark shades of red,
green and black. The theme of death and decay is illustrated through the main image positioned largely and
centrally within the space, which visually presents the name of the album ‘Lungs’. The main vocalist Florence,
lies on a bed of dead flowers suggesting a loss of beauty and life which flowers commonly symbolise. She wears
a lung necklace which is quite explicit and graphic as it is looks like a realistic body organ. This conveys the
genre of music which is indie rock as an image like this would not be displayed on a conventional pop genre
poster. The male gaze theory is subverted in this example, as Florence is not sexualised, instead she appears
angelic and graceful and is not wearing revealing clothing to gain attention. The composition of the artist includes
her facing away from the audience avoiding eye contact adding to her star persona and character as less
attention seeking and egotistical. The photograph seems ore as piece of artwork, due the detail of the
background and artist which looks similar to the quality of a painting.
The name of the album ‘Lungs’ is contrasted against the dark background in white in order to make it stand out
on the page and to the audience. Positioned underneath the image of the literal lungs, a clear link is created
between the two conventions. The font typed in capital letters makes it more dominant and loud to the audience
as after the logo it is the most significant piece of text on the poster. The thickness of each letter is thin, as a serif
font style has been used making the single word more interesting and stylish.
Underneath the name of the album, the release/download date is included. It is not obvious that this the
purpose of the date, as it there is nothing to say so. This is a subverted convention, as the date is composed
more subtly emphasising the delicate and sophisticated design of the poster by adding as little text as possible in
order not distract attention from the main image.
Popular songs that are included on the album are listed underneath ‘Includes the SINGLES RABBIT HEART
(raise it up), DOG DAYS ARE OVER & KISS WITH A FIST.’ Fans of the artist will recognise these popular singles
and therefore are likely to be more interested in the rest of the album after receiving a taster of it already. In a
large font but of the style, continuing a consistent typography theme, the ways in which the album can be
purchased are listed. This will appeal to different members of the niche audience, for example digitally will appeal
to young people who regularly use modern technology however vinyl may appeal to older or more traditional
members. This shows how the product can be widely accessed from a variety of different platforms, a standard
convention of a poster. At the bottom of the poster, the website address of the artist is positioned allowing
people to find out more information. The Moshi Moshi record label logo is also inserted for copyright protection
and showing who owns all the rights.

6. Release/download
date
Image of front
cover of
digipak being
advertised
Quoted review
from NME
magazine
Star ratings from
music magazines
Main background
artwork
Website address and social media link
Album
and artist
name
How to
purchase the
product

7. The main text positioned centrally within the poster is the name of the album ‘What did you expect from the
vaccines’. This text acts as the main image of the poster as the audience is immediately attracted and engaged
to it, due the rhetorical question making it more personal and the bold dark font. The name of the artist is
cleverly incorporated in the name of the album, which only fans of the band would recognise. The convention of
the album and artist positioned separately as two different conventions is subverted, reflecting the indie genre of
breaking societies rules. To aid those confused on the play on words, a small thumbnail image of the front
cover of the digipak has been inserted in the bottom left hand corner. This enables audience members to
identify the product in shops as well as making it more obvious what is exactly being advertised.
The pink background consists of a more muted and lighter photograph of the same image used on the front
cover of the digipak. However in this instance the colours have been manipulated to a baby pink, a colour
typically not used by indie artists as it seen as stereotypically too ‘girly’ and ‘uncool’. The convention of creating
obvious fluency between the poster and album front cover is subverted, as the photograph can be hard to
identify and a different colour palette has been used. On the other hand, a thin fluorescent pink boarder has been
used around the main image, which is the only way pink can be depicted from the digipak. The photograph
features a young girl hugging onto a boy, connoting emotional attachment, sadness or another social realism
subject. The teenage model fits perfectly into the target audience in which The Vaccines aim their work at,
making audience members feel comfortable and connected the simplistic image.
Underneath the main text, the release/download date is inserted informing audience members when the
product is available to purchase, a key convention when advertising to the public. A very thin font is used, which
framed inside a hallow box making it subtly more obvious and separate from the other text. A quoted review
from music magazine NME which is largely associated with rock, alternative and indie music which the niche
audience should recognise and appreciate. A positive review given from well established and famous institution
will persuade audience members further after seeing NME’s approval. Underneath this star ratings have been
given by Q, Uncut and MOJO magazine, a convention of a poster confirmed to. Again this positive feedback from
popular music companies creates an extra sense of authenticity and success for the artist which audiences will
believe in after large organisations appointing so. By using small images of stars rather than words, audience
can recognise the success of the album quicker and from a further distance as it is a recognised convention.
The band’s website address and Facebook website address is positioned at the bottom of the page, allowing
young contemporary audience members to find out more information about the album and keep up to date with
the latest news digitally. The ‘PLAY.COM’ logo is inserted to inform audiences a way in which they can purchase
the product when it is released, linking the two standard conventions.