The document provides analysis of magazine cover design elements across 3 magazine covers. It summarizes the key elements magazines use to attract readers' attention on newsstands and entice them to purchase the issue. These include using bold colors, eye-catching images that relate to cover lines and headlines, strategic placement of text elements, and offering "puffs" or freebies to readers. Placement of cover lines and mastheads is also described to maximize visibility and coordination between visual and text elements.

1. Music Magazine Analysis

2. Magazine Cover Pages

3. Sky line:
Give a way of posters so it’s up with the mast head to capture
audiences attention and to be seen from news stands.
Main Image:
Use of red, an eye-catching
colour, and the first colour your Teasers:
eyes are drawn to makes it more Short phrases or words on the
bold, image has a lot of impact front cover to tempt the reader
through colour and pose, also to but the magazine
through the mask, the whole
thing draws attention.
Mast Head:
Biggest text, co-ordinates
Buzz words and with background of main
image, contrasting
Puffs: background to text. Text
To capture audience attention, behind figure in main
offers freebies, in the form of image.
posters, gig guide and
competitions.
Main Cover Line: Cover Lines:
Band title, is as big as mast Band titles biggest text in
head, which is unusual, but cover lines, also different
this magazines main cover colour, then more information
line was a special after the about articles, for the biggest
death of one of that band cover lines there is also an
members. The text doesn’t image of the band/ celeb
co-ordinate with a picture
like it usually does, it’s more
bold which makes it more
eye catching and the use of
a pull quote draws Date line, Barcode & Price
attention.

4. Sky line:
Big competition so it’s up with the mast head to capture
audiences attention and to be seen from news stands
Main Cover Line:
Band name is the biggest text.
Relates to the cover image, pull Mast Head:
quote and insight into celebrity Biggest text, co-ordinates with
that audiences want, her pose background of main image,
is also welcoming , letting the contrasting background to text.
audience in making them feel Text in front of main image.
like they’re getting to know her.
Text colour co-ordinates with
main image, contrasts, and
highlighted text colour and font Main Image:
co-ordinates with outfit. Use of yellow is very bold,
welcoming pose to entice
audience, and figure leaning to
the her left leaves a margin for
Cover Lines: cover lines, she’s looking directly
Band titles biggest text in at the audience, which draws
cover lines, then more attention.
information about articles,
for the biggest cover line
there is also an image of the
band.
Buzz words and Puffs:
To capture audience attention,
offers freebies, in the form of
Teasers: posters, gig guide and
Short phrases or words on the competitions.
front cover to tempt the reader to
but the magazine
Date line, Barcode & Price

5. Sky line:
Lists band names and a poll to capture audiences
attention and to be seen from news stands
Main Cover Line:
Name of the band is very big,
using the bands actually font
and in a colour that contrasts to
the colour scheme to attract
attention, use of buzz words like Mast Head:
exclusive and revealed also help Biggest text, co-ordinates
to capture attention, and the with background of main
language, slang used relates to image, contrasting
what is displayed in the main background to text. Text
image, i.e. “spilled his guts” and behind figure in main
he’s holding a chainsaw. image.
Cover Lines:
Main Image: Band titles biggest text in
Use of red, the most eye catching cover lines, then more
colour, the prop co-ordinates in information about articles,
colour to the mast head, his the name of the band/title
outfit contrast the rest of the of argument contrast in
image, use of a plain background colour and size to info.
so not to distract detail.
Publisher, Date line, Barcode & Price

6. Mast Head: Sky line & Cover lines:
Lists band names and a poll to capture
Biggest text, co-ordinates
audiences attention and to be seen
with background of main
from news stands, also cover lines as it
image, contrasting
adds more information about the
background to text. Text
bands, gives the main image more
behind figure in main
impact as it leaves the sides of the
image.
cover clear
Buzz words and Puffs:
Main Cover Line & To capture audience attention,
offers freebies, in the form of a
Image: free album.
Name of the band in their own
font and also the logo, the
image displays the man in a
very powerful pose and
captures attention, the figure is
also in black matching the
masthead, the use of locus's to
display the name of “Machine
Head’s” new album, pull quote
also used to gain audiences
interest.
Publisher, Date line, Barcode & Price

7. Sky line:
A saying/quote, has high
impact and matches the main
Mast Head: image.
Contrasts to the rest of
the page, is bold and
noticable, yet a subtle
and not harsh colour.
Main Image:
The image is very free to
interpretation, no text on the
page except for mast head and
Publisher, Date skyline, making the image have a
bigger impact as it’s not
line, Barcode & distracted. The image is very
Price shocking and has high impact
itself though, with the thick
costume make up, and the
implication/imitation of Jesus,
links to the sky line, mentioning
pain.

8. Magazine Contents Pages

9. Contents title, edition number and date
Editors letter and
note to readers,
Witty quote from
would talk about a band.
issue and the month,
picture of the editor
to the left before
passage.
Biggest image,
Contents:
relates to the separated but sub-
biggest/most headings, making it easier
important article in to find a certain type/style
the magazine. of article with a quick
glance.
Images relating to
articles, each image
has a page number
to show which
images relates to
which article, more Advertises
of a visual contents subscriptions for the
as appose to the magazine, at an offer
words. price.
Buzz words, in a bold sticker
looking shape, catches
attention.

10. Contents title, edition number and date
Editors letter and
note to readers,
would talk about
issue and the month. Witty quote from
a band.
Biggest image,
relates to the
biggest/most
important article in
the magazine.
Images relating to
Contents:
articles, each image separated but sub-
has a page number headings, making it
to show which easier to find a
images relates to certain type/style of
which article, more article with a quick
of a visual contents glance.
as appose to the
words.

11. Contents title, edition number and date
Editors letter and
note to readers,
would talk about Witty quote from
issue and the month. a band.
Biggest image,
relates to the
biggest/most Contents:
important article in separated but sub-
the magazine. headings, making it
easier to find a
certain type/style of
article with a quick
Images relating to glance.
articles, each image
has a page number
to show which
images relates to
which article, more Advertises
of a visual contents subscriptions for the
as appose to the magazine, at an offer
words. price.

12. Contents, edition and Editors letter and
masthead note to readers,
would talk about
issue and the month,
picture of the editor
at the top before
Contents: passage.
separated into two
columns, regular
bands/artists and
featured/new, ones, easy
to read, with some
information on each
article.
Images relating to
articles, each image
has a page number
to show which
images relates to
Reviews separated from which article, more
rest of the contents, easier of a visual contents
to find what you want, as appose to the
with the sub contents words.
sections

13. Magazine Articles/Double Page
Spreads

14. Title in big font, taking up almost a half page, key
words of the title and description in pink, and buzz
word like absolutely in biggest text and with
exclamation mark.
Image takes
up majority of
a whole page,
open pose,
looking at the
audience, and
a black and
white theme,
simple and
honest, which
links to the
pull quote
used as a
title.
Background a grey tone, which compliments the Interview done in question
simple black and white colour scheme, and a border form, different background for
of what appears to be lights, resembles a typical question texts.
Hollywood dressing table mirror.

15. Image takes
up majority of
Title font all one size, no description, just a pull quote. a whole page
but is
positioned in
the middle of
the page;
hidden and
shadowed
pose, looking
down, almost
hiding, and a
red, white
and blue
theme,
resembling
the American
flag, with the
stars on his t-
shirt as well,
shows
nationality,
colours used
Background a plain black, which makes everything in the pull
else contrast more, and accentuates all the colour, quote used as
and the shadow on his face. a title.

16. Title in big font, taking up almost a half page, key
words of the title and description in pink. Different
Image takes
fonts used, the font for “wild” supposed to accentuate
up over a
the meaning of the word.
whole page,
open pose,
looking at the
audience; a
black theme,
simple and
dark, often
seen as a
“bad boy”
and in this
case girl
colour, along
with the
leather, which
links to the
title of bad
girl.
Background a plain black, which makes everything Interview done in question
else contrast more, but accentuates the dark make- form, different background for
up and all black outfit. question texts.

17. Band name at the top
Title, contrasts corner of each page.
the main
background
image, the
colour matches
the rest of the Quote before
text. Title is story,
abbreviated, relating to
short and the theme of
snappy to grab the article,
attention. Pull from a
quote also used, previous
using another review.
big bands name,
to gain more
interest.
Background is completely an image, shot of whole
band, all directly addressing the camera, the guy in
the middle, looks important with his pointing pose,
obviously the vocalist.

18. Quote before story, relating to the theme of Band name at the top
the article, from a previous review. corner of each page.
Image takes
up a whole
page, he is
Title of the directly
article has a fire addressing the
font, which camera but his
relates to the face is mostly
actual text of shadowed, it
the title. Tile relates to the
takes up about a fire theme as
third of a page. it looks as if
he’s shielding
his face from a
bright fire. A
pull quote is
placed almost
central in the
image.
Background a plain black, which makes everything
else contrast more, and matches the shadowed look,
created by his hand on his face.

19. Flat Plan

20. Cover Ad + Contents Feedback + Ad Cover Line Story News + Ad
Introducing + Ad News + Ad News Live reviews Live Reviews
Live Reviews + Ad Main Cover Line Main Cover Line Main Cover Line Ad + Story
Cover Line Story Ad + Poster Posters Poster + Ad Cover Line Story
Ad + Cover Line Story Kerrang Ads New albums Albums +Ad

21. Ad + Gig Guide Gig Guide Gig Guide Ads Next week + “K Quiz”
Back Cover
Flat plan for an existing Kerrang magazine.

22. Evaluation
Through this analysis I have found that for a music magazine front cover the image has to be
powerful, whether it’s through clothes or through stance something has to gain your attention.
The metal ones are specifically using the models own style and styling the cover around them
often displaying their name in the own font and will be the second largest text on the page,
instead of a cover line, using a band name gains more attention, but other than these small
things the composure of the front cover follows conventions.
For the contents page I’ve seen that mixing a lot of images with the written contents is good,
having more of a visual contents captures attention and brings more life and interest to the
articles. Both magazines also feature a insert from the editor, showing the audience must like to
hear from the editor and besides it gives a more welcoming feeling to the magazine, makes you
feel that you can trust the contents more if you can grasp what kind of a person the editor is.
For the double page spreads colour schemes and main image is the main aspect, the image is
usually quite large, often taking up all of or most of a page- and in some cases two pages, and the
whole colour scheme of the article relates to the whole mise en scene of the image. Question for
is quite favoured as an interview strategy, I personally looked at a few magazines and they
sometimes do fan questions, and quiz the celebrity/band on that. The masthead or description
often contain a pull quote, maybe even some words linking to the mise en scene of the picture,
e.g. like “firey” and the picture includes flames, and often in the description the main words
relating to the article are highlighted in a different colour.