codes and conventions for a music magazine

1. Codes and convention of music
magazines
By Stephanie Williamson

2. The masthead is made bold and
stands out, it is a convention for
this magazine to have NME on
the top left of the magazine.
This tag is made to stand out,
it involves uses and
gratifications this is because
this gives an active audience
information and draws them
in so they will buy the
magazine. It uses ‘new’ as a
word to engage the reader.
Red black on yellow
background is different
shows significance.
The strapline is additional
information added in to
attract people who enjoy
different types of music. A
larger ranged audience
Insert gives additional
information and offers in
the magazine it is a
convention in most
magazines.
Main image and name
shows the main focus of
the magazine, it is usually
found on the right hand
side of the magazine.
flowers used to add in the
ideology off a message
behind the media.
Barcode is found at the bottom
right corner, what is different is
that it is running up the side.
Colour scheme of the
magazine is followed
throughout, this is a
convention of the
magazine as the scheme
is followed each week.

3. Masthead tends to be bold
and stands out it is a
convention in most
magazines because they will
want their audience to be
able to identify their
magazine
The Main image is
usually for this
magazine is a wide
shot, it has used black
and white with pink
lettering to draw the
reader to the band
name.
Strap line is used for additional
information it is linked to the band
because it is still in the pink font.
Insert is in a circle background
this is uses and gratification it is
trying to implant something in
the readers mind because it is in
yellow background it stands out
more
Headline has been
made bold and to
stand out it is written
in pink on a black and
white picture
background. The
magazine has used this
to tie in with the bands
theme. Stand first in this case is
being used as a lure so
the reader will want find
out more. Hermeneutic
code

4. Masthead is bold and in
the top left corner of the
magazine like NME the
writing is white and blends
in with the rest of the text
Strap line is in a thinner font to
the rest so your attention isn't
drawn straight to it but is only
give you a hint of other things
that are inside the magazine
Main image is a medium close up of the artist with
him making hand gestures creating ideology that
their is a message behind this image, it also uses
hermeneutic codes it may signify and album cover of
a new release.
Barcode is running
along the bottom this
is a convention with a
few other magazines
Head line in the boldest
writing is 2011 and bon
Iver showing that the main
focus of the magazine is
on bon Iver and then it
mentions in a smaller font
other artist that may
relate to people who enjoy
other types of music this is
uses and gratification.
Lure is using hermeneutic coding as
it is in this case saying that inside
the magazine will you find the top
80 which is also in bold texting
showing its importance to the rest
of the text.

5. Strap line is introducing another headline or
article and uses large font to draw the attention
of the reader.
Masthead is behind the
image this shows the image
of the
Main image shows the
band has one member
slightly towards the
front putting across a
message of importance
of the member.
Barcode is in the bottom right
corner
Headline is large and
in the centre of the
magazine which is
understandable and
clear to the audience
know what the main
focus is in the
magazine
Lure uses word like PLUS! To catch the readers eye and
draw them to the magazine this is hypodermic because it
is influential to the audiences idea’s and behaviours and
then buying the magazine.
The Insert stands out
by using colours that
arent used on the
magazine aready also
free and CD are in
bold which is a lure
to get people to buy
the CD

6. The Kicker uses a
phrase that is using a
hermeneutic code, it is
also in a different font
to the rest of the page
to make it stand out.
Date this is in a
smaller font
underneath the
header on the right
hand side.
Central image of the group
in action on stage
promoting people to visit
their tours, the theme of
the image and the use of
guitars and lighting also
shows the genre of their
music
Insert Advertisement is using a lure which is using
“save” which will catch a future buyers eye, it also uses
yellow colours which are not on the contents page
Buzz words stick out
the draw attention
because they are in
capitals and in a larger
font
Mast head is using NME in the same font and colour as the front cover
with this week next to it in a white colour emphasising both words.
Page numbers written
in red down the side
Subheading this gives
a brief description of
what the double page
spread is about,
This is an plugger it uses Plus which is
a lure its written in a red font on its
own above black writing.

7. The date is quite
large and it works
in as a header
aswell because of
its size and how
much it stands out
to the audience.
Central image is
large and
dominates the
page which shows
clearly who the
magazine will be
focusing on.
Page number is shown at the
bottom of the large image and
underneath the image.
Over all this magazine
front cover is very simple
it doesnt draw to much
focus to it which may
mean it has a target
audience and by using
gratification theory they
make it simple because it
is what the audience
wants.
The contents page also
uses hermunuetic
coding because the rest
of the magazine exists as
an enigma because it
hasn't been explained
anywhere else at all

8. Issue number
this isn’t found
on many
magazines.
The date is in the
top right hand
corner underneath
the header
Central image is taken from
above, making the artist
look more mysterious the
image has an ideology
because there is more
behind the image.
The header is the
name of the
magazine it is
completely in black
and is a different style
to the name on the
front cover
Page numbers are in
yellow next to what the
page is on showing
what each article
features in it with a
brief description of
each.
Sub heading is a quote from the person who is the main focus in the black, it has been
taken from the spread and then it gives a little taster into what the article has in it.

9. Header is a play
on the title of an
song of hers this
is recognised by
someone who
listens and this is
gratification
theory because
the audience will
want to seek why
they have used
the choice of
lyrics
Equal columns it is
set out to make
the article easier
to read
Drop capital is a convention for double page
spreads in pretty much most magazines it is
used as a decoration to the text and in this
case the text for the drop capital matches
the text in the header.
Main image is Florence from Florence and the machine sat on a red and
white American flag with use written in the background this is ideology
that there is a hidden message in the image and it may be found in the text
so the audience will read on.
Sub heading gives the reader additional
information and it also gives a brief description on
what the article is about. In the sub heading it has
by lines in blue these are the names of the artist
involved so they stand out more and show
importance.

10. Main image
has an effect
of the
colouring of
the image and
this image
links to the
header and
the by lines in
the sub
heading this
may have
ideology
suggesting
there is a
hidden
meaning. This
image doesn’t
go over to the
second page.
The Header is using
ideology as it is
suggesting there is a
meaning behind using
the font like because
the heading is flying
high it uses long fonts
to represent this.
Drop capital is in the same font as the
header is makes it stand out because it
doesn't fit the main body of text that it is
next to so the letter has more emphasis
being the first
Equal column lays out the
body of text so it is clear
and easy to read
Sub heading is giving
a brief description of
the spread and uses
blue fonts different
to the rest of the sub
heading to
emphasize the names

11. Main image of
the band in
most articles
including a
band the lead
singer is
always placed
in the front it
establishes
importance.
the image
also takes up
just over two
pages the
image is
usually found
on the left
hand side of
the magazine.
Their guitars
symbolise
their genre of
music and
create an
edgy look.
Their are two Drop capitals in this magazine and they
are in the same font but in a different colour to the
header this makes them stand out more.
Header is the use of the
bands name and is
clearly laid out and
makes the double page
spread understandable
Equal columns is used to
order the body of text so
it is easier for the
audience to read
Pull quote this is
the same colour
as the drop
captions, it is a
quote from the
text that is more
important and the
audience may find
it more interesting
Sub heading
gives the
readers a brief
description on
what the
article is
about.
The colour of the image gives it
an old look to emphasize the
genre as it was mainstream in
the 80’s

12. Header is using a
quote and it uses
a white and gold
colours, the gold
emphasizes a
part more than
the rest this is
uses and
gratification
Main image of an
artist performing,
using a black and
white background
this can show the
genre of the artist
and that he may be
a legend or an artist
from years ago. also
showing that he is
using a guitar and
singing almost
shouting it looks like
a rock genre
Caption telling
the reader where
the photo was
taken who it is of
and who took the
image
Body of text isn’t in the
usual equal columns its
in one long paragraph
this makes the text look
more like a biography.
Drop capital is much larger
than anything else on the page
it emphasises the letter a lot
and also how the writing
moves around the letter
The image and body of text is on different sides than the other magazine
double page spreads i have looked at and breaks the convention, this reversal
makes the magazine different and catches the readers attention if it is
someone who reads more than one music magazine, they would want to read
more into it.
Sub heading is
again using the
gold to
emphasize
certain parts
like names and
it is briefly
telling you what
its about.