Analysis of 3 Music Magazine Front Covers

Billboard

This magazine cover has a mastheadwhich is one of the main codes and conventions of a cover. It is positioned behind the cover star's head which is another code and convention that makes a magazine cover looks professional.

There is a cover star which usually is photographed in a mid shot as it is a code and convention of a magazine front cover. However not always is the front cover image shot in such a way. This cover star image has strayed away from that code and convention for this issue.

There is also a main cover line that is linked with the cover star photo usually larger text compared to other taglines included on the page. This is a code and convention of a magazine which also is stereotypically the name of whom ever the cover star may be.

This is an advertisement puff image publicising the Billboard Music Awards informing audience of the times and date its being broadcasted live

The house style of this magazine’s front cover includes a range of colours, fonts and sizing. The mast head is the largest piece of text which has a bold font and a brightening white colour with splashes of red, blue and yellow filling a few of the letter’s sections. The yellow splashes from the masthead also consists through the cover line's text colours as they are white and yellow with a range of different fonts and sizes. The cover photo seems to follow a colour schemes with shades of yellow, brown, gold, red and pink. This contrasts well with the text against it as everything is visibly magnificent.

This is a quotation from Beyoncé's interview which is a code and convention of a front cove that links with the cover star/main story. It attracts audiences to read the rest of the article included.

There is no barcode presented on this front cover which strays from the codes and conventions

The cover is also filled with cover lines relating to other features included within the magazine consisting of diverse fonts and colours. The text also overlaps the cover star as she overlaps the masthead which illustrates the structure and build of the magazine’s front cover.

There is a link for the magazine’s website which can also be a conventions for a front cover

Buzz words are included on the cover in order to draw reader’s attention such as Special Edition

Q

There is masthead included on this front cover layout, structured behind the head of the cover star to follow a code and convention.

There is also a skyline (banner) included on the front cover of this issue of Q. This contains a cover line for another article with in the magazine “INSIDE THE ROLLING STONES” this is a code a convention as it advertises more information that is inside to the target audience.

There is a barcode on the lower left corner of the cover which follows another code and convention

Here are cover lines that state other features included with in the magazine which is a code and convention to advertise the articles

Although this may be a symbol, it could also count as a buzz word for “Plus” which is followed by other features that are inside the magazine. This is a code and convention of a front cover.

The house style of this magazine’s front cover includes a range of colours, fonts and blocks/banners. The skyline banner that drapes across the top of the cover is a luminous red that connects to the block behind the masthead Q. Both skyline and masthead are a white filled bold font in capital letters. Fonts across the front cover seem to be consistent and generally capitals. However some words are written in lowercase. There are also blocks of black and grey containing text of different colours; red, black, grey and white. The cover star’s colour scheme is range of different shade of red, orange, brown, gold, pink and generally musty colours to follow the theme of the issue.

The main story cover line linked with the cover star is the largest on the page and usually includes a quotation. However this is where this front cover strays from the codes and conventions.

There is a small puff image/sticker of rolling stones icon adhered to the skyline that’s links to the feature about the rolling stones.

Vibe

The house style of this magazine’s front cover includes a range of colours, fonts and sizes. This issue of Vibe magazine includes a cover stars image with the colour scheme of black, browns, whites, red and gold. This links well the text’s colours as they are generally red and black with a splash of orange. The font seems to be continuous throughout as well and all texts is written in higher case in order to produce a bold overall appearance for the front cover.

There is a skyline included on this cover containing names of artists that are involved within the issue. There is no banner under the skyline text as the font and colour seems to be bold enough to contrast against the background.

The masthead is the largest text on the page and is hidden behind the cover star which follows a valuable code and convention of a front cover. It spreads cross the width of the page in a bright, bold, red font.

A buzz word is on the front cover “MORE” this code and convention draws the reader’s attention to be intrigued of the issue’s content.

Here is the magazine’s barcode that is in the bottom right corner of the page. Barcodes are often structure in the bottom corners of covers in order to follow the code and convention of it.

The main story cover line is ranging in different colours (black and red) and different text sizes. It contains the name of the artist the article is on and a quick summary of what the feature is about.

There is also the link for Vibe magazine’s website which is another code and convention of a front cover

Here is a small advertisement for a soundtrack. “DOWNLOAD THIS” is an obvious advert for a up and coming new track that readers may be interested in.