ANALYSING 4 MUSIC

MAGAZINE COVERS
LAUREN PETTITT

WHY DID I CHOOSE THE MAGAZINES I

DID?
I wanted to get the most out of my research as it is vital in creating a piece I feel is
successful. To do this I wanted to look at a variety of genres and magazines, to see
what are general magazine conventions as well as more genre specific convention. I
tried to stay within music magazines as I feel I could overload myself with ideas if I
was to research every kind of magazine out there. I also looked into the business side
of the magazine I have looked at, just to build up knowledge on target demographics,
age ranges and budgets.

The masthead Q is used with the simple purpose of making it clear the
magazine the audience are reading. The contrasting red and white colour
makes it bold and easy to read. This colour palette is commonly used on
magazines for the soul purpose of standing out. For example another
popular music magazine NME uses the same. The mature typography of
the Q could suggest a slightly older audience.

The main image is one of an iconic singer Cheryl Cole this already
attracts a large audience which is her fan base. The image itself is also
appealing to a male audience due to the sexual connotations. Due to Q
having a 75% male readership this image would defiantly work in
keeping that target audience. Laura Mulvey states that media industry
portrays women in a more derogative and sexualised way, which this
image could arguably show that. The direct mode of address from the
singer makes the cover seem personal to the reader as well as making it
more seductive. Similarly the dark eye make up entices the readers in as
she seems mysterious and can have intertextuality to super hero films.
The mouth movements of the icon again have sexual connotations as we
commonly link red lipstick with danger and passion and the licking of the
sharp ring again states she is not scared of danger which can be
appealing the more of a male audience. The licking action itself is a
prime example of how Laura Mulvey would say women are sexualised
within media. John Berger agrees with this idea as his theory states that
men look, women appear. The use of rain links to everything I have
previously said, as the wet hair again can be used in a sexy manner.

The strapline the UK biggest music magazine is used as a hook for the
audience. The use of a superlative biggest attracts a much wider
audience as the promise that a lot of people read this magazine so you
should to. The binary opposites of white and black just work to ensure
that is clear to read as well as arguably linking to the clich its black and
white that Q is the best magazine.

The use of a range of coverlines ensures that people choosing a

magazine are put off by the image of just one artist. The use of
John Lennon one of the most influential artist of all time is used
to again just widen the audience. John Lennon would be an
artist which could also appeal to an older audience drawing
them in also to buy this magazine. As well as new acts, telling
the readers that if you buy this magazine you will find new acts
before anyone else. The median target audience age for Q is 29
so by having a older artist as well as an artist with a different
style of music the target audience can be less constricted.
Again the reoccurring colour scheme just ensures that there is
continuity within the cover, rather than it being overpowered
with colours.

The masthead highlights the name of the magazine in this case

Billboard the serif font in bright yellow is very clear to read. The
yellow colouring connotes happiness due to being linked with
sunlight. The use of yellow is actually interesting within the
magazine cover as it is used to exaggerate her skin colour. This
goes against Bell Hocks theory who says light skinned women
are considered more desirable within media, this magazine takes
a stand against that theory and shows of her skin tone.
The cover lines are all in white and are very small
compared to the magazine, this may be to ensure the
focal point is the main image. This is an unusual
convention to see on a magazine cover as typically
the coverlines would be in a large clear to read font.
Although we see Nicki Minaj name in yellow colouring
also this just makes it stand out and makes it have a
direct link with the title.

The price is a legal requirement and the use of

intertextuality with the e-mail widens to readership

The pull quote is used as a hook for the readers as gives

hints to what will be discussed in an interview. The use of
the language I was ruthless makes the readership want to
know what she did to be ruthless obviously enticing them
to buy the magazine and read on. Also the use of fans
attracts people who follow her and by using a personal
address to her fan base will make the readers feel the
article is more personal.

The main image is a very revealing one, similarly to the

Q magazine I analysis Laura Mulveys theory can be
linked to this magazine as she is arguably been seen in
the male gaze. Billboard has a 77% male readership.
However, due to Nicki Minaj being consider an
empowered figure, women may idealise this image and
aim to feel the self confidence she does which can
have a positive impact. This is reiterated through the
pull quote as its clear she has over come a battle and
some readers may see this image as an symbol of her
overcoming her battles. She is revealing her breasts
but is covering them with her arms this could
connotate that she can be naked if she choses but it is
her choice once again portraying the message of
female empowerment.
There is no visible imperfections on her skin which
means this image is attempting to portray the image of
perfection. The use of accent lighting on her cheek
bone exenterates her bone structure, which is a major
fashion statement at the moment.
There is a focal point of this image of a tattoo, we are
unsure of what it says but this gives a enigma to what
is the relevance and reasoning behind the tattoo.

The masthead Billboard is the name of the magazine;

although we would not normally see the masthead being
shown in this way, as it isnt as bold and eye catching as
the we are used to. The white colouring contrasting the
light lime background means that are eyes arent drawn
to it resulting in the main image being the only focal
point, which is probably the reason why the masthead
was like that.
The san serif font makes the simplistic and modern
which directly links with both the iconic singer (Miley
Cyrus) and the style of the magazine.
The fact that the strap line just states Miley
highlights how well known and iconic she is as they
havent stated her second name. This is a clear
indication that her fan base will be the main target
audience of this magazine. The coverlines are much
smaller again just to ensure the eyes are drawn to
the main image rather than being distracted.

The main image shows the iconic singer Miley Cyrus

who has been in the limelight for the past few months
so already this is a huge hook for the audience wanting
to read more about what happened to her. The image
itself shows her development and change with her
tattoos and new hair cut are predominant aspects of
the cover. The message this portrays is not having to
conform and confidence in yourself. She is in a very
revealing outfit which is very low cut around the breast
area. The direct mode of address, makes the cover
more personal to the audience and we can tell from the
exaggerated blue eyes that the image may have been
touched up to portray the image of perfection. This
image would attract both genders, due to women
wanting to look like her and males finding her
attractive.

The masthead, is in a san serif font in red colouring

making it clear to read and bold. The red colouring can
connotate passion and love which can be linked to the
readerships love for music. It is in the top hand left
corner, this is due to the eyes being taught to read left
to right making it the first area the eyes go to.
The coverlines are all relevant to the target audience
with a wide range of iconic singers and artists being
used and named. This is used as a hook for the
audience wanting to read more about them. The
alternation of blue and white ensure that the coverlines
are separated and dont get lost in each other. Arctic
Monkey is put in a larger font size and red colouring
this makes a direct link between masthead and
coverline showing that Arctic Monkeys shall be an
important aspect of the issue.
The use of the rhetorical question Theyve picked
theirs.. Whats yours? creates a personal relationship
between writer and reader through the use of yours
making the reader question themselves and want to
read on.

The main image shows the main artist of Arctic

Monkeys. The fact he is holding a record shows the
genre of the magazine as the records can be linked to
the indie genre. The red centre of the record implies
that Artctic Monkeys feel the same love and passion for
the music they make. By having the key aspects of the
magazine cover in red reiterates the important aspects.
Similarly to this the red roses on his shirt links him to
the theme. The handwritten pulled quote of the record
that changed my life works as a hook to make the
reader want to read on to find out how and what
changed his life. The magazine is made interactive by
the rhetorical question what's yours. The singer
himself is an attractive male which would be typically
appealing to females but also males who want to look
like him.