Codes and Conventions of a Music Magazine Front Cover

Main Image

Direct address to attract the readers attention.Clothing matches the genre of

music. She looks very smart to fit in with the audience she would be performing to.

Band or artist are on the front cover.

Attitude matches the genre, in a rock magazine they’re very aggressive and loud whereas a classical attitude is more calm .

Shots are medium close up, close up or medium long shot to fill the page.

Lighting also matches the genre, this one is brightly lit whereas the “Kerrang!” looks as if it was taken in concert.

Movement in the image conveys the attitude of the genre. This movement makes them seem intimidating and cool.

Different angles are only used when there’s more people in the image, like a band.

Popular artists are used to attract readers. Magazines that cover all genres use them to attract a new audience to the magazine and increase sales.

Mastheads

Biggest text on the page.

Usually one or two words.

Font matches the genre. For example this dance magazine uses a font that looks modern to match the style of dance.

Font is unique to the magazine so it’s more memorable.

In the top left corner or across the skyline of the magazine.

Main image covers the text if it’s a well known magazine.

Font colour matches the colour scheme.

Cover lines

Main cover line is the artists name.

Cover lines frame the main image.

Cover lines display other artists inside the magazine.

Simple consistent colour scheme or two to the three colours

Small number of fonts are used.

Skyline displays what’s also inside to add value.

Include giveaways like posters, tickets and CD’s.

Colours scheme links to the genre.

Barcode

Issue date

Main image is of a popular artist in that genre to attract more readers.

Some space is left so they can put CD’s to the front cover adding value.