Codes and Conventions of music magazine front covers

Katie Lewis

Barcode The barcode can be placed vertically or horizontally, and it’s generally placed at the bottom right of the page. Within the barcode it normally contains the price which is on or next to the barcode and shows how much the magazine costs. Also there is normally a date on the barcode which is usually on or next to the barcode and shows the date the magazine got published and what year and will contain issue number also.

Image of ArtistThis image of the artist is the big main image which the audiences eyes are drawn too. There is only one main image and it can have a range of shots for the artist which are; close up, mid shot, medium/long shot, and medium close up. The purpose of the image is because it draws the readers attention and that’s why there is no text on the image as the image sells the magazine.

MastheadA masthead is normally at the top left corner of the page and is sometimes covered by text if it’s a well known magazine. The title font is usually quite plain and bold and the font is unique to the title as the magazine is trying to create a brand identity and Its usually only one word.

Name of artistThe name of the artist is usually below the image of the artist in

big bold writing. It will stand out from the rest of the text on the page and it always very clear to see.

TitlesThe title of a magazine is mainly at the top of the magazine and

represents what the magazine is called and is then recognised and remembered by people.

Colour schemeThe colour scheme of a magazine generally has 3/4 main colours

that are used and these colours don’t clash. Primary colours are more popular to be used as they don’t clash with another.

Orange, white, silver and black

Blue, red, white, yellow

CoverlinesThe cover line of a music magazine is usually at the sides of the

main image and tell people the main stories and contents that inside and will also include specific articles they will find inside. They are ambiguous on purpose to draw audience in. It has the same font bold and simple and they frame the main image on the magazine. They don’t tend to have more the 5/6.

Positioning statement

The positioning statement of a music magazine is either above or below the title. This conveys the magazine with interesting stories to pull the readers attention to look further into the magazine and find what it’s about.

MastheadA masthead generally goes left to right, either left aligned or

whole the whole way across. It has a trademark and unique font writing with usually two or one words. The font size is usually bigger than the cover lines and the colour of the masthead is different to the cover lines. The masthead colour coordinates with the image. Other than the main image, it is mainly one of the first things you see.

Puff A puff is the shape used to highlight something and is a device

which helps to promote certain elements in magazines. It can offer something else to the magazine such as free giveaways. A circle puff is normally the most popular type of puff and is used quite a lot and makes customers take a lot at what it says because it’s different from everything else on the magazine. They are often set against the colour of the background to help advertise features.

Subsidiary images

These link the stories inside and are generally at the sides of the page. They are only small so they don’t take focused of the main image. They may be used to help promote other features in the magazine as people are more likely to look at an image rather than text so it’s a good way to make readers want to look inside if they like the look of the images on the outside.

PugsPugs are the ‘ears’ of the magazines and are placed at the top

left/right hand corners of the front cover. They usually display a promotion from the magazine’s edition or possibly the price by catching the readers attention.

Main coverlinesThe main coverlines of a magazine is smaller than the masthead

but larger than the coverlines. The font colour is the same as the coverlines but it is written in bold near the masthead. It is meant to be the eye-catching line. It is generally under the masthead because after people have read the masthead there eyes will generally go down the page and the first thing then is the main cover lines. The colour will stand out from the background it’s on to also make it more eye-catching.

Masthead

Main Image – Direct at the audience . Mid close up

Colour scheme – red, black and white

Cover lines

Barcode

Magazine title/logo

Name of artist

Puff