Music Magazine Conventions

1
Magazine Construction

• Gabriel Walker

2
Conventions

• What you get on front covers

3
1.
Masthead
8.
Selling Line or Banner
16.
Date Line
9.
Tagline
2.
Kicker
10.
Feature Article Photo
3.
Cover Line
11.
Headline
12.
Anchorage
4.
Secondary Lead
13.
Flash
14.
Menu Strip
5.
Plug
Graphic Feature or Puff
6.
15.
Bar Code
Caption
7.
4
Conventions Notes

• The Masthead consists of a red box with a large Q
  in it in formal font. This suggests a level of
  class about the magazine and the fact that the
  magazine is not associated with a particular
  genre. The tag and date line are also included in
  the masthead.
• The Anchorage text is aimed specifically at fans
  of Liam Gallagher as it is a reference to his new
  band who are also pictured, this puts the photo
  into context for the
• audience
• A youth culture lifestyle is hinted at e.g
  Booze, Fags along with sexual language
• The feature article photo is the largest and most
  important thing on the cover, this is because it
  is the main selling point of the magazine and
  will attract the fans of a specific artist
• Relatively formal language is mixed with informal
  slang and phrases, adding to the feel of a formal
  yet youth based magazine. All of the major text
  is in capitals meaning that it is easier to read
  for the audience

5
Design

• How front covers are conceived and laid out

6
Graphic Feature represents word plus which is a
flash
Key signifier is partly obscured by the masthead,
this is because Liam is so well recognized
Direct mode of address introduces the other
musicians to the audience who are less well known
Indirect mode of address, makes him seem
mysterious
Text is the same colour as the key signifier
Distant and aloof image created with dark colours
Bottom third is taken up with text, the text
contrasts the background
7
House Style Design Notes

• COLOUR Three basic colours are often used to
  create a simple visual layout, these include
  Black, White, Red, Blue and Yellow. These colours
  seem to apply to most magazines and colours from
  images are often reflected in the design colours

8

• FONTS Around three or four fonts are used on a
  magazine front cover to keep design simple but
  effective, a more formal font is generally used
  on a more traditional magazine cover.
• STYLE In most music magazines, the content is
  aimed at a young audience so a somewhat informal
  feel is created, the photograph on the front
  cover often reflects the mood of the magazine or
  article about the key signifier. Mode of address
  varies between magazines and artist, some use
  direct, some inderict.

9

• USE OF SPACE Rule of thirds is used similarly
  in most magazines, my example from earlier uses
  them effectively by putting the eye line in the
  middle third and also displaying the other
  signifiers in the same position. The masthead is
  neatly in the top left corner and is Stamp
  style/ All the Space is used effectively and is
  filled with information but however does not
  confuse.
• CONCLUSION This example does challenge
  conventions because we cannot see Liams eyes and
  the mirror-glasses are used as an effective way
  of displaying other signifiers. In other ways it
  does adhere to convention as it has a standard
  layout and simple colour scheme.