Codes and Conventions of music magazines By Stuart

Codes and Conventions of music magazines By Stuart Hillier

Music Magazines A lot of music magazines are similar to each other. They use several codes and conventions on the front cover to make them attractive towards the target audience. I will be using 2 examples and showing the codes and conventions that are being used by these different magazines to help attract their target audience.

Example 1 The Masthead Located in the top left, because people read left to right Direct Gaze. The model is looking directly at the reader, which catches/draws their attention Model in the centre. This shows the audience who the magazine is featured on Main cover line The main cover line is situated at the top right hand corner of the magazine cover. It is partially covering the model on the front of the page, the main cover line links directly to the model in the centre of the magazine to help show the audience what this magazine is about Title is displayed in bold so people can see it from a distance High key lighting is used to make the image bright and illuminated Badge The badge is the circular shape that is promoting a different story not related to the cover All of the cover lines are located around the outside of the model in the centre. This shows people that she is the main focus of the front cover and not the cover lines

Example 2 The Masthead Located in the top left, because people read left to right Direct Gaze. The model is looking directly at the reader, which catches/draws their attention Model in the centre. This shows the audience who the magazine is featured on All of the cover lines are located around the outside of the model in the centre. This shows people that she is the main focus of the front cover and not the cover lines Badge The badge is the circular shape that is promoting a different story not related to the cover The main cover line is located at the bottom and the colour is alternating between red and white. The red matches the mast head and the red/white follows theme of the cover

Similarities As you can see in my 2 examples Q magazine use very similar techniques on all of their magazine to help attract the audience and make them interested in buying it so they can learn more. The masthead is always located in the top left, this is because people read left to right so it works naturally with the viewer. Both examples also made use badges to help promote another story that is featured inside the magazine for the viewers that are more interested in other topics and not the topic that is mainly being promoted by the cover of the magazine. The model is always located in the centre of the magazine and this is almost true for every magazine out there, it makes it clear who the magazine is about and with use of direct gaze it can catch the audiences attention when the magazine is just on the shelf.