Detailed Analysis of Music Magazine

Typography

The font styles used throughout this page is sans serif. Using a sans serif font connotes that the

magazine is modern and gives off a relaxed feeling. The masthead is positioned to be bigger than the

rest of the font so it’s easy for the audience to determine what the magazine they’re reading is

called. The font and colours used within it also draw attention to it, so that it’s the first thing you

look at. They also used the cover story ‘Beyoncé’ in a larger style font so it’s clear that that is the

main cover story and exclusive interview for that issue. Under ‘Beyoncé’ there is a pull quote written

in bold black font ‘I want to be an icon’ which gives a snippet about what the main, cover story is

about. A majority of the text is placed along the left third of the magazine – this is an effective

technique used by publishers so readers can determine the coverlines and other articles published

within the magazine. It is also an effective use of layout as magazines tend to overlap on the shelves

– by placing them on the left third, it allows the stories to be displayed.

Layout

The layout of this magazine is very ordered and very basic. This connotes that the magazine is aimed

at an older target audience and young, pre-teen magazines tend to be very cluttered with lots of

celebrities. By having an ordered layout it also signifies that the magazine is sophisticated and

targeted towards older people. This magazine also uses lots of different techniques to reach out to

its audience and make it a conventional magazine cover. The magazine uses both the ‘route of the

eye’ and part of the rules of thirds. The route of the eye is an effective layout technique as it put’s

items in order the path that our eye takes when we look at things. The first thing you see is the

masthead, ‘Billboard’, which is distinctively placed at the top of the page in the primary optical area.

It is very conventional to have the masthead placed at the top of the page as it makes the title of the

magazine easy to determine. The eyes then follow a path straight through the middle of the page

where the cover story is placed ‘Beyoncé’ along with the pull quote ‘I want to be an icon’ which is

supposed to entice the readers to look at the main cover story. The magazine also uses the left/rule

of thirds to order the magazine. All of the coverlines are placed alongside the left third which, as I

have mentioned before, is an effective technique when the magazines are placed on the shelves.

They have placed some of the items on the ‘hotspots’ (cover story, Beyoncé herself and the cover

story about Beyoncé) which are the places our eyes tend to stop and look at.

Colour

The mid-shot of Beyoncé used as the main image on the cover and is coloured black and white. Black

and white connotes sophistication and that the magazine could be quite informative, a bit like a

newspaper. However, they also use elements of colour to make the magazine appeal to the younger

part of their niche audience as it makes it appear more fun and cheerful. A majority of the masthead

is coloured black which makes it clear and stand out from the image of the magazine and also

connotes that it has a classic and contemporary feel. This is also contrasted with pops of colour

within the masthead – the hints of colour connote that the magazine is up-to-date and is quite

conversant with the current news and music trends. Using colour also helps attract the magazines

target audience. The cover story, ‘Beyoncé’ is coloured white which contrasts with the duller colours

in the background. The main image is of a well-known celebrity who has a good reputation from

others and toward her fans. The colour white signifies purity which colour also be reflected from

Beyoncé’s persona. Finally, all of the coverlines are coloured red which contrasts with the rest of the

magazine. The colour red draws attention and when used can immediately focus your attention on a

particular part of the magazine. The use of red also connotes energy and excitement so helps appeal

to the younger target audience this magazine has.

Images inc. Mise-en-scène

There is one central, main image on the magazine of ‘Beyoncé’ taken from a medium close-up. The

use of a medium close-up displays Beyoncé facial expression and body language. Taking a photo

from a medium close up can also show their significance and their importance. Using a medium

close up of Beyoncé as the main image could help attract to those who like Beyoncé etc. However,

this magazine cover is quite unconventional as it only has one image on it whereas typically there

would be quite a few to make it more interesting and appeal to a wider range of people.

Nevertheless, having just one image on the front cover makes it appeal to the smaller niche

audience this magazine is aiming for.

Lighting – This image is taken with high-key lighting. By using high-key lighting and setting the

colours to darker, black and white colours allows the image to define Beyoncé’s beauty. This may

attract more people to pick up the magazine as the people who read this magazine may have

Beyoncé as a role model and want to read the stories within.

Editing – There is not too much editing within this main image. The photograph has probably been

through several layers of Photoshop beforehand, however, only the tone and contrast have been

edited on this main image.

Setting – The setting of this photograph is not displayed through the imagery as we see just a black

background with Beyoncé placed in front of it. This connotes that the magazine wants all attention

to be focused on her and her interview within the magazine.

Costume – In this image it isn’t clear what Beyoncé is wearing as the image is taken from a medium-

close-up. Despite this, we can see that she’s wearing some sort of black mess dress with some

jewellery around her wrist which signifies she is quite classy and quite elegant. This may appeal to

others who fall into that category or who are inspired by the way Beyoncé dresses as there may be

some more photos of her inside the magazine.

Language

The language used on this magazine cover clearly portrays this as a music magazine. It is all written

in formal English which connotes that this magazine is aimed at older people and is quite

sophisticated. They use pull quotes from Beyoncé’s interview to intrigue the readers and make them

want to buy the magazine.

Conventions

This magazine cover is very conventional. It follows the typical form of a magazine including route of

the eye and the rule of thirds and conventional features like placing the masthead at the top and

using the left third for placing the coverlines on. It is also conventional to have the main image of a

famous celebrity so that the magazines can use celebrity endorsement to help sell their magazines.

Contents Page

Typography

The typography on the contents page has a mixture of both serif and sans serif fonts. Having a

mixture of fonts opens up the gap wider for a target audience. Serif font is seen as a more feminine

style font and appeals more to women as opposed to men. However, this is balanced out with the

sans serif fonts which are seen as a more masculine font. Appealing to both male and female

readers. The size of the font is a lot smaller on the contents page to allow more information to be

printed on the page making the magazine more informative and an interesting read. Billboard

specifically choose to list the top albums and songs of different genres on the left of the third page.

Layout

The layout on the contents page is fairly ordered. It shows what’s in the charts and what page each

song/album information is on. It also uses the rule of thirds as the contents is almost split into three

different sections. Splitting the information up across the page allows the magazine to be more

accessible so that people can navigate their way through the magazine. The main articles are shown

under their own individual headings to make them easily portrayed as a significant part of that issue.

You could also say that the layout on the contents page follow follows the route of the eye. Along

the primary optical area you see images of famous celebrities featured in this issue, you then see the

main stories placed in the centre of the page. Finally when you reach the terminal area, you see the

online and exclusive events section which inform people of what’s currently going on.

Colour

The range of colours on the contents page are quite masculine which will appeal to the male target

audience. The colours are also quite plain and neutral which connotes the style of magazine is quite

laidback and relaxed.

Images

The images on the contents page shows that it’s aimed at a broader target audience as they use a

mixture of celebrities including both male and female. The first image looks like an album cover

which is conventional for a music magazine as they may be informing the readers of a new

release/upcoming band that is coming out soon. The second and third images along the top of the

page show some more famous artists that feature within the magazine. This may appeal to the

target audience as they like the artists and/or are interested in interviews they may have within the

magazine. The last image on the page shows a female celebrity, taken from a long-shot. The long

shot displays her relaxed and casual body language and the fact that she is smiling and reflects the

personality of the magazine.

Language

The language on the contents page is quite colloquial as the word Brooklyn is abbreviated to ‘BKLYN

ROCKS’. This shows that the language is quite informal and appeals to the younger target audience.

It is also quite short and snappy making it quick and easy to read.

Conventions

The contents page is very conventional with extra features added in also. For a magazine to have a

contents page is very typical as it helps the reader to navigate their way through the issue and pick

out something if they specifically want to read something in particular. It has the different sections

highlighted and put under headings to make it even easier to find what you’re looking for.

Double Page Spread

Typography

The typography of the double page spread is written in a serif style font. This is because serif font is

said to be easier to read than sans serif font is when reading a big chunk of text. The typography is

also very conventional for a magazine. It contains a standfirst which is sized bigger than everything

else, this is because it acts as a ‘pull quote’ hinting more information about what the article is about

and to intrigue people to read the entire article. Midway through the article there is also a ‘kicker’. A

kicker is a conventional way to start off an article, it also makes the text look a bit more unique and

interesting as well as drawing attention to itself.

Layout

The layout of the double page spread is very basic, yet typical for a music style magazine. The left

page contains all of the text and the information about the interview or whatever it may be that’s

written about the artist. Then the right hand page contains a full page, flattering photo of the

artist/celebrity. The text is set into vertical columns to make full use of the page and break up the

text. It also makes the text look less overwhelming when people want to read quickly.

Colour

The colour on this make comes from the image. Because the block of text is quite a vast chunk, the

full page photo makes the magazine look a bit more balanced. The photo is taken in high key lighting

making it appear a lot more bright and fun, also reflecting Katy Perry’s persona.

Images

The images on this magazine double page spread is a full page photo of Katy Perry. She is wearing

tight fitting and very revealing clothes which shows of her body language and makes her look

attractive and sensual.

Language

The language used in the article is quite colloquial and aimed at a younger target audience. The fact

that Katy Perry says ‘I took mushrooms at a daft punk show’ shows that she was a bit irresponsible

and careless, like the stereotypical teenager. This will help reach out to the teenage gap in the niche

target audience Billboard has.

Conventions

This double page spread is very typical for an interview style article. It shows all the story and

information on the left hand page. Whereas on the right hand page we see a full scale, full page

photo of the celebrity looking quite attractive. This is because if it’s setup like this, it is easier to

determine what or who the article is all about.