GENERAL CONVENTIONS OFMAGAZINE ADVERTISEMENTS FOR UPCOMING ALBUMSBy Katie Hughes

LABELLED EXAMPLE 1 –LANA DEL REY – BORN TO DIE

Artist NameIconic imagery featuring artist.

Album Name

Release Date

External promotional web links

Mention of promotional, pre-released tracks

Record label

HOUSE STYLE

TYPOGRAPHICTwo distinct stylised fonts- one block, bold capitals (dominating) the other is more fragile and delicate reflecting upon the nature of Lana Del Rey’s music.

COLOUR

These colours were deliberately chosen to assist the overall conveyed image, inducing washed out feelings of boldness and stability reflecting upon the indie scene.

LABELLED EXAMPLE 2 -Artist Name

Iconic, associated imagery

Album Name

Release Date

Mention of promotional, pre-released tracks

Review from well-known external music company

Discreet promotion of up-coming tour

HOUSE STYLE

TYPOGRAPHICA similar style consisted throughout the media product, basic clear font, alters in size and colour denoting importance.

COLOUR

These colours were deliberately chosen to assist the overall conveyed image, creating indication of boldness and strength, reflected in the nature of Mallory Knox’s music.

Examples for this presentation

Artist Name

Usually one of the most dominating aspects of this particular media product – essential for recognition from the audience so they know exactly who is being advertised if unfamiliar with the iconic imagery representing the artist.

To achieve this dominating outlook, certain stylistic features are applied to maximise effect. These potentially include; use of a more contrasting/ stand out colour, a larger font size, or a more bold font style.

Album Name

Also constructed in highly noticeable, clear font as this is also very important information supplied by the product.

This is achieved through use of the same effects previously mentioned toned down to make this the second most dominating element of typographic content. S

tylisation of this component will follow the products consisted house style, which in this sense resolves around typographic style, manipulation and variation. For the album name, this is generally determined by the nature of the backgrounds iconic imagery and the chosen font style for the more noticeable artist name.

Iconic Imagery

Usually taken from the album artwork for that particular album advertised drawing a direct link between product and promotional material enabling easy recognition for the audience/ target audience.

This also improves the aesthetic of the product, inducing a strong sense of professionalism and visual strength achieved through extending the album cover creating what could be described as a range of products. This is necessary to ensure a clear connection can be obtained by the audience drawing them directly to the exact product advertised.

Release Date

An essential feature of promotional album advertisements for albums with upcoming release, the release date is usually located in the lower region almost captioning the image. This typographic component must be dominating as it is important information. This is achieved through use of spatial districts and stylistic choices.

The majority of examples I have chosen for this presentation were subjected for newly released albums as opposed to upcoming albums so therefore this feature is not relevant.

Mention of Featured Tracks

As a selling technique, often there will be mention of successful pre-released material which will feature on the album. This gives the viewer the impression the whole album will follow through with a similar trend, likely suited to their likes and interests. This strengthens their inferred ideas and assumptions surrounding the product.

Aesthetically this writing will be less dominating than previously discussed type, with the actual songs being exaggerated in some way to make these stand out upon initial glance.

External/ Promotional web links

These generally feature in small on the bottom of the product, subtly promoting more of their media on a different platform. This potentially causes their target audience to redirect their focus from this printed source to digital media forms and consume more media this way. This improves their desired popularly and publicity. The inclusion of this typographic content will follow the set house style, strengthening the visual qualities of the product as a whole.

Reviews from External Companies

This is less conventional, yet frequently seen as a selling factor, displaying opinions given by well known institutions capable of controlling the success of media to an extent. The inclusion of positive feedback here generates the idea that the product is of high quality and worth your time and money, persuading the target audience to purchase and consume this particular product.

Various Media Form

This is frequently mentioned enlightening the audience of the potential products subject to consumption offered by the institution. This includes products such as CD, Vinyl, Download and any limited edition features, enabling greater diversity and choice, further satisfying their needs. This is displayed in less dominating typography achieved through using less contrasting colour/ tone and a smaller size, yet still following the set house style for aesthetic purpose.

Production Credentials

The inclusion of logos representing those companies responsible for the success of the product are displayed in small at the bottom, providing ownership and credit for their hard work . This association between artist and company helps promote one another through synergy, strengthening their success through this mutual connection.

House Style

House style is a term used to represent themes and correlations spread across media products. This includes typographic components, editorial techniques, colour schemes and general interpretation of the product; these are controlled to create a flowing graphic outcome.

Every successful media product will have a developed, set house style limiting the stylistic attributes to a constrictive theme, strengthening the overall aesthetic when these components are combined.

This house style will be dependent upon the visual correlations of the albums imagery setting a specific trend in aesthetic. This generally reflects upon the nature of music produced by the artist.

Convergence

The Convergence of all these conventional aspects will result in a successful, professional standard outcome to derive, effectively promoting the product to the target audience. This is achieved through developed knowledge of elemental success built over time.