2. A list of the biggest names in Hip-Hop is placed at the top of the page, on top of the
masthead which makes it one of the first things we see (we tend to look at the top and
work our way down the page) consequently noticing important artists will lead us to read
the magazine as we expect it to be associated
Some of the magazine title is with these stars.
covered showing that the
magazine is well known as Naming the featured artist
not all of its name has to be that is on the front cover is a
shown in order to be typical music magazine
recognised. convention as this gives us
We’re drawn to the word just about enough
‘exclusive’ because it is information for us to want to
presented in a bright read the featured article.
yellow box which makes us
presume it is important
even though the colour
scheme is yellow, black and
white, this particular word
is in a yellow box rather
than yellow font.
There’s no real colour
The magazine website is scheme throughout the
shown in order to provide issues of Vibe magazine,
users with an alternative to every issue has a different
reading the magazine. The colour scheme, this can be a
barcode is a convention of negative thing as the
any magazine. magazine doesn’t create a
The featured artist is also in the black and white colour scheme, memorable factor for itself.
wearing a snapback hat which promotes Hip-Hop culture (Vibe
magazines specialist genre). The word ‘unstoppable’ is in capitals as
this encourages the young audience to become who they want to be.
3. Once again the title of the magazine A few key words highlighting the
isn’t on full show as it is one of the stories that will feature inside,
most known in the music industry. this story is about ‘global
warming’ and will attract a more
mature audience rather than the
The relaxed pose of the young/teen audience that the
band reflects on the music section of the magazine
magazine which has a laid attracts giving the Rolling Stone
back approach, focusing magazine a versatile audience
on a range of subjects and meaning more sales.
genres.
These are the cover
lines which briefly The featured bands name is the
introduce other largest text on the front page
stories featured in the (except the title) in order to make
magazine. it stand out as intentionally
magazines sell because of the
Date and issue interest in the featured artists.
number, in extremely
small font to show Alliteration is also used in
that it isn’t the most ‘God! Girls! Guitars!’ as a
important aspect of persuasive technique that
the front cover. will make people buy the
The image is very cleverly issue.
produced, It is giving a The barcode is at the
monochromatic effect bottom of the page like
without the use of a black any other music
and white image (by Alike to the Vibe magazine, Rolling Stone also
doesn’t have a permanent colour scheme, this issue magazine.
dressing models in b&w
clothes) To show the uses the colours red, white and black.
magazine is simplistic.
4. The word ‘guide’ gives the
reader a vision of support
from the magazine and
Unlike the other examples, therefore persuades them to
Q (rock magazine) has the purchase it. Claims like this
same colour scheme one help the reader form a
throughout their issues (red bond with the stories in the
and white) this shows magazine.
consistency which is what
consumers believe to be Another unique factor about
important. Furthermore the Q magazine is its use of
fact that the logo is red images, in the previous
makes it memorable for us examples the front covers
as red connotes danger consisted of one, main image
(linking to stereotype of rock whereas Q features a main
genre) and therefore makes image and two additional
the magazine recognisable. pictures. I believe this has
been done in order to
publicise the magazine and
The words ‘most, exclusive, give readers an insight of
ever’ are persuasive as they what to expect inside.
make the story inside sound This is the stereotypical view
very interesting and a must of rock culture therefore
read. people would want to find
out more about it.
The name of the featured
group is in block capitals to
attract attention and show
that the double page spread
will revolve around them.
5. This provides us with
background information
The Q contents page about the magazine also in a
resembles the front cover as way shows popularity and
they both have a colour reputation of the magazine
scheme of red and white, as it claims to have
they also use the same font. published many issues.
The features column is Large images used to create
placed on the left side of the a ‘full’ page also to show
page as this is the direction other articles in the
we first look at (because we magazine.
read from left right) the
editors have done this to
ensure that we notice the
main stories in the magazine
first. Furthermore, a picture
of the Beatles at the top of
The font is clear and easy to
the column also creates a
read, the sub headings are
positive image of the
in capitals in order to be
magazine as the band were
recognised as an important
extremely popular.
source of information.
6. The colour scheme of this contents page is grey, washed out white and black
This informs us of how
(manly colours) The R&B star, Kanye West is dominating this picture, with a
many parts the contents
females hand holding on to him,. This indicates a male cantered fan base for Vibe
page has. In this case there’s
magazine.
three, meaning the
magazine can afford to print
a dominating , over
powering, large image in the
middle as there’s additional
space for writing in the next
two pages.
There is a variety of font used for
different parts of the text: the
masthead is in bold, regular font, the
sub headings are in a ‘handwriting’
font and the contents info is in smaller,
As identified, the layout and old typed font, each of these are in
design of ‘Vibe’s’ contents different fonts to show variation
page is the same in every within the magazine.
issue:
• V silhouette behind the
artist to remind us of The magazine has a section on
the magazine name. fashion showing diversity of topics
• Slim column of contents within it.
with headings to give
information
• Only one main image The reason the contents page uses this layout is to
• The break up of the give a fresh and urban feel (in order to attract the
word ‘contents’ young r&b target audience). The fact that the
layout is the same throughout shows a valuable
characteristic of a magazine – consistency.
7. The word contents
A picture of the front remind the reader what
cover accompanied by the page’s purpose is.
the editors message Underneath it a
makes the reader feel traditional convention of
involved as it seems that the Kerrang magazine, a
the editor is quote by a rock artist.
communicating with the This can be seen as
consumer. inspirational to the
reader.
The most important
stories of the week have A short, brief list of
been summarised into what’s inside this
pictures, this helps the magazine (pages in
reader visually order with no sub
understand what the headings). The heading
magazine has to offer, In of ‘this week’ makes the
addition the top picture reader feel up to date in
of the man looking the music world as the
down makes us focus magazine is published
on what he’s looking at weekly and therefore
(the other images below had lots of new
him) and therefore make information in every
The layout is rather ‘scattered’ in a sense of a lot of images
the reader notice the issue.
and writing in one page, this would attract rock music fans
other images on the
as the rock genre is known to be quite a complicated and
page.
strange one.
8. A play on the word ‘here’ the editors are
trying to emphasise the fact that Rihanna
changes her hairstyles frequently therefore
The title of the double write ‘hair today gone tomorrow’ rather
page spread is the name than ‘here’ this also creates humour.
of Rihanna’s (the artist)
New song this is a way There are a sum of six
of publicising the new images used in this
single. Moreover contents page, four of
Rihanna’s name which relate to the text
accompanied by ‘Drake’ above it (the text refers to
makes the article appeal Rihanna’s hairstyle and the
to their target audience pictures are of Rihanna
as the two are the with different hair styles);
biggest names in R&B. the main image of the
double page spread, a close
Starting an article with a up shot of the R&B star
large first letter has (relates to pop/R&B
become a magazine audience of Vibe
convention this is done magazine). The last image
for aesthetic purposes. is at the bottom of the
person whom the article
was written by, this allows
There is little writing however this is covered up by the reader to connect with
the busy background of pictures and short points. I The fact that a photo of the people that put the
believe that this is done in order to please the target Rihanna is spread magazine together.
audience (young adults) as they do not tend to read between the two pages
a lot and may be put off when witnessing a large shows that she’s the
amount of writing. main focus of the article.
9. The font and use of black indicates a rock genre. The headline is a
The plain, pale pull quote which is unusual in a double page spread on the other
coloured background handy this is a clever technique as it foreshadows what the
makes the image and interview will reveal about the artist making the consumer want to
writing stand out as read.
they are the main Even though Lilly Allen
features of the pages. is known for being a
pop artist the Kerrang
magazine have
Unlike the other transformed her
double page spreads appearance in order to
this one only includes fit the target audience
one picture, this may expectations. She is
relate to the title wearing dark makeup
which claims she’s not and a red shirt all
an attention seeker which can be related
however there’s only to rock/indie style
one picture proving (Kerrang’s genre).
that the attention is
on Lilly Allen.
As most of the double page spreads I researched The image totally contradicts the pull quote as it is
this one is in interview format, this is the easiest showing a confident, dominant and striking Allen
and most engaging type of article. whereas she claims that she isn’t attention seeking,
this is hard to believe as in the photo she is leaning
forward which indicates she want to be
acknowledged.
10. The typical convention of more than one image is used. Even
though the pictures are the same on the subject of costume; hair;
makeup they give a great effect of making the page look stylish and
even creates a moving image as the interviewee (Solange Knowles)
is displaying different poses in each image.
The name of the artist
is highlighted blue to
show importance as
the article is about her.
This headline states
that Solange has
topped her sister
(Beyonce) in album
sales which is shocking
as Beyonce is one of
the best selling R&B
artists, this persuades
us to read the
interview in order to
familiarise ourselves
with this new artist.
The main image is a long shot, the
significance of this is that the article
The layout is not one of a typical magazine interview, it resembles
is about getting to know this new
more of a newspaper style article, just columns of writing with no
talent, a full view of her will allow us
pull quotes. This does make the page look neat and not over
to do so. Furthermore she is wearing
powering which follows up from Vibe magazines relaxed approach
a red dress which stands out as the
and design.
other pictures are monochromatic.