Front Cover (Billboard)
Although Billoboard is a weekly American magazine, I still feel as if it is just the same as your usual ‘Q’ magazines, if not better. It’s often considered to be a purely pop music magazine, featuring the usual exclusive interviews with artists, music charts and un-forgetable stories.
Language
Instantly from the cover do I feel indulged into the magazine due to the radiances of the red and yellow tones. Although there is a lot of dark and black colours, the warm red and yellow tones over shine creating a fireside feel. This initial feel sends of a gentle and relaxing vibe which is invigorating to the mind, clearing it almost. This is exactly the first impressions you wish to receive from a front cover as if you intend to read it for the next hour or so, you need to feel as relaxed as possible.
One of Billboard’s most recent editions is by far one of it’s best. On the front cover features both American Idol finalists Kris Allen and Adam Lambert. The head-banner which is featured in the far background often changes in the course of edition numbers. For example, if the artists on the front cover featured a blue shirt, then blue tones would be added into the circular spaces in the Billboard text. It’s clear how this has been done in November’s edition as of course the red shirt has then caused a red coloured fill in some of the circular spaces in the text. In some sense it almost acts as an anchorage, linking the two separate sections of the magazine together, causing it to feel not as fragmented and more incorporated.
Splashed across the front of the cover is of course the image of the two artists. By using digital manipulation software, the two artists have been cut and removed from their original background and then implemented onto this tined grey and white background. You can clearly see how the image of the artists was never took of the two together. This is a common thing which is done within any magazine that is released. The two of the artists have been taken in a medium close up with them both looking directly towards the camera. This ensures that the magazine viewer feels more intimate and more engaged with the magazine cover, almost creating a connection. Their clothes have very specific colours which feel quite symbolic and have a lot of connotations. The scarlet red has very devilish connotations and the same with the jet black clothing on the other artist. This is reflecting the heated up emotions between the two as of course they're both competing for just one life changing opportunity.
It’s specifically noticeable with this magazine, that the conventions of a music magazine aren’t to have a music artist with a guitar or a musical instrument in their arm. It’s to caress the artists as we know them in different lights so we feel more of an urge to purchase the magazine. This is a really big point that I would like to highlight because, as I feel obliged to create a music magazine that fits into the market with all the other magazines, then why wouldn’t I follow the conventions?
At the bottom end of the front cover is of course the main headline. As it relates to the two artists, it almost hovers over the them, shadowing them. Being kept really simple, the font of the main headline feels fresh and revitalising. Sections of the background are much lighter then the rest which gives it different tones and depth. However, because the ‘A’, ‘N’ and ‘S’ of the headline haven’t managed to fit onto the dark shades of the artists, the background has almost corrupted them, making them not as visible. This is one of my only negative opinions of the cover as I feel that this could have been avoided and changed so easily.
Above the main headlines, the cover lines are in the exact same problem as sections of the headline. The background really has been a little too light for the font of the selling lines and has caused it too become not as visual. I can see that the creator of the cover has attempted to correct this problem with a drop and inner shadow but the problem still remains. I deeply understand that there isn’t a large drop shadow on the fonts as this would cause the text to feel too separated from the magazine, making it look tacky.
I feel as if the black cover lines above the white cover lines do the magazine much more justice. They feel more uplifted and more bold on the front cover, causing them to stand out more just like the masthead. If anything, the text which informs who is in the magazine should be in the jet black font to bring more attention to them. I feel as if the audience is going to be more attracted to the magazine seeing that ‘Jay Z’ is featured as to ‘iPhone lifting music sales.’
The yellow text at the bottom of the page, is a pre-sample of the story to come which has elaborated more off of the headline. This provides a deeper inside into the magazine for the reader so that they feel more of an urge to purchase the magazine. Below the headline, the textual information often feels quite gossip and persuasive so that the audience feel more curious about reading the rest of the story.
Following the usual conventions, the barcode is located towards the bottom, left-hand side of the page along with issue date, website and price. I can’t visually see any other place on the front cover where it would fit in without bleeding too much into the whole visual appearance of the artists or information.
Billboard magazine is now published by Billboard publications which clearly shows how successful the magazine has become. This really is such a big success for the magazine; it’s so largely distributed and produces hundreds of thousands of copies each week that it can afford to then create it’s own publication company. The independency of the whole publication gives off a really good vibe to the readers.
On top of everything, the publication get full rights to their magazine and full rights to all of their profits. I would love to create an establishment exactly like this as to joining the current one. I’ve never come across this in magazines and it really puts ‘Kerrang’ and ‘Q’ up to great shame.
Ideology
All of the images and stories that are produced, never feature dishonesty or un-kindness. They represent pop artists in all that they are in truthful light giving the readers a sense of dignity. The cover which I’m analysing at the moment gives off a very professional tone and attitude, making the whole magazine appear so much more mature to the rest which are currently on the market. Although it’s a pop music magazine, it’s quite different to what I’ve ever seen before and in a complete and utter good way!
Audience
Compared to usual pop music magazines, Billboard is more or less read by a variety of teens to adults between the ages 16-22 that are 'well' developed and have some intelligence. This now explains why the whole layout and approach of design is much more sophisticated in terms of textual language and visualisation. The magazine costs a mere £3.35 on a weekly basis; a price which isn’t too high for the reader, but then isn’t to low for the magazine company.
As the choice of music and style doesn’t focus on Britney Spears’s wardrobe malfunction, the magazine instantly opens up to a wider audience; more preferably males. As it isn’t your most expensive magazine, then I feel it is opened up for all Socio-economic groups having been in the middle.
Represenation
Stories that are featured on the cover aren’t at all scandalous giving off a really positive impression. The magazine only appear to be saying what is really there and going on in society, as too expanding what maybe or isn’t even there which often causes trouble and sadness. The image isn’t at all sexual which even furthers the respect for the magazine, especially on this issue. Both artists are commonly known for sexual presentation however on the Billboard magazine they’ve cooled it down; keeping it still a little sassy however not extremely provocative.
Contents Page
Language
After being really impressed with the front cover; sadly that sort of feeling has discontinued after seeing the contents page. It’s just everything you don’t look for in a contents page; too much writing and too much going on. In the top left hand corner is the Billboard logo which acts as an anchor to bring the to sections of the magazine together as one. However as it’s too small, it quite goes un-noticed; some people might miss it all together if they don’t look closely enough.
On the front page, the two main colours which have been used where yellow and red; both of which feature on the two artists shirts and within the Billboard head mast. However these colours haven’t stayed constant and continued within a ‘house theme’ onto the contents page as there is no red in sight to see. Instead it’s completely the opposite with a light, ocean blue colour, circulating the different elements of the page; acting as a border. I feel that this has separated the magazine into two sections, refraining from the two ever being part of the same magazine.
Stories of importance in the magazine have been expressed by images, text and numbers. Main stories that where featured on the front cover have been expressed with high importance by their images on the front cover. For example, Leona Lewis who was highlighted on the cover, has been allocated an image and page number at the top of the page under the contents text. Where as a story that wasn’t featured on the front cover goes un-noticed at the side with a load of annoying page numbers.
I’m shocked not see a larger section of the page allocated to the two artists which where basically the main story on the cover. The only thing that I can see at a glance is an image of one of the artists, quite small at the bottom and then some textual information in the text box only slightly above. For some strange reason, both music singles and album charts have been put on the contents page. As I know this wasn’t done by accident, I can only guess that they’ve been put there so it’s the first thing you see.
One of the good things about the contents page is how the font on the cover has stayed constant. Both are very similar to an ‘Arial’ style which is sleek, sexy and simplistic. By keeping this like this similar, the magazine doesn’t feel as hectic or as complicated.
Rather then having a tinted black and white background behind all the information like the front cover did, all you get is a complete white wash background which feels desolate and empty. Perhaps continuing the same style of background from the front cover onto the contents page would of brought the two together; making them feel more incorporated.
Insitution -
Ideology -
Audience
From the entire layout and style of the contents page, you can certainly see that this type of pop magazine isn’t aimed or targeted towards teenage youths or children. As there is too much textual information going on, you see straight away that it’s more focused towards a more intellectual audience. Besides, the main stories and headlines on the page aren’t what a 13 year old girl is looking for.
Represenation (written on front cover)
Double Page Spread
Initial thoughts about the double page spread where completely different to what they where with the contents page; as I’m sure anybody else’s would be too. The visual appearance of the spread doesn’t lack in anything and truly is beautifully appealing. The background is tinted black and white, just like the front cover however this time a little darker. Although the background is quite empty in the sense that there isn’t anything their besides the artist, it automatically feels full and cosy from the illusion that the colour black brings. If the magazine editor was to create the double page spread with a white background, then the whole article would feel empty; lacking a lot of things.
As the black and white tinted background is very familiar to the front cover’s background, I feel a connection between the two, bringing both aspects of the magazine together more. It’s the same circumstances with the red shoes, border and lettering style. As the cover also features many red elements, you can see how co-ordination has started to form between the two. All of this which I have just highlighted is only because a house style has been formed within the magazine. I feel like the house style is such a compulsory thing to include as it brings all the articles together within one magazine; making it feel like you’re reading just one magazine with several articles; not several magazines with one article each.
In the bottom left hand corner, the introduction paragraph is everything you would expect on a flawless double page spread. It features everything that needs to be included such as sarcasm, comparisons and extensive metaphors. I absolutely love the textual information as it really does reflect the sophistication of the magazine and how elegant it is. Although the title of the page isn’t created using any font that has been previously used in the magazine, it still feels part of the article due to the colour co-ordination. Both colours which feature on the text feature also on the front cover of the magazine. Intertextuality features within the short introduction, providing a pun on the artists new song. Whilst introducing Adam Lambert, he brought into conversation his latest song; catching a pun on a few of the lyrics
Insitution-
Insitution-
Ideology-
Audience
The entire layout of the double page spread is everything that one should be for the age range of 16 to 22. It oozes professionalism and is by far one of the most appealing magazines I have come across. The textual information isn’t too childish or too sophisticated for the magazines whilst the images aren’t to childish or restricted. Myself and many others feel entirely relaxed and are able to indulge into the article all thanks to the layout and style it has been presented. The text isn’t too small so that it’s unreadable or to large so it feels mock-able almost. It has the right balance of everything purposely for it’s audience and doesn’t at all cause offence. If anything it leads the reader longing to turn over the page to see what other eye amazing photos and stunning language there is.Represenation-
Front Cover & Contents Page (CosmoGirl)
Cosmo Girl is an extremely successful spin off of the world famously “Cosmopolitan” which was focused towards an older generation of female women. It’s an American magazine based in the heart of New York City, founded by Susan Schlulz and is produced worldwide, 10 times a year and selling at least 8 million copies a batch.
Although it isn't specifically a magazine that focuses towards pop music, it does feature the music genre quite often in it's editions. I decided to analyse the magazine as I wanted to dig deeper into something a little different that produces something more then just music. I find myself that I’m having to buy 3 to 4 different branded magazines a week to get all of the information and gossip that I require. However magazines such as Cosmo Girl could be the future as they specialise in a lot of areas. So instead of buying and spending too much money on 4 different magazines, you could soon be purchasing just one that contains everything. Top Of The Pops Magazine is exactly the same that has a similar sort of layout and nature.
Language
Being kept extremely simple, the font on the cover barely varies in colour, shape or size. Main stories and important features are demonstrated by a little larger then the rest, white font, all a little more catchier then the orange and yellow text. The text is sexy and sleek with a small drop shadow behind it to make it slightly jump of the page. It’s a very mere drop shadow, only slightly noticeable, so that that writing doesn’t become to separated from the cover.
Instantly from the cover I feel as if I am indulging in a magazine by the fireside. The radiance and warmth of the gentle scarlet background and light orange text soothes and eases the readers mind. I feel that these certain colours really do have connotations of a warm fire side. They send off such a simmering vibe making the reader feel relaxed, clearing their mind and making it easier and more pleasurable for them to read. They are contrasted with the gentle, radiant tan of the model “Blake Lively” giving the cover an overall flush feel. In other words there isn’t any dark, cold shades such as blue or green which would cause a somewhat clash on the front cover.
Taking centre stage, the model almost covers the entire face of the mag’ with a very intimate close-up leaving not much room for spaces. This instantly makes the cover feel complete as there isn’t any space left for other elements. It’s on the verge of being too jam packed which would make it appear quite unprofessional and tacky, however to me it is almost perfect. Leaving big spaces would make it appear completely empty and desolate, inferring that the inside of the magazine is empty with barely any storylines. But by having the text quite intimate and compact, I get the feeling that there is a variation and great deal of gossip.
A lot of magazine covers often have small images that almost act as bullet points. This really does over complicate the cover and makes it very fragmented. However on the face of “Cosmo Girl”, there are very few bullet points and the ones that are included are extremely simple. The arrows and plus sign could actually pass for Microsoft Office’s basic shapes, however the mere drop shadow gives them that professional and sleek appearance.
Across the top of the magazine cover is a deep black banner which reflects an important issue about jeans in an embedded orange and white font. This small aspect of the cover gives one issue main priority making it almost the most important publication in the mag’. The black could appear quite isolated and not even part of the magazine if there wasn’t any other black elements. But because the model’s top is a dark black/blue colour then the header feels much more associated with the cover.
The most important key element on the face of the magazine, which is actually one of my favourite aspects is the magazine name. I’ve never seen a name that has a contrast of two different fonts and colours. In a bold white, the “Cosmo” is very eye catching and sharp whilst the “girl!” is in a shimmering yellow in a curvy and gossip-like font. If they weren’t overlapping then the name would be quite fragmented and not become that signature logo that it is. In different editions of the mag, “girl!” constantly varies in colour so that it co-ordinates with the other colours of each theme. Above all each aspect of the cover is different but then also very similar so that it all feels very incorporated with the cover.
There seems to be a somewhat “house” theme through-out the “Comsogirl” magazine. All of the warm and subtle tones stay constant on every page which I feel brings the magazine together as a whole. It’s the same with each addition to be fair of the magazine; if the cover has a metallic theme then the metallic colours stay constant, and so on. It’s the exact same scenario also with the font and text all having a very similar look. Looking at some magazines, each different page has a completely different layout and it makes it feel to fragmented. Just rather browsing one magazine, it almost feels like your browsing several different.
As time moves on, so does they full layout of the magazine which is what makes it different and almost special. I’ve never seen to date a cover that is identical to a previous or later one. As their layout is almost un-defined, then it swiftly rejuvenates making each magazine different to the last. Ways and means of teenagers are constantly changing and for Cosmogirl to continue appealing to them then it has to evolve other time, just like the readers.
Audience
From the type of gossip on the front cover of the magazine, I’m gathering that the audience is for teens aged 15-19 years. It appears to childish for adults and too grown up for early teens which is why I go this impression. The majority of teenage males wouldn’t want to know which “jeans” would suit them nor would they want to know what Blake Lively’s secret addiction is. This sort of cover definitely infers that it’s for teenage girls, like “cosmo girls” wasn’t enough though. Although the colours come across as quite feminine, I definitely think they could be used, as well as the layout for a college magazine.
On this type of cover it’s what is in the font that makes it a girls magazine, not what’s on it. A girl that reads this sort of magazine is the sort of girl that lavishes all of the pop posters of hunky men from the magazine all over he wall as she dances on her bed to The Wanted. In the process of growing but then still indulging in her youth.
From the type of gossip on the front cover of the magazine, I’m gathering that the audience is for teens aged 15-19 years. It appears to childish for adults and too grown up for early teens which is why I go this impression. The majority of teenage males wouldn’t want to know which “jeans” would suit them nor would they want to know what Blake Lively’s secret addiction is. This sort of cover definitely infers that it’s for teenage girls, like “cosmo girls” wasn’t enough though. Although the colours come across as quite feminine, I definitely think they could be used, as well as the layout for a college magazine.
On this type of cover it’s what is in the font that makes it a girls magazine, not what’s on it. A girl that reads this sort of magazine is the sort of girl that lavishes all of the pop posters of hunky men from the magazine all over he wall as she dances on her bed to The Wanted. In the process of growing but then still indulging in her youth.
No comments:
Post a Comment