The document analyzes two music magazine covers from the magazine Vibe. [1] The first cover features Lil Wayne. Its bold colors, large images, and cramped text create an aggressive style befitting hip hop. Lil Wayne's tattoos, outfit, and body language project masculinity and power. [2] The second cover features Trey Songz. Its classy organization focuses attention on Trey Songz' powerful gaze. Both covers employ eye-catching colors and prominent artists to attract audiences. Overall, the analysis shows how magazine design reflects the represented music genres.

1. Analysing Music
Magazines: Front Covers
By Marwa Saroya

2. This is the first
type of music
magazine cover I
am going to
analyse.

3. MASTHEAD & STRAPLINE The image and text is layered
giving more depth and feel to
The strapline advertises the Shows what the
the page and helps it stand
magazine by mentioning its out more magazine is
success specifically based
on and
immediately
identifies the
target audience
It’s a pug
The Masthead has a
clear font in bright red
which stands out as the
size and layout is big Date to show
enough to be read from The masthead how recent
a distance also it will appears behind the the issue is
The title of the magazine is image this makes
stand out on a shelf
‘Rhythm’ which shows a the image look
link to the genre of the more powerful.
magazine; the magazine is
a drumming magazine and
drums are the main source
of the rhythm of the music.

4. MAIN COVER LINE & COVER LINES
• The cover lines are made to • The fonts used for the
look messy as it represents cover lines are either
the magazine genre which is • Barcode
drumming therefore it • Name mentioned of the
makes it look crazy and artist on the front cover.
really full of stuff The font is really clear
• Conventions of this is that and just like the
more than one image is masthead its in capitals
used –the other small also in white so that it
images look like snapshots can stand out from the
added to the cover dark background.
• The cover lines on the left • The banners are used to
of the of the cover are help standout the main
purposely put there so that attractive parts of the
it will attract attention of magazine where it
the customers when its on involves the audience.
the shelf as it mentions • ‘THE BEST NEW GEAR’ –
‘Learn to play…Plus full and the list below it;
notation’ which will excite show the list of the
the readers who are into perfect drumming gear.
learning more of music and
drums and how to play the
music.

5. LANGUAGE & WRITTEN CODES The language helps grab the attention
of the audiences, such as naming it the
‘UK’S best selling’ would attract
attention of those who are interested
and its obvious the audience would
want something that is well-known
and worth paying for.
The phrase ‘Behind the
mask of’ has a double
meaning. The term is
commonly used to see the
‘truth’ about a subject
however in this case it could
also refer to the masks that
The word ‘Learn’ are used on stage by the
invites the audience band. This alternative
to learn something meaning would be
new and be part of recognised by ‘those who
The magazine mentions the name of know’.
the person on the front cover- Joey the music
Jordison which is purposely done to physically. ‘EXCLUSIVE’ is a powerful word
attract the attention of the audience as it attracts attention by
as he is well known in the rock, mentioning what the magazine
drum side of the music industry. has to offer.

6. COLOURS
• The main colours Red, black and white are like
a running theme of colours for the front
cover
• They personify the genre of the magazine
also match up with the appearance of Joey
Jordison who is on the front cover
• These bold colours are used to make the
cover lines and masthead stand out from the
dark cloudy background
• The colours are specifically used as it shows
manly colours which mean it’s a male
dominated magazine
• The dark red for the ‘Rhythm’ could represent
gooey blood and a spooky side of the genre
• The use of yellow on ‘Kings of Leon’ stands
out from the other writing as it’s a brighter
colour how ever more lighter

7. IMAGES
• The drum sticks show
the targeted audience
who are into drum
magazines it
symbolises the genre
of the
• The eye contact with
the audience is really • The smaller image shows the
powerful as it is the rock band Kings of Leon
first thing that also
performing which relates to
catches our attention the genre of the magazine
• The way Joey Jordison
is dressed connects to
the theme of the
magazine
• The composition and • The body language of
framing is a long shot and Joey shows aggression
the image has been and seriousness
digitally manipulated

8. Design
The design of the magazine shows a typical structure of a drum
based or rock magazine as the front cover is full of writing and has
more than one image which adds to the structure to make it look
scattered also the colour of the fonts used for the text play a big
role as they are the main thing that makes it look rock/drum based
as they are dark and bright colours however they stand out and
attract the audiences attention.
The smaller images are as if they’re stuck on just to fill up the page
however make the magazine look more part of the genre also the
main image itself is really powerful because of the eye contact with
the audience and the long shot fits in the persons image perfectly .
Overall impression
The overall impression I've got after analysing this particular magazine cover is that it has
developed my personal understanding of music magazines itself and helped me realise
there are particular colours and the look or structure of a magazine would depend on the
genre of the magazine therefore if I was to analyse another magazine which is based on
drums/rock music I will most likely come across these colours such as black and white or
even red also there will be more than one image.

9. This is the second
type of music
magazine covers I
am going to
analyse.

10. MASTHEAD & STRAPLINE
• The Vibe magazine have a specific way of having
their Masthead for familiarity and its their identity
• The image and text is layered giving more depth
and feel to the page and helps it stand out more
• The definition of VIBE is "Atmosphere, ambience“
• The word Vibe is more Urban therefore it tells us
that there will be more about music in the
magazine.
• The masthead suggests that inside you’ll find out
more about the music side.
• Also the image covers up the ‘B’ of the magazines
name which makes it unclear however it wouldn’t
matter as its obvious and people who already
know the magazine wouldn’t actually effect them
• The letter ‘V’ seems to be italics and tilts slightly

11. MAIN COVER LINE & COVER LINES • The pink font connects with the
• The names are colour of the hoody Lil Wayne is
• The clearly wearing
website mentioned of
advertises the artists on
and allows the front cover
for extra
to again attract
content
online the readers
attention
• The extra stories
Barcode may not be
related with the
music genre
however may Barcode
attract the
targeted
• The main headline is audience
• The less • Also the cover lines are
connected whose on the
important cramped up on the sides to
front cover of the magazine
information is in make sure they do not cover up
which would draw more
smaller writing the main image fully
attention of the audience and
make them want to read the
cover story

12. LANGUAGE & WRITTEN CODES
• This helps interest the audience
who may want to read other
related stories of people they
• Shows a positive and negative side to fame recognise.
and being part of the music industry.
• This main cover
line relates to Lil
Wayne and
interests the
audience of
• Mentioning Trey’s name and his presence things we
on R&B music wouldn’t know
about him and
of his personal
life.
• ‘The curious case of Buju
Banton’ ;Play on words • The word ‘passion’ suggests
the love for music

13. COLOURS
• The colours used on the cover of the magazine
represent an RnB type of genre as you would
class RnB to be more darker colours which
would be the house style.
• The red used for the masthead helps it stand out
from the dark background as it catches the
audiences attention really quickly also it’s a
really bold colour therefore it match's up to the
boldness of Trey Songz on the front cover
• The white is also used for the text as it clearer to
read
• The colours on the magazine all together show
that it’s a male dominated magazine where the
colours are bold and dark which makes it more
manly

14. COLOURS
• The colours used for the front cover are mainly
pink, black and white
• The pink causes contrast between Lil Wayne’s
hood and his name on the front cover
• It helps it look more unique as you are less
likely to find such a colour on a male
dominated magazine also it helps stand out
from the white background because of its
brightness
• The background is kept white therefore its
simple and plain so that the image would stand
out mainly and the cover lines
• The black for the masthead shows a
stereotypical house style for a male dominated
magazine as it gives seriousness but also stands
out

15. The word ‘RAPE’ on his belt creates strong
IMAGES effect, because it is in upper case. Here it The image of Lil Wayne
shows power of the male gender over women. are specifically used as
Furthermore it again reflects on his careless it would attract the
attitude, of what people think of him.
audience as he is a well-
The mass known artist.
amount
of tattoos His mouth is open
and his eyes are
imply on looking down on
the genre the reader giving
of R&B. the higher status
look and making
The smaller images of Justin and T.I
the reader feel carry on showing that it is a male
uncomfortable. dominated magazine also it helps
The colour of The gold chain attract and interest the audience as
his jacket is around his neck they both are famous and well known
pink, which gives a more people.
creates an gangster image.
impact of ‘Lil
The outfit that he is wearing reflect on the image
Wayne’ being
that ‘Lil Wayne’ is trying to portray. The ‘bling’
masculine
The main image of ‘Lil that he is wearing represents a very repulsive,
with his pose
Wayne’ creates an effect of aggressive and pimp like image.
to the
a careless, powerful,
audience of a moody and serious attitude The fact that the tattoos are on show with the jacket zip
very serious to the reader. This image is undone creates impact that ‘Lil Wayne’ is not ashamed of
gesture, but more likely to attract the what people’s opinions are of him and of his body, and that
can also be male target audience as it he wants everyone to know that he is above all the rest, by
said that he is shows how males act and
comfortable consider themselves to be
looking at his facial expression.
with his the one with all the power
masculinity. and high authority over
women.

16. IMAGES The mass
amount of
tattoos on Treys
body also imply
on the genre of
R&B.
The cover of This image is a medium
the magazine
close-up showing only
may appeal to
girls and head, shoulders and
attract their upper chest placed in The smaller image
attention more the middle of the page. of Young Jeezy
as Trey Songs The eye contact is really shows the next issue
has got his top strong and powerful as it of the Vibe
off magazine which the
is directed at the
audience also his body audience should
language is strong as he look out for also this
is facing the camera. helps advertise it
Also it helps cram
His body seems to be oiled and shiny up the extra space
which is done on purpose to give sex on the front of the
appeal and as Trey Songz usually cover
appears to be like that normally it
brings out his personality

17. Design
Both the designs of the Vibe magazines are similar as the style and angle
of the picture taken is exactly the same as it is a mid long shot also the
use of bold bright colours to attract audiences is similar as they help
make the cover lines and mast head stand out. Also the eye contact and
body language is really strong as it grabs the audiences attention.
The magazine is classy as its organised and structured in a certain
way, it only has one main image which the focus is fully on and shows
the main artist on the cover who should be already well known.
Also the colours do conform to the colours you would
Usually see in a music magazine mainly these are black and
white however it also depends on the background and which
will stand out.
Overall impression
After analysing two of the Vibe magazine covers it
shows me that magazines do have a signature design or
particular way of structuring their magazine to either
make it look more wild or classy depending on the
genre of the music and what represents it more.