Second analysis of Music Magazine Cover.

Second analysis of Music Magazine Cover.

This is going to be the second of three music magazine covers that I am going to analyse as part of my music magazine re-search, this will help me in the step by step process in producing my own music magazine cover. The three music magazine covers that I am going to analyse are going to be of the same genre that I have chose to base my music magazine on which is heavy metal / rock. The second music magazine cover that I am going to analyse is going to be an edition of “ NME “. I will analyse the cover using the LIIAR technique.

Language – On the cover of this issue of “NME”, the masthead is positioned at the top left corner of the cover. Even though the letter “E” is slightly covered due to the models head, the reader still knows the name of the magazine is “NME” because underneath the masthead there is a piece of text which reads what “NME” stands for “National Music Express”. The masthead is in a dark red colour with a white border featured around it. This makes the masthead stand out because this is the only text on the cover in that particular font and colour with a border around it. This makes the masthead an individual piece of text because there is no other font and colour like that featured on the cover. The main image on the cover of this issue of “NME” is an image of …. Which has been taken at a medium close up camera angle. It is medium close up because we can only see the upper body and the face. The way that Julian Casablancas Is positioned it looks like the viewer is looking at him at eye level, as though you are having a conversation with him. If “NME” magazine reaches its best aims for its target audience, by featuring Julian Casablancas on the front cover, it will make the readers want to buy it because their role model is on the cover. The audience aspire to be just like him. “NME” magazine use a consistent house style with their use of text on the cover if this issue. They use font colours that contrast well with each other, red, white and gold colours are colours that go well with each other. These font colours are also easy to read, so even those readers who don’t have the best of eye sights will be able to read the masthead and subheadings within the best strength of their eye sight. There is a main headline featured to the left of the music artist on the cover, it reads “ JULIAN GOES SOLO, But what does it mean for The Strokes? “. In my opinion this is a very clever headline to have on the cover of the magazine. First “JULIAN GOES SOLO” is in capital letters which emphasises that it is a major headline, it is also the largest text on the cover of the magazine. Then in the headline it leaves an unanswered question for the reader, “But what does this mean for The Strokes?”. This will make the audience want to purchase the magazine because of this unanswered question which is revealed within the contents of the magazine.

Institution – “NME” is published by a company called Bauer, which is a large German publishing company based in Hamburg.  Institution is also used on the cover of the magazine by featuring Julian Casablancas on the cover. By him allowing “NME” use him as the main artist on the cover of their magazine, it helps “NME” sell thousands of copies of this particular issue that he is featured on and in return “NME” have a write up for featured in the magazine on Julian Casablancas promoting his upcoming tour and gigs etc, this is called synergy, were both sides are helping each other out. The publishing company for “NME” magazine, “Bauer” only produce one type of music magazine for the one specific music genre which is rock. They only produce on rock genre magazine. This is because if they was to produce more than one type of rock magazine then they would be eating into their own budget. “Bauer” want the magazine that they publish to be the best one out of their of that specific genre and want to compete against other publishing companies who release magazines of the same genre.

Ideology – The ideology on this magazine cover, are the messages, morals and values that the company/magazine has. “NME”, their ideology is to get the newest music to you as quickly as possible. It also sounds like enemy, which suggests it is an enemy of mainstream music. The genre that I am going  to do within my  music magazine rock / heavy metal. Giving an insight look at a wide variety of heavy metal and rock bands that are followed and listened to world wide in a huge capacity by their specific target audience. Their aim is to make their magazine as interesting as possible and also to insure that the same people who purchase the magazine the previous week will buy it again when the next issue gets released on a weekly basis.

Audience – This issue of NME, appeals to a specific target audience. I think that the target audience for this magazine is for an audience who have an interest in the rock music genre. Just by looking at the cover, it is clearly shown that this magazine is for rock music fans. This magazine is priced at £2.30 which is a reasonable price for this particular magazine, considering that a new issue is released on a weekly basis. So this magazine is affordable to people in most classes, whether they are students, in the working class or upper middle class etc, it is affordable for most people.

Representation – When looking at the representational features on the cover of this magazine, its is important that the person featured in the main image represents the target audience that the magazine is aimed at. in relation to this specific magazine cover, Julian Casablancas is someone who the target audience aspire to be like. He is representing himself in a positive way to the audience, making them purchase the magazine. 

First analysis of Music Magazine Cover.

First analysis of Music Magazine Cover.

This is going to be the first of three music magazine covers that I am going to analyse as part of my music magazine re-search, this will help me in the step by step process in producing my own music magazine cover. The three music magazine covers that I am going to analyse are going to be of the same genre that I have chose to base my music magazine on which is heavy metal / rock. The first music magazine cover that I am going to analyse is going to be an edition of “ Metal Hammer “. I will analyse the cover using the LIIAR technique.

Language – On the cover of this issue of “Metal Hammer”, the masthead is positioned at the top of the cover, the text in the masthead “ HAMMER “ is spread across the entire width of the page, the colour of the text is a low volume of white and features rusty black edges, almost a though this text has been spray painted on with a text stencil template, I think it has been spray painted on because there are drips of white coming off the “H” and the “ER”. The text “ METAL “ in the masthead is positioned on the letter “H” in a vertical position. It doesn’t look like it is sprayed on like the “HAMMER” text, it looks more like it has been inserted into the masthead with a stamp. Due to the unique use of dark elements on the cover, it helps make the masthead stand out. The main image featured on this magazine cover, is an image of famous heavy metal band “Avenged Sevenfold” at a long mid-shot, the way the camera is positioned it looks like the reader is looking up at them from the floor, if this magazine reaches its best aims for its target audience, by featuring a famous heavy metal band on the front cover, it will make the readers want to buy it because their role models are on the cover. “Avenged Sevenfolds” logo is positioned at the bottom of the cover in the centre. There is also a short quotation under the logo that says “our first thought was ‘its over’. It isn’t. This is how Jimmy will live on”. This is a short tribute to one of their former members who died recently when this issue of the magazine was published. Metal Hammer magazine keeps a consistent house style on the covers of their magazines that get published, even though the artist changed on cover at the release of each issue, the logo is positioned in the same place, this is to make the magazine noticeable and easy to spot.

Institution – Metal hammer is published by a company called “future publishing” which in 2006, was the sixth largest publishing company in the United Kingdom. Another example of institution being used on the front cover of this issue of “Metal Hammer” are the role models / celebrities that are featured on the front, which is famous heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold. The way institution is shown here, is that the magazine publishing house,

 “future publishing” have used Avenged Sevenfold to help sell their magazine, and Avenged Sevenfold are using the magazine company to help promote their upcoming tour or gig, this is called synergy. Synergy is where both sides are getting something good out of the release of the magazine. The publishing company will make money due the mass amount of copies of their magazine that get sold due to Avenged Sevenfold mainly being on the cover and Avenged Sevenfold will make money because heavy metal fans will be enticed to purchase the magazine, because Avenged Sevenfold match the target audience that this magazine is made for, then this will defiantly help sell tickets to their upcoming tours and gigs. The publishing company for Metal Hammer, “future publishing“, only produce one type of music magazine for the one specific music genre which is heavy metal. They only produce one heavy metal magazine. They do this because if they was to produce more than one type of heavy metal magazine then they would be eating into their own budget. Future publishing want the magazine that they publish to be the best one out of their of that specific genre.

Ideology – The ideology in this magazine cover, are the messages, values and morals that the company/magazine has. “Metal Hammer”, their ideology is to get the latest music news from the heavy metal genre to their specific target audience on a monthly basis, to the best of their ability. They want to make the magazine as interesting as possible, to insure that the same people who purchase the magazine the previous month will buy it again when the next issue gets released.

Audience – This issue of Metal Hammer, appeals to a specific target audience. In my opinion the target audience for this magazine is for an audience who have a keen interest and enjoying listening to the heavy metal music genre. Just by looking at the front cover, you can tell it is aimed for heavy metal fans. Depending on the monthly income of the audience of this magazine will also depend on how many copies this issue or any issue of the magazine sells. This issue of Metal Hammer and all other issues are priced at £3.99. Which is a reasonable price for a magazine. People In the working class and students will probably be reluctant to purchasing the magazine because almost £4.00 for a magazine for that particular working class will be rather expensive. Those people in the middle working class and upper middle class wont mind paying £3.99 for a magazine and will probably see that as cheap for a magazine. I think that £3.99 is a reasonable price for this magazine but anything more then it will lose custom and anything cheaper then the audience wont get the quality that the magazine has to offer. If they drop the prices then the quality in which the magazine is produced and made will decrease. This is why the price of the magazine must appeal to the target audience that are going to be purchasing it.

Representation – When looking at the representational features on the cover of this magazine, its main message is that the main image represented on the cover represents the target audience and it does this really well. The image of Avenged Sevenfold looks strong and important by the way the camera is positioned, it is as though we are looking up to them, they look the real deal. It represents what the target audience want to be like, which is just like them. On this cover, Avenged Sevenfold are presenting aspects of society back to us, this is using synergy once again, by having Avenged Sevenfold on the cover is helping the company sell their magazine and the magazine company are helping the particular artist promote their upcoming tours and gigs etc.

Mise-en-scene – when looking at the mise-en-scene featured within the cover of this magazine. Black and dark clouds are used in the sky to emphasise that this is a heavy metal magazine. If the sky was blue and had a rainbow, it wouldn’t appeal to the music genre for the Metal Hammer magazine because we associate heavy metal colours to be darker colours and not bright happy colours. Being the reason the sky has black clouds in it on this cover of Metal Hammer. On of the members in Avenged Sevenfold are sat on part of the drum kit and three out of the four members appear to be wearing sunglasses. To give them the “it” look. They want to be positive role models to their fans, it makes the fans and the audience want to appear like them. The members of Avenged Sevenfold also have their arms fully tattooed, another example of a heavy metal band member look.

Using LIIAR I have been able to see the key conventions of a heavy metal magazine in place. When looking back at this post I will be able to create ideas for my heavy metal / rock music magazine cover from what has been used here.

LIIAR Interception of the Brief.

How I am going to use LIIAR to research and analyse three music magazines.

L – Language

When looking at language featured in music magazine covers. I will be looking at the way the camera angle is positioned and the distance. For example whether it is a mid shot, medium close up or a close up etc. Another way media language is used in music magazines is layout of the magazine, and whether it has a consistent house style, and if it looks the same throughout the context of the magazine. By using the same font size/colour and backgrounds, it keeps the magazine consistent which gives it a professional look. Music magazine publishers will usually keep the same house style throughout all of its issues that they publish. This is to make the magazine noticeable and easy to spot.

I – Institution

When analysing music magazines, institution is used when looking at the publishing house. The publishing house is the publishing company who made the magazine. For example the “ NME “ magazine is published by a company called Bauer, which is a large German publishing company based in Hamburg. Institution is also used by the role model or celebrity featured on the front cover. The magazine company uses the role model or celebrity to help sell their magazine, and the celebrity uses the magazine company to promote their tour or upcoming gig, this is called synergy. Both sides get something good out of it because they are both helping each other. Most publishing companies will only publish one magazine for one specific genre. They will only publish for example one rock based music magazine. This is because if they was going to publish two or more rock music magazines then they would be eating into their own budget. They want the magazine that they publish to be the best out there of that specific genre.

I – Ideology

The ideology in a music magazine are the messages, values and morals that a particular company has. NME, new musical express, there ideology is to get the newest music to you as quickly as possible. It also sounds like enemy, which suggests it is an enemy of mainstream music. The genre that I am going  to do within my  music magazine rock / heavy metal. Giving an insight look at a wide variety of heavy metal and rock bands that are followed and listened to world wide in a huge capacity by their specific target audience.

A – Audience

All music magazines appeal to different audiences. Depending on their age, gender and what type of music they like. People of a younger age are more likely to be interested in more modern day music which was released within the last 20 years. However people aged fifty and over are more likely to be interested in buying classical music magazines about music and artists that were around back in their younger days. The type of audience purchasing the music magazine will depend on their monthly or weekly income. People in the working class and students will probably pay between £2.00 and £3.50 for a music magazine, however those people in the middle class and the upper middle class will pay a much higher price for a magazine £5.00 and over. This is the reason the price of a not only a music magazine but any magazine must appeal to the type of audience who are going to buy it. Another key aspect when looking at the audience, is that they are only going to buy the magazine which suits their genre, for example someone who enjoys listening to rock music, will buy a rock genre music magazine, were as someone who enjoys listening to pop music will buy a pop genre music magazine.

R – Representation

When looking at representational features in a music magazine, its main message is that the image on the cover of the magazine represents the target audience, it represents what the target audience aspire to be like. It sells the magazine, especially if the person on the cover is well known and has lots of fans. It presents aspects of society back to us. This is once again another use of synergy, The person on the cover is helping the company sell their magazine and the magazine company are helping the particular artist promote their upcoming tours and gigs etc.

I will use LIIAR, the research that I have done above and the conventions within the media text to analyse three music magazines which have the same genre I am going to base my music magazine on, which is going to be heavy metal / rock. I will analyse the front cover, the contents page and a double page spread in the magazines.

Brief - Main Task.

Main Task.

I am now starting the main task of the Brief. I am going to design and create the front page, contents and double page spread of a new music magazine. All images and text that I use must be original and produced by me, I must include a minimum of four images.

I am going to start this main task by researching and analysing several music magazines using LIIAR . By doing this I will be able to bring some ideas together to help me with my music magazine task.