Magazine Front Cover Analysis 2

Title: Vibe
The title Vibe is printed in a bold so that it stands out and attracts the audience’s attention, the font is also legible making it easy for the audience to read.
The audience know that the magazine is famous, they can tell this by the fact the main image is someone well-known and also that the title can be easily spotted on any shelf. It also helps that the title is also printed in a vibrant orange colour to attract the reader’s attention. The definition of vibe is the emotional reactions between people or the atmosphere of the place; this may also suggest a musical interpretation, such as you get a ‘vibe’ from the type of music you listen to.

Colour Scheme:
The colour scheme of Vibe consists of 4 colours, 2 pairs of contrasting colours: Black & White and Orange & Blue. These colours give a sense of maturity and youth. Black & White has a professional look implying maturity while Orange & Blue suggest fun and excitement as they are bright colours, this implies youth.

Strap Line:
‘He’s Free, but Is He good? The Untold Story of Bust Rhymes.’
This strap line is situated at the top of the magazine, above the title to entice the reader to purchase the magazine, as it is also a sell line. The strap line has a direct mode of address, making the audience feel like the magazine is talking to just them. It also draws the reader in by using the phrase “untold story” making the reader want to find out more about this ‘mystery’ story and therefore purchasing the magazine.

Main Image: Janet Jackson
The main image of Vibe for this month is Janet Jackson. Centre framed, Janet is known as a middle aged woman but is perceived as an image for youth. Vibe has used her as a role model to the younger generation as well as the older generation. Janet Jackson sings a mixture of Pop and R&B, this highly appeals to some of the younger generation, she also appeals to the older generation as she has been around for a while and they may have grown up with her, listening to her music. Posed holding an SLR camera, dressed in a black mesh top, white tank top and denim jeans, accessorized with chain and buckle bracelets gives an illusion of a rebellious youth. Holding a camera can be very suggestive, depending on how it is interpreted. It could represent the paparazzi who have taken snap shots of her, throughout her life – she could be making a statement to them through her photo. It could also be suggestive of how youth’s in this era are forever taking pictures, capturing their life on camera, capturing memories showing you only live once, so make it count.

Sell Lines
Lead Story: ‘Janet Jackson Likes To Watch’. Watch what? This is the question the readers will be asking themselves and what will entice them to purchase the magazine to find out what she likes to watch. The lead story supports the image of Janet holding an SLR Camera, which will entice the audience and make them wonder, does a camera have anything to do with what she likes to watch...? The fact she’s also a role model, people who look up to her will be interested in her interests so they can feel closer to her and in effect be more like her, this will draw them in, persuading them to purchase the magazine.
Other sell lines such as ‘A History of Hip Hop Paparazzi’ will also entice them to purchase the magazine. This sell line may also support the main image of Janet Jackson holding a camera as the paparazzi take snap shots of celebrities, the audience would want to find out more information as it states “history”. The audience will already have some common knowledge of hip-hop history and take an interest to find out more to increase their knowledge.

Magazine Front Cover Anaylsis 1

Title: NME
The title NME is printed in a basic, bold red font with a white outline making the title stand out and legible, making it easy for the audience to spot on a shelf. Unlike other magazine titles NME is situated on the top left-hand corner instead of across the top of the whole magazine, this might have something to do with the fact that the title is only 3 letters long. The New Musical Express (better known as the NME) is a popular music magazine in the United Kingdom which has been published weekly since March 1952. It was the first British paper to include a singles chart which first appeared in the 14 November 1952 edition. The magazine's commercial heyday was during the 1970s when it became the best-selling British music magazine. During the period 1972 to 1976 it was particularly associated with Gonzo journalism, then became closely associated with Punk rock through the writing of Tony Parsons and Julie Burchill.

Colour Scheme:
The colour scheme of NME consists of the popular contrasting colours Black & White and also the colour Pink. The colour Red is also used but only for the title, this is to make the title stand out above the rest of the magazine. Red and Pink are corresponding colours as they are only a few shades away from each other on the colour chart. These colours give a sense of maturity and youth, White & Black are the professional, maturing colours while Pink represents youth. Pink on Black may also represent the punk rock / alternative culture…

Strap Line: New Musical Experience
The so-called strap line is no more than what NME stands for: New Musical Experience. It gives the audience the basic information of the magazine, what it represents and what the magazine is intended for.

Main Image: Pete Doherty
Peter Doherty (born 12 March 1979) is an English musician, artist, published writer and poet. He is currently a singer and songwriter in the band Baby shambles, but first came to fame with The Libertines, alongside Carl Barât. In 2005, Doherty became prominent in tabloids, the news media, and pop culture blogs because of his romantic relationship with supermodel Kate Moss and his well-publicized drug use.
The main image of Pete Doherty was purposely vandalized to draw in the audience, poorly edited with a bleeding nose just adds to his reputation. He is in no terms a role model, with his use of drugs, however his fans still stay loyal to him throughout the slander and support him through purchasing his albums. Pete Doherty, centre framed is topless wearing a rosary, this shows a sign of faith, a new beginning for him. His toplessness may be a sign of vulnerability.

Lead Story: ‘I’ll say sorry to every single person from the depths of my heart.’
This lead story shows another side to Pete Doherty, a kinder, gentler side to Pete. This advertises that he’s turned over a new leaf, and binned he’s ‘f*ck the world’ attitude. This is a major sell line and will entice the audience to purchase the magazine to find out why the change of heart, this may also support the main image and Pete’s direct mode of address.

Sell Lines: Give In To Indie-Rave. The new album you have to hear.
This is advertising Baby shambles new album and also supports the fact why Pete Doherty is on the front cover of NME. As Pete is seen to have turned over a new leaf, maybe his music has took a turn in a new direction too? This is the question the audience must be asking themselves and which will add to persuading them into purchasing the magazine.