Detailed Annotation of a Music Magazine

Source Magazine Front Cover

Masthead: The masthead is the main focus to any distribution of a magazine. Consumers must recognise which brand it is if it wants to get noticed and purchased, this is why the font is big and bold

strap line: The strap line is usually located on the top of the magazine cover. It displays the slogan, or puffs.

cover lines: These are laid out to show the reader what is in store for them deeper into the magazine.

Main Cover line:The main cover line is displayed big and bold like the masthead, but slightly smaller in size. This

Direct mode of Address :The main subject is looking straight at the reader.

By looking at the masthead, I can realise that this is a Hip-Hop magazine by the rap artists and the way they are dressed ,and their posture. The colour of the masthead indicates that this might be more of a males magazine then a females magazine, because socially red is indicated as anger and more of a boys type of colour.

The language used for this magazine will attract age groups around 14 to 21 because of its slang terms. Language features such as “ Young Money” and “ Pitbull” shows slag terms for artists names, this attracts young readers.

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The images used in the magazine are rappers. The target group for this magazine will obviously be teenagers as rappers are popular with the young generation. Items such as the chains and tattoos show a urban and street atmosphere, making it more clearer that it is a rap magazine.

The large image is the main focus as it shows a popular rapper that most teenagers are aware of. This is a advantage to the magazine as young people may see this artists as a role model and would like to follow his footsteps.

Compared to other magazine models, rappers tend to pose differently. Rather then smiling they will pout.

The magazine is vibrant, this will attract viewers.

Main title:Show the title of the page with big bold letters to indicate the page.

This is a contents page from Vibe. It concentrates on the two artists rather than the features in the magazines. the writing is positioned at the bottom and is worked around the model's leg on the left. 

The contents page is mainly dominated by black and grey. Perhaps this is trying to establish the importance of the two ladies.

The contents page lacks in images and information. There should me variety of images with page numbers showing different aspects of the magazine to get the reader engaged.

Direct Mode of Address: Both models are looking straight at the reader.

The models in the front cover of the magazine are wearing completely different colours so they are not faded in the background. The colour of there cloths creates contrast and brings them out.

The text used to create the word content has been stacked, rather then being a whole word. This is so it does not interfere with the models and keeps them separate so the reader knows what to focus on.

Direct mode of address: Large Controversial image of the artist to illustrate the reader who this page is focusing on

Here is the main title of the double page. This notifies the readers who the article is written about. As we can see the main points are highlighted with light blue to show the importance it has, so readers know what the writers of the magazine want you to focus on.

The article must flow with the page and have enough space where the reader can read it clearly. Presentation is a important issue as designers of the magazine must place the columns in the correct place so it is presentable but also readable.

This image dominates the whole double page as it is separated from the background with the vibrant cloths she's wearing. This shows the reader who the main focus is. This will stick in there minds as they read along the article.

Important notifications are highlighter with a bolder colour so it stands out.