Front cover analysis

Larna McCann

Masthead

The masthead of the magazine reads “DRUMMER” which helps to anchor the genre of the magazine (rock) and immediately conveys to consumers what the contents of the magazine is focused on. It is written in a bold font which makes it stand out helping to attract a wider audience as its very eye-catching. The colour of the font is black which again has connotations of the rock genre and fits in with the colour scheme. The artist’s head who is featured in the magazine is slightly overlapping the title which suggests how popular the brand is as it can be covered up yet is still recognisable.

Main image

The main image is of Tommy Lee, a well-known rock artist with many fans which in turn, will attract more buyers. A mid long shot is used to capture him which is effective as it enables the audience to see more of him making him easier to recognize. His code of attire symbolizes the rock genre as the colour scheme of his outfit includes a wide use of black representing the style of music he creates. In the image, he is directly addressing the audience which entices in readers and establishes a relationship with them making them want to read the article.

Sub lines and cover lines

The sub lines and cover lines appear both on the far right and far left sides of the magazine. These reveal information and give hints on what the contents of the magazine will be based upon. Within these, numerous artists names are mentioned which helps to attract a wider audience as although these people may not feature in the main image, their names still appear on the front cover suggesting how they will feature in the magazine, appealing to their fans.

Buzzwords

The buzzwords “WIN” and “PLUS” both appear on the front cover which help to draw in readers as both words suggests that the readers are getting more than they’re paying for and a good value for money. The word ‘win’ inevitably entices in readers as it reveals how buyers have a chance to win a lot of money and are not losing out on anything by purchasing the magazine.

Colour scheme

The colour scheme of the magazine consists of black, pink, grey and white. Black is a very typical colour for a rock product helping to anchor the genre of the music that the magazine features. This suggests to rock fans that this magazine is right for them and the content is relevant to their tastes. The colour scheme also includes pink and white which helps to give the magazine a brighter, more vibrant look. This is more attractive to the audience and is quite unusual for a rock magazine however this may work in favour of the product as it implies how it is unique and the contents has more appeal.

Strap line

This is a banner running along the top of the magazine featuring more information about the content. It is written in white on a black background which reinforces the magazine’s colour scheme and fits in with the overall image of the front cover. The fact that the strap line is at the very top of the page, attracts buyers who are interested in what the strap line is advertising as this may be the first thing they read from the front cover.

Subsidiary Imagery

There is only one subsidiary image on the front cover which is of a section from a drum (a symbol). This may be significant in attracting buyers as many rock fans play the drums themselves, so this makes the magazine seem personal to them and relevant to their hobbies. It also implies how the magazine is based upon the actual music, rather than irrelevant information that consumers may not care about.

Price, Date & Barcode

These are featured in a the right hand corner of the magazine taking up a small amount of coverage leaving lots of space for more text and images about the articles. However, the information they reveal is rather important as it shows to buyers how much they’re paying for the magazine and whether it is the latest copy.

Positioning Statement

The positioning statement helps to anchor the genre of the magazine reinforcing the theme of rock music. “Drumming matters” places importance on music and suggests to buyers that the magazine prioritizes the creation of rock songs.