Codes and conventions of

music magazine front covers

The main image is usually close up, mid-shot or medium close. The eyes are generally looking at reader. The main image has direct address to draw the readers attention.

All of the magazines have a bar code. The bar code is usually at the bottom right hand corner, it has the date, the price and sometimes the magazine website and issue number around it.

The magazines all have a masthead. The masthead goes from left to right, and it can be partially covered if the magazine feels it is popular enough to still be recognised.

Most magazines have puffs. Puffs attract audiences and expose additional information about what is inside the magazine.

The title fonts are plain but bold. They are all unique to each magazine to create their brand identity.

Positioning statements are usually above or below the title.

All of magazine covers have buzz words. These are to attract the readers attention.

There is no text covering the main image as it is the main image of the artist that sells the magazine.

Some of the magazines that had secondary images had boarders around them to make them stand out. Magazines may have secondary images to show the reader other artists that are in this magazine. They may show this variety because the reader may not like the artist on the main image but they may like the artist on the secondary images.

There are cover lines and sub lines to advertise what else is big and being shown inside the magazine.

The main images stand out against the background.