Research - Front Cover

These are some magazine covers relating to the genre I want to base my Music Magazine around, Hip Hop.

Best Life Magazine
The strong iconography in this magazine by Best Life is one I aspire to emulate in my final product because of the styles that stand out on the page. This magazine in particular has a bold, striking focal image which reflects well off the bright red header and fits nicely in between the lures. The key image is strong and tall, covering the whole of the page. This is something that will attract Hip Hop lovers and encourage them to turn that page.

Having a white background can make anything look plain but this magazine uses it to make the information on top of it stand out. The focal image reflects off the background and stands out, giving the magazine lifelike qualities.

This magazine also encourages elements of Gaze Theory on this page alone with the clothes 'Jay-Z' is wearing. He is wearing a grey suit and a waistcoat encouraging the type of lifestyle he leads. Hip Hop lovers will want to live the life he does because of his status in the industry and this magazine cover encourages it.

XXL Magazine

This magazine by XXL features 'Eminem' as the focal image of their front cover. The header of this magazine is big and bold and stands out off the page ensuring the magazine will have a good shelf life as it can be spotted from a distance and at a great height.  

The focal image on the front page is menacing and has so many qualities to it. The tattoos on the artist featured suggests a certain type of iconography that would be found in the world of Hip Hop. This magazine also uses Gaze and Reception Theory to draw their reader in, capture a specific audience and set the mood for the rest of the magazine.

Another thing about the style of this magazine is the way the focal image stands out above the black background giving it lifelike qualities. The background matches the colour of 'Eminem's' eyes which adds to the sinister look of the image. His eyes are piercing and can in turn attract a particular audience as a complete package. This is where Reception Theory comes in and is the point where the target audience will be made due to a customers preferred, negotiated and oppositional reading.

The Source Magazine

This magazine is from The Source and unlike the other magazines there are lures aplenty! The focal image has elements of Gaze Theory to it but overall has different qualities entirely from the others.

This magazine has a big and bold header as well as a sub header that instantly draws the reader in depending on the magazine's genre and the star featured in it. The house style is red, which is consistent through out the page and even in the focal image. Another good point about the layout of the magazine is the positioning of the lures. Lures are meant to grab the readers attention but not take away from the most important information such as the header or focal image.

The bar code and pricing on this front cover is small but noticeable. It doesn't get in the way and as a convention of magazines, needs to be this way, noticeable but not attention grabbing.

NME Musical Express Magazine

This magazine is from a different genre and I chose to do some research on a magazine of a different genre because there might be some things I would be able to incorporate from it and include in my magazine.

Overall I have benefited from the research carried out and have gained more knowledge about the codes and conventions of not only magazines but of Hip Hop magazines also. This research will help me move forward in my production stages and without it I don't feel I would be as confident going forward with my product.

The front cover image is striking, with the eyes looking directly into the eyes of the reader. The grin on the ace of the person indicates that this magazine is tough and sends a message across to the reader. A striking image is a noticeable convention of magazines and I will be looking to do the same when creating my magazine.

The big bold name of the artist gives the reader an insight into what will be featured in the magazine. Lures on the left and right hand side also give a taster of what the magazine features. The lures fit around the image making the image the focal point of the front cover and gives the audience an indication into what artist is featured.

The offer of winning something in a competition can attract any type of audience and relates to anyone and everyone. A range of people will be targeted with the offer of a special prize in their magazine and this is what this magazine includes. A clever selling point used to rope a potential buyer in!

...and finally there is a small banner at the top of the page which is bold and bright with the title being small and fitting nicely around the image.