Research: Magazine Conventions - Front Covers.

I like this one; the above image is from Q magazine, featuring the lead singer from Cold play. The mast head and house style is present through out this design however, with this cover, we see the image of the main artist block part of the mast, which is occassionally done. The feature article cover line is placed across the image, catching audience attention and adding more humour to the photo. Tag lines are present however, instead of informing the audience of other stories within the magazine, they simply display quotes relating to the main feature, which breaks the conventions. A strapline is placed at the top edge of the page. A bar code is located in the bottom corner and the bottom edge of the magazine also features a strapline.



The above image is from NME magazine, featuring the band The Gossip. The house style is used again, catching the audiences eye and allowing them to realise which magazine that it is. The main image of the band overlaps some of the tag lines, which are also in the house style, the image itself is a band shot, each member of the band engaging in direct address with the audience, conforming to the conventions. A strapline is lovated at the bottom on the page, as well as the bar code and the magazines website. Smaller photos of other artists that feature in the magazine are shown, thought they are at the side, allocated with corresponding tag lines e.g. "Sorry I was wrong about Klaxons" is with a picture of Noel Gallagher. Another strapline and an advert is located at the top of the cover, both fitting in with the house style.



The above image is from an issue of Rolling Stone magazine, featuring a group photo of Maroon 5. The image itself is quite striking, the white background contrasting with the darker colours of the band, which would naturally grab the audiences attention, as well as the direct address that each band member is engaging in. The mast head, and the one tag line, are set in a simple font and are coloured white or yellow, the house style. A strapline is present at the top of the page, however this shows the audience that this genre of magazine is a cross-genre, not onlky does it specialise in music, but it also focusses on world news. This suggests that, although this is a music magazine, fans of other things such as world news and politics also read and buy this magazine.