magazine cover - vibe

Music Magazine Front Cover Analysis - Vibe
The genre of this magazine is of rap/hip-hop. This is shown by the feature article photo which has a picture of Eminem and Dr Dre who are two large artists whose music belongs in this genre. Inside the magazine you can see that the articles’ are going to be form a rap/hip-hop stand point as there is one article which reads “Diddy’s commission welcome to the dark side.” Diddy is another famous artist whose music conforms to this genre showing that that the articles inside will be aimed at an audience who are interested in the rap/hip hop genre of music. The left of the screen also has a variety of different rap and hip-hop artists showing that artcles involving them are going to be featured inside and such as “Drake”, “Lil Wayne” and “Rick Ross”. This has been done to convince their target audience that they would want to buy this magazine. Also the main article involves is called “What are Eminem and Dre Cookin’ Up”. This is very vague as a description and will encourage the audience to purchase the magazine.

The target audience for this magazine is mainly for younger readers as this genre of music is most popular with the younger generations. However, although the target age may be for a younger readers it does not necessarily mean that this is the only audience they are targeting. It could be assumed that there main target audience is anyone who enjoys listening to or is interested in rap/hip-hop music.

The mode of address for this magazine has a theme of science and experiments. This could have been done to show that they are experimenting with new music and new styles of music. It could also mean that they are the scientists of music and they have the main ideas when it comes to their music and genre. Also the headline underneath this picture is “What are Eminem and Dre Cookin’ Up”. This could be in keeping with the theme of science and creating new things as instead of being literal and saying what are they cooking up it is really saying what new creation have they thought of or what are they experimenting with.

The two figures on the front of the magazine “Eminem” and “Dre” both look very serious and as one is inspecting something the other is looking directly at the camera. This suggests that the magazine wants to have an informing relationship with the reader and want to explain what they have been doing. Also because “Dre” is looking straight at the camera although there is a sense of seriousness about him it also seems that the article will not be too formal although being very informative.

The anchorage text used on this front page (“What have Eminem been cookin’ up”) is not very informative as to what the subject is going to be about. However the word choice used here, although not very informing is being used so that the audience assumes that something worthwhile has been happening between “Dre” and “Eminem” and therefore encourages the audience to buy it and find out what was happening. Also in the anchorage text the words “Eminem” and “Dre” are in large text and in bright yellow. This is done as they are both famous names and they want to show the readers that they have such well known guests.

The main message of the magazine from the front cover seems to be that the “Eminem” and “Dre” are experimenting with new things within music. The designer has done this by not obviously saying that they are doing something new and they are trying something different but making it more ambiguous to make the reader put more though into the message. The message could also be how it is a new era for their music and it might be symbolising a change in both of them and their music.

The title block for this magazine is very large and very bright. This may have been done to clearly distinguish their magazine from other magazines. This means that it will stand out from other magazines as other magazines normally have a lot smaller title blocks and by making it different from other magazines they may be showing that their style is different from others. This has also been done to grab the reader’s attention as it is very eye-catching and it may make readers become intrigued by the magazine.

The puffs on this magazine are used to reassure the reader that the artists they will be interviewing are going to be the top artists around today. This has been done specifically on the front cover as people are less likely to be drawn in to a magazine if they do not know who the people their talking about are.

The colour of the wording on the front page is largley yellow. This is done because it is a very outstanding primary colour which will grab reader’s attention and will make specific wording very noticeable. The picture on the over hand has a very dark background making Eminem and Dre stand out as they are in white lab coats.

This magazine uses many strategies to try and absorb the reader. One strategy is the colour scheme they choice very bright letters on a dark background which makes it stand out more and gives the wording emphasis. Another way in which it is done is by making important words and names both bigger and in a specific colour which will automatically attract the reader as they know it will be important. They have also chosen to choice two very known and respected artists of this genre on the front cover which makes the magazine important and exclusive.