Classical Front Cover Analysis

In previous media lessons we have been asked to analyse magazine front covers of any genre. However our course wants us to make a music magazine therefore this week we have been asked to analyse the front covers of music magazines to introduce us to the layout of music magazines. We were asked to find two magazine front covers of two different music genres in order to analyse them properly and get us used to the type of layout on these magazines and to give us ideas for our own music magazines. The first magazine I decided to analyse was KERRANG! This is a rock misoc magazine that has a lot that can be said about it. It has a simple layout that I may look more closely at when making my magazine as I may like to make one similar. The second one that I analysed was Classical Music. This magazine is of a completely different music genre so shows a lot of variety in layout and content which will help develop my understanding of music magazines and it will also help me make some decisions about how I want my final product to look. The Classical Music magazine has a lot less to say about it as it has a simplier layout with less content on the front cover. This is probably not going to be how I set out my magazine as the more content I may have on the front cover, the more advertising it will do so that if it were really to be published, it will attract a wide range of audience and be more appealing so that people will want to read it.
Classical Music:

Masthead– The masthead for this magazine is Classical Music magazine. This shows us that the genre of music that it focuses on is Classical music and gives us an insight as to the target audience– classical music fans– and the content of the magazine. The font and colour scheme are very simple which could imply that the magazine itself is simple and not overloaded with articles. This is also suggested by the fact that the front cover has a very simple layout with very few coverlines. The text for the masthead is also very big and easy to read which is something you would want for the older generation, connoting that this magazine is targeted at the older generation of classical music fans. Tagline– As far as I can see there are no taglines for this magazine. This could be for many reasons.  One reason could be that the masthead of the magazine speaks for itself.  The masthead very clearly states  what the magazine is about therefore the editors may have thought a tagline was unnecessary. Also it could be a very well branded magazine.
Central image + cover model– The cover model is Nicola Benedetti, shown by the fact that her name is in huge bold text. Her outfit corresponds with the theme of black, white and brown as she wears a white blouse with a black skirt. There is quite high-key lighting on her as it makes her look more angelic and more like a goddess implying we should worship her.

Coverlines- There are very few coverlines on this front cover- 4 in total. This allows the magazine front cover to stick to the simplistic theme. The colour of the text is sticking to the colour scheme and is therefore standing out as only the text and the cover models blouse is in white.

Direct Mode of Address- There is not much direct mode of address on this front cover- much like with the KERRANG! front cover- as there are no second person pronouns in the text and also the cover model is looking away from the camera. Like KERRANG! this coukd have been done to create an inclusive atmosphere amongst readers.

Puff- There are no real puffs on this front cover bar the few cover lines that are included on the front cover. These could still be passed as puffs though as they are advertising articles in the magazine and are give the audience a taste of what they will get in the magazine.

Pug- On this magazine front cover the Edition, Date and Price are all pugs. This is good as they are out of the way so that the main focus is still on the cover model. The barcode is also out of the way which helps bring the attention back to the cover model as well.
There are not many advertisments on this front cover. This could imply that the editors do not feel they need them as their cover models and coverlines will attract a wide enough audience on its own. There are also not many buzz words on this front cover. This could be because it may be targeted at an older generation who like it more simple and dont want anything too extravagant and in their face.