Codes and Conventions of a Magazine Double Page Spread

The image used is usually direct address, which then entices the reader to buy the magazine because the celebrity in the magazine is looking directly at the audience so it encourages them to buy the magazine.

A quote from the interview is normally presented as the headline or by the picture and even used in the text, to break it up. The quotes used are usually rather controversial or shocking to grip the reader and keep them interested.

Another code and convention that music magazines follow is the celebrities name in bold somewhere on the double page spread. This is to make them stand out more as celebrities and catch the eye of their fans. For example they could put ‘’Justin Bieber’’ in big bold writing and this would catch the eye of his fan base  

Also you include a stand first, which is like an introduction to the celebrity that is included. Some readers may not know who the celebrity is just from the image that has been used, therefore introducing them would save some readers not knowing who they were reading about.

All text on a double page spread has to be size 11 pt. and is usually aerial font, however some magazines make the font connote the genre. All double page spreads have a drop cap which shows the reader when to start reading. The text is set into columns, usually 2-4 columns. This is to make the text appear tidy and not all over the page. The page number, magazine name and text throughout usually use the same font.

The main image on the double page spread is usually on the left however some magazines go against the codes and conventions and will put it on the right side. The picture on the double page spread always relates to the article and the artist

The double page spread also includes by-lines, which are put under the images to give credit to whomever the photographer and writer is.

The headline that is used for the double page spread is normally very short, so it makes the reader intrigued. The article is written in informal mode of address therefore it relaxes the reader.

The colour scheme on a double page spreads follow the same colour scheme that is ran throughout the magazine, which is usually simple so it doesn’t overpower the article. The name of the celebrity is highlighted by the colour scheme. The colour schemes used connote which genre the magazine is, e.g. black is used a lot in rock magazines or pins and yellows for a pop magazine. 

The Codes and Conventions of a music magazine contents page

First is the Issue number, The majority of the time it’s positioned in the top left or right corner of the contents page, often by the magazine title.  The issue date is positioned with the issue number, which is shown together on the front cover and the contents.

Word is prominent because it allows people to know it is actually the contents page where they can find out more details. It must be written in in bold, capitals, also the colour (white) as it contrasts against the black background, which makes it stand out to the audience.

The main image on the contents page will suggest to the audience that it is the most important image. Usually it’s positioned in the middle or towards the side of the page and is framed by the rest of the text.

The magazine’s logo or name will be displayed in the top left hand corner of the contents page. The category headings would be, ‘in every issue’, ‘regulars’, and ‘every month’! This is usually on the left of the page, also the last of the headings, near the bottom of the page. For example subscriptions, puzzles, competitions.

Any specials within the magazine are normally interviews or features. It is separate from the other headings so it stands out. This is because it is an important part of ‘this issues’ magazine.

The website is positioned by the issue number and issue date at the top of the contents page. By it being displayed here it allows the audience to get more information from there website if needed. The page numbers start at the left, they are before the heading. The numbers are a different colour and font from the heading also, this makes them stand out. The headings are only either one word or few words, which is followed by a short sub line explaining more about article.

Quotes are normally included within contents pages. They have quotes from interviews they had done in the magazine. Majority of the time they are on the main image. However they are never over the faces of the bands or artists.

The layout of the contents page is important. The contents is laid out into 3 or 4 columns, they are to the side of the main image. As if they are framing the image. They are never allowed to overlap or cover the image. The font is normally in size 11pt, numbers may be bigger and obviously the ‘contents’ title. The editor’s letters on some magazines have messages from the editors who produced the month’s magazine. Usually the message is displayed in either of the bottom corners of the contents page. The front cover in some contents pages they have a small copy of the magazine front cover, they put page numbers in circles to show which story is on which page.

The conventions of making a good front cover for a music magazine

 The Masthead must be in the top left aligned completely across or top left if short. Also you should use an eye catching unique font. The main image is allowed to cover the title only if their magazine is well known. An example of this is here is a picture of a Rock magazine called “Rock Sound” and on the front is a band called 5 Seconds of Summer and part of their heads are covering the title but it doesn’t matter to much because this is a well-known magazine.

3. You should use one main image and this image should be of a well-known band or celebrity. When taking the image you should make sure you have direct eye address used at audience to engage them because this is what sells a magazine. However when taking the image you should make sure it’s a mid-shot or a close up is used, or longer shots if the image is a band. The images are mainly posed with a clear background, you will never find text over the facial aspect of the image.

4. Colour Scheme• 3 or 4 colours maximum to make it simple.• Primary colours are more popular within music magazines as they do not contrast/clash with one another.

5. Cover lines are also important, quite vague on purpose to draw the audience in. They should always be written in capitals to grab the attention of the audience. They should also be in the same font, bold and simple. This then frames the main image on the magazine. There should be 5 or 6 cover lines maximum. The main cover line should anchor the main image and is larger font than other cover lines.  The sublines generally give more information to the cover lines, although do not always give the story away.

6. The text should be smaller and minor images are used to link to other stories inside magazine or other cover lines. The fonts that should be used are, Sans Serif (plain font), Times New Roman or Arial.

what is a music magazine?

Music Magazines are aimed at people who are interested in music. They have the latest interviews, news and gossip about different celebrities. However there are many different music magazines aimed at different music groups such as Pop, Rock and Indie. Depending on the genre of the magazine it will be constructed differently, using different star images and layouts.

Pop Magazine - This is an example of a pop magazine. Pop magazines are normally the most popular genre because they include mainstream musicians and artists. This magazine's main target audience is the younger generation of teenagers such as 11-15. The magazine shows it's a pop magazine because it uses yellows, pinks and vibrant colours which stand out and make the magazine eye catching when it's sitting on the shelf. The magazine also connotes light hearted atmosphere, then this will appeal to a lot of audiences because it's a mainstream magazine. Also the majority of magazines will have a simple yet catchy heading which is recognisable and for the audience.

Rock Magazine - This is an example of a popular

rock magazine which are the older generation such as people in their 30's and 40's. They usually consist of a dark colour theme which then connotes a serious sort of atmosphere, because it is a dark and serious type of magazine. These magazines normally appear very busy and include a lot of information. A rock magazine's target audience would be between the ages of 16 - 24. The text it would use is laid out in a messy structure just so it would add that edge to the Rock magazine. In the majority of Rock magazines they normally have included a lot of information and images on one page or even a double page spread. 

There are three basic categories of the colour theory which are useful. The colour wheel, colour harmony, and the context of how colours are being used.

Colour theories create a consistent structure for colour. For example, if we have an assortment of fruits and vegetables, we can organize them all by colour and place them on a circle which would show the colours in relative to each other.

A colour circle, being based on red, yellow and blue, is traditional in the field of art. Sir Isaac Newton developed the first circular diagram of colours in 1666. Since then, scientists and artists have studied and designed many variations of this idea.

Primary Colours: Red, yellow and blue

In traditional colour theory that are used within paint and pigments, primary colours are the 3 pigment colours that can’t be mixed or formed by any combination of other colours.

Secondary Colours: Green, orange and purple

These are the colours that are formed by mixing the primary colours together.

Tertiary Colours: Yellow-orange, red-orange, red-purple, blue-purple, blue-green

 & yellow-green.

Typograhphy

Typography is an art and technique of arranging text to make language easier to read and more appealing when displayed. The arrangement of the text involves selecting typefaces, point size, line length, line-spacing, letter-spacing , and adjusting the space within the letters.

 Type design is a related craft, which is sometimes considered a part of typography. A lot of  typographers don't design typefaces, and some type designers don't consider themselves as being a  typographer. In now days, typography has been put in film, television, and online broadcasts, so it can create emotion to communication.

Typography is the work of typesetters, compositors, typographers, graphic designers, art directors, comic book artists, graffiti artists, and also anybody else who arranges graphics for a product. Digitization allowed typography to open up to the new generations of visual designers and lay users. 

Introduction

My name is Georgia Martin and I am a student at Chislehurst School for Girls studying A Level Media Studies, and I have made this blog to put all of my Music Magazine coursework onto.