Generic Conventions of Music Magazines

For all music magazines, there are some basic conventions that I will have to take into consideration in the major production stages. These are the basic things that will make up a magazine cover, and will make it look realistic and professional. These include ways of marketing, such as the date of publication, price (usually around 3 pounds in UK currency), the barcode so it can be sold at shops and the name and logo of the company who have made it (e.g. Bauer, Future etc.). Other things to consider and include is giving it a recognizable and simple title and logo, such as Kerrangs logo for its brand which is now culturally recognized and linked to rock music. There is almost always text to communicate with the audience and to often name drop bands featured in a hope it will be bought. Conventionally, a main picture is placed centrally and usually is the major focus of the front cover, and it is often medium shot of a singer or a long shot of a band. It is generally accepted that whoever/ whatever is on the cover will be the major focus of the magazine and it will have a lengthy interview/article inside on them. This is often the major reason fickle readers would buy the magazine, if they are a fan of the band/ singer featured. There are usually puffs down one side to give further information on what the contents of the magazine will entail.