1. COLOUR COVERLINES
Here Billboard conforms to the three colour palette but very simply. The The main cover line “BEYONCE” in capitals is the centre of visual
dark blue is present in the main cover line, the lime green relates to the interest so it clear that it relates to the main image. The text is
masthead fill of the„d‟ in the smallest cover lines, and wob is used by presented as a gradient from white, left to dark blue, right. This
white text on the gradient background. The mise-en-scene of the central allows it to match the colour pallet of the magazine and draw
image of the dress adds contrast to the dark background; making it stand attention to it in comparison to the solid/defined colour of other
out more. The only exception to the colour palette rule is the masthead text. The minor cover lines in relation to the main cover line are
used to entice the reader, firstly by using single nouns such as
logo which the „b‟ is filled with red, this is the regular appearance of the
“Singer. Actress.Businesswoman.Philanthropist.” in a smaller font
logo so this same exception resumes for every issue. Overall the blue
to positively sum up their main feature in the magazine. The word
theme gives the magazine a cool feel which also makes it transmit
„PLUS‟ on the cover also gives connotations to the reader that there
connotations of being trendy. This colour also shows superiority that is
is more „for your money‟ and extra content in the magazine. A plug
normally a male stereotyped colour so adds to the powerful „women‟s is also used: „Paramore hits the road as headliner‟ to attract the
music# theme. reader into the music group‟s latest activities and want to be a part
of it. Another cover line appears around a blue lined circle which
immediately strengthens the importance of the subject in
comparison to the other cover lines.
AUDIENCE FONTS
Firstly, it is important to point
The audience for this out that significant cover stories
magazine would be are displayed in capitals whereas
primarily young women as least significant articles are in
above the masthead lower case such as „Rising Star‟.
“women‟s music” is The thin and wide font used
prominent; attracting in consistently for the main cover
women as they can relate to lines gives the magazine a chic
and fashionable look. This font
the theme of the magazine.
also correlates with the target
The central image of music
audience of women as it is not
icon, Beyonce, would
too thick and therefore intrusive;
attract her fans and young
appealing to their primary
women who can relate to audience of women. The
her age. Men would be the emboldened fonts connotate to
secondary audience who the audience that the cover line
would be drawn to other or subject is significant against
topics or are regular the rest such as „Lady Gaga‟. This
readers of Billboard. The strategy also balances the fonts
colour blue would also and giving the page more variety.
subconsciously appeal to
men but is also a mutual
appealing colour when SPACING & OTHER
diverged with the picture of COMMENT
a female.
Billboard is an American magazine
as well as an internationally
MAIN IMAGE recognised music chart which has a
variety of different music genres
The cover image is of within the charts. The magazine
female singer, Beyonce however focuses on mainstream
BY SIAN LYNES
which reinforces the music such as pop/dance which has
a mass audience in comparison to
„women‟s music‟ theme
THE MASTHEAD other genres. Therefore artists or
again and appeals to their
other music relations regularly
primary focus audience for appear on the cover in relation to
The masthead conforms to the rule of thirds as the Billboard
this issue of women. With their success or rising achievement
logo and tag line take up the entire spacing. Billboard‟s logo is
the icon‟s hands on her hip in the Billboard 100 chart (the
very simple with iconic coloured circles in the lettering. As the
with a strong posture this overall chart sales). The magazine
logo fills the masthead from left to right it enables the
conveys power and is published on a weekly basis in
magazine to be immediately recognisable on the shelf and the same timing as the regular
independence of the
stand out against other magazines. The central image chart updates. Billboard circulates
person. This therefore takes
obscures part of the masthead which suggests it is already a 19,000 a week, but has been in
a lot of the middle space in
recognisable magazine and connotates to the audience that it decline and prolongs recognition
the rule of thirds. Text is mainly from its web and chart
is a reputable magazine if they have not read it before. The
avoided on the top of the based industries. The spacing is
line „women‟s music‟ above the logo immediately informs the
image (except for neutral as a lot of text is used as the
audience about the theme of the magazine before buying it.
BEYONCE) which shows bottom left and right of the cover
Unlike „RollingStone‟ magazine the banner does not fit within
that the cover artist is with spacing between the top left
the masthead but at the bottom right corner. This gives the and right text. This spacing in the
important and no
central image and coverlines more space to display. The central rule of thirds balance the
compromise is taken to
kerning of the logo is also very close but does touch which cover so it is not over cluttered and
show the full image of the
makes it more distinguishable to read and adds a simple & the customer is not bombarded
important artist. with the magazine‟s offers.
modern look to the cover.