This front cover analysis is of the British based magazine called RWD, known as Rewind Magazine. This verb is associated with an action used when listening to music. Even though this magazine focuses at music it also looks at fashion and welcoming new and unsigned artists, making this a hybrid magazine. This could make it it’s USP as it is wanted for more than just music. This masthead is an enigma as it makes you wonder why it is called Rewind. In addition, to the left hand side is a visual signifier, an image of the rewind button which makes it clear what RWD stands for. The genres that RWD focuses on are Hip Hop, R&B, and Urban music.
Previous issues of RWD usually include black artists and grime artists however their latest magazine feature, Jessie J, is a more R&B, Soul and Hip Hop artist. This shows how the magazine has changed over time from grime to more popular music making it mainstream. This could widen their target audience and increase their consumer base. The colours used are very dark and gothic, contrasting with the white masthead, but also comparing to her songs. All her songs are extremely different for example; ‘Do it Like a Dude’ is very aggressive and upbeat whereas her song ‘Price Tag’ is much calmer and happier. With this magazine also focusing on fashion, I think their use of mise-en-scene is effective. To show this they used a big close-up of Jessie J’s face because she is a new fashion icon and her make-up is very unique.
The publisher of this magazine is Nigel Wells and as this is a small, free magazine the publisher does not own a business, he just publishes this magazine. He has now introduced RWD television and radio but only for this magazine to increase the awareness of the brand.
Another unconventional thing about this magazine is it is free. It is distributed via JD sports stores nationwide, universities and colleges, some fashion boutiques and retail outlets and also 1000 copies a month are distributed to fashion brands, record labels, public relations and marketing companies that share the same target audience as the magazine. The retailers they distribute their magazine to target the same audience. The money is money therefore is not made from sales, but it made from advertising inside the magazine and also unsigned artist may pay to be featured in RWD magazine. The magazine can also be accessed online through the digital version; this will increase their customer base. Having an online magazine also increases advertising space. The online magazine is extremely useful as you can access many issues and access the whole magazine online. It is very interactive, useful and clear, much like the magazine its self.
The target audience of this magazine is 15-24 olds with a faithful fan base in the 25-35 bracket, many of these hold key positions as consumers in the music and fashion industries. When looking through the advertisement you can easily tell the target audience especially by advertisements. Many advertisements are from fashion brands and most commonly more active wear such as JD sports and Freddie. The majority of advertisements are not well known companies. When HMV advertise, the artist on their front cover is an R&B artist, T.I, which is a much more common artist for youths. Also the articles are aimed at youths, for example, an article for the ‘Puma King Pro’. The winner was a sixteen year old boy and they interview him. Teenagers are more likely to read about people their own age rather than the older generation. In addition, teenagers, when they are unsure of their future, aspire to be like famous celebrities. Moreover, the models used in the fashion pages look around 18 and are wearing bright, youthful clothes.
The front cover is very simple and does not consist of much only an image, masthead, cover lines with a small typeface and close together and a small pug. This is very unconventional because other music magazines like to entice the reader by putting a lot of information and artists on the front cover. The image on the front cover is a big close-up of Jessie J employing a direct mode of address. Her facial expression is quite intimidating as she is staring directly at the reader relating to her star persona. This in a way draws the potential reader in as she looks quite mysterious. Also there is only a small section of writing about her. Her make-up is very unique and strange. Teenagers are more prone to changing their fashion suddenly and experimenting with fashion whereas the older generation would maybe look at a more formal or casual fashion. The simplicity of this front cover could be to widen their target audience as it is not too complicated as only one cover line is emphasised by its typeface size. The other cover lines which are of other artists again widen the audience as it shows it include other artists and genres.
The front cover is also unconventional as it is not common for text to be over the face in an image unless it is the masthead. This could be done because they do not want to take any attention away from the magazine itself. As it is free it will not be as well known so by hiding the masthead people may not remember the name as much. They can get away with this as Jessie J is a globally recognised artist and as the image is so big and is a close up, there is no attention taken away from the image.The small pug saying “we love issue” could be linked to Valentine’s Day as this is a recent issue. I noticed a massive change from previous front cover to this front cover. This one the face is covering almost the entire magazine and also a white artist is used. Previous issues use artists such as Skepta, Alesha Dixon and Tinchy Stryder. Another unconventional thing I noticed from a lot off issues is the colour of the masthead. Usually the masthead is recognisable and always the same colour, however the colour changes on the picture. For example in the previous issue featuring Alesha Dixon, the masthead is the same colour as her dress.
The masthead I feel is not noticed first because of the strong image on the front cover; however it is still clear and noticeable as the white typeface contras with Jessie J’s jet black hair. Her make-up, which is extremely pale, contrasts with her hair, make-up and clothes too. This front cover is not the same as the previous issues as most issues have the celebrity in the image over the masthead, whereas this issue, Jessie J is behind the masthead.
Previous issues of RWD usually include black artists and grime artists however their latest magazine feature, Jessie J, is a more R&B, Soul and Hip Hop artist. This shows how the magazine has changed over time from grime to more popular music making it mainstream. This could widen their target audience and increase their consumer base. The colours used are very dark and gothic, contrasting with the white masthead, but also comparing to her songs. All her songs are extremely different for example; ‘Do it Like a Dude’ is very aggressive and upbeat whereas her song ‘Price Tag’ is much calmer and happier. With this magazine also focusing on fashion, I think their use of mise-en-scene is effective. To show this they used a big close-up of Jessie J’s face because she is a new fashion icon and her make-up is very unique.
The publisher of this magazine is Nigel Wells and as this is a small, free magazine the publisher does not own a business, he just publishes this magazine. He has now introduced RWD television and radio but only for this magazine to increase the awareness of the brand.
Another unconventional thing about this magazine is it is free. It is distributed via JD sports stores nationwide, universities and colleges, some fashion boutiques and retail outlets and also 1000 copies a month are distributed to fashion brands, record labels, public relations and marketing companies that share the same target audience as the magazine. The retailers they distribute their magazine to target the same audience. The money is money therefore is not made from sales, but it made from advertising inside the magazine and also unsigned artist may pay to be featured in RWD magazine. The magazine can also be accessed online through the digital version; this will increase their customer base. Having an online magazine also increases advertising space. The online magazine is extremely useful as you can access many issues and access the whole magazine online. It is very interactive, useful and clear, much like the magazine its self.
The target audience of this magazine is 15-24 olds with a faithful fan base in the 25-35 bracket, many of these hold key positions as consumers in the music and fashion industries. When looking through the advertisement you can easily tell the target audience especially by advertisements. Many advertisements are from fashion brands and most commonly more active wear such as JD sports and Freddie. The majority of advertisements are not well known companies. When HMV advertise, the artist on their front cover is an R&B artist, T.I, which is a much more common artist for youths. Also the articles are aimed at youths, for example, an article for the ‘Puma King Pro’. The winner was a sixteen year old boy and they interview him. Teenagers are more likely to read about people their own age rather than the older generation. In addition, teenagers, when they are unsure of their future, aspire to be like famous celebrities. Moreover, the models used in the fashion pages look around 18 and are wearing bright, youthful clothes.
The front cover is very simple and does not consist of much only an image, masthead, cover lines with a small typeface and close together and a small pug. This is very unconventional because other music magazines like to entice the reader by putting a lot of information and artists on the front cover. The image on the front cover is a big close-up of Jessie J employing a direct mode of address. Her facial expression is quite intimidating as she is staring directly at the reader relating to her star persona. This in a way draws the potential reader in as she looks quite mysterious. Also there is only a small section of writing about her. Her make-up is very unique and strange. Teenagers are more prone to changing their fashion suddenly and experimenting with fashion whereas the older generation would maybe look at a more formal or casual fashion. The simplicity of this front cover could be to widen their target audience as it is not too complicated as only one cover line is emphasised by its typeface size. The other cover lines which are of other artists again widen the audience as it shows it include other artists and genres.
The front cover is also unconventional as it is not common for text to be over the face in an image unless it is the masthead. This could be done because they do not want to take any attention away from the magazine itself. As it is free it will not be as well known so by hiding the masthead people may not remember the name as much. They can get away with this as Jessie J is a globally recognised artist and as the image is so big and is a close up, there is no attention taken away from the image.The small pug saying “we love issue” could be linked to Valentine’s Day as this is a recent issue. I noticed a massive change from previous front cover to this front cover. This one the face is covering almost the entire magazine and also a white artist is used. Previous issues use artists such as Skepta, Alesha Dixon and Tinchy Stryder. Another unconventional thing I noticed from a lot off issues is the colour of the masthead. Usually the masthead is recognisable and always the same colour, however the colour changes on the picture. For example in the previous issue featuring Alesha Dixon, the masthead is the same colour as her dress.
The masthead I feel is not noticed first because of the strong image on the front cover; however it is still clear and noticeable as the white typeface contras with Jessie J’s jet black hair. Her make-up, which is extremely pale, contrasts with her hair, make-up and clothes too. This front cover is not the same as the previous issues as most issues have the celebrity in the image over the masthead, whereas this issue, Jessie J is behind the masthead.
In conclusion, the way this magazine is presented is very clear and not complicated. Even though there is not much on it, it does still look professional and expensive. I think the artist choice also help this as Jessie J is very well known at the moment.
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