Magazine

The magazine's I have chosen to research is VIBE magazine and XXL magazine. Both magazines fall into the R&B/HipHop music genre. Both magazines are known for promoting artists and detailed features of artists lifes, including articles and special features from up and coming Artists, to the most well known artsist such as J.Cole, Drake, Lil Wayne and many more artists. Both magazines promote and advertise artists concent, singles and albums. As I listen to this genre of music, I believe that these two magazeins will help me in making my own music magazine.

These two video clip's are both from Youtube, the video on the left is from VIBE's youtube channel, and the video on the right is from XXL's Youtube channel. Both video's show an insight of what goes on behind the scenes at both magazines, showing the photoshoot to the interviews themself's.

Masthead

Front covers

Skylines

Skylines help promote other features in the magazine, in another sense the skyline is sell line. Through the colour scheme used on this front cover, the skyline stands out a large amount due to the yellow and the white being promiment on the black background.

Masthead

On XXL's magazine the masthead is the magazine name. White and red really contrast one another, so the use of white writing on a red back ground really makes the text stand out. Once again just like on VIBE's magazine, the masthead is the largest piece of text, this also for the same reason, for the desired reader to identify their magazine.

Masthead

On this magazine the Masthead is the title, this is usually the case in all magazines. The masthead is usally the largest text on the cover, this is so the target audiance/customer can identify the magazine out from the rest that are on the shelfs. On this magazine the mast head is in white, bold and capital letters which stands out hugely against the black back ground. This is located at the top of the page, and when a person first looks at a page, their eyes first go to the top left hand side of the page, and this going straight onto the title.

Skyline

Skyline

Although skylines are usually used as a form of advertisting and helps to show what is inside the magazine, XXL hasn't used a skyline on this front cover, but not using one has helped to keep the cover plain and affective, this not over crowding the front cover and allowing the readers attention to be drawn in on the main image and main sell line.

Cover Lines / Sell Lines

Banners

Banners

These are used as heading on the VIBE magazine. The first one saying EXCLUSIVE, this showing that it is a one off feature and no where else has the same interview. This is a way to attract a customer to buy this magazine.

Sell Lines

Sell lines are spread out around the front cover, these help to fill the page and make the cover look much neater. Just like the Skylines these sell lines are in yellow and white, again helping them to stand out against the black background.

Main Image - Usually a medium Shot

Sell lines

Again XXL haven't used many on this front cover, they have only used one. This again keeping their front cover clean and simple. By using black text on a light grey background, and a large white plus sign, this help's the text to stand out and grab the reader, aswell as the 'plus' sign showing that the following is included in the magazine.

Barcode, Issue Number, Date, Price(s) and website

Main image

The main image on this magazine has to be the main selling pointdue to its sheer size. This image is a medium shot getting nearly the two people full body included in the picture, and looks to be shot in a studio. The size and quality of the picture grabs the readers attention a significant amount. You are automatically drawn in by the amount of chains around Soulja Boy's neck and the amount of tattoo's on his body, this emphasising this whelth and his rebelious side. As for 50 Cent, the white mask he is wearing contrasts with his skin colour and shows of the size of his muscles. the mask could ask show that he wants to hide his identity, but as he is revealing his story in the magazine,

Main Sell Line

Main image

On a magazine front cover, the photo usually used is a medium shot, or a medium close up. This is to show the person being featured, and to show a clear image of who it is being featured. Drake is shown in the picture having no expression, to say he doesnt care, and is laid back. He is wearing his Snapback cap to show he's relaxed and cool, and his bling he has on show, shows off his wealth.

Main sell line

The main sell line captures the readers attention as to what consist's in the magazine. It is saying how Drake is 'unstoppable' at the moment. It is giving the person a rough idea of what Drake's interview and feature in the magazine will be about. This is the second largest piece of text on the page, so this being the second most important point on the page. It is short and snappy, it gives the reader a short snap of what it is about, but intreges the reader, so you buy the magazine and reader read on.

Main sell line

The main sell line is presented in black text with a white background, these two colours are also great colours to use to contrast one another. The main sell line is shown in large text, being the second thing that the readers attention is drawn to. This is used to show the main importance of what is inside the magazine.

Contents page

There is a very large V in the background of the page, this is just to spruce the page up a little, aswell as the VIBE logo in the top right corner.

The contents page is usually similar in colour of the front page to follow on the colour scheme

The features in the magazine are easily recognisable due to a large title saying 'FEATURES' which is in white text, against a deep red background so it stands out even more.

The title for the contents page is the same in each of VIBE's magazine, and is sytled in a way that grabs your attention. The text is large so the reader knows which page they are on, and the white text contrasts very well with the deep red back ground.

The image used on this contents page is a close up, this taking up most of the page. This shows lots of detail of the person and you can make the person out clearly. Due to its size it really draws the reader in. The colour of the artists shirt and the back ground are quite close so this makes the artist look to be with one in the picture.

Articles which are present in the magazine are shown down the left hand side. These are put into sections, in page order so teh reader can be directed to where they want to be. These categories introduce new artist, existing artist, interviews.

There is a large image in the middle of the page, this is a medium close up. This draws your attention almost immediately. This image is different to the photo which is shown on the front cover. This picture also shows another artist who is featured in the magazine

The features are shown clearly on the right hand side of the page, also in white writing which helps it to stand out. Page numbers are also next to the articles so the reader can be easily directed to their desired area.

Double page spread

The text used in the feature is black, and is used against a white back ground, making it clear for the reader to see. They have highlighted the questions asked by the interviewer so the reader knows what the replys are talking about in terms of the answer.

Any important quote from the artist being interviewed in highlighten in black and stands our from the rest of the page.

The costumes used by the 'Black eyed peas' helps to portray their fashion sence and style of music, being different and out there