Analysis Of Magazine Front CoversCover 2. SPIN 2010

Florence Welch Edition

FRONT COVER ANALYSIS

THE MASTHEADSimilar to other music magazines, the masthead is located in the left hand corner. Editing white capital font against the red rectangular box, contrasts the colour and makes the company logo stand out to the buyer. This typical SPIN masthead gives the magazine identity which relates to the readers. The black/white and slightly red colour theme runs through the rest of this copy.

USE OF FLASHER (offering something extra to T.A)The oblong flasher adds an extra important note to this particular issue, putting a flasher suggests that like producers are speaking to the reader in a way to influence them to buy and have a read.

BACKGROUNDThe background on this is used to add sophistication and that added detail of professionalism, which may effect the type of reader. It contrasts with against Florence dominating the front cover, and leaves the information, and image do the selling to the buyer.

RULE OF THIRDS/THE RIGHT THIRD This issue of SPIN incorporates the rule of thirds, especially on the right side. This draws the buyers attention to emphasis certain areas of the front cover, even though the image is very powerful, on the information side of things, the target audience would look instantly at the right, for features and extra news. This issue doesn’t have a lot going on but the layout works so the focus is on the artist’s photograph and her story inside.

THE HEADERThe header is a pointer towards what this magazine is during this month. This magazine is one of the limited best sellers, and the company have definitely used a method creatively to shout this at the buyer. They use bold, harsh, and dark fonts, even underlining words to force out the importance, informing the audience of what is happening.

THE MAIN IMAGEThis beautiful photograph of Florence completely dominates the front cover showing the buyer exactly who is going to be featured inside the copy. It is a medium close up, and she is looking directly at the audience to show closeness, and almost exaggerate a relation to her life, yet she is sexualized to broaden the target audience. She looks glamorous, with the wind blowing her hair, including sequins and make-up, which indicates what type of person would pick this cover up.

THE MAIN COVER LINEThe main cover line tells the reader who Florence is and what band she is part of, it introduces her and lets the buyer know who is inside. The black textbox with the white typography works well to emphasis class, it immediately jumps out against her glittery outfit. It also gives hints as to what type of genre of music is revealed inside.

THE FOOTERThe footer explains what issue this is and the series it is part of, within this area is also who interviewed and photographed Florence, it gives extra information and includes important facts.

TARGET AUDIENCE OF THIS MAGAZINE

People who may read this magazine could be people interested in the artist on the front cover, or the article mentioned in the main cover line, advertisements through selling lines or flashers. The target audience average age is 29, nearly 40% of the readers are between the age of 22 to 29, and 36% between the age of 25 to 34, most readers are male. This magazine would appeal to people interested in indie/rock/soft rock/rap/hip-hop/RnB/soul/new age/electric and up coming bands, others may be interested in fashion of new technology, influences from the musicians, producers and record labels. SPIN have a varied target audience depending on the artist on the front cover due to all the genres it features, the copies and how well they sell rest upon who is photographed, generally a younger, contemporary musician. SPIN is published monthly, the magazine costs £4.50, the only downside is the price but is only a monthly magazine.

METHODS USED TO ATTRACT THIS TARGET AUDIENCE ARE:

The relevant and powerful, sexy image of Florence appeals to the type of reader, instantly. It dominates this particular copy, and going by research would interest the male buyer. Her sexualized pose, shows it may not be suitable for all ages but it draws attention to the type of artist she is and gives the magazine a glossy edited outlook of the magazine. The SPIN masthead uses bright colours to give maximum impact of the company, and the unique selling point of this magazine is the artists image spread across the whole cover. The front cover is very clear and clean using bold and capital font types to emphasis target audience sophistication. The language within the selling lines is quite formal, but contradicts Florence looking right at the buyer. Introducing features and interviews gives extra information so the reader knows a little before buying.

STRETCH AND CHALLENGE ACTIVITY

WHO PUBLISHES THE MAGAZINE- HOW MANY SALES DOES IT MAKE?The publisher of SPIN magazine is called Malcolm Campbell, and he has been doing it since 2006. On average, SPIN sells 540, 000 copies.

WHAT GENRE/TYPE OF MAGAZINE IS IT? DETAILS OF ITS CONTENT AND THE ARTISTS/BANDS IT CURRENTLY FEATURES. SPIN involves many different genres of music, ranging from rock/indie to pop/hip-hop all depending on who is pictured on the front cover and who is big on the music scene at the time, showing it is a very updated company. The contents consist of features, editorials, interviews, images and albums from the biggest selling musicians of the time, keeping on track and giving reader’s new gossip is what keeps them interested. It generally catches the attention of people who are interested by music and want to hear about new bands and learn about the lives of musicians.

GENERAL BACKGROUND- HOW, WHEN IT STARTED, HOW IT HAS CHANGED AND WHY?SPIN has always being a music magazine and it was founded by Bob Guccione Jr in 1985. Early years, the magazine was represented due to it’s emphasis on college-orientated rock music and ongoing emergence of hip hop. It has being known to vary between genres of music but has the ability to provide alternative styles within it’s special features.

MORE DETAILED RESEARCH INTO SPIN MAGAZINE