The document outlines the codes and conventions commonly found on music magazine covers. It discusses various elements like the masthead, cover image, coverlines, positioning statements, and house style. The main cover image aims to engage readers through direct address while surrounding coverlines provide brief information on magazine contents. Mastheads, positioning statements, and house style help identify the magazine's brand and genre. Together, all these visual elements are designed to attract buyers and communicate what's inside the magazine.

1. Codes and Conventions of
music magazines

2. Mastheads
The mast head is positioned at the top of the magazine cover above the main image. It
is always bigger than any of the other writing on the page and the font is unique.

3. Main cover image
The main image is typically centred in the middle of the page and uses direct address to
engage the audience and draw them in. The image is the main focus of the page and
therefore needs to be visually striking. The person’s/ people’s facial expressions, clothing and
other body features e.g. tattoos or piercings can help to communicate the genre of the
magazine also featuring well known and relevant bands can intrigue buyers.

4. Main Coverlines
The main cover line always relates to the cover image and is bigger than any of the other
coverlines on the page, this ensures that it stands out. The coverline often contains an enticing
quote relating to the star(s) in the image and suggests that the article is an interview

5. Coverlines
Coverlines feature brief information on what
is in inside a magazine in order to interest
readers and give them an insight.
They surround the main image and
may sometimes go over it but
never cover the face or faces of the
people in the image.
A coverline typically has a main
line that is bold and then further
information underneath in a smaller
font and often different colour.
This highlights the point that will
draw the reader and then provide
the necessary info.

6. Positioning Statement
The positioning statement is always near the masthead and is sometimes like a slogan for the
magazine. It positions the magazine within the marketplace and can often act as an encouragement for
certain people to buy. For example ‘The UK’s Biggest music magazine’ is an eye catching statement
that would interest people with a love for music.

7. Issue info, barcode and price
The barcode is practically always placed in the bottom corner of the
magazine cover and the issue information and price is either just above it or
underneath the masthead in a really small font.

8. Skyline
A skyline is a strip of writing, mainly in a banner, placed above the masthead.
Often, this is where the positioning statement is written but incentives and
offers that would catch a reader’s eye can also be written in here.

9. Banners
The banner is a bigger
strip along the page
and usually if not
always contains the
main coverline. It
helps the coverline to
stand out more and
sets it aside from
other features on the
page

10. Puffs
Puffs are obvious and
often vibrant shapes
on the page that
usually contain
incentives- something
that aims to
encourage people to
want to read the
magazine.
A puff looks like a sticker
and stands out from other
features on the page to
catch the eye of a reader

11. Incentives and buzzwords
Incentives and Buzz Words are
words and phrases, typically
contained inside a puff, that
encourage and persuade the
audience to either read, buy or
perhaps take part in a
competition inside.
A buzz word is usually
highlighted, often using a bigger
font or different colour to catch
the eye of a reader.

12. House style
The house style is the brand style and ethos of a magazine. Depending on the genre or the audience the magazine
is aimed at, the magazine will be bold in colour or quite plain, crowded or quite empty in comparison.
The style of font and colour
scheme is personal to the
magazine, it can also help
suggest the genre through
its connotations
Style of layout and language very
often determines the genre and
audience. A busier cover might
suggest teenagers and a tidier cover
says more sophisticated and mature
Mise en scene helps to create a suitable look for a
particular genre. Clothing, lighting, expression, body
language, makeup, hair and props are different depending
on the music genre the magazine is aimed at but all help
reveal the style.