Front Cover Analysis

The magazine is a music magazine.

From the images on the front cover , such as the guitar the reader can assume that the articles in this magazaine are going to be centred mainly around music, also the model holding the guitar is a very famous musician, this also is an indicator that the magazine’ main focus is music.

The target audience for this magazine are people who are interested in the rock genre of music, as the name Rolling Stone has been taken from a well known rock band from the 1960’s, this could also mean that the magazine is aimed mainly at people from that era or who are interested in that specific type of music, but the model on the front cover creates a more of a up to date image, as Christina Aguilera (the model) is a more recent artist who is still performing and making music, this allows a wider audience for the magazine, as this will attract a younger audience who are interested in Christina Aguilera.

The People who would be interested in this magazine would be interested in knowing the latest news and artists, especially within the genre of rock.
Look at the central image. What mode of address is the magazine using?The model is using a central mode of address in this image, this is so that the reader feels more intimate or involved with the model, this mode of address is used so that the reader feels that there is a relationship between the model and themselves, this is so that the reader feels more attracted to the magazine and this will encourage him/her to purchase it.

The woman on the front cover is Christina Aguilera is on the front cover, this is to attract a younger audience to read the magazine, as she is a very recent and famous ‘pop’ singer, the creators of the magazine may have done this to widen the target audience of the magazine or to show a crossover of genres within the magazine, this idea can be taken from the guitar which she is holding, as this is an instrument mostly used by rock artists and as she is a pop artist it can be seen that she is experimenting or crossing over genres.

The artist seems to want to appear to be ‘sexy’ or as a more feisty person, this is seem through the lack of clothing in this image and also the anchorage text, which reads ‘inside the dirty mind of pop princess’, this shows that the artist is also very confidential, as the reader would like to get inside her mind in order to know about her.

There are not any puffs on this front cover, but the anchorage text tells us that there will be interviews or confessions from Christina Aguilera.
What colours are used?The colours in this shot are very limited and other than the model, the main two colours seen in this image are blue and red, the red can be seen as representing lust or anger, whereas blue is often seen as a neutral colour and also very calming, therefore the colours in the image are very contradictory and can be seen as confusing the emotions within the image.

The font used for the title on this magazine is typically seen on the Rolling Stones magazine and is the signature font for this magazine, this is so that the reader can familiarise with the magazine and can identify that it is the Rolling Stones magazine.

The magazine uses the presence of a naked woman to attract a larger male audience to view this magazine, also the colours used make the magazine more incising and can make the reader more interested in the magazine, as the red colours convey the feeling of lust and are very warm, whereas the blue colours are very cool and are a brilliant contrast to this.

From the front cover it is possible to deduct the theory that the magazine is going to involve articles on Snoop Dogg and how he ‘reigns supreme’, another issue that we can assume their is going to be included in this magazine is a rivalry or some sort of competition between; Flo Rida, Shawty Lo, Rick Ross, Soulja Boyand Lupe Fiasco, this is because of the accompanying text beside the list of their names, which reads; ‘FUTURE OF THE WEST’ ‘WHO GOT NEXT’ which makes the reader come to the assumption that they are competing or fighting to become the ’FUTUREOFTHE WEST’.

The target audience of this magazine would be teenagers, most probably male that are interested in rap and hip hop music, this is the reason that the names of the well known, established rappers being placed on this page and also why their is the controversial text implying that there is competition between them.Look at the central image.

The Magazine is using a direct mode of address, as even though the person in the central image is not facing the camera directly, he is still looking directly at it which brings a direct mode of address.

Snoop Dogg is the person on the front cover, he has been chosen for this magazine as this is a magazine which is aimed at an audience of people who are interested in the rap genre of music and he is one of the biggest most successful rap artists in the world. This is a technique often used by music magazines, and as rap music is the topic of choice for this magazine, it makes perfect sense for there to be a successful rap star to be on the front cover.

The artist is giving the impression that he is demanding respect from the reader, this can be seen through the direct mode of address that he is using, also the all black clothes that he has chosen to wear give the impression that he is more withdrawn and secluded. But contrapuntal to this is the supporting text, ‘The ultimate hustler reigns supreme’ as this then gives the impression that he is a figure of higher power and the choice of words such as ‘reigns supreme’ gives the reader the impression that he is seen as a figure of higher power or almost a king.

The puffs of text that read, ‘Future of the west, Who got next?’ implies that there will be some sort of rivalry or controversial statements mentioned within the magazine concerning a number of artists or individuals, the list of names following this text also gives away the rivalries and furthers the readers knowledge on this subject.

The colours are mainly dark blued and blacks, this is to add a feeling of suspicion to the image and the character within it, as the use of black leather gloves or all black attire is usually used to hide or conceal the identity of a person.

The magazine uses the presence of a famous artist to attract the audience, this is the strategy often seen on music magazines, as the reader may be more interested if they recognise the face on the front cover, also the puff that reads ‘Future of the West, who’s got next?’ creates controversy and this is another factor that attracts many people to reading a magazine, as this makes the reader suspicious and want to read further into the situation to gain a further knowledge.