Generic
Conventions of music magazines
Billboard magazine
One of the most generic conventions of Billboard
Magazine, and in most music magazines, is the title head of the magazine. They
maintain consistency by using exactly the same font, they do this so that
the audience can recognise the magazine really easily. The title is bold, big,
eye-catching and is placed in the centre and top of the magazine. This is done so that the readers will know that the masthead will be
there, so that it isn’t always necessary to have it completely on show.
Sometimes the central figures partially cover it like in the examples above.
The central figure/s help to maintain a stereotype, as well as customer
loyalty. They are always current and popular and mostly all pop icons, such as
Adele and Rihanna. The central figures are usually made up and made to look
glamourous.
Customer loyalty is maintained primarily by maintaining features
from issue to issue. These include interviews with and articles about current
and relative artists, gig listings and posters. In my opinion, I think that Billboard
is aimed mainly at females and males from teenager years to late thirties.
On a typical Music Magazine Double Page Spread, there is always a main picture, title and column text. These are all generic conventions of what a music magazine typically looks like. The title is always bold and eye-catching and there is always a consistency in fonts. The main picture is an image of the artist/band which is featured on the front cover of the magazine. The double page spread is usually an interview with the artist or a description of what the artist is currently doing.
The contents page of a music magazine is very generic and most magazines are very similar. There is always a variety of photos so that the reader can have insight in what will be in the magazine, the page is split up into grids and sections, and there is always a list of page numbers and what is the pages about. There is also a main picture used in the contents page which is usually a picture of the artist or band featured on the front of the magazine.
These are all generic conventions which are featured in all types of Music Magazine which make it stand out and effective for readers.
