Codes and conventions of front covers

There are certain ingredients a music magazine needs to consist of to be considered good or conventional.

-The colour scheme usually consists of simple colours, preferably three or four to ensure they do not clash.

-The colours are supposed to reinforce the brand.

-Main coverline links to main image

-All font in same style
-Top/bottom strip to give further information about what may be included in the magazine
-Barcode/Dateline & Price to show the date the magazine is published and how much it is to purchase
-A masthead created with known typography to ensure the readers become familiar with what they are reading

-Text relating to image must be close to the image it relates to.

-Plain background if possible, this does not distract attention from the main image.

-Image of band or artist included on front.

-If the image is a band, the shot is usually a long or medium shot so that the whole band can fit in the picture.

-If the image is focused solely on a single artist the shot is usually a medium close up.
-Person or persons in main image usually make direct eye contact with the camera.
-Body language displayed in the image must fit genre.