This is the famous music magazine that is Rolling Stone! It has been in the shops now since 1962,
and is still a well-known name to most music fan’s today! It is a US based magazine with Jann
Wenner, (who founded Rolling Stone) as both the editor and publisher of this well established music
magazine which is released every fortnight.
This is my second analysis of a music magazine which in this case is Rolling Stone, however, unlike
magazines such as NME and Q, we can see that this magazine’s front cover does not immediately
reveal to us what style or genre Rolling Stone wants to be associated with as we see the main image
is the US rapper, Jay-Z but adds in a diverse range of cover lines and artists names such as Sting,
maybe suggesting that this particular magazine does not want to have one type of target audience
and wants all music lovers to be their niche market. By analyzing this front cover page, it will be able
to advise me in ways that I could attract my target audience and help me in designing the front
cover. This particular Rolling Stone cover keeps us up to date with the latest celebrity gossip and
information on the celebrities especially Jay-Z, (who is of course the unique selling point.) The
masthead is very clear and visible, the main image figure’s head is placed behind the masthead,
therefore, indicating to us that this magazine still wants its name to be revealed so that the niche
market, (anybody)can be easily introduced to it.
It is quite clear to anybody that this is a magazine which intends to attract those who are most
interested in the musicians that it mentions in the issues they release as the front cover in this
particular issue mentions around seven artists which are featured inside, however, there is only one
picture and that is of Jay-Z. This then expresses to us that he is the most important aspect of the
magazine and also relates with the cover line stating that he is the King of America therefore,
showing that he is in a league of his own and that nobody else should be sharing the front cover with
him- stating his importance. This magazine immediately reveals to us however, that a wide range of
bands are covered in this magazine and that hopefully many will find something interesting to read,
therefore, enhancing my point that everyone is Rolling Stone’s niche market. Immediately we are
drawn to the bold cover line which states: ‘HOW JAY-Z BECAME KING OF AMERICA’. This intrigues
the public as they want to know this celebrity’s story and how he became so successful, this also
points out that the magazine journalist’s had an interview with him and many fan’s of the ‘King of
America’ will be willing to buy it to keep up with the latest gossip from the rapper himself. It also
over exaggerates how much of a pleasure and privilege it is to have Jay-Z on the front cover as it
makes him seem like a celebrity that everyone wants to interview, thus, adding attracting to the
magazine and making it stand out from other music magazines. Also, on the left third we see a cover
line which says the names of the following celebrities: ‘DAVE MATTHEWS, TOM PETTY and STING’
these famous names where added order to attract fans of these people and to add mystery to what
is actually said about these celebrities in this issue as it does not mention anything but their names
on the front cover, which is a clever way that Rolling Stone enhances its chances of better sales.
However, there is another reason why these cover lines are placed on the left third, it is because
when magazines are placed on a shelf, many of them overlap each other and what we can only see is
the left third at first and therefore, these are the cover line’s which Rolling Stone thinks’ will attract
those who are into their music. We also see the cover line, ‘SUMMER TOUR MELTDOWN. EMPTY
SEATS, CANCELLED SHOWS.’ Immediately this adds drama to the entire issue as we as the public
want to know what has happened to cause shows to be called off, Rolling Stone has thought this
would be a good cover line as it gives us some information of what is inside but not enough to give
away the entire story, again this cover line adds intensity to the magazine has we want to know so
many things like what actually happened and therefore, delivers us desirable information.
Furthermore, all the cover lines which were added have been put in various places, (the right third
and left third)to have an effect on the public, however, the main theme it has on us is curiosity due
to the fact that everything mentioned has a story to it and is a clue of what we can expect to read
inside, which is an important feature to have as this will show me to only add cover line’s which are
related to the magazine and which will be featured in the magazine and also to add mystery to the
music magazine so that my target audience will be intrigued about what is inside my product.
The main image stands out in this issue. It is a typical close up shot of the celebrity thus illustrating
that only he matters as the image takes up about 80-85% of the front cover; it also brings out the
fact that there is information on Jay-Z telling us how he became so successful so therefore we get up
close and personal to him. His appearance fully matches with the cover line that he is the King
through the use of his facial expression, his clothing and his accessories. The black leather coat
portrays to us that this is an important celebrity and that he means business, it also can come across
to be quite intimidating as many associate the leather with people who are in the rock style of
music. His facial expression is a very important aspect in the front cover as he has a serious
expression and is not smiling- this creates the idea that he does not like messing around and that he
is not on the front cover to be all happy and bubbly, but to give his story and get straight to the
point, therefore, again creating the idea that he means business and that he should not be messed
with, therefore, setting the mood of the magazine and revealing that his is in fact the King or at least
sees himself as one again which fits perfectly to the cover line ‘HOW JAY-Z BECAME KING OF
AMERICA’. This shows me that my artist / band must show their expression in relation to their main
cover line. However, the biggest, most intimidating feature is Jay-Z’s sunglasses, this causes the
reader to feel slightly at edge as we cannot see his eyes, thus, conveying the feeling that maybe this
man has something to hide and does not want to get up close and personal with fans, it also shows
that he is in a league of his own and the sunglasses make him have that ‘cool’ effect and that nobody
can possibly match up to his standards therefore, stating that Rolling Stone have put this celebrity in
these clothes and accessories to enhance the importance of him and to also make the image a very
eye-catching, effective one.
In this particular issue of Rolling Stone, the main colour theme is red, white and black. The masthead
is placed in the skyline in red, bold writing. The red stands out effectively as the white background
truly helps to bring it out and make it look as if it were 3D and as a result has a better effect as the
magazine looks more professional and more clean cut. This masthead has been chosen red in order
to make it be the first thing people look at when looking at the front cover of the issue and also gives
the magazine a house style as the Rolling Stone masthead is always red and in that particular font
meaning that it is instantly recognisable. We are then pulled to read the next cover line in the white
which states: ‘KING OF AMERICA’ this is because this is the most important cover line in the
magazine and is one in which Rolling Stone thinks’ will be the cover line which best sells the
magazine’s issue. The red writing above it which is also a part of the cover line is less noticeable as it
only connects the sentence for it to make sense, we also notice that the white is more in your face
than the red, this is again due to the font size emphasising the importance of the end of the
sentence. Then we have the black cover lines, but these cover lines do not stand out as the red
overtakes them, however, they too are in capital letters but in a different font size therefore,
portraying that they are included in the magazine of Rolling Stone but they are not the most exciting
features within the magazine yet still providing readers with a diverse range of topics, from the
summer tour meltdown to the gulf oil spill.
The style of the magazine is informal even though the ‘R’ on Rolling looks quite formal. Everything
looks in order – meaning that the cover lines are placed out carefully and are not hectic looking.
They are not placed on random places on the magazine – they are either at the top of the left third
and right third or at the bottom right third, (the main cover line is at the bottom right third,
matching to the fact that Jay-Z is in a league of his own and not even cover lines should be placed
beside his.) This reveals that Rolling Stone wants its consumers to be able to look and read the
magazine comfortably and not wonder what cover line to read first- which is an important feature as
this increases the chance of the public reading the all the cover lines and finding something that
might interest them rather than missing a cover line in a chaotic magazine that may be the reason
they would have bought it. The magazine looks to have a glossy cover and have covered a good
range of artists, therefore, this magazine looks to be one that does cost a bit of money but as it is
out every fortnight, present consumers and new ones will be willing to pay that extra
bit of money. Everything in the front cover expresses to us that this magazine thinks
of all the different people it attracts and of course they know that they have a
younger audience as we see that nothing is unsuitable for younger people to read,
therefore, enhancing their sales and allowing themselves to have a wider niche
market. However we also see that men dominate this magazine as the main image is
of a male and the cover lines only feature male’s names, therefore, perhaps indicating to the public
that more men than women would be interested in this issue.
Finally, I believe that this Rolling Stone magazine front cover is very effective, mainly due to the main
image of Jay-Z. I fully believe he takes the role of the King very well and portrays himself successfully
in the issue. I also believe that this is a magazine that wants to have a wide range of consumers and
therefore, adds in many diverse bands to enable them to achieve that. Their cover lines such as
‘SUMMER TOUR MELTDOWN EMPTY SEATS CANCELLED SHOWS’ are extremely interesting and will
encourage the public to buy the magazine to find out what exactly happened. I believe that with the
US sensation Jay-Z as the main image, he will add to the magazine and show the public that rock and
rap do go together. Furthermore, I feel that the colours also help to set the mood of the magazine as
the red and white almost represent the American flag – again relating to the theme of Jay-Z being
King of America.