Analysis of professional magazine covers

• Masthead - The masthead is usually based at the top of the magazine cover with the biggest font which is a plain font style so that the reader can read it from a distance. The font size is the largest on the cover to stand out more this is also done by having the masthead a different colour to the other text on the page.

• Cover lines - The main cover line is a large piece of text normally located in front of the image using colours related to the colour scheme.  Cover lines are short statements that allude to or describe the articles inside. 

• Main image - The main image will be of high quality standard usually a studio photograph in  a close-up or mid shot. The main image will usually be the main features article in that specific issue, this is because that artist will sell magazines. 

• Positioning Statement- A positioning statement is a heading or caption for a music magazine, usually based at the top of the magazine just above of the masthead. The positioning statement will tend to stand out from above the masthead, this is because the language that is used in the positioning statement makes the reader want to open the magazine and mind out more on the story.

• Colour scheme -  The colour scheme for a music magazine will tend to consist off 2-4 colours which tend to be simple colours this is because it will add a distinctive design. As I will be making a EDM 'Electro Dance Music' magazine the colours must be bright colours which will make my magazine stand out from others.  

• Prices - The prices of professional Music Magazines may vary from as low as £3 to £6, this depends on multiple things such as the issue size, Popularity of brand, Genre of music, frequency of publication. however the pries off unknown Music Magazine are much lower around £2.50 as the product will be off less quality and less size.

• Puffs - Puffs are words or phrases on the front cover which offers something else to the magazine such as free giveaways to boost the status of the magazine.

• Bar codes - Bar codes tend to be located in the bottom right corner of the front cover, there tend to also be other things around the bar code. These include the date published, the issue number, website and the price of the magazine.