Rolling Stone Front Cover Analysis

• Rolling Stone magazine masthead is placed behind the feature article photo as it is such a well-known brand and is a recognisable masthead. The masthead is bold and has been used in a large font style, and has been placed at the top of the page, always positioned directly centre in the middle. The colour and the font of the masthead are recognisable to Rolling Stone Company, and are effective and catching to the customer/reader. The justification of the masthead is effective as it being directly in the middle at the top of the page catches the reader’s attention of the masthead. Placing the masthead in red with a white boarder and a black drop shadow makes a 3D effect. This helps make it stand out as if it is coming off the page, implying a real importance about the magazine company.
• However the main feature article photo has been placed in front of the masthead. The feature article photo is of a band called The Sheepdogs. Placing the feature article photo in front of the masthead creates a sense of importance about The Sheepdogs in which the readers have to look at their article. The photo is more unconventional than conventional as there ae four people in the image. However, linking back to the importance of the band, another thing that shows this is the angle in which the photo has been taken at. The low angled shot allows the reader to almost look up to them. With the band making direct eye contact it enforces a more inviting feel for the readers. The feature article photo is a clear image with no sense of noise to it what so ever, making it look appealing. Also giving a sense of new rock and roll age in a new generation.
• The cover lines have been flushed left on the front cover. This is effective and is good for the readers as people read from left to right, and so this is easier for customers to read and makes it conventional. The cover lines have been placed in a large white font with a black outline, just like the masthead as it has a black outline as well. This helps the article information to stand out in order to attract the reader’s attention.
• The headline has been placed at the bottom of the magazine front cover. The band name The Sheepdogs has been placed in the largest font for the readers to know that this is the main feature article. Even though it has been placed at the bottom of the page, Rolling Stone have positioned it infront of the main feature article photo. Placing it in this way makes it effective as the word “Sheepdogs” stands out on the the feature artcile photo, immediately allowing the readers to know who the band are and whata the magazine article is going to be about.
• The mise-en-scene of the photo is of  the band The Sheepdogs, staring directly at you with a slight squint. This connotes that the men are trying to aim to be of a higher importance and that they are there to looked up to, maybe showing that there is also a story behind them. This could lead the target audience of both mixed gender, from teenagers upwards to middle aged people. The image for the feature article photo also links in with the conventions of the 3 colour scheme of black red and white. For the conventions they use 3 main colours red, black and white. This also helps associate the colours with the magazine brand. In every issue they use these colours to identify their brand. The typography on the front cover has two types of font. This sticks to the conventions of a magazine, as most magazines don’t have more than 2 or 3 types of font. In the issues of Rolling Stone they always use the same fonts so people can associate the fonts with the magazine.
• The mode of address gives an informal tone about the magazine. This is through the topics in the magazine and the feature article photo on the front cover through what they are wearing. The facial expression on The Sheepdogs faces is quite informal as they are squinting in a way that makes them look as if they is scowling.  This gives the overall tone a serious feel about the magazine as thier scowl on their faces show they are serious. The headline includes “a very hairy rock & roll fairy tale” which may imply the serious feel to the front cover.
• From the layout and the form of the magazine front cover, the demographics of the magazine are aimed at both a wide range from teenagers upwards to middle aged people. For the layout and form, the magazine is much organised which intrigues a large age range but mainly older people as well as they like organisation and a clean layout. The celebrities and artists advertised and shown in the article is a mixture and a range of people of different genres and age groups, this appeals to a mixed gender, so this appeals to a wider range of people. The price range of the magazine is cheap for a well-known and successful brand. This would mean that it is aimed at any social class in society, as many people would be able to afford this brand magazine.
• Fillers have been used on the front cover to fill extra space. The fillers used were a barcode with the price of the magazine and a circular advertisement on the front cover advertising that there is a front cover contest and The Sheepdogs are the winners. This can advertise the success of the band and the magazine as they have offered unsigned bands a chance to be put on the front cover of Rolling Stone. This would interest people and want people to buy the magazine.
• The denotation of the magazine is of a Rock & Roll band with a scruffy look to them witht the image being presented from a low angle with a long shot, and the image clear and not pixleated giving it a new feel to the magazine.  This connotation tells the reader that as the image is along shot of all four men it could mean that the article about the band and the individual members is a personal interview and a intersting and creative story about them.