B&S Magazine

The Masthead
The masthead of this magazine is abbreviating the two genres of blues and soul. This keeps the language short and snappy which allows the reader to remember these two letters. It’s easier to remember so this helps the reader recommend the magazine to other people due to the short title. The title is short which helps widen their target audience as children/young adults can remember the title of the magazine and will be easy to identify. The title ‘B&S’ also creates an immature theme which is ironic due to the typical target audience which would be an older demographic. But this will expand the interest throughout the reader’s minds and will result with a potentially wide target audience. Furthermore, this tells the reader that ‘B&S’ is a magazine for encouraging older genres to become current and can include many different aspects of music (e.g. the word sizzling). The masthead is simply two colours which contrast positively and which magnify in on the reader. This highlights how colours appeal to the reader and how their attention is notified. It’s also rotated sideways to get the reader to look at the magazine a different way. This could also possibly suggest that the reader has more of a perspective to the whole magazine front cover. The font links in altogether which automatically appear to suggest that the genres Blues & Soul link positively and they mix together successfully.

Cover line
cover line highlights the importance of Lianne La Havas. This is evident due to the size of the cover line. The size of the cover line is the biggest text on the front cover which is implying that the girl in the image is of great status. The font type and colour suggests a fun but knowledgeable reader who is interested and is alerted of the magazine. The bright yellow inflicts excitement and character towards the reader. The cover line includes the word ‘sizzling’ which gives flavour to the magazine and creates a thrilling and exhilarating tone. This sums up the magazine and tells us readers that blues and soul can be altered into something daring and fiery. This makes the magazine fresh and seem like a must buy due to the originality. B&S may continue to do this in the future by using bright and quirky font types, colours and sizes to emphasise the importance/status of the person in the feature article photograph.

Feature Article Photograph
The girl on the front of the magazine portrays innocence due to the eye level angle. This gives a sense of purity and doesn’t portray an intimidating nor vulnerable aspect. The girl’s body language is defensive but still gives the magazine a laid back mood. The girl presents herself freely and her white dress and hair piece are implying a youthful message. The eye contact given to the camera tells the reader that she is interested and intrigued suggesting that Blues & Soul gives these feelings to the reader also. The eye contact also is engaging us readers into the magazine, this then correlates into the reader studying the front cover of the magazine. Furthermore, her gold jewellery is appeared to be fashionable and this may aspire the reader to try this chilled out, traditional urban attire. The girl is fashionably simple which labels the genre of the music magazine as a whole.

Background
The background is natural and pure which proposes an authentic gesture to the magazine. This instantly makes the magazine fun, loving and care free. The magazine background reflects a smooth and kind mood towards the girl in the feature article photograph and also on the reader. The white and blue coordinate perfectly as they mirror morality again with the feature article photograph. The blue and white background blends nicely with the girls white clothing and hair piece. This creates subtle tones and soft shades. This allows the words on the front cover to be the vivid and intense components on the page.

Plugs & puffs
  The plugs and puffs on the magazine also use specific language to pull in their target audience and to give the magazine a sense of excitement. This is evidently clear in a puff on the front page. The puff uses the words ‘HOUSE EVERY WEEKEND’ this signifies the naïve mood in the magazine and creates a chilled vibe whilst portraying the classic blues and soul music. The word ‘TUNE!’ is included also as a plug. The word tune is a modern version of the word anthem which portrays that the magazine will include iconic and unforgettable music that the reader will not forget. The puff ‘WIN TICKETS TO SEE D’ANGELO’ highlights how the magazine is generous and is freely giving opportunities to the reader. This may suggest how the genre Blues & Soul as a whole allows plenty of options and chances for the artists and this allows a sense of freedom within the musical industry.

Demographic
The demographic of the magazine is complex due to the genre and the style of the magazine put together which sophisticatedly creates a wider audience. From the front cover you can gather many ideas about the typical reader and how this correlates from components of the magazine front cover. Firstly, the young girl in the feature article photograph is young, pure, natural and full of youth. These aspects may lead to the reader and how they aspire to the girl ‘Lianne La Havas’. Furthermore, the demographic would be someone distinctly intellectual due to the magazines content and musical history. This is alternative to the image on the front as someone that would aspire to Lianne La Havas would possibly need to be advanced mentally to understand the context of Blues & Soul music. This is possibly done to widen their target audience and to gain a profit of sharing older music into the lives of musically experimental teenagers. The typical reader of ‘B&S’ has a laid back vibe towards life and enjoys the tasteful music in life. The girl in the feature article photograph may represent the typical aspiring readers who seem to be chilled out and having an appreciating face whilst listening to the deep, fervent music. The subtle background colours may portray their overall personality as a peaceful, well presented human being. However, the louder colours for the cover line and masthead inflicts a wilder streak within the reader’s musical interest. The mode of address is cultured and precisely and elegantly full of soul. The plugs and puffs highlight the musical knowledge the reader would have due to the puff ‘King of the blues remembered’. This automatically suggests that the reader has a broad understanding of the Blues & Soul genre. Lastly the price of the magazine tells us that this music is not fresh or new and doesn’t need to be sold expensively due to its long lasting existence. The price of £3.95 is in expensive and affordable even for the more creative young people who are interested in taking interest in the roots of soulful music. The previous issues of B&S feature a person in the feature article photograph usually well-known artists or celebrity. This is most likely done to show the target demographic that old and new content can be blended by using Blues & Soul and current/upcoming artists.