Magazine Cover Analysis 1

The Fly is a relatively new music magazine, aimed mainly at students (hence why it’s free) but with a target audience of 16-25 year olds that are interested in brand new alternative music. The Fly is highly respected by musicians for staying honest within their opinions and doing a lot for live music, because of their credibility they often get exclusives. The Fly is also mainly available at gig venues and record stores; this is to reach out to their niche audience.

This issues cover artist in Metronomy, they are an alternative dance band that focus on song rhythm rather than melody. That is represented here, the band are organised into order: melody, rhythm, melody, rhythm. This represents the detail they apply to their sound. The band is also positioned inside a cube this creates the ideology of construction and adds a linear concept. The fact that the band are inside the cube looking out represents their ‘box’ in the music market and them looking out gives the ideology that they are watching and broadening their sound, also that they are at the forefront of their genre. The band is dressed casually which is out of character as they usually wear lights on their chests. This could symbolise that the interview in The Fly is more relaxed and fun.

That background is London and this image was probably taken on top of The Fly’s office block. The horizon cuts perfectly through the centre of the page, symbolising that this is where the band are heading. The brick wall connotes a grimey feel and represents the band is not a conventional dance act. The cube again represents that the band have been placed there as a group, this represents unity. The brick wall of the building is in line with the edges of the cube, this is what gives the cover that abstract feel as the cube is not touching the wall. The cube also has black parts which gives the effect of shadowing and adds to the technical code of the cover. The band is also divided into the rule of thirds so that the audience is positioned to look at each member equally. Having a long shot like this on the cover is very unconventional for current music magazines, this contributes to The Fly’s house style of being quite counter culture.

The uniform colours used are white, black, yellow and orange. Black on yellow is conventional for the Fly and is always used for the ‘Free’ banner, as is that font type. The magazines name is in white which mildly contrasts the sky to stand out to readers. The band’s name is using their logo typography and The Flys signature colour, this positions the audience to notice it on the shelf of a record store and Metronomy are well known, therefore, by being on the cover of it, they are endorsing and supporting the magazine. This increases both the artists and the magazines consumer-fan base. Zeitgeist is used here by using modern music and modern marketing techniques, this is very conventional for magazines to do.