Magazine Analysis - Vibe front cover

This magazine is named 'vibe' which gives the reader an idea of what music genre this magazine is as the word 'vibe' connotes rhythm and dancing. It is also an abbreviation from the word vibration, which connotes dancing music which would appeal to the target audience.

It was founded by Quincy Jones, who is the now producer of the magazine and is mainly targeted at a predominately young audience who enjoy hip-hop and RnB music. However it does feature actors and various other celebrities in the public eye. This is called a hybrid magazine, since it has elements from both music magazines as well as celebrity news. The magazine is £2.50 and is published quarterly so it would be more targeted at the younger, urban following audience who would have a more disposable income. The magazine is an American magazine and would therefore have a wider target audience in America, however the magazine is still popular in Britain and appeals to a British audience.

In June, 2009, Vibe became bankrupt and ceased publication immediately. However, after shutting down InterMedia Partners, LP bought Vibe Magazine and relaunched it.

Vibe publication also publish books on hip-hip culture and the website address is www.VIBE.com. As of 2007, VIBE had a circulation of approximately 800,000 worldwide. This shows that the magazine, as well as the music genre is very popular throughout the world.

Vibe magazine is mainly targeted at an audience from 18-30 of both the male and female audience. We can tell this by the colours used, the layout and image on the front cover. There are many ways in which the audience can interact with the magazine such as the website address which is situated on the spine on the cover as well as beneath the bar code. This allows the reader to express their views by emailing the magazine. On the site there are many other ways to interact with the magazine since there are videos and articles, as well as a link to their sister magazine 'Vixen' which is aimed at a more female audience.

The cover is of Keri Hilson, a globally recognised hip hop and Rnb artist, who is the main focus of the front cover. This is shown by the fact that all coverlines and straplines are pushed to the side of the page and that she is infront of the masthead. This connotes importance and power which is intensified by the fact that she is wearing a uniform style hat and heavy metal chain jewellery which gives the impression of police-like qualities. The entry point of the magazine is Hilson's eyes which are also over the masthead which allows the reader to quickly establish her importance in this magazine.
There are only 3 colours used on the cover which gives the magazine a very sophisticated and professional compared to other magazines of the same genre. However, using 3 colours is a convention of most music magazines. The grey colour of the background is the same as the metal on both her hat and her jewellery which allows the magazine to correspond.
The vibrant red that is used in the cover lines stand out and make the page look aesthetically appealing. This is also used as in the narrative of the magazine and guides the readers eyes around the page.

The anchor image of the magazine is a cropped image of Keri Hilson who is posed very provocatively, although not smiling, whilst making eye contact with the camera. Because of the eye contact, her image still makes the magazine look inviting. She is also wearing a leotard which, although covering her body connotes nudity and sexual desires. Males audiences feel attracted to her and females audiences what to be her.

There is only one image on the front cover which is of Keri Hilson and the photo is a cropped mid-shot to emphasis her body, rather than her face. This provides a very physical desire and ideology for the male audience. The outfit used makes her appear dominant and yet powerful, which would appeal to both the male and female audience since the male audience would find this attractive and the female audience would aspire toward her. There are no objects in the background, just one large image in the foreground.

The grey background gradients from dark to light which provides an interesting effect and draws attention to the main image. The background is plain but the colourful text prevents it from looking boring.

The headline is relatively small compared to the usual conventions of music magazines and alternates between red and white typeface which is very noticeable on the metallic background. There is also a strap line beneath it in the same colour as the first line of the cover line. Controversial to most music magazine conventions, one of the the cover line is near the base of the page, which makes it less noticeable than it would be nearer the top of the magazine.

By using the strap line 'has been a [very] bad girl' gives a sexual connotation to the magazine which also corresponds with the main image which is very provocative. This would appeal to the male audience.
The use of the word exclusive near the top of the magazine is a very common convention of music magazines and connotes singularity and gives the impression that this is the only magazine to have this interview. Also, by using the pull quote “people have been comparing me to tupac” makes it clear to the reader that it is an actual interview with the artist rather than a feature. Since the Keri Hilson is making eye contact with the camera, this provides an entry point for audiences and therefore makes them feel as though they can relate to the artist. This, in turn, makes the audience feel they can interact with the magazine which would make them buy it.

The publication predominantly features R&B and hip-hop music artists, actors and other entertainers and news on upcoming artists.

In conclusion, Vibe follows many conventions within the front cover of the magazine, which has been proven to be successful, since the magazine has such a high circulation worldwide. The main conventions that have been followed is having the masthead at the top of the page and having one main image in the centre of the magazine, which creates an entry point for the readers. This may be because readers of the magazine Vibe tend to follow celebrity lives and conform to what is popular and would enjoy the conformity of the magazines conventions.