Ancillary task: introduction to magazine advertisements

In today’s lesson, we were introduced to our second ancillary task, the production of a magazine advertisement. Magazine adverts serve to promote new album releases, often conveying star image to create a greater appeal for the artist and subsequently boost record sales.

General conventions of magazine covers include:

• Album title
• Name of artist/band
• Images e.g album artwork, photographs, graphics
• Release date e.g iTunes
• Out now/debut album/limited edition tags
• Tour dates
• Slogan/tagline
• Social media links e.g Official webpage, Twitter, Facebook, Q Code
• Available outlets e.g HMV, Amazon, Tidal
• Product content e,g extra DVD footage
• Bonus tracks and no.1 singles
• Reviews and endorsements e.g NME, Kerrang, Q, Guardian Music Monthly Review
• Record label logo/information

Here is a brief analysis of Gwen Stefani's magazine advertisement for her debut studio album Love. Angel. Music. Baby  (2004):