Buying a Hip-Hop Magazine and analysing it

The magazine that I have bought is VIBE. The colours used on this front cover for the typography all connote the idea of danger and hazard. The black and yellow we see is very commonly used for hazardous products or buildings that in danger of collapsing etc. The fact they have used these colours represent the that Usher is a hazards to the music world and the other artists. Furthermore, usher is dressed in military air fore clothing portrays that usher is ready for battle with other artists that want to reach his level of success.

Moreover, the cover line ‘THERES IS NO COMPETITION’ implies that usher has no competition between other artist or with his music. In addition, the image of the artist is taken from a mid shot walking towards the audience with a strong posture connotes he is confidence and strong.

Other cover lines within the front cover ‘50 CRAZY CELEB TWEETS’ and ‘MEET THE MEAN GIRLS OF MROEHOSUE’ shows that this magazine is not targeted to a specific gender because VIBE magazine has included topics that females would be interested in.

Within the Vibe magazine there are two content pages that feature different subjects. Both content pages contain page numbers and headings of different topics that are within the magazine. Below the headings are small detailed description of what the page will contain. Furthermore, they both have then same typography and layout. However, the content pages use different images of famous artists because it could be found as a very attractive thing for most of their target audiences. Contents page 1 is the picture of Usher standing boldly, with hands in his pocket wearing a very appealing jacket. Contents page 2 has Soulja Boy all in black clothing and him wearing very expensive jewellery which stands out from the colour black.

Contents page 1 Contents page 2

Through out the magazine there are various car advertisements, this is common among Hip-Hop magazine because many consumers who buy this magazine would want to know what cars their favourite artist are driving. In addition, most of the audience are converted into customers through this type of media.

Many clothing/product adverts are presented within the Vibe magazine as this draws other type of consumers who might not be interested in the music but in the way the Hip-Hop artist dresses. Also, Vibe magazine has advertised both gender clothing and products as this widens the target audience of the magazine. New era is mainly targeted towards males because caps are common in the Hip-Hop industry and makeup for the females. Most of these clothes are designed by the artist them self and most fans who like Hip-Hop music would defiantly buy clothes designed by their artist this connotes loyalty between fans towards their artist.

Moreover, the magazine contains the release dates of albums from famous artist. Likewise, it advertises events and concerts that will be held and where to buy tickets. The masthead font through each advert stays the same which represented musicality from the bold sharped edges, also each advert has a image of a famous artists because it could be found as a very attractive thing for most of their target audiences.

In the magazine the stories published are about the artist themself. How certain artist were found and became famous through deferent media. Soulja boy started to become famous by producing his own music and selling his CD’s on the street and then it became viral on YouTube. On Double spread 1 number is an interview with Usher as the interviewer ask various questions about his songs and life since he become famous.

Double spread 1

Double spread 2

Content Analysis Chart

57

172

42

6

32

Adverts Artist Interviews Contents Page Contributions Editorials Promotions Regualrs

From the page findings I have found out that a large proportion of the magazine is based on advertisements with 57 pages including double spreads from different brands and companies because they are trying to reach their target through various media. Also the least was editorials. Moreover, the second most are the regulars which presented by the VIBE magazine.

Institution and Audience of VIBE Magazine

Vibe is a music and entertainment magazine founded by producer Quincy Jones which was launched in 1993.At first the magazine was called Volume and then was renamed to VIBE due to the increase influence culture of the Hip-Hop. The publication mainly features R&B and hip-hop music artists, actors and other entertainers. The magazine’s target demographic is predominantly young, urban followers of hip-hop and R&B culture aged between 16-23.Vibe made a consistent effort to feature models of all ethnicities in it magazines through out the years.