Task 2 – analysing magazine 2
- 1. VIBE
- 2. Publication history Quincy Jones launched Vibe in 1993, in partnership with Time Inc. Originally, the publication had been called Volume before co-founding editor, Scott Poulson-Bryant gave it the name Vibe. Though hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons was rumoured to be an initial partner, publisher Len Burnett revealed in a March 2007 interview that Simmons clashed with editor-in-chief Jonathan Van Meter. Miller Publishing bought Vibe in 1996, and shortly afterward bought Spin. Private equity firm, The Wicks Group, bought the magazine in 2006. Jonathan Van Meter's successors were Alan Light, Danyel Smith, Emil Wilbikin, Mimi Valdes, and finally Danyel Smith again. On June 30, 2009, it was announced that Vibe was shutting its doors and ceasing publication immediately, although according to Essence, Quincy Jones has stated he would like to keep it alive online. After shutting down, private equity investment fund InterMedia Partners, LP bought Vibe Magazine. They have said they "feel privileged to purchase and resurrect such a storied brand.“ They added Uptown magazine to Vibe's parent company, Vibe Holdings. Ron Burkle and Magic Johnson later invested in the company. Vibe Holdings merged with BlackBook Media to form Vibe Media in 2012.
- 3. About Vibe • Vibe is a magazine about music artists, actors and entertainment owned by Quincey Jones. • The publication predominantly features R&B and hip-hop music artists, actors and other entertainers. After shutting down production in Summer 2009, Vibe was purchased by the private equity investment fund Inter Media Partners and is now issued every-other month with double covers, with a larger online presence. The magazine's target demographic is predominantly young, urban followers of hip- hop culture. • The magazine owed its success to featuring a broader range of interests than its closest competitors The Source and XXL which focus more narrowly on rap music, or the rock & pop-centric Rolling Stone and Spin. As of June 30, 2012, Vibe had a circulation of 300,943, of which 202,439 was paid, and 98,504 was non paid. Advertisers ran the gamut from record labels to fashion houses to various cognac brands. • Target audience is between 18-34
- 4. Front Cover
- 5. Connotations of VIBE masthead. Firstly the word vibe is defined as up to date, which conveys that the magazine is showing current artists who are popular to their target audience. The masthead is in black capital writing as it is bold and catches the audience attention first. Also the black links in with the colour scheme of the black, white and yellow. Main image – The main image of Cover lines – The colour the cover of the Vibe magazine is yellow is very bright, Usher who is a stereotypical male, relaxed and vibrant which black, R&B artist. Although the will attract a young artist is looking directly at audience. All of the cover audience trying to connect a lines link to main image, relationship with them, he is which is Usher a huge R&B wearing sun glasses which shows a artist. Also the language sense of superior. used in the cover lines may give the reader a sense of Mise en scene confidence because words The main image is wearing a pilot like “young”, “reckless” outfit and is positioned in front of “gossip” and “no a aeroplane this connotes that he competition” all of these is possibly touring, or worldwide. words relate to the main Also the main cover line quotes image and stereotyping to “THERE IS NO COMPETITION” the hip hop genre. conveying there is no competition, he believes he is the best – this is Bar code and phone scanner and on the left hand side, portrayed as it is a solo shot. so people can identify the issues and price. Also there is a phone bar code scanner which can be used online – which is update and also older teenagers and young adults are up to date with the latest technology.
- 7. Vibe magazine – this RnB genre magazine The title brings in a lot of its customers/audiences The contents title I think has a very by using sex appeal. The main image on creative look. It is different and the contents page is Cara, they have used unusual due to the fact that it is split this image of her because it is very into 3 sections on 3 lines, rather than seductive yet classy. all on one line. The effect this has is I love the pose as it is very interesting, that it draws more attention to the different and quite unusual/unique. As title as it doesn't look boring. It also well as, the way that the model crosses doesn't look like it would look on a her legs to make the letter 'V' for to stand contents page for any other magazine, for 'Vibe' magazine is very effective. The as it is set out differently. The white editing of the way that it goes around the title stands out against the black. It is bottom corner of the page. The use of the also in capital letters, and bold. This image takes up most of the page which makes it very clear and noticeable. makes it look more full and busy, this is using the rule of thirds. This shows that it is an important feature of the page. Also, the use of the image draws attention which gains interest, instead of 3 small images with basic plain writing. This therefore gives the contents page more The font visual attraction. The font style used to write contents is sans - serif just like the masthead but not the same font style. the font style used to write the sub-heading e.g. features is curvy and swirly which Colour shows that the magazine is targeted Overall, the colour themes I think towards females. work very well together , they have used, black, grey and white and some other neutral colours, make the contents page flow.
- 9. The series of black and white photographs in the This R&B contents page has one background are showing the different pose, as well as the main focused image that has been different personalities on the musician showing a serious, added to grab the audience’s fun and sexy side of her. attention; this is the only picture that is in colour and is the largest one amongst all of the other The cover lines are pictures. Red is the colour of her done and really dress which represents her passion important, toward music, also the colour red everything is in connotes sexy, and bold also the grey apart from photograph is used as a sex appeal the artists name, to make the audience attracted to which will attract her. The low angle shot, portrays the audience to the artist has a sense of power, read to the article, towering over us and gives her as it is eye more power and the way in she is catching and may positioned makes her look more attract fans. supreme. As well at it is eye level with creates a relationship between the readership and the artist. The colour and writing is dull but not Stereotyping would unattractive and The context is quite With the camera shot, there is a sense of portray that this boring. With the grey, simple, and in the attraction. The pull back effect is also article would attract and white background style of a being used, which is very effective more males because they form a sense of newspaper. It is a because it directs to the audience, of her dress sense style and class with the essay read which especially with the intense eye contact. however many small clashes of colour relates to the target females could look up in blue, which stands audience, and to her as a role model out and also the bright typical slang is used and aspire to be like main image with the to convey the genre her artist dressed in red to of this music stand out. magazine.