KEY CONCEPT ANALYSIS OF A MAGAZINE

Media Language• Billboard magazine features a wide variety of artists from indie,

indie rock to pop. However most of the covers focus on established, well known artists in pop culture.

• The style of Billboard magazine is fun, easy reading yet informative. The writing is sophisticated but not focused solely on media jargon.

• The magazine regularly features an in depth focus article on an up coming or established artist. Additionally another feature is the Billboard Hot 100 list. There is also a feature outlining up coming gigs of new artists.

• The magazine is laid out in a very uncluttered, minimalistic format. The text in articles in more often than not in columns and there is little unboxed images. Often images accompanying articles are large and bold. The magazine, in itself is very visual.

Audience• Billboard magazine is aimed towards people of the younger

generation who are between the ages of 17-27. The wide variety of artists and minimalistic style of the magazine means that the magazine is arguably more unisex.

• Billboard is one of the longest circulated music magazines, it began publishing in 1894. Now it has a large religious following monthly as it connects directly with the youth today because of it strong links with social media. The Hot 100 list has strong ties to social media as viewers and readers can vote on these platforms for their favourite artists or songs of the moment.

• The “Uses and Gratifications” theory relates to why audiences actively seek to read Billboard magazine as it features artists which are arguably self confident and successful. Audiences might want to emulate this. Perhaps their in depth articles appeal to readers who seek credible information or gain self-confidence from artists who share similar traits to them.

Representation • An example of a Billboard magazine feature is the

recent article on Taylor Swift. Taylor Swift is known as the princess of pop. As she matured her music developed from country to pop and her style having matured is emulated on this cover. She is presented confidently, making direct address with the camera lens.

• Key iconography associated with Billboard are influential artists as a regular feature of Billboard’s magazine is a page dedicated to the most powerful figures influencing the charts and music style. Also associated with Billboard magazine are awards and chart lists.

Institution• Billboard magazine is published by Prometheus Global Media,

who also produce Adweek, Back Stage, Film Journal International and The Hollywood Reporter.

• The magazine is published weekly. Billboard earns profit through the use of adverts in it’s issues which fit well with minimalistic theme of the publication. It also earns revenue from radios which frequently use their Hot 100 list on their shows.

• Billboard retains their audience through frequent use of social media competitions and interactions. Additionally there are also cheaper subscription deals.

• Billboard has several wider assets including a webiste, various social media accounts and now a popular awards show with coveted awards given to artists.