Magazine Advertisement: Placement Research

In-depth Analysis: Magazine Advert

Rihanna Digipak Analysis

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Gabrielle Aplin Digipak Analysis

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Audience Research: Current Trends

I decided to look at artists of a similar genre to Emily to gather information on current trends in the industry. This will help me when attempting to appeal to my target audience as I will be able to reflect upon the artists' work and gauge whether mine would appeal to a similar target audience.

When looking at some of their marketing materials and imagery, it's clear to note that they all keep a theme throughout their work to ensure their brand identity is kept the same. When creating my music video, digipak and magazine advert I will keep the same style of imagery throughout. This would help a newer artist in the industry by allowing them to create an identity and attract their target audience. The fonts used are usually serif or hand written to create a synthetic personalisation - this is something I will have to consider when creating my digipak and advert. Darker areas are used on the digipak and advertisements so the songs or information can be placed there and be easily seen. 

Case Study: Magazine Advertising

Common Features:
- The 'Z' formation - guiding the audience's eye around the advert allowing them to get all the important information.
- Imagery of the artist/band - Every advert had images of the act apart from the 'You Me At Six' advert.
- Web link - address to other media platforms - synergy.
- Release date - when to buy the album/single.
- Ratings/endorsements - from other media outlets.
- Use of black - makes the writing stand out. Conventional.
- Record label logo - endorses record label.
- Consistent theme - fonts, logos and imagery.
- Tag line - draws the reader in.
- iTunes and Play.com - synergy.

Common Phrases:
- Out Now
- The New Album

Case Study: Digipak Front Covers

I had decided to look into current digipak front cover's in order to give me an idea of the type of imagery that the artists usually use. I will focus mainly on artists of a similar acoustic genre to Emily Denton so I can produce a front cover which follows the typical conventions.

Above is a collage of album artwork by artists and bands of a similar genre to Emily Denton. In my last Digipak post I established that I would like to make an album cover which involves the image of Sophie as Emily on the front. However, after researching current Digipaks I have realised that a lot of artists use illustration or more conceptual images. This could be because they're more established as an artist and therefore don't have to use their own image to sell their music. As this would technically be the first album artwork produced for 'Emily' it would make sense to include her face somewhere on the front still - perhaps this can be in a drawn style like Ed Sheeran's or photographed like Newton Faulkner's.
The fonts on the covers are quite varied - Newton Faulkner, Bon Iver and Angus and Julia Stone's are all in a handwritten style which makes the overall finish seem rough. Ben Howard and Daughter's covers have basic font styles which seem much neater and processed. I think both Bon Iver and Daughter's fonts are effective for different reasons. Bon Iver's is the only one with a vertical placement as opposed to a horizontal one and the scribbled letters are a reflection of the natural sound the music has. Daughter's lettering is evenly spaced out and each letter is the same size, making it seem more even. I think it looks professional and polished - especially as it's in the centre where the blurred person is so the audience look at it first.
I included some images of Angus and Julia Stone's album rear and CD to demonstrate how the front cover theme was repeated throughout. Although I won't be designing the actual CD in my Digipak I will be designing the CD tray - which will look similar to the CD. I can include a few on Emily's other songs on the rear of the cover as she has many original ones.

Digipak: Initial Ideas // Fonts, Artwork, Tracklist and Style

Digipaks: Jonquil 'Lions' Analysis

Digipaks

A Digipak is a form of CD packaging which is used for singles or special CD editions. Meadwestvaco were the first people to create Digipaks but more manufacturers use it nowadays too. Digipak's have a gatefold (book-style), paper board or card stock outer binding with one or more plastic trays to hold the CDs.
The front of the Digipak is useful to represent the artist and their style. Typical logos or iconography might be used to allow the audience to become instantly familiar on first glance at it. The artist's brand is portrayed and any new messages within the music can be demonstrated which increases their popularity and fan-base.

DIGIPAK ANALYSIS

When analysing the Digipaks I decided to choose artists that I had already studied to ensure that I could analyse their style more accurately. P!nk's image overall is represented as feminine, sexual and powerful in the images on the Digipak. The two close ups of her face on the cover and on the insert use direct mode of address to connect P!nk to the audience. Her strong, black make up look and styling choices make her seem dominant and seductive to the audience - this would attract people to the CD automatically.  Although the image on the bottom left is high angled and would typically weaken the subject's appearance, P!nk is still represented as powerful due to the animalistic feathers and stance that she has taken. Her appearance is comparable to that of an animal waiting on it's prey or a majestic bird. The animalistic theme is repeated in the final image which conveys P!nk's entrapment in a cage. Although this would be seen as a sign of weakness for many, P!nk's casual, carefree pose and glamorous costume lead one to believe that she's in control. 

In terms of the black and white colour scheme with the red typography, one would suggest that this further represents her as a classic, well known artist. Black and white photos are symbolic of age; thus one would suggest that P!nk's label is attempting to represent her as someone who is experienced with their music and someone who's been around for a while. On the other hand, red has connotations of passion, love, power and blood - representing her as a strong female. P!nk's image is evident throughout the Digipak - this is how the artist will sell the single/album. In the insert an image of P!nk is seen on every other page with the song lyrics next to them. This allows the audience to sing along to the track if they wish and also provides them with further imagery of the artist.

Dissimilar to P!nk's digipak, Florence + the Machine's doesn't have any photographic imagery except on the insert. Interestingly, the cover image is a cartoon image of Florence; one feels that this is a risky design choice because some people wouldn't instantly recognise that it was her. Each page has the bordered motif which keeps the design regular and neat through each page. The black, lilac, yellow and white colours are all match well and suit the flowered design on the insert and back cover. Again, dissimilar to P!nk's Digipak, Florence + the Machine's one held 2 CD's so it had an extra fold out section. This is transparent plastic and is the only section which is not patterned - most probably to save the cost of trying to add in another design piece and so the audience can view both CDs easily. 

On the insert Florence + the Machine are represented as experienced and popular artists. Unlike P!nk's Digipak, this one gives an overview of their career and has information about the artist as opposed to lyrics. Although I think both are good ideas, I like the idea of the artist making a bond with the audience through giving them more in depth information. 

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