Mastheads - On R&B magazines, the mast head is usually presented towards the middle, rather than to the left, so that the artist overlaps the masthead. The masthead always stands out on R&B magazines, so that the consumers eye line should be drawn to this instantly before reading any other part of the front cover. For example: The red Q is found on all Q magazines, it always stands out from the background due to the writing being a different colour to the box colour. The masthead always has a relation for music in R&B magazines, e.g. ‘RnB' is a good example of this as it involves the word 'RnB' which is a well known genre of music and 'RnB' is also a well known genre of music internationally, and is presented Red on a White background to stand out.
Coverlines - The cover lines on an R&B magazine have some link to the featured artists of the magazine. The band or artist attracts the chosen target audience. The cover line from a 'RnB' magazine could have a reference to, for example: Rihanna, this will attract the audience as Rihanna is a huge R&B artist, so she relates to this specific genre and it's audience. It is usually presented bright and bold.
Background Image - Some R&B magazine conventions contain background images, which display a Band or an Artist who will please the target audience of the magazine. The artist in the R&B magazine etc. is the same genre of music as the magazine is, so that they contrast each other. For example: an R&B magazine which features Beyoncé as a background image for an edition. Beyonce is a dominant female and attracts a huge audience, so even though she is not the feature article photograph, it will bring popularity to the magazine from audiences alike, because she is an R&B singer so she relates to the genre, and is a very famous artist.
Colour Scheme - R&B magazines are mostly aimed at both Males and Females, and is usually made clear on the front cover, so that the buyer is sure that the magazine is for him/her. The colours that they usually use are dark colours, such as: Dark Purple, Black and Dark Blue. This explains to the reader that the R&B genre of magazines are not gender-biased, as they are presented with dull colours, which in some ways would appeal to both genders as it is a mix of colours for both.
Title - The title of the magazine is usually repeated, including the date to prove that it is the latest version.
Colloqial Language - This type of language is found in most R&B magazines. This is to suit the target audience as it would usually suit a younger audience (for young adults), which an R&B magazine relates to the most.
Buzz words - These are used in R&B magazines order to attract attention, for example: "plus" and "free". These words will both influence the reader to want to buy that magazine, as there are other offers that the magazine contains, which will attract a wider audience as there is more that the reader can get out of it. This is especially popular in a R&B magazines because there is usually something extra engaging for the reader, for example: 'PLUS! Free insider on Ushers Personal life', which has used a buzz word to promote this. R&B magazines also tend to use symbols, such as: +, which would mean 'plus'. This also relates to the more colloquial language and young audiences etc., by using symbols instead of words, to say something.
Bar code, Price and Issue Date - R&B magazines are mostly expensive, so the price tends to be smaller so that it isn't the first thing the audience see as it may not impress the buyer and may put them off purchasing the magazine. However, if the magazine is cheap then the price is usually bigger and bolder in order to quickly draw in the audiences attention, which is what is sighted usually on an R&B magazine as it attracts the younger audience as they can read their, for example: Celebrity insiders at a much cheaper price, which will conclude as the overall selling point.
Tag line - R&B magazines use this to attract attention and give the magazine an edge for it's audience.
Subsidary image - These are sometimes used in R&B magazines to get you to look at the magazine, especially when well known images are used. These images may be used as a back up if some of the others do not appeal to the audience. Such as: The younger generation, who are the audience for R&B magazines, tend to be edgy about who and what is contained on the front cover for the genre as there are certain crowds, etc. that they tend to follow, so there are multiple images spread around to please all sorts of audiences.
Around five cover lines are used in R&B magazines, which also link/relate to the genre of music. There is always a main image used which is of the main band or artist, when it is a band it is usually a long shot however when it is a solo artist it is usually a mid shot, unless it is a solo artist who is looking at the camera in order to connect to the audience, using the 'direct mode of addres', however, sometimes they can also be looking away from the reader, to look innocent, etc. which can also describe their personalities, with the way in which they show their body language. This can range from being masculine and stern, to being flamboyant, which helps reflects this audience and this genre of music and the artists involved within it.
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