The representation of bands/ artists in music magazines

When we look in a music magazine, it is clear the images that relate to articles about artists are not just taken in a natural environment without any planning previously to shoot the image. So many factors go into the creation of the image, controlled to make their target audience like the image so they will buy the magazine. Also, it’s very unlikely that the artist/ band themselves will decide on this image which can sometimes lead to arguments. The lists below are the main people in order of status that would be the decider on what the image looks like:

1.       The band/ artists manager- as they control the band they will have the biggest say in their image, as they know what attracts their audience and how it looks good in the media, even if it’s against the artists opinions

2.       The record label- they have chosen to take these people on to sing so they must have an image that conveys not only that artist, but the whole company, meaning they must uphold a certain standard of appearance

3.       The magazine company the articles and images will feature in- if  the magazine has a certain image that is a house design, they will want to fit the band/ artist into the same category, so not only will they fit in with the style and feel of the magazine, but will attract the audience that the magazine wants

4.       The stylist – it is their job to create the image that the manager or magazine editor will want, therefore dressing them in on trend items that will inspire the audience to wish they looked like them, and include brands that they can go buy themselves. This can also relate to the advertising of the magazine that appeal to the audience(found whilst collecting audience research)

5.       The photographer- they don’t have much power over the image except the creative way it is taken, making them stand in certain poses that may contribute to the image and style of the artist or magazine.

6.       The audience – even though quite far down the list they have a major role in the way some artists are displayed. It’s their interests that the magazines adapt and refer to, so creating an image that will appeal to them must be considered.

7.       The band themselves- even as the actual singers, it is very rarely they will get a say in their own image if their manager has the control. For most bands its ok with them being able to keep their original image relatively similar to what they like. However other bands are more influenced into wearing outfits and acting to how the audience would want them to be, rather than themselves.

In the Rocksound magazine I had previously analysed, one of its articles featured a picture on Hayley Williams from Paramore. They chose to make her look almost innocent and cute’ with the hairclip and body position as it related to her being nominated as ‘Eye Candy of the Year’. They made her look more feminine for this feature as it emphasises the reason for her being in this article. However it’s an ironic image of their band as she’s known for being a tomboy outgoing character rather than a delicate girly-girl. By the magazines director choosing to do this it attracts their audience more to show she is something of beauty rather than just a musician, as well as creating humour for their fans because they know change in attitude the artist actually is.

Another picture within the same article shows Bring Me the Horizon, winning the best British band. They clearly stand them with no other people in the picture; especially no other women that the magazine has especially chosen to attract the female audience. This way they seem single and so the audience don’t envy then, causing disrupt in the media.