STAGE 1: ALBUM COVERS RESEARCH

A: Look at a selection of album covers (minimum of ten, CD or vinyl), maybe from your own, your parents or a friends collection, or online - the more variety in genre, style, decade etc the better. Make notes in answer to the questions below:

1. What are the typical features that an album cover has? Make a list of all the elements they have in common.

Front, back and spine

Name of the band/artist – usually bigger then title

The title of the album

Typeface – visual motif same font

The artist is usually on the cover

The image is strong and iconic: Lady Gaga - The Fame

Marketing stickers

Price labels

Offers

The tracks on the CD

Institional information - The record label, copyright symbol, publisher, designer date etc

Certain expectations – legal licensing fro industry etc

Artist/band website

Record label website

Bar code

Same design and colour scheme on front and back

Name of the band/artist and the title of the album on the side

Booklets

Distinctive debut albums – sell the artist/band

Second/third etc albums - work on familiarity

Greatest hits – play on nostalgia using iconic images of the artist/band, work on an emotional response

2. How would you categorise the covers in front of you? Are there any other ways of distinguishing between them other than generically?

Genre
Target audience

Artist/band

Male/female

Style

Band/artist on the front

Conceptual

Debut/first/second, third etc

Mainstream/alternative/niche

Compilation/greatest hits etc

Tone – funny/serious

Era/decade

Layout

Dual case/digi pack/vinyl album

Special edition/double album etc

Record label e.g. Motown, 2 Tone – associated with a specific genre

3. Album covers serve many different functions. What do you think these are (ie what is their purpose?)

To portray the artist/band artistically

Serves as an identifiable image associated with the artist/band.
To hold the CD

To advertise/promote/sell the artist/band

To advertise/promote their songs and music

Indicate the genre of music and style

Informative – tracks

Genre specific – has to sell a specific genre

Institutional identity

Individual, distinctive, should stand apart

Gets people talking about artist