Album Covers Research

1 - What are the typical features each cover has?
The name of the band and the album are on the majority of covers. In all of the covers there is a central image , which acts as a focus point to the cover, it is also the key method for conveying and promoting the genre,artist, style and the message that an album may cover. This is typically complimented with a background image. Covers are also typically either full colour or B & W. They use shots of the artist to promote certain aspects, or none at all to emphasise perhaps the music over appearances, and so typically have the purpose of constructing an identity and image for the group, band or artist.

2 - How can the covers be catagorised?
There are some very broad categores that album covers can slot into. Those with a band, artist, or group shot on, those with abstract or cartoon artwork, those in colour, those on B & W, Those using the artist as a focus point, those with text as a focus.

3 - What are the purposes of these covers?
The album cover serves a very important role. It has to be identifiable to the target audince of the artist or band, and therefore must sell the CD to whome the music is aimed. In doing this is has the responsibility of creating an image for the artist, whilst also using genre signifiers to illustrate the genre. Bright colours are also used and show how a Cover must stand out from the competition . The cover must also create a USP for the band so has to show them as individual and different wholst still part off a genre to make sure they appeal.