Conventions of Music Posters

I have researched the conventions of Music Posters in order to create a realistic PRoduct to promote my Music Video. Posters are often used on the sides of buses, bus stops, on TV, in magazines and online. This is to promote the song and inform the intended audience of when a song is to be released etc. It also opens up the promotion to a larger audience in the hope that more people will buy the song or album.

Conventions:

A main image: This image needs to be eye catching and recognisable in order to create as many saled as possible. The image will be the first thing the audience sees and needs to identify the band or artist.

Band name and song/album name: The name of the band and album or even a logo, need to be clear so that the audience can easily identify the band or artist if the image used is abstract.

Release date of the album: This informs the audience of what the poster is for and when they can purchase what is being advertised. It is an important part of a poster as it creates demand for the product.

Website: It is conventional to include a website, either of the band or artist or of the record label they are signed to. This provides the audience with extra information that wont be found on the poster and also promotes the artist or label through the internet and web 2.0

Colour scheme: The colour scheme should reflect that of the album or what is ideological of the artist or band. This creates a certain mood or tone that is conveyed to the audience and should also reflect the mood and tone of the song.

Font and Text: Like the colour scheme, the font and text should also reflect the artist or band and also the song or album it is advertising. It should also be recognisable for your genre.

Layout: The layout for the poster, like the album cover should reflect the genre and should comply with some media theories like voyeurism or uses and gratification theory for the maximum appeal to the audience.

Where to purchase: Shops where the product can be purchased like HMV or online stores like iTunes.

Reviews: Posters should include a star rating or short quotation from a review to give the audience some reassurance that what they are purchasing is of a good quality.