Album Cover Analysis

From looking at a range of albums from different genres, I've been able to distinguish the key features that make up the album's composition. These generally include:

1. Artist Name
2. Album Title
3. Image of artist
4. Track List
5. Record Label Logo
6. Bar Code

There are different ways of categorising album covers, but often this is most easily done through the genre. Mainstream pop albums tend to feature a CU of the lead singer, whilst alternative bands lean towards using original artwork. The colour scheme is also often a key signifier, as the brighter the colours, the more attractive it is to a younger audience. Dark, gloomy images lend themselves to an older audience, that are perhaps more serious about their taste in music. However, in recent years it has been harder to identify the type of music through the album artwork, as it is currently in vogue to create something this is highly striking and original, regardless of the style and tone of the music.

For debut artists, albums usually have an image of the singer or band on the front cover, so that they become quickly recognisable to a new audience. There is a reoccuring theme of creating a very strong brand image on the debut album, for example there will be a striking font and very distinctive styling on the artist.