This CD cover is from the successful band NDubz. These are a successful R&B group. This can be seen straight away by the cover. One of the first things is the name of the band. This is in large writing across the whole of the top section. This is bringing focus to their name and who they are. Also the font used is graffiti type. Graffiti writing is more represented with crime and music such as rap and ‘gangster’. This automatically shows the type of band and music that this is. The band is then the only other image on the cover, so it’s showing who they are with focus on them. The cover is majority black around the sides, and then softening into a gold colour in the centre. The font is black with a gold outline. Within the background, you can lightly see the faded outline of flats and lampposts. This is the image of a street, which again is associating this band with streets which is again a stereotypical ‘gangster’ place, linking with this type of R&B music. This isn’t made the most obvious part of the CD, and may be because they didn’t want to detract from the band too much. The fact that these colours have been chosen show again the genre. Gold is has connotations as ‘bling’ colour, so therefore appealing to this type of R&B music. Black is also a dark hard colour, and again has connotations with R&B music. The mise en scene with the band members is very clear. All 3 members of the band are positioned facing the camera, so looking at the audience with eye contact. They have been positioned half facing each other. This shows that they are together as a band, creating a circle in relation to each other, and also facing to the audience at the same time. Their body language and facial expressions makes them seem very strong and confident. Their gestures also show this, for example the two men’s hand gestures. These are very stereotypically ‘gangster’ which suits with the image of R&B. They look confrontational, with the middle one pointing their finger towards the audience, which again is usually related to the streets and that type. The woman has quiet closed body language, which is different when compared to the males. She is wearing a simple plain dress, with her hair and makeup done obviously not plain and average. They all have very serious facial expressions, again this links with this type of music being serious and their image as a band. The males outfits are very casual, being in a tracksuit set, again maybe showing their link to street’s of the R&B music, and also associating with the style that their fans probably have. All members are also wearing purple. The two males have a lot of purple on their jackets, and the woman has a purple stripe going through the end of her dress. This may be their colour which they share, as it also relates them as being together as one band. An image motif here is their hats. Both the males always wear hats in this style, and it has become a common item that they are always with. This may make them stand out and even just a little bit more memorable as you associate those style hats with this band.
The moods being created here seem quiet serious, due to the artist’s body language. Also, the colours used are all quiet dark, and so the majority of the cover is quiet darkly coloured which gives a serious, mysterious effect. The lighting is quiet dark, apart from the centre so again making the focus on the artists. The title of the CD is called ‘Uncelb’. This could be related to because the band members aren’t all in costumes or glamour’s/smart, but they are being presented as quiet normal especially with the males in everyday clothes, nothing really celebrity glamorous style, but down to earth with the street & block of flats in the background. So they are being related to with ‘street style’ instead of high up rich and glamorous image.
I would say that the target market is teenagers. This is because of the font of the title, being in a graffiti style which is most attractive to teenagers and maybe older teens. Also, the name of the band, N dubz again is more of an attraction to teens rather than adults. The people in the band are young, and the fact that within in the band there is males and females makes it more cross gender than what it would have been without the female, so widening the audience to girls slightly more. I would say a typical fan would be from a similar background, for example someone who is familiar with the streets, hence why pictures was included faded in the background. And also a fan of R&B which is related to by this album.
Overall I think that this is a good example of a CD cover. It targets its audience very well, and focuses well on its genre which is shown clearly through the cover.
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