Album Cover (Research)

An album cover is the front of the packaging of a commercially released audio recording product, or album. The term can refer to either the printed cardboard covers typically used to package sets of 10 in (25 cm) and 12 in (30 cm) 78-rpm records, single and sets of 12 in (30 cm) LPs, sets of 45 rpm records (either in several connected sleeves or a box), or the front-facing panel of a CD package, and, increasingly, the primary image accompanying a digital download of the album, or of its individual tracks. In the case of all types of tangible records, it also serves as part of the protective sleeve.

In 1938, Columbia Records hired Alex Steinweiss as its first art director. He is credited with inventing the concept of album covers and cover art, replacing the plain covers used before. After his initial efforts at Columbia, other record companies followed his lead. By the late 1940s, record albums from major companies featured their own colour paper covers. Some featured reproductions of classic art while others utilised original designs.

Since the mid-1990s, the compact disc (CD) has become the most common form of physically distributed music products. Packaging formats vary, including the very common plastic jewel-case, and the cardboard and plastic combination commonly known as a Digipak. Typically, the album cover component of these packages is an approximately 4.75in (12.1cm) square.

Album covers became renowned for being a marketing tool and an expression of artistic talent. It became an important part of music culture and is still considered a vital part of the listening experience. Despite the less tangible nature of digital images, there are still many collectors trading cover art and music.

One digital solution is the iTunes LP format for interactive album artwork introduced by Apple in 2009. With the increasing popularity of digital music downloading, the prevalence of the album cover is evolving. Both MP3 and WMA music files can contain embedded digital album artworks in jpeg format. However, from my personal experience the back cover/track list is not as valued in this current day and age. Some artists have used internet technology to generate even more cover art.

Some album covers have been banned due to violence, nudity and other banned pictures. Guns N' Roses's 1987 album Appetite for Destruction's cover depicted a robot rapist about to be punished by a metal avenger. Kanye West's 2010 album My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy depicted West naked being straddled by a phoenix with her bare breasts and bare buttocks showing.