genre research 2

1. By jack walsh
Genre research

2. Introduction
For this task I had to research the specific genre
conventions of indie music. I will do this by
researching the similarities between three indie
music magazines, which should allow me to pick
out the genre conventions that they all share.

3. Analysis of images-Front covers
• One genre convention of these magazines is that they generally have consistent white and black colour scheme.
This could connote the professional nature of indie music as white and black looks quite professional as it seems
very clean and business-like. However they may also use the colour red, which could connote danger and rebellion.
This could show that the indie bands are have a rebellious attitude to mainstream ideas , which is a common
convention of indie music.
• Another genre convention of indie music is that they generally have bold titles, which could connote the rebellious
stance of the magazine as it seems quite bold and rebellious. This would appeal to the target audience as they may
have a similar attitude.
• A genre convention of indie music is that they often have rebellious quotes. For example on the NME magazine
above, the strapline is Lily Allen ‘takes on the world’, which could connote that Lily Allen wants to be independent as
symbolically taking on mainstream ideas. Likewise on the KERRANG magazine above the strapline is Biffy Clyro
‘we’re not doing this to please people’. This connotes that their going against mainstream ideas as their not trying
to conform to the usual things that people want. This use of rebellious quotes appeals to the target audience of that
genre because they may also have the same attitude.

4. Analysis of images-Contact
details
• A genre convention of indie magazine contents page is that they have a red a black colour scheme, which is are the e
traditional colours for many indie /rock magazines. This shows that they follow the general indie conventions for magzines,
which should attract their target audience as they will probably want to have see familiar indie conventions,
• Another genre convention of indie magazines contents pages is that they often have many indie artists throughout their
contents page e.g. Biffy Clyro and Florence and the machine. This could attract the indie target audience, because they
may want to find out about the band that they enjoy.

5. Analysis of magazine-two page
spread
• One genre convention of these magazine double page spreads is that they generally have consistent
white and black colour scheme. This could connote the professional nature of indie music as white and
black looks quite professional as it seems very clean and business-like. However they may also use the
colour red, which could connote danger and rebellion. This could show that the indie bands are have a
rebellious attitude to mainstream ideas , which is a common convention of indie music.
• Furthermore, they also seem to have quite moody images, which is an indie genre convention as indie
musicians are generally quite moody and or rebellious. This would therefore be familiar to the target
audience, which might attract them to the magazine.