This document analyzes the cover designs of three professional music magazines: Kerrang!, NME, and Decibel. It notes similarities and differences in their use of color schemes, fonts, cover images, featured articles, and other elements. Common components include large mastheads, cover photos related to main articles, article previews, and information on issue numbers and prices. However, each magazine tailors its design to its genre and content, with variations in color tones, text prominence and placement, and incentives advertised on the front cover.

1. ANALYSIS OF PROFESSIONAL
MAGAZINE COVERS

2. The colour scheme
indicates the genre
of mag.
Kerrang!
Masthead has a
different font to the
rest of the front
cover.
Large, main cover line
relating to cover photo.
Different font than the
masthead.
Large cover photo
with the frontman
of the band in
front.
Another main feature
article.
Incentives
of what is
on the
inside of the
mag.
Barcodes, Issue no.,
Issue date and price.
Preview of the content
within the feature
articles.

3. Large masthead
in a different
colour therefore
it stands out
from the rest of
the page.
Issue date and
price.
NME
Festival guide as
an incentive.
Competitions are
advertised on the
front cover.
Large cover image
relating to the main
feature article.
Show reviews
are regular
content.
Feature articles
are shown.
The most prominent
cover line which
relates to the cover
image.
Barcode
.

4. Dark colour
scheme relates
to genre of mag.
The
masthead
is covered
up by the
cover
photo.
Decibel
Special issues.
Mag website.
Incentives to subscribe
to the mag in a puff.
Special edition
feature
articles.
Band
comeback
feature
article.
Feature
articles
advertised.
The cover
photo is
relating to the
special edition
and the band.
Barcode, issue no.
and price.