This document analyzes the cover of a music magazine. It discusses several key elements: - The masthead is the large logo at the top in red to stand out. It signifies the importance of the magazine brand. - The cover lines in bold text advertise the main stories inside to entice readers. Red is used to match the masthead and draw attention. - The main image is of singer Jesse J, prominently displayed in a revealing outfit to attract mostly male readers. A band called Muse is shown smaller behind her. - Additional elements include the barcode with date and price, and an advertisement banner contrasting in yellow to promote a story inside. The document analyzes the purpose

1. Front cover analyse #1
Mast head
It is the largest typography on the page, which is a big white Q with a red filling box
to make the Q stand out further, This is also the logo of the magazine. As shown on
this magazine the masthead is sent right to the back and has one of the images
overlapping over it, this is a key convention of any magazine with the magazine logo
being behind the images, this signifies that they feel their magazine is very
important expect the reader to understand the magazine which is the idea of
arrogance that magazines are better than their audience. It is also an acronym for
the maker of the magazines name which is Quieten Richardson, which in this case is
that the Q stands for. The name just being a Q makes it short and snappy and the
magazine more appealing. Use of red is common magazines, particularly rock and
indie genres. In the top left hand corner, as this is the first place we typically look. It
is also what you can see on the new stand. It reflects what magazine denotes.
Cover lines
The main focus of the cover lines is the bolder text at the beginning of each, which
in this case is the names of the celebrities/ band that the cover line concerns. The
topics of the cover lines differentiate as ones talking about 4 red hot interviews and
the other reads “Arcade Fire”. The main models name is placed as a cover line
bolder and the colour of red that therefore signifies to the masthead, this theme of
red signifies to danger or alert, this bright red stands out to stand out just like the
logo does. The cover lines are about what the magazine features inside that
engages the audience to read/buy it. In most magazines the cover lines are usually
on the left side of the magazine and is a key convention of music magazines.
Context
As this music magazine is a weekly, cheap magazine, it is quite busy and simply
created, this signifies that their audience also aims at C2DE as well as the classic
ABC1 which most popular magazines aim to.
Main Cover image
The mains in this magazine are Jesse J and Muse, but more Jesse J due to a number
of reasons, the representational issue of gender has been met, having a female in
front of a group of males demonstrates that the magazine is pro feminism, or at
least isn’t sexually unbalanced. Differently Jesse J is wearing a very sexual outfit,
and this sexually arousing outfit attracts a mostly male audience due to its
attractive aspects. Also, another reason why she is more attracting and more
important is how she has been placed in the image, in front of frame, even the
promotional “180 songs to take on holiday” button is even behind her,
demonstrating how promotion is unnecessary when this artist is on it.
The image behind of the band is less important, behind everything else but the
logo, this band muse may be behind everything else yet the text for muse is a lot
larger than Jesse J’s name, demonstrating people may recognize the name of the
band but not the people and know Jesse J’s appearance rather than her, this differs
from my previous ideas of sexual balance as this signifies an audience is more likely
to know a girls body than her name, signified by the size of typography compared
to importance of images
Barcode
This is an essential convention to a magazine cover, this includes the date and price,
barcodes tend to be placed in any corner of the magazine, and this is placed in the
bottom left corner, the editor may have choose to place this in the left corner as
the left side is very busy and wanted didn’t want to leave space as it would have
look unorganized in the cover, the text is so small it is almost irrelevant and the only
readable thing is the price, only necessary piece of information. The barcode has a
border around it to “border” itself from the cover, almost being irrelevant.
Banner
The banner is an advertisement that contrasts with the rest of magazine, possibly
to draw attention to it. The advertisement is placed into a pug and will mainly
interest audience that are planning to go on holiday. So clearly the magazine sees it
as a selling point. Most pugs are often will a yellow background, because yellow is
often the colour that contrasts with magazine’s conventions as the main symbolic
colour in music magazines is red, thus yellow contrasting with this, and this
magazine is no different, the yellow of the banner stands out well with the red
aspect, this signifies that the editor wanted the banner reading “your ultimate
summer of music”, this contrast has been used as hyperbole of the magazine,
making it look “ultimate” as it sticks out the most,
colour
The conventions of music magazines is the theme of red, and Q even more so, including it in the logo, signifying they are aware of the
conventions of their magazine type, yet they almost mock other magazines buy not using red as much as they should, considering Q’s
logo is red, the only other colour of red used is for Jesse J’s name, lipstick and underlines, the use of red as an underline signifies that
similar to underlining, it is there to look nicer and only that, the red is only used because it almost has to, similar to underlining a title,
connotating that Q although have to use this convention of red they want to expand, and this is obvious by the use of blue and yellow
as underlining, the use of red, blue and red being primary colours demonstrates how Q don’t really want to use a colour scheme but
rather be mixed, signifying its genre being pop and rock, two different music types, and a the mixed colour scheme links to that.
Yellow has been used more as it contrasts from the red making elements like banners and buttons stand out and be more appealing to
the reader/buyer.

2. Front cover analyse #2Mast head
The masthead is a large, bold text with a 3D bevel shaded behind it to make it look
different and more superior to the rest of the cover, signifying this is what the audience
should notice first, connotating how the magazine is more known than the artists on
the cover. It is in white to contrast the adark background and it has been slightly
covered by the slogan and puffs which connotates that it has been branded and
therefore the audience don’t need to see the whole masthead. It has been placed at
the top of the page underneath the skyline which is a common code and convention of
magazines.
Main image
The main image consists of the singer from “Siouxse and the banshees”, the main image
is linked to the main coverline. It is a medium close up of her and the mast head covers
her which connotates that the masthead is more important however the coverlines
don’t overlap her which shows how significant she is. She has heavy makeup on and as
the genre of this magazine is music and the subgenre is indie/classic rock, the
stereotype of indie singers is their originality and her makeup is very different. It has
been placed in the centre of the page so its one of the first things that the audience
notices, this is a common code and convention of magazines. Which indexically signifies
that the artist must be very popular in the indie industry, the different make up would
also appeal to aspirer audiences as it is very attractive and appealing, aspirers would
want her makeup to seem different to their peers.
skyline
This is also linked to the puff right next to it. It has been written in a sans-serif font and
is in grey and red. They have chosen these colours to keep with the colour scheme but
also to highlight different parts of the skyline. The name “George Harrison” is in a
different colour so that the audience will notice it, this is a key code and convention in
most front covers, by which I mean names are usually in a larger or bolder font, or even
a different coloured font also. Also grey and red stand out against the dark background
of the magazine.
Slogan
“The music magazine” is placed over the masthead which connotates that the
masthead has been branded and that the slogan is of equal importance. It has been
written in script front to make it seem as if someone has written in grey so it stands out
against the white masthead. Saying “The music magazine” connotes that it is the only
music magazine, it also reinforces the genre to the target audience, making the
magazine seem individual, which is a code of indie music, original and out of the
ordinary.
Puff/Sell lines
Are located in the top left and right third. The first on the left is a USP advertising a free
CD with the magazine, this marketing technique is very clever as audiences looking for
sentiment out of their purchase would be interested, for example, Chinese market give
the film on blu-ray when they go to the cinema because Chinese markets like that
sentimental value to a purchase, although there is a cultural relativism to how markets
purchase goods, this sentimental value carries across from how the magazine signifies
it, linking to the uses and gratifications theory, the idea that the music being
entertaining gratifies to the audience. The bright red makes it more noticeable to play
with the emotions of the audience, attracting that sentimental idea. The second is a
picture of George Harrison, this puff links with the strapline and has been used to make
the target audience buy the magazine as they may listen to him as his music fits in with
the subgenre of the magazine. Both Puffs act as sell lines as both attract audiences
differently to the purchase of the magazines.
Colour scheme
Consists of white, red, blue and grey. Similar to the union Jack flag, Mojo being a British
magazine signifies how the magazine prides itself on being patriotic connotating indie is
a mainly British genre, the colours have been used to represent its identity and how it is
a British magazine. Also these colours all stand out well against the black background,
this connotes that the dark background has been used to make everything else stand
out. Around the main image’s face the colours white, red, blue have been used but
when the main image faded out only red and grey are used, this connotes that the
white and blue are related to the main image as they are not needed when the main
image is no longer there.
Niche audience- Is people who listen to
indie/classic rock music but more of the younger
generation as they have used a young modern
singer on the front. So the niche market is most
likely white males ages 25 to 35.
Target audience
ABC1, older ages around 40-60, people that were present during the 70’s, as the classic
rock movement was defined by this decade, the right side puff proves this, being a artist
who was very recognized in the 70’s being a Beatles member.
Cover lines
The cover lines have been placed around the main image so that they don’t cove any
details, this is a common code and convention of magazines. They follow the colour
scheme and are all written in the same font except some are in bold and some are
bigger than others. Everything in the cover lines refer to something important inside the
magazine and give slight details about it as well to make it more appealing to the target
audience. Every cover line links to the genre/sub genre of the magazine.
Barcode- Has been placed in the bottom right
third of the page, this is a common code and
convention of magazines as they don’t want the
barcode to take up much of the page. The
barcode is still quite small but compared to other
magazines quite big, this is because they have
enlarged it to fill up the space at the bottom of
the cover, connotating in the magazine they
have a lot of articles and information
Layout
Follows the codes and convention of magazines, Masthead is at the top, cover lines
around the sides, the main image in centre and the barcode at the bottom, the layout
makes you first focus in the main image then look at the masthead, this is because the
masthead has been branded and the magazine knows that the audience will buy it but
they want them to see the contents and main features more, which is a key
gratification, information is main in the uses and gratifications theory and we use media
to get information from it.

3. Front cover analyse #3Masthead-
on a black banner which makes the white text stands out as it contrasts with the darker
background that it is on. The masthead is in front of the main image which is unusual as the
stereotypical conventions of this genre of magazines tend to place the image in front of the text,
showing how ‘KERRANG’ has broken the conventions of stereotypical layout, signified by the
broken glass effect, signifying the broken convention and has taken on a bolder effect as the
masthead is incredibly eye catching as it has been placed over the main picture to show it’s
importance. It is key for the masthead to stand out as it is the a company logo that has to
compete against other music magazines on the market and so has to break generic conventions
to make it stand out from the rest.
Selling Line- The selling line on this issue is in the black banner above the masthead on the front
cover reading ‘KERRANG! RELENTLESS ENERGY TOUR 2010: LINE-UP REVEALED!’ which interests
people to who is playing on the tour this year attracting the readers and making them want to
read on. This is also a case of the company using their magazine to full potential to advertise their
own music tour showing that their magazine is superior to others as it hosts a tour every year.
This follows the generic conventions of a standard layout for a magazine as it is placed at the top
and yet stands out in bright colours such as yellow to attract the target audience of teenagers to
Kerrang. Their tour being related to energy drinks really defines their audience, as energy drinks
signifies to a edgy rock and roll theme.
Main Image- the whole of the band ‘Lost prophets’ and yet the lead singer ‘Ian Watkins’ is placed
right in the centre and is more forward than the rest of the band and covering some of the band
members, signifying how they are unnecessary to the audience, the gratification of information is
controversial, because the audience would want to know what they are reading about, signifying
how the editor is certain these members are futile almost, showing the leads importance. The
shot used for the photo is a Mid-shot, the generic type for a magazine, and The angle of the
photo is slightly a low angle shot to emphasize the power of the band with their expressions of
determination, which pairs with their cover line “THE WELSH STARS BATTLE TO SAVE THEIR
FUTURE” which attracts the eye as the text is yellow on a black background to catch the eye of
the reader.
Other Images- There are a few other small images placed on the front cover. This is an unusual
convention as not many music magazines place extra images on the front cover as they could
draw attention away from the main image, and if used photos are used as puffs, away from the
main image in the corners. however, Having the extra images allows the cover to advertise and
sell the magazine as it reveals in a small caption next to the pictures reading “POSTER SPECIAL!”
attracting the readers attention to the free extra’s the magazine has to offer. The images allow
the readers to get a greater insight to the content of the magazine and draws in more visual
attention as a young audience is more likely to be attracted by images rather than a lot of text
and also, a more teenage audience would be more interested in posters than adults, aspirers
would attract to the posters as they can place it in their room as a reminder of what they aspire
to be.
Colour Scheme-
The colour scheme of the magazine is Yellow, Black, Blue & White. The cover used 4 different
colours instead of the usual 3 to attract more attention, and catch the eye of readers. This stray
away from normal magazine codes and conventions in commonplace, signifying the genre being
very uncaring and built upon the idea of rebellion, the conventions rebel from ordinary
magazines. The white and black harmonize with the main image and background as the band are
dressed in all black and the background is a plain white. All black and white text also compliment
the masthead as they follow the colour scheme. There is no yellow or blue in the main image,
which shows how the magazine has used contrasting colours to important parts of the cover.
Buttons/sell lines-
the first is the selling line of Kerrang! magazine in a button on the right under the masthead
which reads “MASSIVE 7-DAY ROCK GUIDE” a yellow font to emphasise its importance, the yellow
contrasts with the black background to signify to the reader it is more important than the other
information on the cover. The button looks like a sticker slapped on carelessly to emphasize the
genre of the magazine, a sort of unorganized The second button is for a prize as it says in bold
letters ‘WIN!’ in bright colours again showing the colour scheme helping to emphasize the
importance of the competition and attract the readers attention by putting the prizes in alternate
colours too. A star shaped stamp or sticker is exciting and commonly is used in competitions,
signifying the excitement if the prize was won. In this front cover, the selling lines are mainly
names of artists that are being featured in the magazine and the extra images also work as a
point of sales. The Cover line is the name of the magazines main feature, ‘LOSTPROPHETS’. The
font of it is largest out of all other selling lines as it is important for the main story to attract the
reader into the main story of the magazine.
Explanatory- The explanatory text are quotes from interviews within the magazine such as “THIS
IS ALL WE HAVE!” to interest people to read further into the story. Quotes allow the reader to
know that there are interviews inside the magazine, and allows the reader to connect with the
interviewee before further reading.
Font and typography - On this front cover, there are at least 5 types of font which is unusual for a
front cover as usually, magazines tend to stick to 3 types; keeping a simple yet professional and
neat look. This magazine cover breaks conventions to create a different effect to the magazine
without making it look messy, creating a new and individual effect. The effect signifies how the
genre of Kerrang being a very edgy rock sense, signifying in the way of being out of the ordinary,
and in terms of conventions of magazine not following magazine conventions define Kerrang well,
being different to other magazines. Similarly, all text is in capital letters, which demonstrates the
crazy codes and conventions of Kerrang, the capital letters signify shouting, which relates to the
wacky crazy vibe of Kerrang.
Font and typography - On this front cover, there are at least 5 types of font which is unusual for a
front cover as usually, magazines tend to stick to 3 types; keeping a simple yet professional and
neat look. This magazine cover breaks conventions to create a different effect to the magazine
without making it look messy, creating a new and individual effect. The effect signifies how the
genre of Kerrang being a very edgy rock sense, signifying in the way of being out of the ordinary,
and in terms of conventions of magazine not following magazine conventions define Kerrang well,
being different to other magazines. Similarly, all text is in capital letters, which demonstrates the
crazy codes and conventions of Kerrang, the capital letters signify shouting, which relates to the
wacky crazy vibe of Kerrang.
Explanatory- The explanatory text are quotes from
interviews within the magazine such as “THIS IS ALL
WE HAVE!” to interest people to read further into the
story. Quotes allow the reader to know that there are
interviews inside the magazine, and allows the reader
to connect with the interviewee before further
reading.
Barcode- The Barcode is a lot larger than other magazines, the barcode and other
information is centred in the white box, again straying away from the normal codes and
conventions of music magazines, as you tend to see them with as little white space as
possible, but this messy feeling signifies with the genre well being crazy, disorganized
and rebellious.