This document analyzes magazine covers from Kerrang!, Rock Sound, and Alternative Press magazines. It discusses various design elements of the covers including images, layouts, fonts, and color schemes. The target audience for these magazines is identified as teenagers and young adults aged 15-21 interested in rock and alternative music genres. Specific bands and artists featured on the covers are examined in terms of attracting readers and representing the styles of music covered in each magazine.

1. Front
Cover analysis
• Kerrang!
• Rock Sound
• Alternative Press
• Older Kerrang! cover

2. Signature masthead,
which is
onomatopoeic for
the sound of an
amplified guitar.
Shattering of the
masthead signature
for the magazine,
because of loud
guitars
The Main image is very large
and the magazine’s main focus.
Medium shot of Andy Biersack,
who has dark hair and wearing
a lot of black – typical of the
rock genre. Which relates to the
target audience as he is
wearing clothes similar to those
in the rock genre
Bar code and pricing
Diagonal is typical for
Kerrang, more than
other magazines
Posters as
freebie for
audience
Tattoos are
conventional for
the target audience
and those who
feature in the
magazine
Competition for rock
festival tickets
To attract target
audience
Image heavy front
cover with a lot of
secondary images
4 different fonts
Large colour palette:
red, black, yellow and
blue
Image in front of
masthead
Image contrasts with
background
Target audience is
mixed in gender, and
aimed at older teens or
young adults. Around
15-21

3. Shows the genres of
music covered in the
magazine.
Limited colour palette of
only red, blue, black,
white and yellow
Exclusive connotates you can’t
get them anywhere else
Band of the year
signifies the band is of a
great quality to deserve
the title
Band name in a different
font to the others
Posters for the target
audience
Pricing and barcode
There is only one image on the
cover and it is a very strong mid-
shot.
Typical of the rock genre wearing
a lot of make-up, black and has a
lot of tattoos. A crazed facial
expression, and a lot of focus on
the artist’s face, especially his
eyes.
Well known band
names for a
wider audience
4 different fonts
“The only 2011 review
you need” makes it
sound like no other
review is needed
Basic layout- minimal text.
Text is written to be
relatable to target
audience, using little “chat
speak” but using a more
informal language
No secondary images
Image slightly off centre

4. Masthead behind image,
and is stretched across
the page.
Image is of someone typical in
the “alternative” genre, with a
lot of tattoos and black hair.
The microphones connotate
how easy it is for his voice to
be heard and the president of
the united states on the
podium signals authority.
Quote from the
main interview that
could show the
interview is going
to be controversial
Contradicts the
powerful image,
referring to the
model as “The real
all American
reject.” entice
reader
Posters to attract more
people to the magazine
Not just people from rock
genre, showing the
magazine covers all
alternative types of music
Stands out to show Ronnie Radke of Falling in
Reverse is involved in the magazines main story.
Website, for more reader
involvement
Colour scheme is limited to
red, yellow, black white and
blue.
Around 5 different fonts
Issue number, for people
who collect the magazine
Image is slightly off centre,
and is a medium shot.
Also, there are no secondary
images on this cover

5. The image of the female
connotates
rebellion, and, unlike a lot
of magazines featuring
women on their front
covers, the gesture of the
model is not of a sexual
nature, showing the
magazine is aimed at a
different audience, and is
not using sexuality to attract
a larger audience.
Free is used to attract more people
to buy the magazine, and the poster
special of a very well known band is
used to attract more people to buy
the magazine
Plus is used to show there are other
bands covered in the magazine, not
just the band on the cover.
5 different fonts
Paramore is made bigger
to show they’re the main
band in the magazine
Helps the target audience
learn more about the bands
featured in the
magazine, and could possibly
relate to the band on a more
personal level.
Well known bands in
secondary stories, to
attract even more
readers to the magazine
Signature masthead, which
is onomatopoeic for the
sound of an amplified
guitar.
Shattering of the masthead
signature for the
magazine, because of loud
guitars
Colour scheme is
black, orange, white
and red
Very few secondary
images