Front cover analysis

1. Cerys Gaskell-Edwards
Target Audience and genre
The target audience and genre of
this magazine cover is younger
people and the genre is rock and
heavy metal music. This can be told
by the shapes on the page such as
lightning bolts and also the colours.
Main Image
The main image is of a rock band
which suggests this band is part of
the lead story.
Model credit
The model credit is the main
wording on the cover. This reads
‘New music overload’.
Main Cover Line
The main cover line reads ‘NEW MUSIC
OVERLOAD!’ This can be seen by the
way it is positioned and it is also larger
than the other cover lines. This is also in
different colours that are brighter than
the other cover lies as it has a right
yellow background and black text.
Masthead
The masthead cannot be seen clearly but you can
tell what magazine it is due to the style of lettering.
The mast head shows that the genre is rock as it is
bold but as cracks through it which can portray that
rock music is loud so cracks things. The masthead is
in white to stand out against the red background.
The masthead also looks broken as it is loud. The
word “kerrang” is also onomatopoeia as it is almost
the sound of a guitar being strummed.
The Gutenberg Design Principle
In the primary optical area the start of the mast
head and a banner is here. In the terminal optical
area there is the barcode. In the strong fallow area
there is a badge selling a £600 guitar. In the weak
fallow area there is a small image and cover line.
The axis of orientation shows the main cover line
and the image of the band.
Colours/Typefaces/House style
The colours used are bright and bold such as; red,
yellow, black and white. All shapes are outlined
with a thick black line to make them stand out
against the black shirt and the main singer/person
in the bad.
Cover lines
There are several cover lies which all show information about what
is in the magazine from what is exclusive information to what you
will receive inside.
Banners/Flashes/badges
There is a badge saying exclusive in the bottom left
hand corner. There are also several badges to say
one sentence in the top left hand corner saying ’10
hot as hell posters!’ There is also a banner at the
top of the cover. There is also a badge saying win a
£600 guitar.