The document analyzes the front cover of Kerrang magazine to understand its target audience. Kerrang targets predominantly male rock fans aged 17-24. The front cover uses conventions like a dominant image of a rock artist and headlines in line with the magazine's house style to attract this audience. The codes and conventions employed on the cover aim to appeal to the attitudes and lifestyle of the target readership.

1. Kerrang
For the forth magazine
which I am going to
analyse the front cover
is Kerrang magazine.
The front cover of the
magazine attracts its
audience with the
conventions and
codes. By analysing
this magazine I will see
how the audience is
addressed using the
codes and
conventions.

2. Kerrang magazine overview:
Publisher: Bauer Media
Audience: Group
Editor: James McMahon
Circulation: 43,033
Readership: 396,000
Frequency: weekly
First Issue: June 1981
Country: United Kingdom
From the front cover of this magazine, I would assume that the
target audience is of fans for rock and indie music. They may also
enjoy reading information about the subject. From the cover i
assume that this magazine has predominately male readers. This
audience may also enjoy reading about fashion. I will analyse the
target audience for Kerrang magazine using this link below:
http://www.bauermedia.co.uk/Global/mediapacks/Kerrang.pdf
This link shows the Demographic statistics and detailed
information about KERRANG’s target audience. This link is
to KERRANG magazine’s media pack.

3. • Information on the target audience:
• They are predominantly from the social group ABC1 with
52%
• The average age is 22
• Heavy rock fans
• Attracts an audience aged 17-24 year olds
• Predominantly male
• Most likely to spend £200 a year on albums
• They also enjoy reading about music, films, games
technology and politics
• They will be dedicated music fans with 5.5 times more likely
to attend a rock gig
• Audience profile:
• Age: 22
• Gender: Male
• Ethnicity: British
• Geographic's: London

4. Who are the core audience?
• The core audience for this magazine targets 17-24 years old. From looking at
the front cover, I can most defiantly see that this is true as it is presented with a
sophisticated manner yet, engaging the audience.
What are the attitudes, values and lifestyle of the audience?
• The audience will have an active social life by going to watch films, going to the
latest concerts (mainly rock) and having the latest and going to main events.
The audience will predominantly listen to rock music, while maybe being in a
band themselves. Their friends, hobbies, attitudes and trends will be based
around this. The target audience rejoice in their own individuality, where this
magazine engages towards them. The target audience will be extremely loyal to
their favourite bands. The way they look and the clothes they wear are integral
to communicating ‘his identity’ to the world. They will be very technology savvy
with a desire to have the latest technology. This target audience for KERRANG
magazine will influence the ideas of the mainstream society.
Why is this audience attractive to advertisers?
• The target audience for KERRANG are predominantly influenced by rock music.
Their individuality has been shown within this magazine with the use of
language. The audience have many interests. Therefore, they will be interested
in the advertisements within the magazine, provided they are related to their
interests.

5. Codes, conventions and
mode of address
• The front cover of the magazine attracts its
audience with the conventions and codes. By
analysing this magazine I will see how the
audience is addressed using the codes and
conventions.

6. Masthead
• The masthead is scratchy which fits in with the rock feel from the
magazine. It is in capitals which are very dominating. The white
masthead stands out from the rest of the magazine. The masthead
looks like it has been smashed which reinforces the idea that this
magazine is predominantly on the rock subgenre of music. The
white typography contrasts with the rest of the magazine, helping
to create an identity for the magazine. Their appears to be a slight
drop shadow used in the masthead which also helps it to stand
out, appealing to the rock based target audience. The usage of this
style for the masthead will appeal to its trendy rock fans. The
masthead appears to be engaging its audience which shows
connotations of identity and loyalty for its audience.

7. • The dominant image overlaps the
Image masthead is shot with a mid- close
up of a well known artist. The artist
has been shown to be pushing
forward or to be punching a sign.
This will engage the target audience
as the artist is from a rock band. The
way the artist is shown to be
punching, reinforces the idea of the
rock subgenre. The image is very
engaging to the audience due to the
shot used to take the photo. The
image is backed up by the heading in
which the artist is promoting. It
instantly puts its own tag on the
magazine engages the individuality of
its target audience. The artist is
shown to be wearing red which
follows the house style of the
magazine creating an individual
unique identity for the magazine
appealing to its audience.

8. Banner
• The banner or boost helps to sell the magazine. It is
bold and fits in with the colour scheme. The colours
red and white are used within this banner which
follows the house style of the magazine. The colour
black has been used for the background which
contrasts with the colours used for the boost. This
further helps it to stand out from the magazine. This
banner is situated at the top of the magazine which is a
convenience for the target audience as it is easily
read, and will be the first thing they will see on the
shelves, potentially attracting new members of the
target audience.

9. This is a pug used in the magazine near the top. This
will instantly help to attract its target audience as it is
stating a competition within the magazine appealing at
rock fans.
The boost helps to sell the magazine by
offering special edition posters with the
magazine. The posters are aimed at the
rock fans with posters on well known
rock bands. This will attract more
people to buying the magazine. The
idea that the same colours are used in
this advertisement acts as anchorage in
supporting the magazines house style
and also holding a rock feel to the
magazine.

10. Strap-lines
• This strap-line uses the colours red and
white which follows the main house style
of the KERRANG magazine. This headline
acts as anchorage supporting the
dominant image of the front cover. The
bands name ‘Paramore’ are well-known
to the target audience. The title has used
the same font as the masthead of the
magazine. This reinforces the idea of rock
genre, while also supporting the image
as it looks like the artist has smashed it
up with her punching. The topography
has been positioned on a black
background which contrasts with the
colours used. This creates a unique
identity for the magazine e, while also
highlighting the main article within the
magazine. This will appeal to its target
audience.

11. “PULL QUOTE”
• The pull quote used in this headline attracts the target audience by
stating what will be in the magazine. The pull quote used here is
related to a rock band aspect which acts as anchorage for the rest of
the magazine. This also follows a main house style for the magazine
, keeping the identity of the magazine.
• This headline is situated in the top right corner of the magazine. The
font of this type has used thick block letters which creates a bold look
to the font. This will draw the audience’s attention into reading it. It
also reinforces the idea of the rock music subgenre, as it is very
powerful, appealing to the main diverse target audience.

12. Other
• The ‘Plus’ headline has also used the same colours of the rest of
the magazine, following its own identity. The artists listed in the
plus section, are predominantly from the rock music subgenre.
The usage of this will attract rock fans instantly to the
magazine, as the whole style fits in with the genre ‘rock’ .
• The barcode on the magazine uses many pound signs which
suggest that this well-known magazine gets exported across the
world. Many people will buy this magazine as it very well-known
through its radio, TV and online website, many new people from
the core audience of 17-24 year olds will be attracted to this
magazine.

13. Representation of social
class:
• From the front cover, I will consider the issues from
analysing the headlines and conventions of this magazine
front cover. The dominating headline and dominant image
suggests that this magazine will have predominately male
readers. The front cover also reinforces the idea of new
trends amongst the rock culture, showing many diverse
ways of the rock subgenre from ‘emo to thrash’ as stated
on kerrang’s media pack. The house style of red, white and
black helps to create an identity for the magazine. The idea
that the magazine uses informal language shows that the
magazine is very loyal to its customers and engages them
with their own language, and in some cases slang is used
within the magazine. The artists stated on the front cover
also reinforce the rock music subgenre.