Kerrang! is a UK-based magazine devoted to rock music. It was initially focused on heavy metal genres but expanded its coverage in the 2000s. While sales declined after the nu-metal trend ended, adopting emo and metalcore helped boost readership. Kerrang! primarily targets 16-24 year old males and appeals to them through imagery of iconic male bands. It maintains a devoted audience through diverse online content that keeps readers engaged between issues.

1. Music Magazine Analysis

2. Background information
Kerrang! is a UK-based magazine
devoted to rock music published by
Bauer Media Group.
Named after the onomatopoeic word
that derives from the sound made
when playing a power chord on an
electric guitar, Kerrang! was initially
devoted to the New Wave of British
Heavy Metal and the rise of hard rock
acts. In the early 2000s it became the
best-selling British music newspaper
Launched as a monthly magazine its high
demand meant it could then be printed fortnightly
and eventually weekly.

3. Sales figures
Starting out their company in a small printing house, the Bauer
Publishing Group has grown into a worldwide publishing empire.
Managed by four generations, the Bauer family own 238
magazines including some of the UK‟s biggest sellers such as
Mojo and Q as well as TV and radio stations worldwide in 15
countries.
During the 1980s and early 1990s the magazine placed many thrash and
glam metal acts on the cover. Readers often criticised the magazine for
repeating this process every time a new musical trend becomes popular.
Kerrang!‟s popularity rose again with the hiring of editor Paul Rees at the
turn of the millennium. At this time, the nu-metal genre, featuring bands such
as Limp Bizkit and Linkin Park, were becoming more widespread.
Unfortunately, the nu-metal wave did not last long and in 2003 Kerrang!‟s
sales went quickly into decline.
This meant a new format needed to be established in order to sustain
readers. With the emergence of emo and metalcore, Kerrang! Magazine
began to heavily feature this new musical trend within its pages. However, the
revamp was not welcomed by all readers and many complaints were received
about Kerrang!'s sudden emphasis on emo and metal core music. The
magazine continued to print issues with My Chemical Romance on the front
cover for several weeks causing a slight alteration in readership figures.

4. Audience
In the period 01-Jul-2008 to 31-Dec-2008 Kerrang!‘s
circulation sales in the UK and the Republic of Ireland were
at a high of 50,128 insuring it remained the market-leading
music weekly. These figures display that Kerrang! is a
successful magazine despite its audience being one
demographic entity.
This devoted audience of rock fans is made up of:
 60% males
 40% females
with Kerrang!‟s demographic fall into social class D-C. The
main ethnicity of the readership is white British with a target
population of 16-24 year olds.
The magazine‟s psychographic is defined as „people who
aspire to be respected among other people.‟
Kerrang! aims more at a male audience and appeals to them by
using content such as hard rock and metal iconic male bands on the
front cover pulling angry faces or violent expressions.
Female readers are targeted by the use of male bands on free pull
out posters and feature interviews.

5. The masthead is written at the top of the Front Cover The magazine is aimed at a young
page and it has a kind of broken glass audience 16-24+ (majority male):
effect. This could be interpreted as the The magazine uses strategies such as “free we know this through the use of
smashing of a glass or mirror maybe by a posters” to help attract readers to make them graphics, fonts, layouts and
guitar which links back to the rock and roll feel like they are getting more for their money. presentation. Kerrang! is aimed at
lifestyle that this magazine is trying to Using this strategy is very clever as some the youth and their lifestyles.
It has a contemporary and up-to-
portray. The use of onomatopoeia and the people might even buy the magazine just so
date look, making use of modern
broken glass effect in the title all link and are that they can get the free posters.
typefaces and a down-to-earth
woven together to show the the magazine „s feel. The magazine even
musical nature. And it also gives the accommodates the young
magazine an edge and adds vibrancy which readership by using
leads back to the readership of this advertisements that relate to their
particular magazine. The title is red which is interests E.G. “See slipknot for a
a primary colour, associated with many fiver” = Cheap entertainment as all
interpretations and because the artists are young people look for affordable
placed over the title it shows that the fun in today's world.
magazine is quite popular, because it can
still be identified without the title being in full
view. The magazine features a
male band the majority of the time.
Also the magazine builds up its image as it uses This issue includes young guns , a
the colour technique/ scheme for every issue British rock band. I found it interesting
as the magazine only chose to shoot
e.g. 3-4 colours maximum are used. the lead singer this informed the
The top 2 colours are red and yellow (both audience that his feature is more
primary colours) personal and about him. A male
Red is a very emotionally intense colour as its audience will find the main article
the colour of fire and blood and is associated interesting as the quote “i had to fight
with energy, danger, strength, power, for everything” relates to many young
determination as well as passion, desire, and male audiences aspiring to be like
love. Also Red brings text and images to the there idols so they can relate to the
foreground. Use it as an accent colour to issue. This front cover would also
stimulate people to make quick decisions attract more female audience as the
Yellow is associated with joy, happiness, singer is topless and has lyrics written
intellect, and energy. very effective for attractingThe edgy, underground and individualistic style
attention, so use it to highlight the most appeals to rock readers and draws them in, this is all over his body , therefore more
women will be enticed to the product.
important elements of your design a crucial element of any successful magazine.

6. The contents page is divided in half, focusing on a bring me the
horizon mini review. This is not a main article as it is not featured on
the front cover but is the focus of the contents this acts in the same
Contents Page way of a front page, enticing the reader in.
The page is divided into sections, with images being the
main focus of the page, This format means the reader is
immediately drawn to the images, enabling them to feel
more involved within the magazine, and be more
entertained.
There is a consistent house style throughout the
magazine : a majority of the time black and yellow is
always featured as well as another colour in this case the
magazine uses subtle hints of red which stands out but
isn't over powering.
Editors notes make the magazine more personal to the
reader as it gives them updates on what she has been up
to and which parts of the magazines are her favourites
and what she would recommend
Images and article titles are numbered (in red) making it
convenient for the reader as they are able to identify what
page its on.
Ads / special features are put in boxes for the reader
to immediately notice them
Contents includes: feedback from bands/ viewers, news, swag (merchandise), reviews, posters, features, album
reviews, gig guide, letter from editor, subscription info

7. Double Page Spread
The use of font size and place is
very in interesting as the title is
placed tilted which allows the
magazine to add Kerrang's! Own
flare and style to the article
without taking away from what is
about as it also portrays the
bands style extremely well
In terms of colour the main
colours used are black and red
which contrast each other very
well and stand out at the same
time which allows the reader to
enjoy the article without being
distracted by the red. The use
of white text also works very
well as all three colours blend
and work alongside the images
This double page spread uses a lot of imagery
as well as into the page
which is good as it entices the reader and The other images on the other
allows them to enjoy the article visually. The page are of different members of
main image is of the main singer of a band (my the band and implies that the
chemical romance) , this will allow the reader to article doesn't forget about them The effect of having a white background in
know what the article is about , this image and there are features of them
takes up a whole page of the 2 so there is very the corner of the page adds good contrast
within the article which attracts and allows the text to change to black which
little text which is another good and key aspect many readers as many like to
as it is important not to bombarded the reader makes the magazine more exiting as colour
read the updates and journeys of
with a lot of text as they will get bored and skip is played around with and make the article
different band members in a
the article. music magazine. more visually expressive.

8. Website
Kerrang!‘s website is dedicated to finding out more information to do with the magazine
and also the latest information on the readerships favourite bands and upcoming events.
The website hosts Kerrang’s! online shop, podcasts, message board, TV and radio
segments ensuring even more opportunities to sell associated merchandise and products.
Kerrang goes for a traditional rock-styled site with blacks, whites and reds which are dominant through out the
site.
The site is separated into stylish blocks of writing but a more modern layout. It does have it advantages but one
could say that block make the site look slightly cluttered sometimes making it hard to read.
Another point is that the style of the site doesn't portray the style of the magazine a lot as technology has
progressed more modern themes are used.
the site includes features such as news, access to all areas, podcast, radio, tickets, shop , bands and
subscription as well as the latest issue of the magazine itself, making it more convenient for the consumer/
audience to view all on one site. The site also allows you to create an account for “noiseletters” where they are
emailed updates and information on the bands and tour dates, this allows the audience to keep up to date on a
daily basis without the missing anything again making it more convenient as they do not have to wait for the next
issue of the magazine to be released as everything and more is featured on the website.