For her final school project, the author decided to create her own music magazine about alternative rock bands. To help inform her magazine's design and content, she analyzed several existing magazines in that genre such as Alternative Press, Kerrang, and Hot Press. By examining magazine covers, layouts, and features, she gained insights into how professionals attract audiences and structure publications. Key elements she observed included large artist images and fonts, direct addresses to readers, and previews of interior stories. After researching magazines, the author now has ideas for her own cover design and a better understanding of the audience-focused considerations that go into magazine creation.

1. Magazine Research
For my final major project, I have decided to create my own music magazine. My music
magazine is going to feature bands from the alternative rock genre. To see how I could
create my magazine and to see what I could have featured in my magazine I looked at
similar magazines. One of the magazines I came across was Alternative Press. Alternative
Press was founded in 1985. It was created when the alternative rock genre became popular.
AlternativePress
Large boldfontused
for the title of the
magazine.Thisattracts
the audience’s
attentionbecause of
the size and colour
againstthe dark
background.
The artist featuredonthe
frontcover,has theirname in
boldat the bottomof the
page.Thisalsoattracts the
audience because itstands
out againstthe smallerfont.
Thismakesthe magazine sell
more to those artists’fans.
The main focusof the frontcoveris the artistplaced
inthe middle. The reasonthe artistsare featuredin
the middle,thisiswhere the audience wouldlook
straightaway tosee whichartistsis featuredonthe
front. The artiston thiscoveris featuredinagrey
tint.Thismakesthe featuresstandoutmore and
sharpensthe image of the artist. This givesthe
magazine a more of a professional look.The waythe
artistis dressedwithablazer,shirtandtie alsogives
the magazine a more professionallook.
The artist islookingdirectlyto
the audience. The artistis
givinga directmode of
address,whichdrawsthe
audience intobuyingthe
magazine.
A smallerfontisusedwhentalkingabout
otherartists,but itstill managesto
captivate the audience because of the use
of colour.
Varietyof differentcoloursusedfor
the font.Mostlybrightcolours
exceptblack.

2. AlternativePressInterview Page
The magazine usesthe picturesinthe interview page
so the audience will be more interested.If the page
didn’tcontainthe imagesthe page wouldlookvery
blandso itwouldn’tconvince the audience toread
it.
Nota lotof colouris
usedinthispage.This
couldbe so the
audience wouldbe able
to readthe interview
better,butitlooks
slightlybland.
The way the interview islaid
out makesiteasierforthe
audience toread.It also
informsthe audience of what
each artistissayingduringthe
interview.

3. Alternative PressEventsPage
The eventspage forAlternative
Pressisquite plain.Alternative
Pressfeature imageswiththe main
eventtitlesandartiststhatare
goingto be at thatevent. Also
otherinformationabout the
eventsispostedonthe event
page.AlternativePressliketo
informthe audience of that
particulargenre of the artists,and
where theyare performing.
The sectionof information
aboutthe eventmakesthe
audience have more
knowledge of the event.The
fontusedalsomakesthe
informationstand out,
againstthe poster.
The large fontof the
eventtitle ‘Fort
Rock’ anduse of
colourblendswell
withthe image.
AlternativePresshave awebsite,which
theyuse to promote theirmagazine.
On the website there isavarietyof
informationsuchasnewsandevents,
as well asrecentreleasesof the
magazines.The magazinesare sold
monthlywithavarietyof different
artistsfeaturedinthem.

4. The style of fontlooksverysharp.It is a very
formal style of fontand immediatelygives
the ideaof the eventbeingalternative. The
use of the colourredmakesit lookscary
because redcan be usedto representblood.

5. Kerrang
A large formal font
used.Thisgoes
withthe theme of
the magazine well.
A varietyof bright
and dark colours
are used.
Directmode of addressis
used.The artistis
addressingthe audience,
whichattracts themto look
at the magazine.
The magazinestag
line is“Life IsLoud”
The main image isthe
artist’sface,whichtakesup
mostof the cover.
Supportingimagesof other
bandsfeaturedonthe front
cover. These are used tolet
the audience knowwhatwill
be in the magazine,soif they
see an artisttheylike they
will buyit.
Large white fontisused to
show the mainartists
name.

6. The main artistison the side page
showingthe audience whothe
artistis. Italso brightensthe page
up and makesitmore appealingto
the audience.
Headline isbold,catchesthe
audienceseye.
The font usedonthe
maintitle of the
interview story, isthe
same style fontused
on the band’s name.
The title forthe page isin
large font,differentcolours
are used.

7. Hot Press
The style of the fontforthe
magazine name isformal.Very
boldand an interestingcolour
theyhave used.
The use of the background
colouris good.It isn’ttoo
brightso itdoesn’t’take
the attentionawayfrom
the band.
The band isin the
middle of the cover,
thisbecause theyare
the mainfocus of the
magazine.
The band name stands
out,letsthe audience
knowwhatthe artistsare
called. The brightblue
colourmakes it standout.
Thisis a goodway to letthe
audience know whatother
bandinterviewsare featured
inthe magazine.
These are
subheadings,of other
artistswhichare inthe
magazine.

8. Main title of the
interview,informsthe
audience how isbeing
interviewedandwhat
theyare being
interviewedabout.
The main image shows
whois inthe interviewor
whatthe subjectof the
interview is.
OtherHot Press
magazine covers,with
otherartistsare featured
on the side.Thisisso
visitorsof thispage can
alsosee otherHot Press
interviews.
Otherheadlinesregarding
the same artist are
featuredonthe side.
Magazine title
featuredatthe
top.

9. Now I have analysed a few music magazines I know what I would like to add to my
magazine, and the general structure of a magazine. I now also have an idea of what I would
to have on the front cover of my magazine. When analysing the magazine covers I know why
particular things are featured on the front cover. When customers look at the cover they are
drawn to buying the magazine. Analysing the magazines gives me a better understanding of
how magazines are created the way they are. The creators of magazines look mainly at the
target audience of their product, which is what I am going to do when creating my
magazine. Every detail on the magazines is put on there to meet the audience’s needs and
desires, from details such as the colours , font styles and artists featured in the magazines.