Q Magazine and Kerrang are popular music magazines in the UK. [1] Q Magazine is published by Bauer Media Group and uses a color scheme of black, red, and white on its covers. [2] Kerrang also uses red, white and black but with lighter shades. Both magazines feature celebrities on their covers and advertise artists inside. [3] The New Musical Express was originally a newspaper that was bought and relaunched as a music magazine, creating the first UK singles chart.

1. Market Research

2. Different music magazines:

3. Bauer Media Group
“Q” magazine is published by Bauer
Media Group. They also publish
magazines such as Empire, Trout and
Salmon, Trail Running etc. They are a
very large company publishing many
successful magazines.

4. In every edition of Q
Magazine they have
this large white “Q” on
a red square
background. This is
used so the target
market can easily
identify it.
There is always a
celebrity artist on the
cover of “Q”. This
edition is of Cheryl
Cole. This is a medium
close up shot of the
artists face. He colours
of the magazine
always link together.
There is usually a
black, red and white
colour scheme.
Cheryl’s hair is black
an her lips are red.
Similarly the
background is black
and the text is red and
white.
The font type of “Q”
magazine is white standard.
It is a formal and easy to
read font which infers that
this magazine is aimed at a
more adult audience. The
font is usually one block
colour and a basic font.
Advertising of other artists. Showing the
target market what is inside!
The puff is something to emphasise the importance
of the magazine. To draw readers in and to make
them want to read it.
The more important words on
the cover are in larger font. For
example the name of the artist
on the cover is larger than the
names of the artists that are
featured inside the magazine.
Because the colour scheme is red, white
and black the colour of the fonts and main
features are the contradicting colour. For
example the background is black and the
text is red and white.
The colours of
Cheryl’s face are not
only inside the
colour scheme
(black and red) but
they also link to the
theme of her own
music. It looks very
much like a rock
theme.

5. The magazine has an extensive review section,
featuring: new releases (music), reissues (music),
music compilations, film and live concert reviews, as
well as radio and television reviews. It uses a star-
rating system from one to five stars; indeed, the
rating an album receives in Q is often added to print
and television advertising for the album in the UK
and Ireland.

6. The title of “Kerrang” is very large in
a bold and very striking font. It is in
white which is contrasting from the
greys and black on the rest of the
cover. Also there are unusual lines
going through the title which gives a
very edgy and worn look about it
which fits perfectly with the context
of the magazine.
The colour scheme of this magazine is
similar to Q magazine with the red,
white and black. However this
magazines colours are lighter and
more discreet. For example the
background is a lot lighter with this
light grey. Also the red isn’t as bold
and bright.
The barcode is commonly used on
magazine from covers so the reader
can buy the product
The buzz word “EXCLUSIVE” draws the reader in to the
magazine making it seem more important and worth
buying. Infers there aren’t many chances to read this
kind of information.
Advertising other artists so
the reader knows what is
inside and what is on offer
to read before they
actually purchase this
magazine.
Other images that relate to
the theme of the magazine
and also identifying the
theme of the magazine
without having to read the
whole thing. For example
these images of punk rock
performers and artists shows
what genre of music this
magazine is aimed at.
Artists/ bands name in large font
as this is who is featured on the
cover.

7. The magazine commenced publication on 6 June 1981 and
was edited by Geoff Bartan, initially as a one-time
supplement in the sounds newspaper, which focused on the
New Wave of British Heavy Metal phenomenon and on the
rise of other hard rock acts. Angus Young of AC/AD appeared
on Kerrang's first cover. Launched as a monthly magazine,
Kerrang! began to appear on a fortnightly basis later, and in
1987 it went weekly. The original owner was United
Newspapers who then sold it to EMAP in 1991.

8. This is the main title. It is a lot
larger and more noticeable that
the other text. As you can see it
is in a white font that is very
bold so the reader can identify
the magazine.
This is the magazine focus. This
is a medium shot of Rihanna.
Usually a medium close up
would be use but on this cover
the clothing is being used as a
feature. The t-shirt she is
wearing says free which is
linked to her music.
The colour scheme of this
magazine is black and
white only. We can see the
plane white font against
the flat black background.
This makes the text more
obvious.
Her clothing also fits in with
the colour scheme. The
white ripped shirt and the
bold back text.
Brightly coloured so it grabs the
readers attention .
The layout of this magazine if
very simple. With only a few
buzz words and flat colours
this cover is very elegant. The
cover relates to Rihanna
herself as she is simple and
elegant.

9. The "Accordion Times and Musical Express" was bought by
London music promoter Maurice Kinn, for the sum of £1,000,
just 15 minutes before it was due to be officially closed. It was
relaunched as the New Musical Express, and was initially
published in a non-glossy tabloid format on standard
newsprint. On 14 November 1952, taking its cue from the US
magazine Billboard, it created the first UK single chart, a list of
the Top Twelve best-selling singles.