The document analyzes conventions of the rock music magazine Kerrang! including its cover image, line, and contents. The cover typically features a high-profile band member to appeal to fans. The bright colors of the cover analyzed soften the image and make it less stereotypically dark. The contents page uses smaller images and a dark color scheme to hint at articles and match the genre. Kerrang! is then compared to similar magazine NME, noting their similarities in layout but differences in color schemes and styles that appeal to different readers.

1. Music Magazines – Signs and
Signifiers
By Olivia Ahmadi

2. Kerrang!
The Genre
My chosen magazine is one of the Rock
genre, appealing to those who have an
interest within the old as well as new talent
within the industry.
The main conventions of this genre of
magazine are often their high profile main
cover images, which appeal to those who are
followers of the leading bands within the
rock world, along with the use of bold cover
lines that discus anything from music
related topics, to one to one interviews with
bands, discussing their latest albums and
revealing truths about their personal lives.
Magazines similar to Kerrang! often make
use of dark colours such as black, red and
blue to state the masculinity and rage that
the genre itself usually entails, however the
magazines are targeted at both male and
female audiences.

3. Conventions - Cover Line
The cover line of any magazine is the main point of focus for any possible consumer,
however this particular cover line targets those who are fans of the popular band
‘Biffy Clyro’ would see the cover line (backed up by the main cover image) as an
iconic sign, recognising the main focus in this issue of the magazine being on their
favourite, therefore enticing them to buy it. The use of serif typography on this
particular cover line is eye catching due to the use of the electric blue and yellow
colour scheme, not typically used within this genre, which appeals to the preferred
reader as they will engage with not only the colour but the context of the cover line,
‘REHAB, REBIRTH, AND MENTAL HEALTH’, stating that the interview inside is
the ‘most honest interview ever’, of course it with make consumers curious to know
the contents inside regarding their favourite band. However oppositional readers
will view this as a bad representation of how people in the public eye should be
perceived by the public, as it is not the way in which people should lead their own
lives, as they fear fans will copy.

4. Conventions – Cover Image
The image used on this magazine cover is one
typically associated with the genre of rock and its
magazines, Simon Neil, the front man of the band
Biffy Clyro is seen in a medium shot, open mouthed
and topless. This is an iconic sign of the
stereotyped rock singer, enforced by the fact he is
topless, it suggests he is a rebellious male, who
aims to rule break, as suggested by his open mouth
in the photo, which also infers he is a loud
character, and not afraid to speak his mind. His
image is however brought back down to earth by
the colour scheme of the colour, the bright and
vibrant colours make the magazine look less brash
and dark, and soften the image. A preferred reader
will of course be eager to buy this magazine as its
promoting a popular band, however oppositional
readers may see the presentation of the main image
as it being made acceptable for people in the public
eye to stand out for the wrong reasons.

5. Conventions – Contents Page

6. Conventions – Contents Page
The use of the image of Slash, is that he is
an iconic representation and association
with the rock genre, which is highlighted
through his dress code, as he is wearing a
style of clothing typically seen worn by rock
stars, which is of course also the colour
black, which the dark colour scheme
mirrors throughout the issue. It is an
indexical understanding that rock music
has a dark side, which comes across within
the music lyrics. The use of the dark colour
scheme is typical of a magazine within this
genre, and the use of serif fonts enforces its
bold image. Also the use of smaller images
throughout the contents page give hints to
allow the reader to infer, as to what is to
come within the issues, they all also are
associated with the rock genre.

7. Double Page Spread – Kerrang!

8. Double Page Spread -
Conventions
The colour scheme of this double page
spread is kept to a minimum of three
colours, black, white and red, which are
typically seen within the genre of which
this magazine is, not only that but the
black background allows the white font
to stand out and the red gives the page a
bold edge. The images incorporated are
also taken from angels that enhance their
passion and love of music, which is
backed up by the use of the colour red
which has connotations of not only love,
but of the passion and anger within the
theme of some of the bands lyrics.
The text type on this double page spread is Sans Serif, which is
an iconic sign as a rock icon, however is accentuated by the use
of … text. The preferred reading of this informal text would be
that they are dangerous and seen as a ‘rebel’. The oppositional
reading of this from readers outside the target audience is that
it can make the magazine look messy and rough around the
edges. This type of text is also used to highlight cover lines,
headlines and pugs.

9. Comparisons - NME

10. Comparisons - NME
• When comparing ‘Kerrang!’ to ‘NME’ , there are several similarities as well as differences. For instance, when
looking at the cover line of ‘NME’, rather than over whelming the consumer with bright vibrant colours, ‘NME’
uses a bold san serif font, in white to advertise themselves, as well as a full page close up of the featured celebrity to
entice monthly readers into buying the issue. This magazine presents itself as a clean cut and professional,
compared to the likes of ‘Kerrangs!’ which uses of loud primary colours, as well as a posed stereotypical image of
the front man of band ‘Biffy Clyro’.
• Secondly, when looking at Kerrangs! Contents page, it follows a very different colour scheme to its front cover. The
theme is dark and typical to genre of rock, however, still using the shade of yellow for subheading text. The colour
yellow is unusual of the indie-rock genre, however is subtle enough to still fit. Preferred readers may see this as a
positive as the design is not sticking completely to the one of the stereotypical style. Nevertheless, both magazines
contents pages are set out very similarly, as they both have clear layouts, and subheadings clearly indict where
articles are to be found within the magazine.
• Lastly, both magazines double page spreads are similar in layout, as one side features a close up/medium image of
leading men from two well known bands, and the second side of the double page spread is dedicated to the articles
text. The major difference between both however is the colour scheme used, NME using a lighter grey scale as its
main theme, with bursts of pink and yellow highlighting main quotes and other important information, and a light
blue being used for the colour of the headline text, opposed to Kerrangs! double page spread which sticks to the
theme of the stereotypical Indie-Rock magazines, which will be favoured more by ‘old school’ die hard band fans,
rather than the more modernised look that NME have.