2. Frontcover
• Q:
• The headline for Q does not follow the convention a regular magazine due to its one letter. Due to this it is positioned at the top left of the
magazine and changes size and orientation depending on the issue. For example when muse are featured it is slightly larger and rotated at
an angle with cracks going through it imitating the attitude that muse have. This is very similar to kerrang. However when Adele is featured
it fits perfectly in the corner with no cracks with a prefect contrast to the snow white background she is placed on.
• The cover lines on kerrang follow the magazine signature colour scheme of red black and white. Occasionally they will mix it up depending
on which artists feature in that issue. They are bold and red mostly with black or red article teasers. This is to catch the attention of the
readers and because it's almost telling them you should look here, due to the cover lines being bold, they do this as kerrang editors know
the audience they are appealing to.
• A splash is used in most instances for an extra incentive to buy. For example free posters and is normally in a circular shape at the lower
corner of the screen or upper corners.
• There are normally only 3-4 text fonts used on a front cover to keep it simple and not messy. This because audiences are easily distracted.
• Clash:
• Clash’s typography is very bold and large centred at the top of the page. This an opposite of kerrang as it is a solid colour and
not broken up. This would be because clash is not a music magazine base on rock and punk therefore the same attitude towards
music does not apply. Clash is not primarily and singularly a music magazine it is also a fashion and film magazine so the attitude
is more grown up and less rebellious as the target audience is very different.
• The main image/ subject on Clash from cover is mostly large and in the centre whether it be a band or singular artist. This is
because they are know that audiences are more attracted to pictures than blocks of text. This is more of a marketing technique
rather than a convention of the clashes audience. The other reason they are positioned like this is because the front cover
bands are usually well known people for example if Kings of Leon was on the front cover people who are fans of the genre
would quickly recognise him as one of the usp's of this magazine and be more inclined to buy it rather than say Kerrang or
another music magazine. The background is almost always a solid or simple block colour with maybe a fade effect if the text
becomes unreadable.
• The cover lines of clash are almost always positioned quite close underneath the title however unlike other magazines they do
not feature a few lines from said article just the article name, something short and snappy too instantly get the readers
attention.
• A splash is used in most instances for an extra incentive to buy. For example free posters and is normally in a circular shape at
the lower corner of the screen or upper corners.
• There are normally only 3-4 text fonts used on a front cover to keep it simple and not messy. This because audiences are easily
distracted. The texts used on Clash are all white keeping with the more mature attitude toward music than kerrangs teenage
rebellious attitude.
• Kerrang:
• Firstly kerrangs headlines typography is that connoting the genre. Is broken and shattered. This conveys a certain attitude of which this magazine is known for, it's
rocky and punk music genre. For another point these genres are associated with rebellion and breaking the rules. This again backs up the reasoning behind
kerrang using a broken font as it is breaking the conventions (rules ) of most magazine front covers.
• The main image/ subject on kerrangs from cover is always large and in the centre whether it be a band or singular artist. This is because they are know that
audiences are more attracted to pictures than blocks of text. The other reason they are positioned like this is because the front cover bands are usually well
known people for example if gerrard way was on the front cover people who are fans of the genre would quickly recognise him as one of the usp's of this
magazine and be more inclined to buy it rather than say Q or another music magazine. The background is almost always a solid or simple block colour with maybe
a fade effect if the text becomes unreadable.
• The cover lines on kerrang follow the magazine signature colour scheme of red black and white. Occasionally they will mix it up depending on which artists
feature in that issue. They are bold and red mostly with black or red article teasers. This is to catch the attention of the readers and because it's almost telling
them you should look here, due to the cover lines being bold, they do this as kerrang editors know the audience they are appealing to.
• A splash is used in most instances for an extra incentive to buy. For example free posters and is normally in a circular shape at the lower corner of the screen or
upper corners.
• There are normally only 3-4 text fonts used on a front cover to keep it simple and not messy. This because audiences are easily distracted.
3. Contentspage
Many of the music magazines I have analysed have the same common features
and barely any change apart from the attitude conveyed within them via the
colour of the text, the font size and whether or not the text is serif or sans-serif.
Many of these features include:
• The main articles are listed with there page numbers next to them and the
others are listed as features or specials.
• Many don't have the links to social media on the contents page unless it is a
special editors edition of which they want to get there name out there.
• The front page is used as an image at the top or bottom of the page to remind
readers of what issue they are reading. This mostly a marketing technique
rather than a magazine choice as its easier for audiences to look than read.
• The colour of the background is again a simple block so that the main article
photo does not have the attention drawn away from it and you can recognise
the artist via their face. It’s also done so you can manipulate the artificial
lighting so the text can be read. In certain issues of the subject is famous
enough you cam get away without using a block colour.
• Many of the magazines use adverts based towards their target audience so
they can sell more merchandise or push certain deals and offers again giving
them an incentive to buy.
• Most of the contents pages have the issue date somewhere on the page to
reinforce which issue you’re reading if you dont pay attention to the front
cover.
