1. Research

2. Rock Sound Magazine
• Rock Sound is a British magazine which champions rock
music. The magazine aims at being more “underground" and
less commercial, whilst also giving coverage to more well
known acts.
• This is similar to the genre I have in mind, targeting a more
niche audience. Therefore the magazine is useful for my
research to see how they target and sustain a loyal consumers.
• The magazine’s name reflects it perfectly – it focuses on the
genre of rock music and they have managed to fit the exact
word into it’s name, alongside another word related to the music
industry.
• Circulation = 15,005 - monthly.

3. Free gifts also emphasise Simple masthead – this makes
the attractiveness of the it easily recognisable to a
magazine. (Right at the niche audience. It also fits the
top so visible on a shelf) conventions of a magazine as
it is positioned at the top of
Plugs include a list of the front cover so it is visible
well known artists when stacked on shelves.
(again relying on
knowledge of who they Buzz Words such as “epic”
are from the consumer.) “revealed” “exclusive” and
The only other thing to “preview” give the
entice the reader into impression Rock Sound are
buying the magazine the only magazine to have
are the buzz words covered the stories and
describing the plugs. emphasise the impact and
appeal to the audience.
Bar code fits conventions
of a magazine. Central image is of a recognisable
celebrity (Hayley Williams the lead
Colour scheme is red yellow green black and singer of Paramore.) This shot
white. Aside from the images, nothing on the FC immediately attracts the target audience
is anything but these colours – this gives it a and fans of the band.
much more professional/ mature appearance.

4. Header stating it’s The typography
the contents page – represents the
most magazine’s do genre/themes of the
this simply to make magazine as they are
it clear and fit their slightly gothic looking
general and alike to ones used
conventions. in similar magazines.
Simple colour Many graphic
scheme is continued features instead of
onto the contents one central image,
page but with fewer this is to give an
colours. The reds impression of the
and blacks are entire magazine. This
generally could work for my
dark/gothic colours magazine idea as
there would be
Anchorage of the different genres of
page number parallel music, and to only
to the text – so the show one artist/item
audience know where could be
to find each item unrepresentative.

5. This double page spread is an introduction to a bigger feature on the, mentioned, “Skrillex.”
Therefore it’s aim is to entice the audience into reading the article (a similar purpose to the FC.)
Semantic field
Tagline – the of music and
name of the genres –
author and “Punk,”
picture “Rock,” and
provider. “future.”
The spread The graphic
has very little features are the
text – point of focus
presumably on the spread,
as it is the as opposed to
introduction the text.
to an article,
rather than Central image is, again, a
the article Page numbers – Relate recognisable name – the
itself. back to the contents centre of the article. Having
page – makes the read pictures of the bands/artists
The typography of the and navigation that are featured is
text is so large and through the magazine continuously used throughout
thick it is almost a easier for the reader. magazine articles.
graphic feature/image.

6. MOJO Magazine
•MOJO is a popular music magazine in the UK, published monthly,
initially by Emap, and since January 2008 by Bauer. Noted for its in-
depth coverage of both popular and cult acts.
•It’s main focus is on classic rock acts (The Beatles, Bob Dylan etc.)
Thus targeting a niche, or non mainstream audience – similarly to
the magazine I am planning to produce.
•Regarding their audience profile, Bauer publishing’s website say:
“the MOJO audience is predominantly male (77%) and affluent
(63%.)” Other sources would suggest the target audience are
generally over the age of 21. This will be useful when analysing it’s
content and relating it back to my target audience.
•Circulation = 94,617 - monthly. (“The world's biggest UK music
magazine” – http://www.bauermedia.co.uk/Brands/Mojo/)

7. Barcode – as seen on the other
Puff words “BRAND NEW” FC’s – n essential feature. Masthead is plain white -
used to entice the customer although it has been known
into reading. The words to alternate between this
themselves suggest that the and black. This is different
feature is news worthy and from most music magazines
exclusive – things that are who go for more excessive
also appealling to a logos and mastheads. This
magazine reader. would suggest an older
readership, and also fits in
The central image is an with the layout of the entire
extreme close up of David page.
Bowie; (fitting in with the
theme of the magazine) a The headline is simply
very iconic figure. The one word – anchorage is
eminence of him allows for used here so that the
the simplicity in the layout audience relate it to the
and draws in the target central image – “Bowie.”
audience well.
The overall layout of the page is
Cover lines are also presented in the top corner. These also very simple/bare. All of the
include other artists names (similarly to the other front covers I attention is therefore diverted to
have looked at.) This suggests interviews with artists are a key the main point of focus (the central
convention of music magazines – as all of the magazines I have image) and the text (headline and
researched have good circulation figures and contain them. plugs.)

8. Graphic features and Repeat of the logo
images act as an on front cover
anchor to the text –
obviously works well More than one header
in a contents page “regulars” and “what
as its purpose is to goes on!” etc. to
be an insight as to separate the articles
what the magazine and make it easier to
contains and where. distinguish and locate
what the audience
Specific colour assigned to want to read.
different elements – eg.
Page numbers are in gold
Page numbers
and text is in black. Gives
it a smarter layout and
juxtaposed to the text.
makes it easier to read.
This also prevents it from Simple colour scheme –
looking over crowded and red, white, gold and
keeps it simple/ stylised black (simple and dull) –
for the older audience. popular amongst the
target audience as they
are older (over 21)
Page number at bottom (fitting the
conventions of a magazine – as well as the Separate section at the bottom with graphic
repetition of the logo/ magazine name. features of some important/ separate articles.

9. This double page spread (DPS) is from a different issue, however the magazine seem to
run simple colour schemes through each one (although they vary) this one is grey, blue
and black. They also seem to fit with the themes of the main articles in each issue.
The theme of the
The main image article is distinguished
and focal point in the header and pull
is in black and quotes – semantic
white – fits in fields of depression
with the colour are featured
scheme of the “eternally bruised…
article. cry… fatal… evil…” the
greys and blues
The by-line is in reflect this mood.
a small print
but in bold so it The typography is
is still clear. used effectively in
this DPS. Key
Drop cap of the
word (mentioned
letter “O” – Header at the top of the feature stating Again, they above) are in bold
adds to the look that is in “THE MOJO INTERVIEW” the repeat the logo
capitalisation, graphology and position and the artist’s
o the text and in small next to
of this text make it one of the most name the article
makes the start each page
obvious focal points. Maybe it was number – in
is about is in a
of the story
featured on the front cover and they are every issue I different colour
clear. Gives it a reminding the reader of this – it is an have seen. (pale blue/ grey.)
smart look. important/ key feature.

10. Kerrang! Magazine
•Kerrang is the world's biggest selling weekly music magazine
and the original multi-platform youth brand for all rock genres.
• “Kerrang delivers the hottest news, reviews, gig guides,
exclusive features, posters, videos and more every week. In
print, on TV, radio and online, Kerrang lives life loud for its army
of dedicated, music loving fans.” – taken from their site.
•The audience is predominantly male with the average
readership age being between 15 and 35.
•It was first published on 6 June 1981 as a one-off supplement
in the Sounds newspaper.
•It is named after the onomatopoeic word that derives from the
sound made when playing a power chord on an electric guitar.
•In the early 2000s it became the best-selling British music
newspaper.

11. The cracked from graphology of the masthead is common of a rock/ metal magazine Barcode – fits the
and makes it clear to and audience instantly who it is aimed at. Immediately attracting conventions of a magazine
the correct target audience. – practicality.
The colour scheme (red, “+” symbol is also use
white and black) is often in magazines
sustained through (especially rock ones with a
almost all of their issues young-ish audience) to
and is quite iconic for indicate more features –
their magazine – but making it a graphic feature
also amongst the genre rather than additional text.
in general.
Main graphic feature is a
The puffs and call-outs mid shot of a well known
are typical of the age music artist (Jared Leto)
group (they have a who plays music of the
relatively young target genre the magazine is
audience) – consisting of
aimed at. His outfit and
jagged edged shapes
and dark colours with pose indicate that he is a
bold fonts and Lots of graphic features on the FC rock artist anyway –
exclamation marks. give it a crowded look – typical of leather jacked and a
the age range and generally not violent stance.
found in more ‘mature’ magazines
(see MOJO.)

12. Header “contents” Black and white photo
– probably for the
Lots of graphic same reason as MOJO
features – again this – fits with the theme
represents the age of of the issue.
the target audience.
“THIS WEEK” indicates
that is a weekly/ regular
Date and issue
magazine to new
number.
readers.
Editor’s letter – very
common in
magazines – to
introduce what the
issue is about and
give it a sense of
intimacy (letters are
generally quite
personal) good for a
regular readership.

14. Vibe magazine
• Vibe is a music and
entertainment magazine founded by
producer Quincy Jones. It mainly focuses on
R&B, rap and hip hop artists.
• The magazine's target demographic is
predominantly young, urban followers of hip-
hop culture.
• As of 2007, Vibe had a circulation of
approximately 800,000.

18. Billboard magazine
• Billboard is an international newsweekly
magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of
the oldest trade magazines in the world.
• It’s circulation is around 16,327.