This document discusses conventions and techniques commonly used in rock music magazines. It notes that rock magazine covers typically feature prominent mastheads, images of artists on the left third to catch the eye of browsers, and yellow text for contrast. Inside pages usually have columned text layouts, pull quotes to engage readers, and double-page spreads with large central images of the profiled artist. In terms of style, rock magazines represent artists as bold individuals who break social norms through clothing, hairstyles, piercings and tattoos. Dark color schemes and sans-serif fonts create an aggressive, masculine look, while mid-shots and low angles portray artists as powerful.

1. Task five – Summary of research into similar products
Frontcover
The masthead is always
the largest text, and also
always at the top.
The left third is used a lot
because it the visible part
when being shelved in
shops.
Yellow text is very
conventional, because of
what it connotes, and the
contrast it gives off.
The layout is cluttered
The cover story is always
on the front cover, this
shows contents of the
magazine.
Thisis the leftthird,
it containspartof
the Kerranglogoand
grabs the attention
of the target
audience.
The points listed above are
all things I will include in my
production.
Artistsof the
rock genre
are on the
frontcover,
thisis
conventional
of all rock
magazines.
Conventions of form

2. Contentspage
I will include all of these in my final production piece
Mid shots of
artists are very
conventional
of the rock
genre
The contents
page is tidier
than the front
cover,
however it’s
still a messy
layout
Name of the
magazine
Listed
pages and
their
contents
Subscriptions
The word
“contents”

3. Double page spread
These conventions will all be included in the finale piece that I create.
Main image, this is of the
artist which the article is
about
Dropped capital
Bands
name in
a large
font
The text is arranged in
columns
Pull quote, grabs
the audience’s
attention

4. Conventions of genre
Conventional rocker look
 Clothing - Dark colours
mostly black and greys
 Hair - Most
artists/groups from
the rock
genre have long
chopped hair, both
males and females
 Body modifications - The
majority of people in the rock
genre have body modifications
these include tattoos, piercing
and tapers
 Instruments - Artists/Bands
have photos in rock
magazines with them and
the instruments that they
are associated with
 Lighting - strobe and
LED lighting is used in
photos of rock bands
to give a concert feel
 Band Positioning - The main vocalist is
always at the front and the drummer is
always at the back, in the middle is
normally a series of other instruments
including guitars, this is the conventional
order for a rock band to appear in a
magazine

5. Mode of address
Mode of address – The mode of address in rock magazines appears as informal.
The image below is a page from a Kerrang magazine.
Explicit/vulgarhand
gesture showsthe
informal mode of
address
The dark
background
instantlyshows
to the
audience that
the genre is
rock
Fontwithcracks on
it givesarock feel
to it andrelatesto
music
Facial expressions
showsthat she
doesn’tcare that
she’sswearingto
the whole world,
thisshow that she
doesnotconform to
normal social norms
Mid-shootof Hayley
Williamsattractsthe
target audience because
she isin the rock genreYoung feel to the whole magazine

6. Use of technical elements
Fonts used – The fonts used in rock magazines are sans serif, this is to create a masculine
and modern look. The fonts are also likely to appear aggressive and power to reflect the
rock genre and to go with the appearance of the artists.
Colour schemes – The most popular colour schemes on Kerrang magazines are black and
white, with a contrast of brighter colours. The colours that are often chosen to contrast
against the dark backgrounds are reds, yellows and greens, these colours are mostly used
for short pieces of text.

7. Representations
How artists are represented – The artists are represented as dark people, who will often
break the social norms to show what they really are. Rockers are shown as bold people with
big personalities, a famous quote from lead singer of Nirvana, Kurt Cobain is "I would rather
be hated for who I am, than loved who I'm not".
AndySix the leadsinger
of BlackVeil Bridesis
wearinga lotof make-
up thisisnot a norm
for malestodo this
showsthat rockersare
not afraidof what
people think
Long hairis not
as popularin
othergenres
such as Hip-Hop
The dark clothing
and blackhair show
the manor of the
music,thislinksin
to the harsh sounds
withinrockmusic
Rock artistscare
abouthow they
look.Theyare
showninMid-shots
and lowangled
shotsthismakes
themlookpowerful
and dominate