1. Analysing A Magazine Front Cover Jasmine Aduhene

2. This magazine is formatted in such a way in which the masthead , the frontKERRANG ROCK MUSIC MAGAZINEcover image and the name of the band catches the eye of the audience.These all stand out because the words KERRANG and the band nameGREEN DAY are both in a bold white font which in colour is the totalThis is the original name of the magazine company, this is currently the worldopposite to the darker image of the black clothing which the band isbiggest selling weekly rock magazine. The KERRANG magazine always has itswearing. The extra bold font also represents power and prominence withinmasthead in the same place , however sometimes the font is altered to bethe band and the type of music will be spoken about in the magazine. Theslightly different and in some cases the colour of the masthead is changed. Thisname KERRANG is also an onomatopoeia, which refers to the sound madeusually happens because each band or artist that is on KERRANG representswhen playing a certain chord on an electric guitar, this gives the audience different genres of rock music and colour change or font change can possiblyan insight of the genre of music the magazine contains. The Mastheadbe to suite the type of music the band is representing.KERRANG! Is in capitals and has got an exclamation mark which suggeststhe importance shouting. On the top of this This band Green Day is the main feature of thisMagazine there is puffs at the top, in a strip form magazine issue, it is featured on the whole band,which lets the audience know what downloads however the lead band member is in the foregroundare available.(otherwise know as the most well known bandmember) and the other two band members are in theThese images at the side of the magazinebackground. They are put on a white backgroundare promotions/advertisements which are because the colour white contrasts with the colouravailable as download posters, it is very black and it makes the image stand out more. Thelikely that there is a small segment on these front image uses a direct mode of address to enticeartists in the magazine. Putting thesethe reader and draw them into the magazine, oneimages here as an advertisement gives the example of this is because the band member in thefront cover more body and detail. It is alsoforeground is staring directly into the camera. Thisin red which separates it from all of the image is in the middle of the magazine and is aother parts on this front cover, this ismedium close-up. The Bright lighting setting has beenbecause it is a totally different subject and used to project their faces which creates a strongis on the front cover of this magazine for apositive mood before reading the magazine.different reason. This could be consideredas a puff with many images.This is the barcode of the magazine, every magazine has one, it is almost always located at the bottom ofThis is a puff, puffs are usually found on the magazine to show its lack of importance to thethe sides of magazine front covers, they reader. It is usually put on a rectangular whiteare features in the magazine giving an background so that it is easily recognisable.insight to what is inside the magazine.This list at the very bottom of this front cover isThe colours in this magazine allcalled a plug. Plugs are put at the bottom of therepresent differences, for example the The band name Green Day is in a bold white font and is also magazine because they have less significance, andyellow captions all link because they are in line with the KERRANG masthead and the medium clos-up the other main cover lines are more important. Italso main parts inside the magazine, or is also noticeable that some artists in the list are image. This shows that the band featuring in the magazineadvertising topics inside the magazinein white, and others in a darker shade (grey). This shares almost as much importance as the masthead, alsofor downloads. They are also below each means that the bands in white are more known because the font is smaller. Underneath there is a smallother so your eyes automatically move passage which is put there to directly to engage the audience, and familiar to the public.from yellow caption to another. thats why you is in italics. 3. Masthead Denotations-The masthead is across the top of the page in a The use of the colour black/grey represents darkness in thebold type, white writing. This quickly grabs the music, however the magazine is not entirely dark, thisaudiences attention because it is the biggestshows that there is a brighter side to the music genre heavycaption on the magazine and the most important metal, and to rock music overall. The connotation of thebecause it is the name of the magazine central image definitely represents independence and a lotcompany. of power and strength.This image is overlapping the masthead ofStraplinethe magazine, this shows the prominence of This strapline is aimed at rock fans, mostthe magazine and that it is well known rock fans will know about Jimmy page dueenough to have an image in front of it.to his history, this message is at the top ofPeople can also instantly recognise thethe page right next to an image of two men,brand or type of magazine from the layout. one of them being jimmy page, so its basically a catch-up on him now.The Headline-The headline is very big and bold howeverit is not bigger than the mast head. This isGenrebecause the band Metallica is who the Genre is very important when making a magazinemagazine is featuring, the band mainbecause it is the base to what the magazine will bemember is also on the front of theabout. The Genre of this magazine is rock music,magazine. The headline is in a differenthowever that is mainly because it is a rock basedcolour in order to contrast with themagazine hence the reason for the masthead (namebackground and stand out a little bit moreof the magazine) ROCK. Heavy metal is quicklyfrom the image and the rest of the cover. Itrecognised when looking at this front cover.also shows that the band Metallica is the Sell linesmain focus of the magazine and consumersThe sell lines on this front cover mainlywill be interested because of the person on say what will be included inside thethe cover.magazine, these are the main points likethe different bands that will be spokenThe imageabout, and facts or news about the genreThe image is right in the middle of theof music.magazine and is not a medium close-up,but instead captures the whole body ofPublishing and barcodethe man but his lower legs and feet. The Colour schemeThe publishing company Future isfact that his hands are open wide and he The colour scheme for this music magazine is a reflection of the type oflocated at the bottom of this page, thisis looking down shows his representation music it is representing which is, the whole rock genre, the colourgives their company recognition andon rock music, preferably heavy metal white is used for the magazine masthead to make it stand out againstraises awareness of who they are. Theand the impact that it has, this image also the black background, and the other colour which is bronze likebarcode is also located at the bottomconveys power within the music which is contrasts to the rest of the colours on the magazines front page, this isright next to the future logo, it is verythen passed onto the artist due to how to show that the heavy metal band METALLICA is a feature in theeasy to spot because it is in whitethe music makes tem feel.magazine.located on a black background. 4. NME ROCK MUSIC MAGAZINEAdvertisementBannerThis is clearly an advertisement, it is purposelyThe Banner across lets thedone in a circular shape with a whiteaudience of this magazine knowbackground to draw the audiences attention,he location o f a popular bandafter or during all the detail on his front coverlike the Arctic Monkeys. Its bigis looked at. This advertisement is put onto thisand bold because the magazinemagazine to attract STONE ROSES fans, socompany NME may be wantingbasically through this and including names ofto attract the rock audience bybands they are inviting a larger amount of thehaving a world famous bandsaudience which consist of fans of all the bandsname on the cover.being mentioned. This is a very good techniqueColours as it means this increases the sales of theThe colours in this magazine aremagazine and the brand NME gets moreextremely planned, meaningrecognition.that each cell or caption has itschosen colour depending onConnotation/Denotationwhat is said, for example the When looking at this magazine there is abright coloured masthead NMEstrong feeling that the genre will be rockstands out because that is themusic, this is because of the colours and thebrand of the magazine and the image, and also the small detail in the imagemain thing being sold.like the mans long hair (which a lot of rockstars have) and his leather jacket. This man(Julian) has a very serious facial expression,Gossipwhich is linked to the headline JULIAN GOESThis cell line at the bottom of the SOLO, his serious facial expression lets themagazine is dedicated to the gossip audience know how serious he is aboutpart of the magazine, it is put in agoing solo and also how passionate he isdifferent kind of font and quotation Fashionabout it.marks to represent that gossip isThere is an aspect of fashion on this front cover, theincluded in the magazine.fashion aspect is the leather jacket which is in fashion nowadays and is a trend. The other aspect of fashion the in the image is the matching wristband and top which is worn inside the jacket. 5. Masthead The KERRANG masthead is on a white background and hasBanner been made black, depending on the magazine and the genreThis banner hasnt really gotof rock, it sometimes changes, it is put on a white backgroundmuch information on it to stand out almost as much as the image.however that was donepurposely, this is becauseImageaudiences would rather read a This image of the three men in the bandsmaller amount of Biffy Clyro are all very focused on theinformation, hence the reason camera, This is a medium close-up andwhy there are only 5 words on the lighting is edited, the lead bandthe banner. member is in the foreground and theother two are in the background, thisshows that there is more of acontribution to the band on the leaBand Name singers part. The lead singer in theThe band name is purposely in foreground face is darker, however thea bold large white font, as wellmen in the background are made lighter,as standing out it screams to this shows that the shadow/spotlight isthe audience and lets themon him.know that the genre is rockmusic and the band is standingright behind. PlugsThis list of bands below are placed at thevery bottom of the magazine because theyFreebiesare bands who are featured in the magazineAs well as being an advertisement,however just not as much as Biffy Clyro-this free poster special is put at thebecause they are the main feature of thebottom with sample image to let the magazine. I may use inspiration from thisaudience know what they could get magazine and create plugs on my rockfor free when they buy this magazine. music magazine, depending on whether IPutting free things on the front coverwill feature more artists or and additionalinvites customers because it meansamount of information in my magazine.that they are getting more of theirmoney worth. 6. ImageMasthead The image of tis band BLUR, shows them smiling, laughing and looking like theyThis is a very unique masthead, notare having a good time, this shows the audience that they love what they areonly is this the masthead but this isdoing. They are dressed quite casually which means that they are not of thealso the name of the magazine brand, stereotypical rock bands like heavy metal and punk rock, but they are more ofthe magazine brand Q is a well an indie rock band.known brand, however their main Band Namefocus isnt only on rock music. TheThe band name BLUR on this frontmasthead is quite bold and definitelycover is in a bold white font mainlystands out, this is due to the fact thatbecause, the band members arethe letter Q is placed on a bright redwearing dark clothing and it stands background, it automatically catchesout when contrasting against them,the audiences eye.the background is also white, whichrepresents the music and how friendlyit is to the ears, rather than being aExtra information dark and powerful type of rock music.This extra information gives an insightto what topics will be spoken about inthe magazine, it also links to what willbe said about the band, this is knownas it shares the same colour(white) asthe band name.Famous namesThese are names of famousmusicians, these names bring morerecognition to the magazine, eachSell linesperson named here is alsosomewhat included inside theTo the left of this magazine are sell lines,magazine. This is put on a bronzewhich are in the colour red and black,strip going across the magazine,these sell lines are in a smaller font, thiswhich represents that it has nomeans that the information in this sellrelation to the main topic (band) ofline is not that much of an importantthe magazine.message as the words in bigger fonts likethe masthead and BLUR. 7. ImageMasthead The image of tis band BLUR, shows them smiling, laughing and looking like theyThis is a very unique masthead, notare having a good time, this shows the audience that they love what they areonly is this the masthead but this isdoing. They are dressed quite casually which means that they are not of thealso the name of the magazine brand, stereotypical rock bands like heavy metal and punk rock, but they are more ofthe magazine brand Q is a well an indie rock band.known brand, however their main Band Namefocus isnt only on rock music. TheThe band name BLUR on this frontmasthead is quite bold and definitelycover is in a bold white font mainlystands out, this is due to the fact thatbecause, the band members arethe letter Q is placed on a bright redwearing dark clothing and it stands background, it automatically catchesout when contrasting against them,the audiences eye.the background is also white, whichrepresents the music and how friendlyit is to the ears, rather than being aExtra information dark and powerful type of rock music.This extra information gives an insightto what topics will be spoken about inthe magazine, it also links to what willbe said about the band, this is knownas it shares the same colour(white) asthe band name.Famous namesThese are names of famousmusicians, these names bring morerecognition to the magazine, eachSell linesperson named here is alsosomewhat included inside theTo the left of this magazine are sell lines,magazine. This is put on a bronzewhich are in the colour red and black,strip going across the magazine,these sell lines are in a smaller font, thiswhich represents that it has nomeans that the information in this sellrelation to the main topic (band) ofline is not that much of an importantthe magazine.message as the words in bigger fonts likethe masthead and BLUR.