Existing Names of Music

Magazines:By Zak Labiad

NME MUSIC MAGAZINE:An acronym, a

technique used by

many magazines,

which is to

encapsulate, the

initials of the actual

product. So NME

music magazine,

stands for ‘National

Music express’.

The colour of the masthead is In

a bright primary red. This is the

only real colour to NME, as the

rest of the magazine is supported

through shades, where as this

bright yet basic colour not only

catches the idea, but gives the

magazine a basic form of

simplicity, that will ease the

reader. The simple colour red

connotes Danger as well as love.

This could suggest to the reader

that the danger quality appeals to

the stereotypical view of men (of

which is the majority readership

for this magazine), as well as the

fact that NME loves and cares for

there music, the reader

recognising that the magazine

shares the same love, compelling

them to approve of the magazine,

and possibly resulting in

purchasing the issue.

The font for the masthead is of a thick and stocky, this

being exemplified even more by the basic three letters.

The thickness, I think, appeals to the average

perception of a male reader, for thin and slanted

writing can often be associated through females. Yet

the thick font is an oddity on the front cover,

highlighting itself apart form the rest of the text,

helping to illuminate itself to the browsing reader.

KERRANG! MUSIC MAGAZINE:

The masthead is conative, meaning that the unusual name ‘Kerrang’ is seen as being the noise

of someone playing a guitar. Yet with this imagery, we gain the idea that Kerrnag themselves

have made a cleaver joke that only music fans would recognise. By only a certain group

possibly figuring out the conundrum as to what exactly Kerrnag means, then realising that is

in fact the sound of the picking of a guitar, the reader immediately feels accomplished at

having successfully figuring out the task, and thus result sin them feeling good about

themselves, even so good that they would wan to buy the magazine and see what else that

the could learn from the issue.

The use of the punctuation that is the exclamation

mark is rarely seen in the masthead for the magazine,

this being unusual it will catch the readers eye, them

noticing the magazine, beyond any other issues that are

in the shops. Yet also the exclamation mark indicates a

sense of urgency as well as a non-caring rebellious

attitude, of which are the themes for the ‘hard-core’.

Magazine that caters to both genders when it comes

down to readership. Because it has such a wide

audience, and continues to attract new readers, the

exclamation mark is of a great advantage to really

highlight itself amongst the many other music

magazines.

Kerrnag has chosen to elect its masthead in the simple shade of white. Not only does this

generate the positive approach of purity and simplicity, but generally Kerrang will have a black

background, therefore having a white masthead will really brighten the masthead to the reader.

Q MUSIC MAGAZINE:

The masthead is again an acronym, yet having just one letter for the masthead

for a magazine is slightly odd, as well as the fact that no one knows what ‘Q’

actually stands for. Yet speculations can stem for just a single letter as words

begging with ‘Q’ are mostly positive such as Q for quality. So as the single letter

catches the attention of the reader, this is helped even further for the letter

being uppercase, as well as standing alone, both these details hold a sense of

power and importance, of which the average reader will recognises and

immediately be attracted to magazine that is so unusual that it only has one

upper-case letter for its masthead. I greatly appreciate the cleverness of Q

magazine as not only have they created a masthead that is so simple and easy to

The masthead shares the

bright primary colour of red,

as well as the shade of a plain

white, highlighting the Q (the

logo as well as the masthead)

so as to easily reveal to the

reader of the name of the

magazine as well as

highlighting its importance

through the use of the urgent

primary colour that is red.