Magazine analysis

Masthead: the title is portrayed behind the main image yet is still bold. This is due to its stark red colouring and shattered glass effect of the text. This instantly recognisable title blatantly draws the eye towards it even in the colourful chaos of this particular cover.

Layout: the entire cover is seemingly dedicated to its main heading with every subheading being referential towards the covers centre. By asking the reader “but what’s number one?” then including the different bands and artists around the border, implies a question posed to the reader asking them which one of these is number one? It draws more attention to the already excessive title, cementing it as the sole focus of the cover.

Colour: the main focus of the magazine uses the odd colour choices of purple and yellow, two colours that directly contrast each other on the colour wheel. This interesting choice forces the focus towards the magazines centre. This deliberate chaos solidifies the magazines aesthetic of an abrasive violent form of media and music. This obviously is fitting with the themes behind the rock genre of music and is heavily associated within the magazine cover.

Exclusivity: the competition offered within this magazine is very indicative of its sought inclusive fan base. By offering the readers a meal with the band “you me at six” it invites them into a private club to entice the shopper to buy the magazine it creates a exclusive impression around the magazine. As if buying this magazine allows you into a secret club only select people can join. This is particularly potent due to rock music’s inherent cult-esc nature in which people of similar tastes join together to appreciate it together.

Sub-heading: the subheadings all compliment the main heading by giving subtle indirect answers to the question it poses. However, they also serve a double meaning while they answer the question posed they also give notice of the magazines contents.

The colour scheme :uses a white, black and yellow base with small splashes of vibrant colours such as acid blue and a pink. the colour additions are both interesting, while the blue draws attention to the masthead by using the contrasting combination of yellow and blue. It also compliments the main image by copying and tweaking its colour pallet into a paler yet more vibrant version of the blue white mixture. The use of pink is also interesting, it is attempting to encapsulate the yellow & pink colour theme of the punk era. The combination seams to be imitating the sex pistols (in)famous album “never mind the bollocks” seen to be indicative of the punk movement.

Masthead: it uses the typical “kerrang!” logo which some relevant information. What makes it interesting is the style of the title band. It has the appearance of being spray painted on top of a painted strip. The spray paint factor implies the magazines typical demographic . This stereotypically youth-like activity shows how the magazine is youth focused and wishes to appease them .the spray paint effect would seam out of place in a more “ adult” music magazine such as “Q”.

Editors note: this seemingly small footnote to the contents is incredibly revealing. The magazine offers a way for the reader to directly engage and listen to the editor, this seemingly removes all barriers between the two and makes the magazine once again seam to be a informal chat between best friends. The editor also promotes the exclusivity aspect of the magazine which is enhanced by the language used for example,” our exclusive best of the year CD. For another, what you’re holding is a big, weighty tribute to the brilliance of pop-punk.” this simultaneously promotes the CD and thus the magazine but also uses to informal language to once more increase the bond between reader and writer.

Subscription: the magazine attempts to pull people into its subscription service thus creating a captive audience of people who are buying every issue of the magazine for a set amount of time. This of course speaks volumes for the magazines attempts to create a element of exclusivity and is inviting the reader to join in on it. This is enhanced as the magazine is also offering a “free” book about Dave Grohl to further entice the reader to buy a subscription

Contents: is pushed to the left had side barely taking up a third of the page. It implies the magazines emphasis on the individual artist in place of general content within the magazine, this is because the artists and articles associated with such are displayed predominantly across the other two thirds of the page instantly drawing the readers eye to them over the actual contents. However, when you finally get around to looking at the contents you find it uses a very informal style of writing. For example, “we are in the crowd” it implies a friendship between the reader and the writer as if the writer is a friend telling the reader about this cool new band he found out about and is inviting you his best friend ever into this secret little following.

the title of the double page spread is very eye catching do to its bold nature and placement in the page. It lays out the theme of the pages as being a large open interview in which the big bad legends of rock show a reformation or new way of thinking about rock. This is a strong theme of kerrang, the neo-rock motif is a staple thought the magazine and is encapsulated perfectly within this double page spread. Within the title the emotive words are outlined in bold (“alcohol, drugs and dodgy women”) it implies a certain level of command from Metallica, if the old gods of rock can treat the business in such a new way then everyone else should change to this new way of rock too.

The double page spread also predominantly displays a studio shot medium close up of the band Metallica. The band is following a black colour scheme that is followed thought the double page spread . It is used to portray Metallica as the band they once were the “gods of rock” image, of which the black colour was heavily used. It brings back memories of the good old days for Metallica and invokes images of the alcohol drug fuelled days full of “dodgy women”. It emphasises the article’s theme of change, if the people identified with alcohol, drugs and dodgy women can change then so can the rest of the bands and fans within the rock sub-culture

The double page spread contains a article split in two. The article begins with a contextualised piece almost short story-esc fraction. It allows the reader to engage with the character who just so happens to be part of Metallica. By reading this odd little snippet into his life the reader relates to the character, emphasising the close relationship between reader and band that kerrang offers. The second half is split into a interview with Metallica written in a very informal style as if between friends. Once again showing off the close reader band relationship kerrang gives .

Masthead: uses a simple Ariergard Rondo Heavy, using only capital letters creates a bold effect which is carried thought he magazine’s layout and colour scheme.

 

 

Layout: a simplistic design featuring only black white and pink. Using these colours in conjunction creates a very audacious bold style that is immediately eye catching. The colours also fits with the theme of the issue due to punk due to black mixed with a bright colour were prominent during the 70’s

The actual layout is very reminiscent to the sex pistols never mind the bollocks and definitely borrows elements from its album art in regard to the masthead font and sub headings

Main image: the main image seeks to replicate the 70’s “punk” era of music. This is done in numerous ways. For example, it uses an enhanced black and white photo which predominantly shows the clash in full punk dress staring at the camera in a very nonchalant or aloof way typical of the bands style.

Date and price: Common convention expected within all magazines hidden away into the cover in a small black font so as not to be intrusive or interfere with the covers art direction

 

The plug: displayed clearly centre of page to draw in the consumer’s attention. It also uses language like “excusive” and “have to hear” creating this illusive effect around the mix tape that only certain members are aloud to listen too.

Language: the magazine its self uses language to further its punk theme. The magazine uses destructive phrasing in keeping with its Clash main image and punk theme. For example, crisis and meltdown suggest the violent breakdown or destruction of the kings of Leon band. It attempts to draw a paradigm between the 70’s and modern day implying that the era of violent music and punk is not dead and still relevant to this very day.

It also states the “punk explosion changed music forever” saying how punk changed everything. It also draws a nice connection to the violent language used in the kings of Leon sub-heading suggesting this “meltdown” is just “shrapnel” from the great punk explosion that has changed everything since.

Exclusivity: the magazine uses an excusive element to try to entice the shopper to buy the magazine. For example, “tons of unseen photos” & Exclusive for every reader” it creates a exclusive impression around the magazine. As if buying this magazine allows you into a secret club only select people can join. This is particularly potent due to music’s inherent faction-like nature in which people of similar tastes join together to appreciate it together.

 

Sub-heading: ”play us their new album” this imply its is a private show that these two huge stars are playing their new album just for you and the readers of the magazine this links heavily to the magazines exclusivity subject hidden just under the surface

 

the magazine features the unique idea of a band index. It places all the bands feature in the magazine in alphabetical order along the side. This is important as it gives the magazine a emphasis on the bands. By having such a extensive list of bands on display it shows the magazines dedication and drive to show so many bands within a single issue. It may appeal to readers as it appears to be a encyclopaedia of bands, implying if you wish to know all there is about bands this is the magazine to read.

the magazine attempts offer people into its subscription model to help build a captive fan base who will buy every episode for a set amount of time using said subscription. This creates a element of exclusivity as it invites the reader to join the special group of subscribers and loyal members.

the title is relevantly simple keeping the NME style in mind. It follows the magazines typical colour scheme of red on white for the magazine title and a flat white for the rest. Which includes the date hidden away in the corner so as not to be intrusive to the rest of the page.

the contents of the magazine are split between the left and right sides of the page . The layout of the contents is pretty simple and follows NME’s typical style of simplicity and consistency emphasised by the titles, font and colour scheme of the titles matching all the titles thought the contents page.

the layout of the magazine is pretty simplistic with the information about contents to each side and a snippet of a article covering the middle to keep the readers interest. It does compliment the over all design of the contents page. The simplistic feel is synonymous with NME because its minimalistic approach to logo’s and the layout.

 the eye is instantly drawn to the large band photo. It shows the magazines focus on the music by placing the large photograph of the band above the article to the left. It also emphasises the bands unmistakeable washed out style. This is also seen the mise en scene in which all the members are wearing simple blacks and beiges to promote a coffee stained look

The masthead is innocuous to prevent attention being drawn to anything but the band. The font its self is relatively simple and unobtrusive emphasising its unimportant nature, that the reader should already know who the band is by there unmistakable style of presentation .

The colour scheme is very complementary to the photo giving the entire double page spread a washed out nostalgic look perfectly encapsulating the magazine's general tone of the past.

Masthead: Large bold instantly recognisable, the Q logo is synonymous with its brand. The logo its self uses a flourished letter Q with a flat font beneath stating “A different take on music”. While this portrays an individualistic message, this sub heading to the masthead is so faint it focusses the attention back towards the logo Q. The date is also hidden away unassumingly below this.

 

 

Layout: the layout of the cover is very simplistic, it aims to be uncluttered by keeping all the information about the inside of the magazine to the top and the bottom of its page, whereas the main heading is predominantly displayed across its centre. This is done to compliment the main image. The text across the centre leaves lily Allen “ exposed” allowing the topless aspect of her image to be completely unobstructed by any form of text or “censoring” purveying the idea of her fearless “wicked, wicked” ways

 

Main image: the main image is a studio shot portraying a topless lily Allen staring “coyly” over her shoulder in a sultry poses. At first glance this overtly caters towards the male gaze portraying Lily Allen as a sex object, this is obviously enhanced by the fact she is topless. However, you could argue she is also catering to a more violent form of the male gaze. She’s as almost painted as a Amazonian-esc predator creating the images of a dangerous, seductive femme fatale, in a stark contrast to the “pussycat” undertone portrayed by the panthers, they are painted as a silent deadly predator fitting in with the image the cover is portraying for Lily Allen.

Language: the magazine uses a very informal type of language as if speaking directly to the reader as friends. For example, “good lord it’s their masterpiece” and “their own story their own words”. It implies the magazine is literally taking music differently by giving the reader a unobstructed take on the music as if the reader is speaking the bands them self’s thus removing the” middle man” seen in other magazines. It also employs the idea of exclusivity to persuade the consumer to buy the product. For example, the” exclusive stone rose’s interview”, It creates idea of a “members only” club in which only readers are allowed. This is furthered by the use of informal language as if a trusted friend is telling you this interview in private.

 Sub-heading: the subheadings are very simplistic fitting the layout. They make the cover seen uncluttered and clean. It could be also argued that they are purposely vague for example the title “Pete Doherty & the hardest working corpses in music”. The title itself provides no details and intrigues the reader to see what exactly it is talking about. It also excited a certain morbid curiosity as the reader wonders what exactly it means by the “hardest working corpses” .

the magazine attempts offer people into its subscription model this breeds a captive fan base who are locked into the purchase of every magazine until there subscription ends . This creates a element of exclusivity as it invites the reader to join the special group of subscribers and individuals who are loyal to Q.

the title is very simple keeping the Q style of simplicity. It follows the magazines typical colour scheme of red on white for the magazine title and a flat white for the rest.

the contents of the magazine are split between the left and right sides of the page . With the layout of the right hand side being simple pictures of the most interesting articles and interviews within. This is done to entice the reader to flick to those pictures first as they are seen as the “cream of the crop” of this magazines stories giving them most promotion.

the layout of the magazine is pretty simplistic with picture representations to one side and a actual contents page to the left It does compliment the over all design of the contents page. The simplistic feel is synonymous with Q because its excited style of writing is seen within the contents page as if everything was just thrown down quickly so they can get to the real magazine

 this double page spread is very indicative of Q general style of boldness. The large S is a perfect example of this . The letter S has is the beginning to many complementary traditionally feminine words. this means the hard S is typically associated with such words as Smooth, Sleek ,etc. . So while it doesn’t actually add any information to the article is does give the spread a style of elegance and simplicity . This is then imparted onto the photograph and the article itself giving the impression that Lana Dell Rey is also sleek, sexy and elegant.

 the photograph its self offers a alluring sense of danger. It uses the mise en scene to pose Lana as a dark mysterious woman. However the use of colour also adds a new dimension to the photograph. The pale blue light of the left hand side and the deep reds of the right suggest a torn woman hiding in the darkness. The use of colour is further enhanced by the absence of it everywhere else. The star white of the spread brings increased attention to the subtle use of blues and reds.

The photograph also uses the male gaze to a extent, in the photo Lana has a hand places demurely over the sensitive point of the neck. This plays on the vulnerability of Lana as if she is in need of help. However, the darkness provided by the mise en scene flips this to a extent. It portrays Lana as a mysterious woman faded by shadows . Not somebody who needs rescuing by the big strong alpha male but someone who appreciates the subtleties.