Types Of Mastheads

Connotative

The connotative word ‘Kerrang!’ is onomatopoeic that derives from the sound made when playing a power chord on a distorted electric guitar, this is effective as it relates to the hard rock genre of the magazine, hence hard rock music is mainly overpowered by the powerful instruments in its music.

Graphology: the colours contributed in the masthead are black and white which contrast each other as black connotes death, power and evil – whereas, white connotes purity, peace and light. The contradiction in the colours may suggest that the content in the magazine are not one sided but are neutral as the colours cancel each other out. Also, the exclamation mark and the font that appears to be cracked suggests shouting and screaming which again relates to the genre of the magazine and establishes the audience the magazine is targeted at.

Phrases

The phrase ‘Rolling Stone’ provides us with a sense that it has been around for a long time, this entails that the magazine is very successful if it hasn’t shut down after all these years. We receive the indication of time due to the abstract noun ‘stone’ which connotes ‘ancient’ like a prehistoric period of time called ‘the stone age’. Moreover, the name may be referencing a famous rock band called ‘The Rolling Stones’. Perhaps, this is the reason why the font supports the rock genre in it’s curvy rock n’ roll writing.

Graphology: The font is red with a black outline and a drop shadow, emphasising the masthead on the front cover of the magazine. Furthermore, the red is overpowering the black which infers it’s importance as red connotes danger, love and passion – representing the entailment of the content in the magazine. The effect of the glint of the shine on the letters tells us that the magazine contributes a star quality.

Compound

The compound word ‘mixmag’ suggests to the reader that the content in the magazine contains a mixture/variety of information which will appeal to a larger mass audience. Moreover, the alliteration with the ‘M’ proves to be effective as it emphasises the masthead on the front cover of the magazine and also points towards ‘M’usic. The colloquial word ‘mag’ would appeal to a younger target audience, thus it is a shortened word for ‘magazine’ and most teenagers whilst texting or speaking would rather say shortened words than long words.

Graphology: the font seems to be informal, which would establish an attraction to a younger target audience. The bold black font is basic and simple which suggests that the magazine is straightforward and doesn’t have any complications in it – it would direct you straight to the information you desire.

Acronyms

Originally, the acronym ‘Q’ was to be called ‘Cue’ (as in the sense of cueing a record, ready to play). The single letter is effective in terms of it being more apparent to consumers looking at the newsstands rather than ‘Cue’ which could be mistaken for a snooker magazine. It’s simple, relevant and it would stick in the readers mind.

Graphology: the colour scheme is red and white, it is consistently the same colours in every magazine – as if it is the trademark to the legacy of the music magazine. The colours connote danger and purity creating a contrast that would suggest the magazine contributes the type of content that is virtuous but also decadent. Moreover, the flick of the Q provides us with an illusion of the magazine’s sophistication. It suggests to the reader that the magazine is ‘in demand’ in the industry and has to be bought as it would be persevered as sincere by its sense of professionalism.