Magazine Analysis

Date And Price: this is a common assembly that would

be expected to be in all the magazines. With popular

magazines like this one, they usually display the price in

a smaller font as the company don’t want it to stand out

as it is not appealing to the audience. It is £2.40 which

is quite expensive for a magazine so explains why it is

very small.

Sub Heading: A good use of

onomatopoeia which Is catchy in order to

gage the audiences attention. Also, the

red background brings more focus to the

text because of the contrast of colours.

The positioning of the band members also make the

magazine cover look interesting and exciting as they

take up the whole page but they are also looking

straight into the camera which helps hold the

audiences attention.

Mumford And Sons are the main focus of the

magazine which shows why they are dressed

casually/smart, making it more appealing to a wider

audience.

Colour Scheme: the colours of black, white and red are

contrasting colours as they make each other stand out, Also, it

doesn’t make the cover look more confusing so people won’t

read it. The brightness of the white and red attract the audience

because they are NME’s trademark colours. The gender neutral

red colouring infers that there isn’t a specific target audience

Masthead: the magazine uses a Sans serif font which

is straight forward and informal. The red font contrasts

against the white/grey background which is used to

make it stand out. In addition to the title being

abbreviated it is really effective as it is quicker and

easier to remember. The name of the magazine is

written in the same place on each magazine and uses

the same font , making it familiar to people looking for

it.

Main Image: The image connotes the band ‘Mumford

and sons’ wearing casual clothing and using direct

address by looking into the camera, making the

audience feel more involved with the image. They are

the main focus to the front cover which attracts the

audience to read it.

Using a well-Known band as the front cover also

entices people to take a look which is why the

magazine has a high readership and circulation. The

image takes up most of the front cover.

Feature Headline: This is the second largest sans serif text used

and is designed to grab the target audiences interest but also is a

great way to sell the magazine because Mumford And Sons are

popular and if people are fans then they will like the idea of them

‘taking over’.

Barcode: A common convention

used on the front cover in order

for the consumer to purchase the

magazine, it is essential for the

magazine.

The size of text on this magazine cover are

different which gives the magazine more variety.

Some of the text are in banners and outlined

making it look more like a magazine but also so

that it isn't confusing to the readers and everything

Is separated out as it would be harder to read if it

was in chunks.

The list of other bands attracts the target audience

just in case the readers see their favourite artist,

encouraging them to buy it.

Layout: Plain colours used such as red, black and white in order to show that they are passionate about the music

and bands that they feature in the magazine. The strapline at the top draws attention because ‘WIN’ is in bold and

is the first word that they see, interesting the audience.

Sub image: this gives the audience a sneak peak of what

is included inside the magazine so that the consumer

continues to read the magazine in order to find out more

information. This also gives the audience more options as

to what they can read if they aren't too interested in the

main feature, letting them know it isn't all about them.

The ‘free posters’ section draws attention of the target

audience and encourages them to buy it to let them know

they are gaining something from buying it.

Masthead: the magazine uses a Sans serif font

which is straight forward and informal but with effect

of it wearing away or has been smashed which

reflects the genre of music and the people who

listen to it as it is an idea of rebellion .

The white font contrasts against the red background

which is used to make it stand out. In addition to the

title having the idea of rebellion this links with the

prominent colours of red, black, white and yellow.

Puff: ‘All Time Low’, using this at top of the magazine promotes bands that are linked with the magazine and it is

highlighted in a different colour to draw the attention of the reader making it stand out more. It also makes the front

cover look more full to show the audience that there is a lot of information contained, enticing them to buy it. In

addition to this it doesn't give a lot of information at the top which can draw their interest.

Colour Scheme: the colours of black, white, red and

yellow are contrasting colours as they make each other

stand out, they have been used to design the front

cover as they are aesthetically pleasing when used

together. These colours are usually put together on

Kerrang magazines because of their trademark colours

as they are easily recognisable to viewers who usually

buy it. It appears that the largest fonts are the most

important

Feature Headline: This is the largest serif text used

and is designed to grab the target audience’s interest.

If the viewers are interested as to what reads then it is

a great way to sell the magazine. The band ‘30

Seconds To Mars’ have been chosen as they are the

genre of music that the magazine includes but also it

reveal the target audience of the consumer which is

young adults.

The colour of the text and the faint arrows are linked

with the overall colour scheme of the magazine but

also breaks up the text. The first ‘We Salute’ connects

with the main image of Jared Leto as he is saluting in

his pose. The Bold writing could also associate with the

type of music because it is loud and has a big impact.

The writing is slightly on a slant to make it differ from

the masthead and the sub-headings but also makes it

more interesting.

Date And Price: This is a common assembly that would be expected to be in all the magazines. When popular

magazines like this one, they usually display the price in a smaller font as the company don’t want it to stand out as it

is not appealing to the audience. The magazine also displays a barcode at the bottom right corner which is used in

order for the consumer to purchase it.

Buzz Word: Using words such as ‘Exclusive’

draws in the audience as it makes the

audience feel more involved as it they are one

of the first people to know what is happening. It

is also implying that it is the only magazine to

have the information that is printed.

Sub image: for the audience to buy the magazine

they include images on the side to let the reader know

what is included in the magazine. The ‘5 Posters

Inside’ is similar to giving away a freebie, making the

reader feel as though they are receiving a gift or

getting something out of buying it besides reading it.

Using 5 posters makes them unique and different

because other companies usually include 1 or 2. The

other images however gives the audience more

options as to what they can read if they aren't too

interested in the main feature, letting them know it isn't

all about them.

Main Image: The main image displays Jared Leto, the main

singer from ‘30 Seconds To Mars’ against a red

background. He has made direct address as he is looking at

the reader whilst informally posing a salute sign making the

reader feel more involved. This is a form of interaction as

the audience may feel connected .

His hair is stereotypically ‘punk rock’ which is the genre of

music which relates to the magazine. By presenting him like

this means that the viewers will think he is quite cool so

people may wan to be like him, which also relates to the

type of music they listen to as it is normally the same genre

of music as to what band or artist is presented on the front

cover.

Main Image: The main image displays the band ‘Oasis’ as they are making direct address to the camera, making the audience feel more

involved. They are looking at the camera quite intensely which could be a persuading technique for the viewers to buy it. There positioning of

the band are all similarly powerful because the lead singer, Noel Gallagher, is portrayed bigger and is at the front which represents the

essence of the band as this is what happens when they are performing as he is always at the front. This is a form of interaction as the

audience may feel connected. Their hair styles are nearly all the same because they look more like a band and listen to the same type of

music as each other. Their hair is typical 60’s mod reflecting the type of music that they produce but also gives us an idea of the target

audience as being a bit older.

Feature Headline: This is the

largest serif text used and is

designed to grab the target

audience’s interest. If the viewers

are interested as to what reads

then it is a great way to sell the

magazine. The band ‘’Oasis’ have

been chosen as they are the

genre of music that the magazine

includes but also it reveal the

target audience of the consumer

which is usually adults.

The bold impact of their band

name is in a different font to the

masthead as it has the effect of

standing out. There is also a

spray paint effect that looks as

though it has been done through

a stencil, but the fact that it is

spray paint, which is normally

associated with vandalism and

graffiti, giving the idea of rebellion.

Masthead: The image of the

band covers the masthead

which connotes the importance

of oasis being a bigger

sensation than the actual

magazine. However it is clear

that the magazine is Mojo

because it is the same font for

every Mojo magazine, making it

recognisable to the viewers.

The bright white gives a stark

contrast to the black

background as it reflects the

type of music that is featured in

the magazine. The title covers

the full width of the page with

the tagline overlapping it in a

different colour and font. The

different colour allows the

reader to still see it on top of the

white writing but also against

the black background.

The black and white colour scheme

is continued throughout the page

because they blend well with the

contemporary colours of the main

image. Half of the band are wearing

glasses so we don’t know if they are

looking at the camera giving a

sense of mystery behind the band

which is reflected in the sub-

headings ‘dark side’. Their facial

expressions could be a sign of

social rebellion because they are

well known for being arrogant.

Freebie- The free CD covers nearly half of the front cover which

entices people to buy it but also a great way for the audience to feel as

though they are gaining something out of purchasing the magazine.

The bold ‘Mod’ connects with the style of music that Oasis produce.

The idea if including a CD breaks up the writing and makes it less

confusing and less to read.

Layout: The front cover is structured really

well because it appears very neat without

using too much writing so it doesn’t confuse

the viewers or put them off reading it. The

picture is the biggest aspect of the front

cover as it makes it look aesthetically

pleasing increasing the chance of people

looking at it for longer or drawn to it. By

doing this it immediately lets the reader

know what the edition of the magazine is

about and what they can read inside.

Puff: the free CD sign matches

the colour scheme of the actual

CD that the are giving away

which makes it easier for the

reader to see that they are linked

and to let them know that it is in

fact free. Instead of using more

boxes to outline bands and

giveaways , the magazine have

used a contrasting colour to the

background to make it stand out

but to also match the colour

scheme.

‘Deep Purple’ and ‘Bunny men’

are the same genre of music to

the main band Oasis which the

viewer can infer from the pictures

placed beside them. This lets the

reader know that there are other

bands included in the magazine.

The title of the magazine is at the

top instead of writing contents page

compared to other magazines

showing their unique style but also

by using ‘this week’ it is letting us

know what is new in the issue the

reader has to keep them updated.

The contents of the different pages featured in the articles are split up in

different sections to make it easier for he reader to find what they are

looking for but to also let them know the amount of articles that are included.

The sub-headings are highlighted in cold capitals enabling the reader to find

the article they want to read faster which is a good structural factor as they

make it look more appealing. It is clear to understand as it is organised well

but it reflects on how the magazine are experienced with the industry.

The magazine includes a central image which breaks up

the text and the advertisements so that it is simpler but

to also add colour. Instead of following the style of other

magazine companies and using many pictures to fill the

page, the one image makes it look more organised and

unusual.

Unlike magazines which use airbrushed and photo

shopped images it is a real picture of the bad Kasabian

playing music reflecting the type of magazine which

promotes the music industry.

The contents page includes a band index which links into

the music genre of the magazine. The vibrant red colour

which links in with the colour scheme and matches ‘NME’

showing it links with the bands that NME is all about. Also, it

shows the audience the number of bands which are

featured throughout the magazine with the given page in

which they are in.

The fact that it is structured at the left hand side of the page,

gives it a more sophisticated look and to show that they

have order within the magazine. By giving the reader a list

of bands, it enables them to find their personal favourites

without too much confusion as it makes it easier to find out

where they are instead of flipping through the pages.

The adverts in which are placed at the bottom of the contents

page promote the subscription of the magazine which may

appeal to some readers who feel like the deals are worth it.

This also entices the reader into purchasing the next issue.

Also, the use of having the advertisement in a bold yellow

colour makes it stand out the readers because it doesn’t link

with the rest of the colour scheme.

The whole advert doesn’t connect with the contents but it

isn't like other magazines in addition to when they advertise

products that do not link in any way. The pictures inside the

advertising box show different issues of the same magazine

which helps them widen the target market and hope that the

reader will buy it if they like what is on the front cover.

The main subheadings of different sections are in bold

capitals which makes it clear and easier to find. The font

is sans serif because it matches the same style as the

NME sign.

Having the date placed at the top of the

page lets the audience know what edition

of the magazine they are buying as it is

clear from the text size in comparison to

the size on the front cover which is printed

with the price in a very small font. Also by

having it right underneath the ‘This Week’

heading it lets the reader know if they are

updated and in fact reading ‘This Weeks’

magazine in the week of the date it says.

The arrows at the side of the page suggest that there is more

information on different pages that are not present on the contents

page. These graphic features give a more modern vibe which

appeals to the target audience because NME use upcoming and

popular artists. The big red arrow stands out at the bottom of the

page because this is where people turn the page over and will see

the contrasting white writing and might follow what is on ‘page 58’.

The first thing we see at the top is the contents page as it stands out

against the black background. It is the same font as the Kerrang!

Front cover which gives it a more sophisticated look because they

match. They use the same colour scheme throughout the magazine

which means that it will be more recognisable for the readers.

The main image takes up half of

the page which is appealing as it

breaks up most of the text. It is a

very dark picture which reflects

the type of music featured in the

magazine. His facial expressions

however are happy which can be

questioning due to the fact he is

dressed in all black. The

sunglasses reveal his eye

contact with the camera which

makes us think he is looking at

the us tempting the reader to buy

it.

There is an editors article on

the left side of the page which

gives the reader an interesting

insight as to what they will

expect to see featured in the

magazine but it gives a sense

of trust as to what he is saying

and giving the latest info. It is

more informal and makes it

more personal having an

article include by the editor.

Kerrang has a unique style with

their contents pages as they

differ from other music

magazines due to the fact that

rather having lots of dense text

it is clear and formal and instead

of taking up the whole page

there's minimum writing making

it more visual. The columns

used structure the page and the

issues to keep it more organised

In addition to the other

magazines the sub-heading ‘this

week’ gives a list of the issues

as to what is new and up to date

reassuring the reader has

bought the correct magazine for

the week they want to read,

which is also why it I features

the date at the top of the page.

The colour scheme for this contents page is black and yellow because these are predominant colours that are used

several times in Kerrang! magazines. The colour black also connotes the genre of music featured. The bold yellow

font is used for the titles and headlines showing that they have thought about the layout and if it is yellow it means that

it is a subheading so the readers know what sections to look at. Most of the descriptive writing is black which links in

with the picture but it is also easier to read as it is against the white background.

In addition to the title being a bold black, the page has

split articles in the magazine into sections which are

under black subheadings. It gives the reader an insight as

to what information is on that page and the people who

they are interviewing. This will draw the reader in as they

will read this and usually want to read more so they will

buy the magazine so they can read more and find out the

rest of the story.

The deep yellow writing is a key element to the colour scheme and

it also breaks up the writing, mojo is aimed at an older target

audience which is why a deep yellow is used and no vibrant

colours, this way it is easier to read as they aren't too bright. The

numbers are separated from the sub headings because it is

clearer to understand what pages they are on.

MOJO usually include a cover story magazine on the contents

page with a well known musician so the more popular they are, the

more sales the magazine will have . They have made the cover

stand out by separating it from the other article sections and by

putting a yellow boarder around it. It also looks more important as

there is more information underneath it meaning that the MOJO

magazine find that if there is more information, more people are

likely to read it.

The date can be seen on the same line as the issue. It is placed at

the top of the contents page to make it clear to the reader what

edition of the magazine they are reading and if they are up to date.

The choice of clothing is significant as it contrasts against the grey background making it stand out more. It is the only

other colour which is dominantly featured in addition to the yellow writing for the text. In a way this puts all the attention

to him as he is the focus of the contents page.

The high angle shot is almost like empowering us, in a

way that we can go to any page without reading it

start to finish. It gives the reader more control as to

what to read. The man is looking directly at us making

the readers feel more involved which attracts them into

reading the story.

The picture is the main focus on the page which is

done to break it up from the text but also to make it

look simpler and less confusing. By doing this it also

makes it look more attractive and appealing to read.

The main title is placed at the top where they have their brand Mojo

clear and big to attract the reader into looking at it. It is contrasting

against the grey background so the reader can immediately see it. By

having the title of the magazine it is clear that what they are looking at

is MOJO. Underneath the title are cities in which the magazine is

iconic for music making the reader feel more connected.

Providing the issue number informs the reader what issue they are

actually reading which could be helpful to them if they have missed

an issue but it also shows how successful the magazine is as it is

on their ‘193rd’ issue. It has been running for a certain amount of

time but this gives them an insight as to how popular they are.

They have used a small quote at the bottom of the contents page which shows the reader a quote from one of the articles inside the

magazine. This technique is used to attract the attention of the reader into reading this article if they find it interesting. Besides this, it

is also in a different font the rest of the page to make it stand out.

By using the previews it is clear that the magazine wants the reader to look at it because it is different to everything else on the

contents page making it more exciting and interesting for them.

The only image on this

page is the popular

musical artist ‘Florence

And The Machine’ which

is a long shot of her.

From this we are able to

see the strong black

clothing choice indicating

a side to her we haven't

seen as it symbolises

aggression but it also

emphasises the contrast

between her red hair and

the stripes on the flag.

She is in a seductive

pose which may attract a

wider audience.

The image has been

laid out so it is the first

thing you see when you

turn the page. They

have used Florence

Welch so the reader

knows what the article

is about. It says how

successful she is in

America which is why

she is sat on the

American flag.

This double page spread has its statement colours of red and

monochrome colours which gives it a more sophisticated look because

they are the same as the NME logo colours which are featured on every

NME magazine. The Background is off white which stands out against

the image of Florence in black clothes suggesting how she stands out

from other artists. This idea of being different from other artists can also

be seen through the use of blue writing to highlight her name as it

differs from the colour scheme used.

The text with the story is

structured into 3columns

which makes it look more

organised but it is also

easier for the reader to look

at. It isn’t cluttered so when

the reader is reading it they

don’t get distracted by little

images. It also looks more

attractive compared to a

block of writing.

She has been placed

over the ‘USA’ part of

the title referencing

how she dominated

America with her music

in significance to her

popularity.

The main title is in a sans serif feminine font on the

right hand side to take some attention away from

the image to the text. The use of this font is quite

contradicting as she is shown as an independent

woman and the girly font showing that she has two

sides to her and she can be who she wants. The

‘Got the love’ has been used because her hit single

was ‘you’ve got the love’ which is used as a play on

word with USA as it is about how she made it in

America

The introduction about the article

will interest the audience to read

more as it is a bit of information

about her and is a starter to the

article. Underneath is the article

and it is clear when it stars due to

the capital ‘D’ in the bold italic

which links with the headline

above.

In addition to the NME double

page spread Kerrang use the

same technique of starting the

article with a capital letter so

that the text looks more

appealing. The target audience

of Kerrang is young people so

less amount of text will entice

them to read it more.

The main image has been placed over half of the

double page spread showing that she is the main

feature of the article. Although she is in a band

which is stated in the article, it is clear that it is

more about her and her personal life due to the

lack of band members and it just featuring her.

Taylor is dressed in all black and has heavy dark

eye makeup showing her personality and not

dressing as something she is not. She is looking

directly at the camera making the reader feel

more involved. Her position gives the sense of

rebellion because she gives off the impression

like she doesn’t care in addition to the main title

‘Wild Child’. The image also blends in with the

background because of her jacket.

The colour scheme consists of pink white

and black. The pink represents her

femininity as she is against a black

background and dressed in all black

showing a different side to her but also is

relative to the type of music that is

featured in Kerrang magazine.

The main title for this article is ‘Wild Child’, by

calling Taylor a wild child it is interesting for the

reader to find out why she is given that name and

what she does in her lifestyle to make them read

the article. The font of the word ‘wild’ is significant

because it is in a wild font compared to the word

‘child’.

The text is arranged on the right hand side in 2 columns making it easier

to read. It is also in little paragraphs so the reader wont lose focus. The

text is white and pink. The pink shows the questions being asked to

Taylor who's responses are in white. Using this technique makes it less

confusing for the reader to identify the questions and answers.

At the top of the page they have put the band name

which Taylor is in which could be used for people who

are unfamiliar with the band and want to know more

about them. It can also be helpful for readers to identify

that she in fact belongs to that band. As well as this it

can promote the band and make them more popular.

The introduction to the article is

placed underneath the main title

in white and pink bold writing

which stands out to the rest of

the writing. Her name and her

band is in pink which makes it

more noticeable for the reader to

identify her more easily.

The quote on the left stands out because it

has been placed with the picture and away

from the text. It has been taken from the

main article which is like a sneak peak as to

what is talked about in the article.

It is on a vibrant background in comparison

to the black and is in the same font as the

top right corner where it says what band she

is in. the word ‘mistake’ is highlighted but in a

darker colour suggesting the mistakes she

has made are bad which makes the reader

want to find out about them.

The image is of Alex Turner and Miles Kane from two

different bands. This can be seen as they are on two

different pages showing that they aren’t together. The

positioning of Miles (left) gives the impression of him

being quite honest and open in comparison to Alex (right)

who isn’t looking at the camera meaning he isn’t as

bothered which gives the reader a sense of his

personality

The name of the magazine

is featured at the bottom of

the page where the page

numbers are found. When

researching music

magazines I have found

that most of them use this

convention in order to let

the reader know what they

are reading

The name of the photographer and writer of the page is included

in the double page spread which is a great way for people to

know directly who has written the article they are reading

without having to go to the back to find out. Writing it in bright

colours also helps it stand out so it lets the audience know who

has written it if they enjoy certain pieces of their work.

The text is in columns to

give a structural effect.

They look tidier when they

are in paragraphs. Having

a paragraph on each page

next to an image breaks

up the block of writing so it

keeps the reader on the

page.

The colour scheme is monochromatic with orange. The

black and white effect gives a nice visual impact because

most magazines have colour to represent something but

they have used orange to make it more interesting. The

orange stands out as it highlights important pieces in the

text and also the title.

The main title is in a bold font which is orange and gradually turns white which blends in with then back

and white theme. Both of them being from popular indie bands Arctic Monkeys and The Rascals when

together they make a good duo. The font has a square look which links in with the background being

bricks. The orange and white is in stark contrast to the black background and quite bold so when the

reader is looking through the magazine these features will stand out

The use of direct

quotes make the reader

feel as if they have a

connection with the

band and it draws the

reader in because they

are more likely to read

the text if they know

what it is about.