Magazine 1 - Kerrang - rock/metal/punk
This is the front cover of the current, popular music magazine 'Kerrang!'. It covers the genre of Rock/metal/punk music. The music magazine is produced in the United Kingdom by Bauer Consumer Media and its first publishing was on June 6th, 1981. It still continues today successfully on a weekly basis and displays bands such as Metallica, Panic at the disco, Paramore and many more. Kerrang! is targeted at an audience interested in 'Emo' and 'Metacore' culture and who listen to and follow the trends of bands featured within the magazine. Other music magazines in competition with 'Kerrang' from similar music genres include metal hammer, total guitar, meltdown and rock sound.
The title of the music magazine is very effective in different ways. The bold, black, capital lettering attracts the reader and can be easily visible from a distance to catch the readers attention. The colour Black is iconographic of the magazine as the colour is often displayed within the magazine too. This means that the colour black will be familiar amongst its audience and they may relate those colours to the magazine. The exclamation mark emphasises the word and also suggests impact with the use of this. The lines that run through the the title could imply the shattering of glass as a result of an extreme volume of sound. The actual name 'Kerrang!' may imply the sound of a guitar being strummed with power and attitude. Alternatively it could also be interpreted as two instruments such as the guitar and the drums playing in unison. So the title is very effective in the way that an audience can identify the genre immediately and therefore expect a certain content within the magazine.
The large, medium shot image used on the front cover aims to catch an audiences attention straight away. The picture of the band 'Panic at the disco' appears to be the most important feature of the magazine, as it even over powers the title. However the audience should be familiar with the masthead on the magazine, so it doesn't lose its effect if the artists heads cover the lettering. It also suggests that the band has power and status. The composition of the artists within the picture is quite popular too within this genre. The main singer in the band is placed at the front, and is generally the best looking in the band which I believe is the the case in this picture. This attracts the female audience mainly by placing a good looking man at the front to capture their attention. However guys may aspire to be like them and look and dress in the same way. Both males and females are displayed on the front cover to reinforce that the magazine appeals to a mixed gender audience. Even though Kerrang is created in the U.K, it not only aims an English audiences but it targets a wider audience too. They do this by using international bands such as 'Panic at the disco' in order to achieve this.
The white text 'Panic at the disco' is bold and stands out against the background picture. It is positioned in the middle across the artists so that the audience can relate the name to the band. The audience then also know that they are the main feature within the magazine. The tag line 'Panic' also is larger than the rest of the title, as it is a powerful word. The background is a pale blue in contrast to the dark clothing of the artists. This helps them to stand out and also break up the features on the magazine so that doesn't become overcrowded.
It is very conventional of a music magazine to include the names of other bands on the front cover. This is done in order to entice the reader into buying the product and read about their favourite artists. Furthermore, music magazines usually offer their audience 'freebies'. The word free is used boldly in white against a red background to interest the reader. With this particular issue their is a free live poster special to promote the magazine also. Plugs, sub lines and side images of artists are used too as a method persuading the audience to read on.
Lastly, the bar code, date, price and issue number are commonly found on the front cover of a magazine. This provides important information to the reader displaying the cost of the magazine and when exactly it was published. This is displayed on every single music magazine and any general magazine, therefore it is a main convention which I will incorporate into my own product.
Magazine 2 - Mixmag magazine - Dance/ Electro
Lastly, the bar code, date, price and issue number are commonly found on the front cover of a magazine. This provides important information to the reader displaying the cost of the magazine and when exactly it was published. This is displayed on every single music magazine and any general magazine, therefore it is a main convention which I will incorporate into my own product.
Magazine 2 - Mixmag magazine - Dance/ Electro
Mixmag Magazine specialises in dance music mainly and refers to itself as "the world's biggest selling dance music magazine". The first issue of Mixmag magazine was printed on the 1st February 1983, in the United Kingdom by DMC (the DJ mailout service). Since then the magazine has been very popular with a readership of 276,000 as of August 2008. The magazine became the source to dance music, events, club nights ad reviews and mixmag had even began to create their own coined phrases and terms for different genres of music.
Artists that have featured on the front cover of Mixmag music magazine include: The Klaxons, Justice, Sam Sparro and Calvin Harris. These are all renowned for their dance based music and therefore appeal to the target audience of Mixmag magazine. The target audience is generally a youthful audience who are interested in dance music and related events who maybe lead a lifestyle that is lively and outgoing.
The title 'Mixmag' has bold, clear white lettering. This is used to stand out against the background and capture the readers attention. The colour white blends in well too, echoing the white in the strobes of light either side of the magazine front cover. There dot on the 'I' of the title could also represent the shape of a record which DJ's mix songs together with. The actual title name is also very effective. The word mix creates the idea of dance music to the audience, automatically highlighting the genre of the magazine. The title of the magazine could also be a cohesion of two different words( mix and magazine to make a completely new one. There is also alliteration within the title with the repeated consonant 'm'. This may be used to make the title flow more and also become catchy amongst an audience.
Another convention of music magazines is to include their own unique slogan. It is used to share the ideology and beliefs of the magazine or further persuade the reader into buying the product. The slogan is usually memorable too so that the audience may be able to relate back to it. The slogan for mixmag music magazine is ' The worlds biggest-selling dance magazine' which is positioned underneath the title acting as further information about the genre and ideology of the magazine. I feel that this slogan is effective because it makes a bold statement about how successful the magazine is and 'world' is used to show popularity and that it is an international magazine. It also creates a wide target audience for itself, and this would make the reader trust in the magazine and be willing to purchase it based on those ideas.
The main headline of the mixmag magazine is ' Klaxons!' which is boldly placed across the artists to link to them. The deep yellow colour stands out clearly to the audience to draw them in to the main image. The band name also frames the top half of the band's bodies, making the composition of the magazine neat and organised. The bright white strobes of light pointing diagonally at either side of the artists are used to appeal to the target audience and become eye-catching. It also draws you eyes inwards to the featured band 'The Klaxons' which highlights them as the most important part of the magazine. There appears to be a set colour scheme within the front cover, where colours are repeated on different texts along with another colour that blends in well. The audience may associate colour and the strobe lights with the clubbing scene, as there are many flashing lights within a club or dance event. So these are effectively used for composition, emphasis and iconography. The strap line underneath the headline gives the reader an insight to why the band has been featured on the front cover. It also may leave them wanting to read on and hopefully buy the product.
Just like the first magazine other artists names are featured on the front cover to entice and interest the reader into the contents of the magazine. Artists such as Luciana, Arman Van Helden and Axwell are renowned for producing successful dance tracks and by including these artists the magazine looks more successful itself. It also has a bar code, date, price and issue number for additional information for the reader. This is usually in small print as this is only relevant information if they have been attracted enough to buy the magazine.
There is also a 'freebie' like magazine one, except that mixmag are offering a free CD by 'Simian Mobile' which is like a disco/rave CD which would be highly appealing to the target audience of mixmag. The reader will be more likely to purchase the product if there is something being advertised for free and i think this CD would have been highly effective at the time. It will also encourage the reader to by more and become a regular consumer of mixmag music magazine if there are freebies every so often.
Magazine 3 - Classic FM - classical
Classic FM is a monthly music magazine which is purely devoted to classical music. It was produced by Haymarket for Britain's largest commercial radio station and is claimed to be the U.K's best-selling classical music magazine which includes exclusive interviews with many talented celebrities, CD reviews and behind-the-scenes coverage from the radio.
The title of the music magazine 'Classic FM' highlights immediately that its a current radio station and therefore promotes further their radio station to their target audience. The the title of the magazine is black and red which is a colour scheme that is used throughout many of the different issues of the magazine previously produced. This enables the reader to become familiar with these colours and gradually associate them with the Classic FM magazine. The red also brings a warmth to the page and invites the reader in. It is also happens to be a Christmas issue, so the red is a colour generally associated with Christmas blending in perfectly. The font is large and clear but avoids the typical boldness of many music magazines. This suggests that it may appeal to a more mature, sophisticated audience and this particular font would attract them more. The red colour connotes love and passion which are all positive emotions. The 'f' is in a different font and looks effective because it could resemble part of an instrument or a music note.
The large medium close up image of four choir girls called 'All Angels' is the central feature of the magazine. They are composed within the centre to make space for the rest of the articles within the magazine. A young, innocent, fresh faced choir group is common with the classical genre of music. The girls smiles convey emotions of happiness and peace which the reader will appeal to. The large text 'All Angels' is positioned across the singers in order for the audience to link the text and the picture together. It also frames the girls faces and sections of the bottom half of the magazine for other features. The gold text suggest that their precious, sacred and special just like angels are suppose to be The girls are dresses in white, which is a sign of purity which is associated generally with angels. This gives the impression that the girls are represent and have the voice of angels. The white background could suggest a heavenly back drop, blending in with the theme of angels, innocence, purity and peace. It also breaks up the features on the page and doesn't over crowd the front cover. There is also an image promoting three young choir boys, who are also dressed very smartly to again suggests sophistication and formality. With both females and males displayed on the front cover, both genders would find the magazine appealing.
Plugs and sub lines help to further sell the music magazine, along with a free CD of classical music by the main artists featured ' All Angels'. The free gift could persuade the audience to buy it and become regular consumers, of the magazine, knowing that they will get a free CD every month if they buy it. Especially around the festive season the readers may want to listen to their classical music more than any other month.
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