Magazine - Analysis and Convention research

2. Conventions within magazines are used in order to ensure that the audience
know what the magazine actually is portraying, for example, without the
master head and the articles and images, the product would not be a
magazine as the audience‟s immediate response would be not to recognise
it as one. Similarly different genres have different conventions, for example,
pop magazine shave bold and bright colours with a celebrity that is wearing
a costume in which the audience can aspire to, and the main props used
would be objects such as headphones as the audience can acquire these.
On the other hand, a rock magazine may use darker and more masculine
colours with a band with instruments such as guitar and drums; which would
lead to an immediate response to what the magazine is representing. Music
magazines in particular use conventions in order to ensure that the audience
can understand the product and that they are used to the way in which the
magazine is laid out. This therefore then makes it easier for the audience as
they can spend more time reading the magazine. They then use specific
celebrities, for example for rock genre they may use Muse, to portray the
conventions even further for their genre. Conventions also help to make a
more successful product as they are easier plan.

4. 
Kerrang ! is a rock music magazine published by Bauer Consumer Media in the
United Kingdom. Kerrang magazine is the world's biggest selling rock magazine, and
covers all forms of music for example Slipknot to Marilyn Manson , Limp Bizkit to The
Offspring etc.. Kerrang ! was initially devoted to the new wave of British Heavy Metal
and the rise of hard rock acts such as AC/DC who appeared on Kerrang! ‟s first cover.

Launched as a monthly magazine its high demand meant it could then be printed
fortnightly and eventually weekly. Kerrang magazine appeals to a specific niche
audience because it concerns topics and themes that are relevant to people who listen
to and are interested by rock music and its background. Kerrang! identifies its
audience as „individually minded, independent of thought and musically
experienced, an audience defined by attitude, passion and loyalty‟ Kerrang! is aimed
at the youth and their lifestyles as it has a contemporary and up-to-date look, making
use of modern typefaces and a down-to-earth feel.

The magazine even accommodates the young readership by using advertisements
that relate to their interests. Kerrang! aims itself more at a male audience and appeals
to them by using content such as hard rock and metal iconic male bands on the front
cover pulling angry faces or violent expressions. Female readers are targeted by the use
of male bands on free pull out posters and feature interviews.

5. Master head- the heading is in a
fixed location , always at the top,
and the font remains the same in
every issue, helping develop
brand Identity.
The Left Third , covers the main stories and
articles in the issue e.g. “Bullet for my
Valentine” , they have made the text bold
and showed it as if it would cause
danger, the bright and bold colour
elaborates the importance of this event in
history, to make the story more worthy of
the readers attention of Kerrang.
The cover line states “Hayley answer
your questions", it encourages readers
to discover more to what they know
about Paramore and upcoming music
which may be included in the
magazine. It is a scoop and a hook to
attract potential buyers. The text is
framed, and acts like a caption to the
main image above.
The anchoring image is of a popular
rock singer for the band Paramore and
can be clearly seen and there is a direct
mode of address. This main image
attracts the readers attention as she is
staring at them and is a mid –shot which
is taken from the waist upwards. It is also
of a well known singer which helps
encourage people to buy the magazine.
Front Cover Issues/articles - The front cover shows Hayley Williamson
the front cover with the cover line saying “I have nothing left to
prove...” so the magazine will feature something about her inside. It
also lists more bands down the side, this shows there may be
interviews or reviews or something about them inside the magazine
as well. From the front cover we can only see that their interests are
mainstream rock groups. The front cover has a header listing some
mainstream bands; the main image on the front cover is of the lead
singer of a mainstream rock group, and on the side they list other
mainstream rock groups that are going to be in the magazine and
also are advertising that they have posters of yet more mainstream
rock groups.

6. Features- On the right hand side of the page there is a
long column that highlights the main features included in
this week’s issue. The features are numbered which
correspond to the number of the picture this is effective as
it gives the reader a taste of what is to come without
giving to much away, encouraging the reader to read on.
Small subheadings are used and these are shown in a
bright yellow font, this is to show their importance by using
subheadings and dividing the magazine up they have
made it much easier for the reader to find exactly what
they are looking for. This is an important convention for a
contents page. Readers do not want to be wasting
valuable reading time on finding out what page a
specific article is on. Kerrang !
Colour Schemes- the colour schemes used on the top of
the page is a black box with a contrasting bold yellow
font so as to make the page more noticeable to the
reader and evidently shows them what the page is about.
The colour scheme of this page is yellow, black and
white. The yellow and black work in reverse of each other
which makes the page look more artistic.
The overall impression is the layout and design, which is
very crammed into one page , and is bold and loud. This
is purposely done as it attracts their target market of rock
music, rock music expresses dark, gloomy, untidiness
and clutter therefore if a rock magazine used these codes
and conventions ,it will help portray the fact that it is a
rock magazine

7. 
“Q” Magazine Q' s current editor is Paul Rees, former editor of the UK
edition of Kerrang!, another musical Bauer publication based on heavier
rock/metal music.

Q has a history of associating with charitable organizations, and in 2006 the
British anti-poverty charity War on Want was named its official charity.

In late 2008 Q revamped its image, with a smaller amount of text and an
increased focus on subjects other than music. This “Rolling Stone”; has led to
criticism from much of the traditional Q readership, though it is yet to be seen
if this change in attitude will dramatically affect sales.

8. Colour Schemes- the main colour schemes are
red ,white and black, these colours are repeated
and used in every “Q” Magazine , this repetition
of the colours helps the reader recognise when
the magazine is in the shelf.
The little details such as the barcode, price and pugs – can
either be at the top left or/and right-hand corners of the front
cover. These add to the professional look and help demand
people to buy more magazines as this helps the magazine look
more realistic
Cover lines - The essential articles inside the magazine, in this
case “If you’ve got it, flaunt it” , this concept helps the female
market buy the product as it about them and so putting the
information on the front cover helps them get a feel for the
magazine without even turning the page.
Main Image- this main image attracts the readers attention as
she is staring at them and is a mid –shot which is taken from the
waist upwards. It is also of a well known singer which helps
encourage people to buy the magazine. Left Third - The left third
contains the main feature article, in this case the left third
features, “Britain's Biggest Music Bands” and there interviews
which are exclusive to “Q” Magazine.
Overall Layout- the overall layout stands out with the darker
backgrounds and the bright colours, and it will help the
magazine stand independent , from the rest of the magazines on
the shelf. The overlapping layers adds to the effects of it all being
crammed in one front cover, this can also encourage people to
buy it as there is lots of thing to read about

9. “ Q” Magazine- Contents Main Image- the main image is
of “Adele” who is an indie pop singer, normally the main
image of a music group/singer and at the bottom there is
a caption, with a quick description on what's the story
about, e.g. exclusive interviews, celebrity gossip and
reviews
Photography- there are only two images on the
contents, because the contents so a more written text than
images like the front cover,. However the images used
look original and are not edited
Left Third -left third and the page numbers are in a large
red font, relevant to the style of the Q logo. Below the
“Features” section is a small section labelled “Every
Month” which has the same layout as the “Features”
section with the black font and red numbers. The “Q List” is
also present in this contents page and features a white
background ,which fits well with the black text.
Overall Styles -“Q” has kept its traditional house style of
red and white in every issue. It has a simple and clear title
with the issue number beside it. Down the left hand side the
features are laid out very clearly with sub-headings and
separating red lines Features- the feature are always on
the left in every issue and the headings are usually
underlined in red and the reviews are at the bottom .

10. Conclusion
The magazines shown are primarily what I anticipate for my magazine to be
like, however the magazine which would be more effective and similar for what I
anticipate is the Kerrang! Magazine. This is because this particular magazine in the same
genre as what I hope my magazine will be. I also hope to use a similar layout to this
magazine with the masthead above the main image; therefore the person in the main
image will be able to stand out against the writing. I will also be using aspects from Q
magazine with the use of overlapping layers and the left third. I will also be anticipating
the use of mid-shot for my main images, as it has been done in both the magazines
, shown from the previous slides.
The layout for my contents page will be similarly laid out to Q magazine, continuation of
the same person used on the front cover but also in the contents, giving a direct
address of what is to be expected in the magazine. The contents page will also consists
of a long column addressing features included in the current issue of the magazine as it
would it gives the reader a taste of what is to come without giving to much
away, encouraging the reader to read on. The colour scheme for the contents page
will be similar to the front covers colour scheme, as it will most likely link well to the use of
colours which may be used in the masthead of the magazine for example bold and
daring colours such as reds and blacks- which links fairly well to the genre of the
magazine.