1. Analysing A Magazine Front
Cover
Jasmine Aduhene

2. This magazine is formatted in such a way in which the masthead , the front
KERRANG ROCK MUSIC MAGAZINE
cover image and the name of the band catches the eye of the audience.
These all stand out because the words ‘KERRANG’ and the band name
‘GREEN DAY’ are both in a bold white font which in colour is the total This is the original name of the magazine company, this is currently the world
opposite to the darker image of the black clothing which the band is biggest selling weekly rock magazine. The KERRANG magazine always has its
wearing. The extra bold font also represents power and prominence within masthead in the same place , however sometimes the font is altered to be
the band and the type of music will be spoken about in the magazine. The slightly different and in some cases the colour of the masthead is changed. This
name KERRANG is also an onomatopoeia, which refers to the sound made usually happens because each band or artist that is on KERRANG represents
when playing a certain chord on an electric guitar, this gives the audience different genres of rock music and colour change or font change can possibly
an insight of the genre of music the magazine contains. The Masthead be to suite the type of music the band is representing.
KERRANG! Is in capitals and has got an exclamation mark which suggests
the importance shouting. On the top of this This band ‘Green Day’ is the main feature of this
Magazine there is puffs at the top, in a strip form magazine issue, it is featured on the whole band,
which lets the audience know what downloads however the lead band member is in the foreground
are available. (otherwise know as the most well known band
member) and the other two band members are in the
These images at the side of the magazine background. They are put on a white background
are promotions/advertisements which are because the colour white contrasts with the colour
available as download posters, it is very black and it makes the image stand out more. The
likely that there is a small segment on these front image uses a direct mode of address to entice
artists in the magazine. Putting these the reader and draw them into the magazine, one
images here as an advertisement gives the example of this is because the band member in the
front cover more body and detail. It is also foreground is staring directly into the camera. This
in red which separates it from all of the image is in the middle of the magazine and is a
other parts on this front cover, this is medium close-up. The Bright lighting setting has been
because it is a totally different subject and used to project their faces which creates a strong
is on the front cover of this magazine for a positive mood before reading the magazine.
different reason. This could be considered
as a puff with many images. This is the barcode of the magazine, every magazine
has one, it is almost always located at the bottom of
This is a puff, puffs are usually found on the magazine to show its lack of importance to the
the sides of magazine front covers, they reader. It is usually put on a rectangular white
are features in the magazine giving an background so that it is easily recognisable.
insight to what is inside the magazine.
This list at the very bottom of this front cover is
The colours in this magazine all called a plug. Plugs are put at the bottom of the
represent differences, for example the
The band name Green Day is in a bold white font and is also magazine because they have less significance, and
yellow captions all link because they are
in line with the KERRANG masthead and the medium clos-up the other main cover lines are more important. It
also main parts inside the magazine, or is also noticeable that some artists in the list are
image. This shows that the band featuring in the magazine
advertising topics inside the magazine in white, and others in a darker shade (grey). This
shares almost as much importance as the masthead, also
for downloads. They are also below each means that the bands in white are more known
because the font is smaller. Underneath there is a small
other so your eyes automatically move
passage which is put there to directly to engage the audience, and familiar to the public.
from yellow caption to another.
that’s why ‘you’ is in italics.

3. Masthead Denotations
-The masthead is across the top of the page in a The use of the colour black/grey represents darkness in the
bold type, white writing. This quickly grabs the music, however the magazine is not entirely dark, this
audiences attention because it is the biggest shows that there is a brighter side to the music genre heavy
caption on the magazine and the most important metal, and to rock music overall. The connotation of the
because it is the name of the magazine central image definitely represents independence and a lot
company. of power and strength.
This image is overlapping the masthead of Strapline
the magazine, this shows the prominence of This strapline is aimed at rock fans, most
the magazine and that it is well known rock fans will know about Jimmy page due
enough to have an image in front of it. to his history, this message is at the top of
People can also instantly recognise the the page right next to an image of two men,
brand or type of magazine from the layout. one of them being jimmy page, so its
basically a catch-up on him now.
The Headline
-The headline is very big and bold however
it is not bigger than the mast head. This is Genre
because the band Metallica is who the Genre is very important when making a magazine
magazine is featuring, the band main because it is the base to what the magazine will be
member is also on the front of the about. The Genre of this magazine is rock music,
magazine. The headline is in a different however that is mainly because it is a rock based
colour in order to contrast with the magazine hence the reason for the masthead (name
background and stand out a little bit more of the magazine) ‘ROCK’. Heavy metal is quickly
from the image and the rest of the cover. It recognised when looking at this front cover.
also shows that the band Metallica is the Sell lines
main focus of the magazine and consumers The sell lines on this front cover mainly
will be interested because of the person on say what will be included inside the
the cover. magazine, these are the main points like
the different bands that will be spoken
The image
about, and facts or news about the genre
The image is right in the middle of the
of music.
magazine and is not a medium close-up,
but instead captures the whole body of
Publishing and barcode
the man but his lower legs and feet. The Colour scheme
The publishing company ‘Future’ is
fact that his hands are open wide and he The colour scheme for this music magazine is a reflection of the type of
located at the bottom of this page, this
is looking down shows his representation music it is representing which is, the whole rock genre, the colour
gives their company recognition and
on rock music, preferably heavy metal white is used for the magazine masthead to make it stand out against
raises awareness of who they are. The
and the impact that it has, this image also the black background, and the other colour which is bronze like
barcode is also located at the bottom
conveys power within the music which is contrasts to the rest of the colours on the magazines front page, this is
right next to the future logo, it is very
then passed onto the artist due to how to show that the heavy metal band ‘METALLICA’ is a feature in the
easy to spot because it is in white
the music makes tem feel. magazine.
located on a black background.

4. NME ROCK MUSIC MAGAZINE
Advertisement
Banner
This is clearly an advertisement, it is purposely
The Banner across lets the
done in a circular shape with a white
audience of this magazine know
background to draw the audiences attention,
he location o f a popular band
after or during all the detail on his front cover
like the Arctic Monkeys. Its big
is looked at. This advertisement is put onto this
and bold because the magazine
magazine to attract ‘STONE ROSES’ fans, so
company NME may be wanting
basically through this and including names of
to attract the rock audience by
bands they are inviting a larger amount of the
having a world famous bands
audience which consist of fans of all the bands
name on the cover.
being mentioned. This is a very good technique
Colours as it means this increases the sales of the
The colours in this magazine are magazine and the brand ‘NME’ gets more
extremely planned, meaning recognition.
that each cell or caption has its
chosen colour depending on Connotation/Denotation
what is said, for example the When looking at this magazine there is a
bright coloured masthead ‘NME’ strong feeling that the genre will be rock
stands out because that is the music, this is because of the colours and the
brand of the magazine and the image, and also the small detail in the image
main thing being sold. like the mans long hair (which a lot of rock
stars have) and his leather jacket. This man
(Julian) has a very serious facial expression,
Gossip which is linked to the headline ‘JULIAN GOES
This cell line at the bottom of the SOLO’, his serious facial expression lets the
magazine is dedicated to the gossip audience know how serious he is about
part of the magazine, it is put in a going solo and also how passionate he is
different kind of font and quotation Fashion about it.
marks to represent that gossip is There is an aspect of fashion on this front cover, the
included in the magazine. fashion aspect is the leather jacket which is in fashion
nowadays and is a trend. The other aspect of fashion
the in the image is the matching wristband and top
which is worn inside the jacket.

5. Masthead
The ‘KERRANG’ masthead is on a white background and has
Banner been made black, depending on the magazine and the genre
This banner hasn't really got of rock, it sometimes changes, it is put on a white background
much information on it to stand out almost as much as the image.
however that was done
purposely, this is because Image
audiences would rather read a This image of the three men in the band
smaller amount of Biffy Clyro are all very focused on the
information, hence the reason camera, This is a medium close-up and
why there are only 5 words on the lighting is edited, the lead band
the banner. member is in the foreground and the
other two are in the background, this
shows that there is more of a
contribution to the band on the lea
Band Name singers part. The lead singer in the
The band name is purposely in foreground face is darker, however the
a bold large white font, as well men in the background are made lighter,
as standing out it screams to this shows that the shadow/spotlight is
the audience and lets them on him.
know that the genre is rock
music and the band is standing
right behind. Plugs
This list of bands below are placed at the
very bottom of the magazine because they
Freebies are bands who are featured in the magazine
As well as being an advertisement, however just not as much as Biffy Clyro-
this free poster special is put at the because they are the main feature of the
bottom with sample image to let the magazine. I may use inspiration from this
audience know what they could get magazine and create plugs on my rock
for free when they buy this magazine. music magazine, depending on whether I
Putting free things on the front cover will feature more artists or and additional
invites customers because it means amount of information in my magazine.
that they are getting more of their
money worth.

6. Image
Masthead The image of tis band ‘BLUR’, shows them smiling, laughing and looking like they
This is a very unique masthead, not are having a good time, this shows the audience that they love what they are
only is this the masthead but this is doing. They are dressed quite casually which means that they are not of the
also the name of the magazine brand, stereotypical rock bands like heavy metal and punk rock, but they are more of
the magazine brand ‘Q’ is a well an indie rock band.
known brand, however their main Band Name
focus isn't only on rock music. The
The band name ‘BLUR’ on this front
masthead is quite bold and definitely
cover is in a bold white font mainly
stands out, this is due to the fact that
because, the band members are
the letter ‘Q’ is placed on a bright red
wearing dark clothing and it stands
background, it automatically catches
out when contrasting against them,
the audiences eye.
the background is also white, which
represents the music and how friendly
it is to the ears, rather than being a
Extra information dark and powerful type of rock music.
This extra information gives an insight
to what topics will be spoken about in
the magazine, it also links to what will
be said about the band, this is known
as it shares the same colour(white) as
the band name. Famous names
These are names of famous
musicians, these names bring more
recognition to the magazine, each
Sell lines person named here is also
somewhat included inside the
To the left of this magazine are sell lines,
magazine. This is put on a bronze
which are in the colour red and black,
strip going across the magazine,
these sell lines are in a smaller font, this
which represents that it has no
means that the information in this sell
relation to the main topic (band) of
line is not that much of an important
the magazine.
message as the words in bigger fonts like
the masthead and ‘BLUR’.

7. Image
Masthead The image of tis band ‘BLUR’, shows them smiling, laughing and looking like they
This is a very unique masthead, not are having a good time, this shows the audience that they love what they are
only is this the masthead but this is doing. They are dressed quite casually which means that they are not of the
also the name of the magazine brand, stereotypical rock bands like heavy metal and punk rock, but they are more of
the magazine brand ‘Q’ is a well an indie rock band.
known brand, however their main Band Name
focus isn't only on rock music. The
The band name ‘BLUR’ on this front
masthead is quite bold and definitely
cover is in a bold white font mainly
stands out, this is due to the fact that
because, the band members are
the letter ‘Q’ is placed on a bright red
wearing dark clothing and it stands
background, it automatically catches
out when contrasting against them,
the audiences eye.
the background is also white, which
represents the music and how friendly
it is to the ears, rather than being a
Extra information dark and powerful type of rock music.
This extra information gives an insight
to what topics will be spoken about in
the magazine, it also links to what will
be said about the band, this is known
as it shares the same colour(white) as
the band name. Famous names
These are names of famous
musicians, these names bring more
recognition to the magazine, each
Sell lines person named here is also
somewhat included inside the
To the left of this magazine are sell lines,
magazine. This is put on a bronze
which are in the colour red and black,
strip going across the magazine,
these sell lines are in a smaller font, this
which represents that it has no
means that the information in this sell
relation to the main topic (band) of
line is not that much of an important
the magazine.
message as the words in bigger fonts like
the masthead and ‘BLUR’.