2. What is a music magazine?
 A music magazine usually focuses on a
certain type of genre and brands itself and
gets recognised based around the music and
the target audience they are targeting.

3. What content would you expect to
see in a music magazine?
 The content in music magazines consists of
interviews, music charts, quizzes, information on
the personal lives of a certain member of a group.
 Adverts, tour dates/concert dates, adverts and
reviews on albums.
 It will go into detail about who they’re going out
with, if they’re single then what they look for in a
person.

4. What images would you expect
to see in a music magazine?
 On the front cover of a music magazine,
there is usually a main image and
depending on the magazine, it will either be
an artist or a group of people. For example,
Kerrang and Top of the Pops will have
mostly bands on the front of their front
cover whereas; vibe and NME will have a
single artist on the front cover.
 Furthermore, the mast head will be mostly
hidden by the main image, as the magazine
assumes that people know, by looking at a
few letters, what magazine they are looking
at just by the text style and colour that has
been used. This is because they have given
themselves a recognised image that their
target audience distinguishes. The person(s)
on the cover will be the main article in the
magazine. There may be some album covers
shown.

5. Identify the general
characteristics/features that you would
expect to find in all music magazines
The features I would expect to see in a magazine would
be:
o
Branding- this would include the text used, the masthead and cover
lines reflects the style of music they cover. You would also see that
the mise-en-scene plays a big part in distinguishing the branding of a
magazine. For example, in a Kerrang magazine which has been
branded as rock, you would expect bands and rock artists and to
reinforce this image, the props used on the front covers usually
include guitars and instruments generally found in bands. Also, the
image and make-up used on the models reflects the band/image they
are and want to create.
o
Barcode- to show that it is a magazine you have to buy which gives the
audience the implication that a lot of time and effort has gone into
producing the magazine.
o
Dateline- informs the audience the issue number of the magazine to help
them keep up to date.
o
Articles such as music news, exclusive, reviews, one main featured artist
and quizzes.
o
Big main image on the double page spread which is usually linked to the
image on the front cover.
o
The conventions are usually met in music magazines, such as the rule of
thirds. The main image would comply with the rule of thirds and be placed
in the hotspot areas were the target audiences’ eyes would fall upon. The
eye line of the model(s) always meets that of its target audience and the
main content is in the hotspots.

7. Identify the features/characteristics they all
have. Explain why these features are used
 In the four magazine covers I have looked at, they all seem to have
similar features and characteristics, even though they are different
genres of music. These recurring features are:
o Masthead- a masthead is usually at the top of the front cover and
is reasonably big, attracting the audience’s attention. The text
style, font and colour are all chosen extremely carefully and are
chosen based on what the magazine hopes to be and who they
hope to attract. The masthead enables the recognition and
provides the magazine with an identity for which they must
provide appropriate stories and images. This identity comes from
the branding which the masthead offers.
o Tagline- the tagline appears near the masthead and is usually
placed either above or below and is a short sentence which helps
to sell the magazine.
o Strapline- the strapline is little bits of information which are found
under the corresponding cover lines. This gives the audience
information on what the stories entail. It could help sell the
magazine, as it highlights to the reader whether or not these are
the type of stories that interests them.

8. o
Cover line/main cover line- the cover lines are placed usually
around the main image and can sometimes overlap them. The text
and font style are chosen according to the layout and design of the
front cover of the magazine. This is extremely important, as the
magazine needs to subtly draw in the audience and using random
colours may irritate the sight of the audience and therefore detract
the eye from reading the magazine.
o
o
Dateline- the dateline informs the audience of the issue number
and helps them keep up with the magazine.
Main image- this appears on the front of the cover and consists of
a famous artist/band which again, attracts the audience’s
attention. A medium close up shot is used to focus on the face of
the celebrity as it reinforces the recognition and identity of the
magazine. The image is placed at the centre of the page, filling
most of the page and complying with the conventions of
magazines: rule of thirds. The celebrities’ eye line usually meets
the audiences. If the image is placed of centre, then it is usually on
the right side, because when the magazine is placed on the shelf,
the right side of the magazine is usually visible.

9. Take one of the magazine covers and say
what type of music it is. Provide 4 examples
 Chosen magazine:
Kerrang!
Sub-genre: Rock
My four examples are:

Main image- a medium close up shot of the lead singer from the band black veil
brides. Being a rock fan myself, I have recognised this and given the magazine an
identity. However, for a person unknown to the magazine, they would see the harsh
pose that the singer is posing, the clothes and make-up he’s wearing and distinguish
this magazine as a rock magazine. The colours black and white have been chosen for
the main body of the make-up and the model is also wearing a black out, as far as
we can see. These colours are usually associated with rockers and rock music. This
gives the impression that this is a hard rock band due to the harsh colours which
have been used.
 Main cover line- the magazine has used the same font and text for the main cover line
as they have used for their masthead. This could reinforce branding, but alternatively,
this reinforces the rebellious side of rock. This has been emphasised through the
letters which have been used; they look like they have been smashed. The font style
itself is very big and bold, which highlights the general personality of the band and the
music itself. Furthermore, the text has been set in a white background with a black
background. The contrast of the black and white really makes the main cover line
stand out and draws the reader’s attention to this part of the magazine.
 Masthead- the masthead has been placed at the top of the page, in big white
letters which automatically draws your attention to the magazine. These letters
contrast with the red background, making it stand out. The font style which has
been used is bold and has a rebellious tone. The exclamation mark on the end of
the name attracts the attention of the reader and reflects the loud personality of
rock bands.
 Pug- Finally the pug draws the audience’s attention to this part of the magazine,
because the shape is in one of the four hotspots of the page. It has also been placed
directly underneath the masthead and slightly covers part of the text. The bright
yellow “biggest” really makes the pug stand out and attract the eye of the target
audience. From the words on the pug, you can tell this is a rock magazine, because it
mentions the words “gig” which is the word used for a rock concert.