1. Masthead
Cover lines
Main image
Left third
Lead
Article
Masthead: the masthead uses an eroded font which is
normally used on Rock Sound. This font is repeated over
the front cover and gives continuity as well as the
erodedness of the font giving the magazine a ‘rock’ feel.
The colour of the masthead is also dark and fits in with the
main image.
Main image: the main image ties in with the lead article;
the halo above Oli Sykes’ head goes with the ‘saint’ part of
the ‘Saint or Sinner?’ question and the darkness looming
around him ties in with the ‘sinner’ part.
Lead article: is the main part of the left third – stands out
against the background boldly. Jumps out from the rest
of the text on the page because it’s white on black
which is the brightest contrast on the whole of the front
cover. Obviously Rock Sound think this is enough to get
their readers interested and sell it.
Cover lines: ordered in a hierarchy – the most important
articles (what the readers of Rock Sound are more likely to
be interested in) are on the right side of the cover in a
smaller size but same font as the masthead and lead
article, and the less important features are displayed at the
bottom in a different, much smaller font.
Flash: in the left third. This tells you that Rock Sound
readers like Muse because it is at the top of the left third
and also partially covers the masthead.
Freebies: not located in the left third as it usually would
be – the type of these free things, art cards, tells you what
kind of audience Rock Sound is aimed at, which would
probably be teenagers from 16+. The colour of the flash fits
in with the colour scheme throughout the cover.
Flash
Freebies
2. Half of this contents page is taken up by a picture of the band All
Time Low – this tells us that their double page spread within the
magazine is a big focus point within the magazine alongside the
Bring Me The Horizon interview advertised on the front cover. A
pull quote is also used to draw the reader in and give the reader
an idea of what the article will be about. All Time Low are known
for their crude on-stage jokes and childish behaviour, which puts
some people off them – the pull quote is persuading those people
to read the interview to maybe change their minds about this
band. The members of the band also have quite serious
expressions on their faces and the photo shoot is not a typical
studio one – they are outside in the backstage area where the tour
buses are kept, which also emphasises the serious aspect of the
interview the reader may find within the magazine.
There is also another picture of Oli Sykes to remind the reader
about the lead article and main image on the front, although the
page number for that particular interview is not emphasised in any
other way, nor the All Time Low interview.
The contents is very simple and straight forward. The numbers
are clearly displayed against the pale ‘sky’ of the photograph in
red, and then the titles and strap lines are also displayed in black.
Both of these colours are high contrasting to the white-ish
background. It gives a serious feel to this issue. Not everything is
listed in the contents, and this is told to the reader by the fact it
says ‘Main Features’. This contents page is focused on a pictorial
level, as the main focus is on the picture as this is used as the
background, and there is not much text. All in all the contents is
very straight-forward and generally easy to use although is does
not include all of the features of the magazine.
4. Layout and design: Like the contents page, the double page spread is mainly picture-led, using
only two columns of text. Only a quarter of the page is text of any interest. Half of the page is
picture, and the other quarter is taken up by the headline and the standfirst.
Images used: The picture used is the same picture from the contents page, which gives
continuity. The lead singer is not really emphasised in any way in this photo shoot, actually, and
they are all organised in, basically, an equal way. The band are portrayed in a kind of serious
way, which is unusual as All Time Low are not generally a serious band.
Headline: The headline is just the band name, which adds to the seriousness of the article.
Pull quote: The pull quote shows that All Time Low are very honest with their fans and that this
article is going to be honest. It sets an image for the band and shows them in a certain light.
Standfirst: The stand first helps set the tone for the article and also the themes within it – it
states how they want to be taken more seriously, which is confirmed by the topics in the actual
article.
Copy: There is descriptive language used in the first paragraph – “Alex Gaskarth, lead singer of
All Time Low, is sat in the back lounge of his band’s relatively luxurious yet entirely unremarkable
tour bus” creates an image in the reader’s mind with its thoroughly descriptive language. Also,
where it talks about blink-182 and fall out boy is very descriptive. The article also describes
Gaskarth as an exception to the ‘rock’n’roll’ star norms and values. It mentions his long-term
relationship with a girl he met in high school, and the fact he used to smoke weed but doesn’t
anymore for his voice and that he doesn’t even think about touching anything harder. This goes
against the expectations for a rock star and helps to create the ‘serious’ image the standfirst talks
about.
5. Left
third
Masthead
Main image
Cover lines
Lead Article
Skyline
Freebies
Masthead: this masthead, like Rock Sound, uses an eroded font to show
that it is about a heavier aspect of the music and therefore geared to a
certain group of people. ‘Kerrang’ is an onomatopoeia for the noise created
when strumming a guitar. There is also a crack in the masthead which gives
you the impression that they are playing their music so loud that it cracks
things. It gives you an idea of what Kerrang! readers are like.
Main image: the main image fits in with the lead article; ‘at home with
Corey Taylor’ – it shows Corey Taylor in quite a homely way; burgers on a
barbeque, cooking utensils and a large green garden with a white picket
fence. However, there is a rock feel to the image
which is what Kerrang! is about – the skull apron, the army
hat and the tattoos all remind the reader that this is a rock
magazine.
Lead article: the lead article fits in with the main image. The bands name is
the most important part of this, and then it goes on to say that it is actually
only one. Also, it has the word ‘Exclusive!’ above it,
and this is in the left third which holds what is considered
the most important parts of the magazine; what will most
appeal to the reader.
Cover lines: Included in the left third. Oli Sykes at
the top near the mast head – left third, hierachy – Kerrang!
Readers also like Bring Me The Horizon.
Skyline: Kerrang! readers like Reading and Leeds
– these are the only two words from the skyline in the left third,
so it is assumed that Kerrang! Readers will know that this is in
reference to the dual festivals held, and will want to read the
reviews of the bands because they like them.
Freebies: Kerrang! readers like freebies and they like
posters – this indicates that they are probably 14+.
Jared Leto and Bullet For my Valentine are included in
the left third, so this is another indication of what bands Kerrang! readers like.
6. This contents page is split between pictures and text –
there is a large picture of the crowd at one of the Reading
and Leeds 2010 festival which takes up half the page
shows that this is going to be a big feature in the
magazine. There are a few small pictures which relate to
the articles, but mostly the contents is made up of text,
which takes up the other half of the page. It verges on
being picture led.
This contents is generally very busy and loud which ties in
with the front cover and what this insinuates about
Kerrang! readers already. The font is still an eroded, blunt
kind of font, and keeps in with the black, white and yellow
colour theme of the front page. The sections of the
magazine are clearly displayed in chronological order,
and the article which matches the picture is highlighted to
show this. The editors note draws the audience to what
the magazine wants them to be focused on, which is the
Reading and Leeds festival (reinforced by the picture at
the top) and the Bring Me The Horizon article (also
reinforced by a smaller version of the double page over-
lapping the R&L photo).
The haphazard and loud organisation of the magazine
gives it a ‘rock’ feel and crazy, mental kind of mindset
which is how Kerrang! portrays a lot of the bands in their
magazine, as the double page spread of All Time Low will
show. It prepares the reader for a less serious kind of
magazine, and this also cements the idea that Kerrang!
readers are loud, crazy and ‘rocking’.
8. Layout and design: This double page spread is also largely picture led, with a small article in
the corner. This indicates it’s not really anything majorly important, just an update.
Images used: The picture shows All Time Low experimenting, which ties in with the headline.
It’s a wacky and fun image which represents the band.
Headline: The headline fits in with the image ‘It’s going to be a surprise!’ indicates that they
are experimenting with something – probably their music.
Pull quote: The headline is a pull quote.
Standfirst: The standfirst keeps in with the experimental feel of the whole double page spread.
Copy: The whole article is very light and honest, just as the other All Time Low double page
spread is. There are lots of quotes from the band themselves, which gives the whole honesty
thing another boost. There is a fast pace with the writing which adds to the wacky,
experimental aspect.
9. Left third
Masthead
Main image
Coverlines
Lead Article
Pull
quote
Skyline
Masthead: The Big Cheese masthead is a big, bold font and used a
turquoise colour which is used around the front page (turquoise and pink are
used because of the blink-182 logo, who feature in the main image). It is
partially covered by the people in the main image and shows that this
masthead relies on a continuous audience because they will be able to
recognise the obscured masthead.
Main image: The main image shows the band who are the topic of the lead
article. These pictures are recent, rather than old photos of the band which ties
in with the ‘brand new interviews’ strap line. Their expressions are quite serious
which ties in with the determination feel of the pull quote.
Lead article: The band’s own logo is used which shows that Big Cheese
readers know who blink-182 are and will be excited that they are in the
magazine. The fact that these are ‘brand new interviews’ will pull the readers in
because obviously blink-182 have been on a hiatus since 2003/2004 and have
recently made a comeback, and new interviews will be of interest.
The band’s logos are included in the left third which will catch the
readers attention.
Cover lines: Again, ordered in hierarchy but not in the left third.
They are coloured in pink and turquoise to keep in with the theme
of the magazine and are artists that people who listen to
blink-182 will be likely to listen to as well. This gives us an
idea of what kind of readers Big Cheese attracts. There is
also a picture cover line of Oli Sykes. This is the third time
he has shown up on the magazine covers I have chosen
which shows that he is obviously a keen interest for this
kind of music and that Big Cheese readers also like Oli
Sykes/Bring Me The Horizon.
Skyline/freebies: The word ‘free’ is in a flash in the
left third, and the skyline goes on to tell the reader that
it is a Bring Me The Horizon poster. This tells us that Big Cheese readers like
free things, and they like bring me the horizon as already
found out by the cover line of Oli Sykes in the left third.
10. This contents page is a fairly even split between picture and text led. There are three pictures which are of equal size;
All Time Low, blink-182 and Jimmy Eat World. This shows that these are going to be the main features of the
magazine. The features of the magazine are clearly stated with bold and contrasting colours and are in chronological
order. The Jimmy Eat World and Blink-182 are the only two out of the three which have their contents information on
them, which suggests they are large features whereas All Time Low may just be a way to get people to buy the
magazine (upon further inspection, the All Time Low article is barely three paragraphs long and takes up a very small
area of the magazine. The black boxes are designed to look like someone has run a paintbrush down the page – this
gives the magazine an alternative/rock feel, but shows a more sophisticated side than Kerrang! does. The contents is
split between two main categories – regular and kingsize. These titles use an eroded font and emphasise the style of
the magazine.
13. Layout and design: It’s split fairly evenly between picture and text led.
Images used: The image isn’t fun like blink-182 are usually portrayed, but it still has a friendly
feel which is what readers will be looking forward to after the years of snide remarks between
Tom DeLonge and Mark Hoppus & Travis Barker.
Headline: The headline ties in with the image and the rekindled friendliness idea.
Pull quote: The pull quote also gives readers a secure feeling that the band are back for good
– “blink is very much at the core of our beings…” makes the reader feel like the relationships
between the band members truly has been repaired.
Standfirst: The standfirst sets a tone for the article – it’s quite serious but will have light parts,
as this interview takes place before they go on stage, so it’s not going to get too indepth.
Copy: The article reads like a story – it’s chronologically set out and gives backstories and and
explanation as to how the band got where they are now. The words used are fairly educated,
and this suggests that Big Cheese readers are fairy intelligent and appreciate a well written
text. The tone is quite serious, as it discusses drummer Travis Barker’s near-fatal plane crash
and how it brought the friends back together. The whole tone is quite a serious one, but without
getting too emotional and deep into it.
