http://www.kerrang.com/

As Kerrang! magazine is the worlds largest UK weekly music magazine, I thought it would be a good option when researching the market place. Kerrang! follows many (in most cases all) of the codes and conventions a rock music magazine should. For a starter, every issue has a masthead, which is obviously the title of the magazine.

Every issue includes a main picture on the front along with a main cover line (when it comes to Kerrang!, the main cover picture is a member of a band, the full band or even different members from different bands). The main cover line will most likely be the name of the band which the person is from (in the main image).

The majority of the time, Kerrang!’s title is placed underneath the main picture. However, the title is still visible and easy to read, ensuring that the customer can tell that the magazine is Kerrang!.

The main image will also be covered with overlapping cover lines, however, the face/s of the person in the image will always be visible.

The cover of the magazine will often include an incentive banner. This could be promoting things inside the magazine, such as posters. It could also be advertising that there is a free gift attached to the magazine, such as a free CD. This encourages the customer to purchase the magazine to receive the free gift/s.

The cover lines that are printed on the front cover of the magazine provide information on regular content and feature articles within the magazine. This can be anything from interviews or as the picture shows ‘50 moments that changed rock forever. http://www.kerrang.com/

The barcode that is usually located in the bottom corners of the front cover contains important information about the

magazine. This information is usually presented in the bottom right-hand corner of the magazine, however, the side in which it’s located can be alternate. Along with the barcode, the issue number is present, allowing the customer to know which issue they are buying. The date is also present and this allows the customer to know when the magazine was published and to work out when the next issue will be released. Next to the date is the price of the magazine (this information is also presented in different currencies as Kerrang! isn’t just sold in the UK). Underneath all of this information is the magazine’s website. This allows the customer access to more information (if wanted) online.

A lot of issues of Kerrang! have a main colour theme that is then present on the contents page and sometimes throughout the magazine itself. In this issues case, the colour theme would include: reds, blacks and yellows. However, this can change depending on the issue and whatever looks best.

Some of the cover lines (this one being featured in the side bar) can also contain incentives. Again, like the banner, this encourages the customer to purchase the magazine. For example, they could be entered to win a competition and meet their favourite band, or win signed band merchandise.

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http://www.rocksound.tv/

Rock Sound, like Kerrang!, is another massively popular and successful rock music magazine. The success and popularity of the magazine proves that Rock Sound does follow the codes and conventions of rock music magazines. Like all others, it has a masthead and a particular font is used for this and no where else in the magazine. The only thing that doesn’t stay the same about the masthead, is the colour of it. The colour changes depending on the actual colour theme used throughout the magazines contents.Rock Sound varies when it comes to the main image being on top of the masthead. A lot of the time the image is underneath the masthead and vice versa.

When it comes to the main image on the cover of the magazine, the main cover line is placed over it to introduce who the band/band member is. The main cover line often has cover lines of its own which then introduces some of the article which is further inside the magazine. Although there are cover lines overlapping the main image, the face/s of the band member/s are never covered up so the customer is still able to see who the band are.

The magazine front cover also includes an incentive banner which is there to try and encourage the customer to purchase the magazine. This could be advertising anything from a free gift to the posters included inside the magazine.

The front cover also provides a few details on the contents within the magazine. This is located in the side bar, which is another form of cover lines.

http://www.rocksound.tv/

The barcode can also be found on the front cover of the magazine. This is usually found in the bottom right-hand corner, however, depending on which issue is being researched, this can be alternate. Along with the barcode, the issue number is printed so that the customer knows which issue they are buying. Next to the issue number is the date the magazine was published. As Rock Sound is published every month, it only has the month and year that certain issue was published. This is so the customer knows what issue is out and when the next one is going to be published. In between the issue number and

the date of the magazine is where the price of the magazine is located. In addition to this, different currencies are printed underneath all of this information as Rock Sound isn’t just a UK rock music magazine.In near enough every issue of Rock Sound, (especially in the more recent issues) a free CD is attached to the magazine. This is also an incentive as it encourages the customer to purchase the magazine to get the free CD.This could be because their favourite band is featured on that CD, or they want to start listening to new bands/new music. http://www.rocksound.tv/

http://www.metalhammer.co.uk/

Although Metal Hammer mainly focusses on metal music, it still has rock elements.

Much like Kerrang! and Rock Sound, Metal Hammer has a particular font that is only used for the masthead. However, the colour of the font does vary and this depends on the colour theme the producers of the magazine choose to use.In most cases, the main image that is used on the front cover of the magazine is placed over the masthead. Although it overlaps it, the logo is still recognisable as Metal Hammer is such a popular and successful magazine. This is also because it is a well known logo.

The main image of the front cover is the same as most rock/metal music magazines. It is located in the centre of the front cover and is more than likely to have a main cover line over the top of it. This cover line will be introducing the band/band member who is featured on the front cover.

The front cover can also contain an incentive banner. Its purpose is to “up-sell” the magazine by promoting any feature posters included inside or any free gifts attached to the magazine.

The front cover includes cover lines, therefore following the codes and conventions of rock music magazines. These cover lines present information that will be included throughout the magazine whether it’s regular content or a feature article. http://www.metalhammer.co.uk/

On the front cover, the barcode will be found along with other information. The barcode can be located in different places on the front cover (as shown in this particular issue). However, the most common place the barcode will be found is the bottom right-hand corner.Along with the barcode, the issue number of the magazine will be located underneath the price of the magazine and over the top of the barcode. The price is also printed on the barcode so the customer knows how much they are going to pay for the magazine. The date is also printed next to the barcode so then the customer knows when the issue they are about to purchase was published, and when the next issue is going to be released.

Some of the cover lines are also an incentive as they are promoting competitions that are printed in the contents of the magazine. This can encourage the customer to purchase the magazine as the competition could include a favourite band of theirs.

http://www.metalhammer.co.uk/