Detailed analysis of front cover, contents page, double page spread.

The font style used across the magazine is serif, this fits the magazines genre as it creates a hard, angry look. The bold text is eye catching and draws the reader to that particular piece of text, this why the important things such as the cover line and masthead are bold. The editors made Linkin Park the boldest as it is a popular name and may intrigue the reader to buy the magazine. Using the name of the artist was a clever idea as people who like linkin park may purchase the magazine in order to discover new bands with a similar style which would strengthen Kerrang’s market. As the genre is rock, the typography needs to be dark and give the sense of anger. It achieves this by using quite a dark colour scheme with reds and blacks with the exception of yellow which is there to catch the reader’s attention. They also using bold, block-like text which would appeal to kerrang’s target audience. The typography fits that as a rock magazine which appeals to an older market, 16- 25 and the colour scheme orientates it towards men.

The main colours used are dark and light red, white and yellow. The different shades of red connote anger, the white is there to contrast and balance it out. The yellow is an exception to the dark colour scheme and is there to emphasis certain bits of text, so the yellow draws the readers to ‘linkin park’. The white is also there to compliment the yellow as a lighter shade, as in the yellow draws the attention and the white conveys the message in a more subtle way.

The image used appeal to the target audience as they are extremely popular artists of that particular genre, the artists featured are:

Linkin Park, You me at six, Metallica, Motion city, Green day, Black veil brides, Josh and Oly, Biffy Clyro, black Sabbath.

These artist are all influential for those of the magazines target audience, the images used are all in the rock genre and hence fit the magazine. Most of the shots of individuals are close ups so they can identify the artist more and hence make them want to find out about the said artist.

The magazines layout is in-between cluttered and simple. I think this is so it looks busy and hence appealing but not over done to the point where it looks daunting and a bit child-like. This appeals to the target audience as it is eye catching and bold like the genre rock but also set out in a way that is not patronising to the reader. The route of the eye is used, first you see the masthead which would appeal to the user as it is a highly popular magazine, then it goes to the cover artist which will make the reader want to read and buy the magazine as it features a highly influential artist in the particular genre the magazine targets. It then goes across to side story’s featuring popular artists such as Metallica which may once again widen the magazines audience as they will want to buy it to read about their favourite bands and artists. The magazine includes the image of the cover artist in the middle, this is because the eye tends to go straight to the middle and hence they will see that first and want to read it.

As the left side is the most dominant side it has been taken advantage by including popular artists stories indie, this is because the left this is the part that the reader will first glance at and it’s hence important to include the most interesting stories.

The language used on the magazine is simple but also deep and fairly depressing, this was used to make the reader sympathize with artist such as ‘this time its emotional’ and also ‘the naked truth’ which makes the reader want to read it as they feel like the artist is being honest and they could get to know some person and private things. The mode of address is mostly formal using proper English, this is conventional as the target audience are generally more mature and don’t need slang and gossipy words to appeal them. The magazine is fairly depressing and achieves this with lines like ‘this time it’s emotional’ and ‘how the black album almost destroyed Metallica’.

The front cover relates to the genre rock because of the dark red background which represent anger and blood. The mode of the address is a key convention for this magazine and affects if people buy it or not, the target audience will be able to relate to stories such as green days album and will want to read stuff about the actual music, if the stories were all gossipy about romance etc, the target audience may not read the magazine.

The font is mainly all Serif, this makes it appeal to the target audience as it is more sophisticated, which would appeal to the older target audience, it is also bold which relates to the genre rock. The way the images have a number on them, makes it easier for the reader to read about their favourite artists and also gives them the freedom to skip pages.

The yellow writing is once again featured on important pieces of information, as it is an eye catching colour it gets the reader’s attention and it means they can more easily see the stories featured and the page numbers of each story, the yellow also follows the colour scheme set by the front cover. The white background gives it a more formal, less busy look and hence appeals to the target audience.

The Mise en scene are a pistol and a microphone, this is because the microphone obviously relates to music and the gun relates to the genre rock as it is stereotypically hard and dangerous. The Images are mostly close ups, this was used so the reader can more noticeably tell the artist, and hence make them read the page.

The font of the page is mainly serif once again, this is because curls wouldn’t really appeal to the target audience of the magazine, they used the quote ‘we’re being the best MCR we can be’ in bold to draw the user attention at first glance, the reason they want to do this is so the reader reads the quote and wants to find out more about the story and see in what context is what said. They use big blocky writing which fits the rock genre. They also include a ‘world exclusive’ sign which would appeal to the user as they think they will be reading something that hasn’t been said before. The main story’s font is fairly small and there is a fair amount of this, this suits the target audience though as they are generally older and don’t need large fonts and short paragraphs to hold their attention.

The layout is fairly clear and uncluttered, this is to appeal to the target audience. The left side of the magazine is mainly made up of images, this is to catch the reader’s attention and then they want to read the particular story more. The images almost work as a boarder to the main story, which could attract the reader to look at the story more. The route of the eye was used, it starts by catching the reader’s attention on the dominant left side with the biggest picture, it then takes it across to the large, bold quote which would capture the readers interest, it would then go back to the bottom left and look at the 3 smaller pictures on the bottom until they eventually read the article.

The colour used are black and red which fit the genre rock, as the black connotes darkness and evil, and the red connotes blood and danger. The text was white and red so it contrasts against the black and stands out, so the reader gets drawn to the quote and can see it clearly. The kicker was red one again as a contras against the black background and white writing and will then draw the reader’s attention to the story.

The images are large and dominate the page, this is so the reader sees who the artist is at first glance and will want to read a story about that particular artist. The shot types are mainly close ups this was once again so the reader can easily identify the artist and want to red on about them. The mise-en-scene were things such as a microphone, guitar and piano this obviously fits as they are associated with music in general.

The language used is also proper and the story is well written, this is because the target audience will be able to understand and appreciate this. The biggest quote was ‘we’re being the best MCR we can be’ which will be uplifting for fans of the band to hear and will make them want to read the story.

The masthead is black bold font with a white background, the white background is there to contrast against the black writing and hence make it stand out. The writing is black which connotes darkness and the writing has cracks in it which looks like shattered glass and symbolises violence.

The main image is of a popular band/artist, this helps broaden their market as people who like that band may buy the magazine. The way they are standing also helps with their brand identity as they are standing in an intimidating way, with serious way which once again connotes violence. This shows the brand identity is not high class and more middle class. The image is also fairly close up which was used so people will recognise the artist at first glance and will entice them, helping with the band identity of being the rock genre bands magazine.

The pull quote was written in red and is against a black background as the colours contrast well the mode of address is accessible and it helps the quote stand out, it also sticks with the house style. The red writing suggests the person who said the quote is quite an angry and violent person. The name of the band who they quoted are written under the quote in white and big letters, this so it stands out and draws the reader in.

The smaller images along the bottom stick with the house style, close ups and with intimidating poses to fit with the genre rock which is often perceived as violent. They have the name of the artist in white to contrast and stand out an on running thing throughout the magazine.

The house style is once again the same, as it’s got dark colours which add a gothic feel which would appeal to the fans of the rock genre, it also uses red which once again shows violence, something the target audience would relate to.

The image has a gothic style which helps with its brand identity as it matches the gothic style put in place with the house style, the artist is wearing all black which creates a dark look, which is more masculine and hence appeals to the male audience.

The font is Serif, big, bold which makes the brand identity more masculine once again appealing to its male audience. The big writing also gives it a fairly younger look appealing to its teenage target audience.

The heading on the lower half of the page once again appeals to its target audience as it talks about gigs and information, things the younger audience would typically attend, it also helps it keep up its brand identity of being cool and relevant.

The main heading is written in white, bold capitals and is fitted right below the image of the band. It contrasts against the black background with the black and white something that happens thought out kerrang giving it a brand identity. This can be linked to the rock, which is what the brand identity is trying to achieve, as it’s stereotypically loud, angry and destructive. The white writing is in capitals which gives the impression of shouting, something that happens throughout the magazine, obviously fitting the house style and the shouting makes it seem loud helping them achieve their brand identity.

The image is of the bands main singer shirtless, sweaty and by the looks of it screaming into the microphone which fits into the hard core brand identity, something the target audience would enjoy.

The colour scheme was picked to fit with KERRANGS house style. The images also take up the majority of the page, which is something that KERRANG do so this keeps with their brand identity of being more music orientated.