Section A – Initial Introductory Task One

1. What is a music magazine?

A music magazine is a magazine that discusses a sub-genre of music and the relating music cul-ture.

2. What content would you expect to find in a music magazine?

In a music magazine, I would expect to see articles about new bands that have arrived on the music scene in that area of music. It is also very likely that there will be interviews with re-lated/popular artists within the sub-genre of the magazine. I would also expect to see reviews on new albums, singles and of artists live performances at recent concerts and festivals.

3. What images would you expect to find in a music magazine?

I would expect to find photo shoots with popular bands and artists within the magazines sub-genre and the main image of the magazine is likely to be of an artist that has been interviewed in the particular issue of the magazine. It is also likely that there will be images of stage props, such as instruments and microphones. Other types of images that I would expect to see in a music magazine would be from live performances and merchandise.

4. Identify general characteristics/features that you would expect to find in all music maga - zines.

A typical feature that is used on every music magazine is a masthead. The masthead generally is something related to the sub-genre of the magazine, for example, the rock magazine “Ker-rang!” has a masthead that symbolizes the sound of a guitar strum. Another feature that I ex-pect to be used on all music magazines is a main image of an artist or band that I popular in the specific sub-genre that they are covering. Direct address is likely to be used in through the main image by having the person(s) looking directly at the camera. Music magazines are likely to have a main cover line that links to the main image (for example, they could discuss an inter-view with the person shown in the main image in the main cover line) and they are likely to have 3 or more other cover lines that discuss other stories and the other important contents in the magazine. Also, it is likely that music magazines will use the Rule of Thirds layout on their front cover and contents page.

Research: Questions about music magazine’s front covers

1. Identify the features/characteristics they all have.

All of the four magazines have these features in common: a masthead, a main image, a main cover line that links to the main image, price and a barcode, strap line and 2 or more cover lines.

2. Why are these features present on all of the magazines? Why are they important?

The magazines all have a masthead that is very slightly covered by the main image. A mast-head is an essential feature in every music magazine as it is the title of the magazine which can become a branded name. As the mastheads are all slightly covered, it could be sug-gested that the magazines are branded and that the audiences are still likely to recognize the masthead straight away, and will still know which magazine it is.

Another feature that all the magazines have is a main image that features an artist that is re-lated to the sub-genre of the magazine. This has been used on all of the magazines as it will draws the target audience in as it is likely that if they are going to buy this magazine, they will like the artist on the front cover.

All of the magazines also have a main cover line that anchors the main image. The main cover lines used on these magazines all discuss the person in the main image and state their name. This feature is important because the readers may not be familiar with the face in the photograph, but may recognize their name, and therefore may purchase the magazine.

The magazines all have a price and a barcode that is shown in one of the bottom corners of the front page. This feature is essential on all of the magazines as the barcode is what is scanned at the checkout and without it, the audience will not be able to buy the magazine.

Cover lines are a feature that is important on a front cover of all the magazines because they give the reader a small insight into the articles that are present inside the magazine. The cover lines, on all of the four magazine covers I have chosen, state a name of an artist or band that in some way relates to the sub-genre of the magazine. This is also important as it is likely that the target audience will see at least one name that they like if they are going to purchase the magazine and are interested in that topic.

3. Choose one of the magazine covers and ex-plain what type of music magazine it is.

Out of the four, I decided to choose the Ker-rang! Magazine cover (shown on left) to analy-sis the type of sub-genre the music magazine it is.

This magazine belongs to the sub-genre of rock music and this can be seen by the mast-head of the magazine. The title of the maga-zine “Kerrang” is imitating the sound of an electric guitar when strummed, and this type of guitar is widely associated with the genre of

rock music.

The main image of this magazine displays Foo Fighters front man, Dave Grohl. As this figure is a well-known rock musician, it shows that this magazine specializes in rock music.

Furthermore, the main cover line states “Foo Fighters” in bold, white text that stands out against the red background of the image. As the band name is stated on the magazine too in relation to the image, it suggests that this issues main story is an interview with and/or is about the Foo Fighters, therefore this confirms the sub-genre of rock in more depth as the main article would not be based on a certain type of artist unless they were specific to the music magazine sub-genre.

Also, the cover lines include words like “rocking” and “blow” which are quite harsh words to say which could be connected to the genre of rock music based on the harsh sounds of the instruments i.e. guitar and drums; when they are all played together.

Additionally, there are many other bands and artists stated all over the front cover through cover lines. These bands are all of a rock music background which agrees with the observa-tion of “Kerrang” being a rock music magazine as the bands would not be featured if there was of a pop genre, for example. To continue that point, the bands mentioned on the front cover are only of a rock genre and there is no mention of other genre artists, therefore it is confirmed again that this magazine is of a rock sub-genre.

4. For the same magazine, state who you think the target audience is and explain why us-ing examples.

The target audience for Kerrang! Magazine is young adults, both male and female, around the age of 15-25. This can be seen by how the text used on the front cover is in bold and sim-ple fonts and it is likely that this audience will not be looking for something too fancy, and will just be interested in the music included in the magazine.

This is further shown by how the cover lines are mostly just band names and don’t specify anything in too much detail, as the target audience of young adults are likely to buy the magazine because of a band name because they enjoy the music, not for specific details on what the articles are discussing.

Another feature on the front cover that confirms this target audience is the price of the magazine. The magazine costs just £1.99, which is a low rate for people of the age group from 15-25 and that are of a middle or working class background.

This issue of the magazine contains an “8 page special” of posters. It can be seen from this the magazine is aimed at young adults as posters would not typically be content in a maga-zine for people over the age of 25, as posters can be seen as quite a youthful thing to have.

The main cover line of the magazine is about the Foo Fighters and there is an extra piece of information above which states “UK Tour Exclusive!”. This feature of the magazine confirms the target audience as young adults between the age of 15-25 because the reader is most likely going to be interested in live music around this age.