Music Magazine Analysis- Kerrang

Masthead
“Kerrang!” is a noise a guitar makes. Suggests it’s loud, chaotic and out there. Relates to the genre of music that will be in the magazine, it will include guitars. The font has a shattered glass look, making the magazines image appear rebellious and reckless. The explanation mark adds enthusiasm, and once again conveys the idea of the masthead being shouted. Some artists’ heads cover part of the masthead. This proves the magazine is established and well known by many people, so they aren’t risking anything by covering part of the title.

 

 Dominant Image
Includes many different artists’ the issue will involve. In bold font in the centre it states the main article and how it links with all the images around the outside. There isn’t one main, dominant image, but a lot of little ones. This makes it appeal to a lot of people, as there are different band members from different styles of genre of rock music all pictured. It also lists off the bands mentioned inside, all contributing to the idea of attracting and appealing to the target audience. There are bands from different eras of rock music. For example, Slipknot and Metallica are older bands, who will appeal more to the older reader, possibly a more male audience. Whereas Paramore, Green Day and My Chemical Romance are popular with both genders and slightly younger, teenage audiences. Although the background is dark and the majority of the artists clothing is dark, they stand out and are recognisable. They are all making eye contact which portrays a sense of it being personal to the reader. The dark colours of the clothing and the background also lead back to rebellious side and not being perfect, which the masthead also suggests.

 

There are no straplines around the magazine, stating what else will be included inside. This breaks the traditional layout that most magazines follow; returning to the idea of breaking the rules, being reckless and standing out from everything else. The only other mentioned thing inside the magazine is the posters. This is because posters are a huge selling point to the teenage target audience, who are the main target market for the magazine. Kerrang! know this, which is why they chose to have the posters shown, if not anything else about the issue on the front page. It’s all down to the marketing.