Contents Page Analysis - Kerrang!

The contents page for this magazine is layed out in an organised format with a clear skyline which establishes what it is, it also has a large image in the top left corner and the other pieces of information to the right and below of this.. The main image is the band 'Black Veil Brides' which immediately notifies the audience of the genre of the magazine and what is going to be inside of it and tells the audience that Black Veil Brides are the main focus of the magazine and are the stars of the cover. By having all the page numbers in red and the text in bold, black text is makes them stand out which makes it easier for the audience to see and helps them navigate and find out what is on what page of the magazine, down the side it also has a white background which makes the black text stand out even more. The headings for the contents of the magazine are in yellow with a black background which makes them stand out because they are useful for finding the different sections throughout the magazine. Although this contents page looks quite chaotic it is formally organised according to the conventions of a magazine contents page, for example the features and regulars are on the right hand side of the page to make it easy to navigate. The contents page does follow the convention of having three main colours that dominate the page, these colours are: black, yellow and white, by having three main colours it makes the page look professional. However, this magazine lacks a variety of images because it  only has one main image, which doesn't follow the convention of a typical music magazine because they usually have a variety of images that consists of different shot types of the band or its members and other bands, this is one reason why I wouldn't choose this magazine to base my music magazine on.

Front Cover Analysis 3 - Alternative Press

Masthead: The masthead for the cover is ‘AP’ which stands for Alternative Press, and is printed in a unique and red text which helps the audience identify the magazine and makes it stand out.  This masthead goes across the whole length of the cover and is obstructed by the head of the subject, which shows that the magazine is well known and confident that people know the name of the magazine and can identify it without having to see it the whole masthead. The masthead is the biggest piece of text on the page and is in red, which could connotate to the colour of blood, and fits in with the rest of the colour scheme which makes it appealing to the audience.

Main image: The main image for this magazine is Kellin Quinn, the lead singer of the band ‘Sleeping With Sirens’ the shot is a 

medium close up which could be used to show off his tattoos. He is side on from the camera but is still looking directly at the camera, giving the audience direct address. The subject of the magazine  is represented as quite innocent as his facial expression is calm and he is wearing white, which has the connotation of purity and innocence, which may relate to what the 
audience are going to read about inside the magazine. 

Layout: The layout for this magazine cover is quite formal and has a professional look as the 
sell lines are inline with each other and are right justified. The cover is very calm with only one image and minimal use of sell lines and different colours which helps the audience to see most of the subject of the magazine cover but still serves it's purpose of attracting its audience. 


Colour scheme: The colour scheme for this magazine cover is dominantly white with black and red 
text which makes the pieces of text stand out very well against the white background and the subjects white clothing. Using three or four colours is a common convention of magazines and this magazine has used minimal colours but still puts across an eye catching and professional look which helps to 
attract an audience. In my opinion, the colour scheme does not match the particular genre or audience that Alternative Press appeal to which could mean by using these colours they are trying to appeal to a wider, mass audience. 

Sell lines: This magazine cover has only used two sell lines which could suggest they are relying on the popularity of the subject and the name of the magazine to attract the audience. The two sell lines are both the same size and colour, which could show they of the same importance, they are also right justified and don't cover up a lot of the subject which allowed the audience to see him.

Front Cover Analysis 2 - Rock Sound

Masthead:  The masthead for this magazine is ‘Rock Sound’ this masthead is not underlined and covers the length of the front cover and is a turquoise colour which fits in with the rest of the front cover and the colour scheme of the magazine which gives it a professional look. The font type is unknown but it very simple and easy to read and doesn’t really relate to any type of genre but the word ‘Rock’ obviously relates to the genre of rock and makes it appealing to those who like the genre of rock. The masthead only slightly covers up parts of the subjects head, however, it does cover the halo but still allows the audience to see it. The masthead its self is the biggest piece of text on the front cover which helps to audience to identify the magazine and makes it stand out.

 

Main image: The main image of this magazine is a Oli Skyes, a member of the band ‘Bring Me The Horizon’ it is a medium close up which shows the top part of his chest and head, this shot would have probably been used to show off his well-known tattoos, which makes it more appealing to certain types of the audience, this shot also helps to show his quite serious facial expression and calm body language, he is also looking directly at the audience which creates a welcoming atmosphere to the magazine for the audience as he is holding his hand close to his chest, this could also mean that he is being honest, and the information given inside the magazine would be beneficial to those interested in him or the band

Layout: The layout of this magazine is quite formal as the sell lines are all together, one beneath the other and are all right justified and stop where the masthead and slogan stop. The cover looks quite busy with the sell lines and pictures but still allows you to see nearly the entire subject which gives it a professional look and attracts the audience with all aspects of the cover. The barcode of the magazine is in the bottom right hand corner, along with the pictures and doesn’t cover the main image, so the audience aren’t put off from the magazine because they can’t see any of the main image.

Colour scheme: The colour scheme for this magazine would be blue, white and yellow and the colour blue mostly dominates the masthead and sells lines. However, there are different colours such as black for the background and his grey t-shirt, but still keeps the amount of colours quite small and simple and go well with the font used which makes the cover look professional and appealing to the audience. The colour scheme isn’t really the usual colours people would associate with the genre of rock but they still work well and still fit in with the genre.

Sell lines: The sell lines of the cover are aimed at people who are interested in bands, such as ‘Enter Shikari’ and ‘Paramore’, having more than one hand on the front cover expands the audience to more than one group which helps to sell the magazine to more people. The sell lines are all right justified which gives the magazine an organised and professional look and makes it easier for the audience to quickly identify where all the sell lines are, so they aren’t wasting their time looking for sell lines all over the cover, which would look unprofessional, these sell lines are backed up by images below which reinforces them.

Anchorage text:

            The anchorage text for this magazine is left justified which it level to the ‘plus’ information and the beginning of the masthead. The anchorage text contains a quote from the subject which makes it personal and more interesting for the audience, which makes them likely to buy the magazine. It also has the name of the band ‘Bring Me The Horizon’ this makes it more appealing and eye catching to those interested in the band, which again, sells the magazine. The last part of the anchorage text is a rhetorical question ‘Oli Skyes…saint or sinner?’ which contains the name of the lead singer making it easier for the audience to identify the subject, it also makes them think about the subject and what he has done to make him a ‘saint or sinner’, and makes them want to buy the magazine to find out and answer the question. The anchorage text supports the main image and gives additional information about the subject. It  isn’t controversial as it is mainly aimed at the rhetorical question of him being a ‘saint or sinner’ which appeals to everyone, either if you like him or dislike him.

Front Cover Analysis 1 - Kerrang!

Masthead:


   The masthead for this magazine is called 'Kerrang!’ The masthead is underlined and covers 
some of the main image, this is strange for a well-known magazine like Kerrang, as most well-known magazines have the main image cover the title, to show the audience they are well known and confident, they may have done the opposite and had the masthead cover the main image because of how well known the person in the image is to people who read the magazine. The masthead is white, which fits in with the colour scheme of the cover and goes cross the length of the cover, it is also the biggest piece of text on the cover, although 'Black veil brides' is only slightly smaller, this makes it easily recognisable for the audience and eye catching. Above the masthead there is something called a ‘Skyline’ which is used to draw the audience to special features or opportunities ‘All time low want you: be their roadie for the day!’ the word ‘you’ is direct address towards the audience which draws them in and involves them.


Main image: 



       The main image for this cover is a close up shot of just one of the members of the band 'Black veil brides' the subject of the cover gives direct address to the audience as he is directly looking at the camera with quite a rebellious look which creates a certain type of mode of address. The subject is represented as a very gothic character e.g. black hair, face paints, pale skin which would appeals to a niche audience. The ‘layout’ for this magazine is quite formal, with lots of pictures and sell lines to attract the audience. However, all the pictures and sell lines makes it quite busy which could put the audience off, overloading the main image and front cover with too many pictures would be something I would avoid when making my own magazine. The barcode is located in the bottom right corner of the front cover and doesn’t cover up any of the sell lines or image, it also has the price of the magazine in very small text, and this may hint at the fact that the magazine is quite expensive. This magazine does not have a slogan.



Colour Scheme:



            This cover has three main colours; white, black and orange. Having three main colours is a common convention of professional and well known magazines it also keeps it quite simple but still eye catching to the audience. These colours also fit in with the 'gothic' stereotype of this magazine which could make it more appealing to the audience and less appealing to someone else. The black is used as a background to make the white and orange text stand out more; it also fits in with the colour scheme and helps the magazine flow. The most important pieces of information are written in orange to attract the audience to the magazine and also stand out against the white 'Kerrang!' and 'Black veil brides' which stops the cover from clashing. The red background may be used to try and ‘tone down’ the gothic look of the magazine, trying to make it appeal to a wider.

Sell lines:

            Sell lines are a range of features on the front page that are appropriate to the genre and that are featured in the magazine. The sell lines of this magazine are aimed at people who are interested in reading about the bands, such as ‘Panic! At the disco’ The band names are orange, which makes them more eye catching to the audience and a small bit of extra information below in white with a black background which are all the same size, these colours fit in well with the colour scheme of the front cover and helps the magazine flow and look professional, which makes it more appealing to the audience.  The sell lines are right justified, meaning they are all level on the right side, which makes it look neater and more professional; also, they don’t cover the subjects face, making it easier for the audience to identify him and attracts them to the magazine. These sell lines do not have images to support them that are directly next to them but the images are left justified.

Anchorage text:

            Anchorage text is text on the front cover of a magazine that supports the main image; in this case, it is running across the main image near the bottom. It gives the audience extra information about ‘Black veil brides’ and draws the audience into the topic. ‘Is Andy the new god of rock?’ is a rhetorical question, which makes the audience question themselves and makes them want to buy the magazine to find out. This piece of text is not a quote from the subject and would most likely be a quote from someone who is biased towards the band, like their producers or the media, which means this could be quite controversial as not every would agree with this quote, this could make them buy the magazine to know why he would be considered the ‘new god of rock’. This piece of text is almost the biggest text (the biggest being the masthead) which makes it very eye catching to the audience, it is also in white and the rhetorical question in bright orange which makes it stand out even more to the audience.