Analysis of Music Magazines

Stephanie Byrane

The main image this is anchored which gives it meaning. The graffiti in the background and the angle at which the photograph is taken gives the image a twist and makes it look more fun. Font choices show a wide male orientation readers. Barcode - shows how much it is and is vital on a magazine, this also shows the issue, date and price. Rule of third & left third This sticks to the rules to a point but it also breaks a lot of them. This is done through the unusual canted angle and the Sell line on top of him

Analysis of magazine front covers Cover 1.NME Sept 2009 Dizzee Rascal Edition

The masthead NME means enemy so this symbolises badness. This also shows the type of people that read this magazine and type of music.

Use of flash offers something extra to target audience.

The background the graffiti wall in the background shows anti-establishment.

The main selling line Dizzee Rascal is written at an angle which shows out there and a different target audience.

TARGET AUDIENCE OF THIS MAGAZINE

The target audience is teenagers/young adults. We can tell this from the layout of the front cover and also the content. Dizzee rascal is not suitable for children nor adults/OAPS. The target audience would have a high music interest and probably like a wide range of genres although preferably hip hop. Most readers of this magazine will be male, we can tell that as most of the bands/artists mentioned on the front cover are male. We can also tell this as the graffiti in the background isn't very feminine. The magazine costs 2.60, so for a magazine this is quite cheap. This means the social class for this magazine is probably working to middle class.

You can tell this is a music magazine through the information on the front cover and images used. This is a hip hop magazine and you can tell this by the main image. The Header and footer shows that this is also for other types of music genres, although hip hop probably dominates as thats what the front cover is about. Methods used to attract this target audience are The main image attracts the target audiences attention, the pose he is in, also shows half of what the magazine will include, this again attracts target audience. The content of the magazine attracts the target audience as they have an interest in it.

NME Information
The publisher of NME is IPC Media. NME was first issued on the 7th march 1952. NME magazine is targeted at people between 16-19, the magazine is also targeted at both genders who have an interest in the rock/indie musical world. NME created the music trend Punk rock. On average the magazine is 70 pages long, the main focus being rock and guitar music.

The main image The main image dominates the magazine cover. The image is looking head on at the reader, which gives it connection. He looks almost angry, we can tell this through his facial expression. This gives us an indication on what type of music magazine this is. The expression on his face is not that welcoming. You kind of get the sense that he is being very protective and is saying stay away.

Analysis of magazine front covers Kerrang!

The masthead The Masthead Kerrang! is written in sketchy writing, and even though the image covers a bit of it, we still know what the magazine is called.

Font Choices The font choice for this magazine is very masculine, this gives us an indication as to who the target audience is male. Barcode The barcode is very important, along with the issue number, date and price of the magazine. Rule of third & left third This magazine cover sticks to the rule of third, however, it almost breaks the left third rule as there isnt much writing.

Use of flash The striking piece of news that appeals to the audience straight away as this is what they are interested in. The background The background is blurred which makes us have straight, direct attention to the male musician. This magazine is aimed at readers interested in rock music. The main selling line This is Foo Fighters this interests the target audience straight away as this is a well known rock band. The other selling lines prove that it is a rock magazine by their content.

TARGET AUDIENCE OF THIS MAGAZINE

Copy of Kerrang! 8 page special is inserted under the masthead. This shows extra special information used to entice the target audience. The header and footer shows extra information as a last plea for there target audience to buy the magazine. The colour scheme used is very dark, the main dominant colours are black, yellow and white. This shows that this could be interpreted as dark music again showing a rock theme.
Methods used to attract this target audience are The content of the magazine attracts the target audience as they have an interest in rock music. Also, the bands presented on the front cover entices the target audience as this appeals to them.

The target audience is teenagers. We can tell this from the layout of the front cover and also the content. Kerrang!s chosen model; the Foo Fighters lead singer Dave Grohl is used to show that. His music mainly appeals to rocker teenagers and not the elderly or young children. The target audience would have a high music interest in rock/metal. Most readers of this magazine will be male, we can tell that as most of the bands/artists mentioned on the front cover are male. The colours and fonts used are also very masculine. The magazine costs 1.99, so for a magazine this is cheap. This means the social class for this magazine is probably working class.

Kerrang! Information
The publisher of Kerrang! Magazine is Bauer Media Group. Kerrang! was first issued on the 6th June 1981. The main target audience for Kerrang! magazine are 15-19 year olds who are interested in rock/punk/grunge/indie music etc. I get this impression because of the bands listed at the bottom of the cover who will be inside the issue and because of the central image of the magazine.