Media Music Magazine Research

Front Covers and Background Research Of Magazine Institutions

Alice Williams

‘Q’ is in a sans serif font, this shows a more variety of audiences, the location of this is at the left hand corner of the magazine, this is easily recognisable to the audience and creates a loyal readership.

The symbolic symbol of ‘Q’ Magazine, which is in a red box with a white ‘Q’, shows the use of these house colours they contrast good together, and make it clear to see and easy to recognise within the magazine.

The typography of the masthead of ‘Kerrang!’ magazine is of a serif font , this conveys the youthful nature of ‘Kerrang!'s target audience.

The colour of the masthead, is in black and sometimes white, the black has connotations of rebellion and links in with the rock and metal culture of ‘Kerrang!’. The white has connotations of purity, which contrast within their genre, this however can be seen as breaking the convention of rock and adds to the magazines ideology of rebellion and rock. Also the ‘shattered’ effect, also has connotations of rock, this makes it clear what their genre is.

Brand Identity Analysis

The typography of the ‘MOJO’ masthead, is in a sans serif font. This indicates that the target audience of this magazine is that of a mature audience when compared to ‘Kerrang!’. The target audience of ‘MOJO’ is an older audience who have interest of classic rock.

The red writing, which is layered onto the MOJO masthead, gives a sense of establishment and authority to the magazine. As including ‘the music magazine’ adds to the sense of establishment.

The Background of MOJO-‘MOJO’ is a popular and well-known British music magazine.-‘MOJO’ is published by Bauer media-‘MOJO’ is known for its classic rock. -The first issue of ‘MOJO’ was on 15th October 1993. -The frequency of ‘MOJO’ is monthly.- ‘MOJO’ regularly includes free cover mount CD’s which links in with the current issue of the magazine.- It is mostly known for its iconic photography and musical archive, and cultural in depth emotional link to music.- ‘MOJO’ includes lots of surveys to participate the reader, some of these include, ‘ Top 100 albums of MOJO’s lifetime list’ and ‘The top 100 records that changed the world’. - ‘MOJO’ releases many special editions - The price of MOJO now is £4.50The different platforms for ‘MOJO’ are:- ‘MOJO’ magazine- ‘MOJO’ website- ‘MOJO’ twitter ‘MOJO’ AudiencePassionate for classical rock music and cultureThe audience for MOJO is predominately male (77%)http://www.mojo4music.com/blog/http://www.bauermedia.co.uk/Brands/Mojo/

The magazine uses a lot of different techniques to attract its audience. The use of colour in the front cover is limited. The house colours are black and red; it is featured over the entire front cover.

The mise-en-scene used creates a strong reflection onto the genre of the magazine and of the target audience. The costume that the main image is wearing is of leather trousers and topless, this has connotations of rock and rebellion.

Analysis of a ‘MOJO’ front cover

The call out used ‘Magic! Darkness! Obsession!’, the word ‘magic’ has connotations of special, this implies that the bands is special and are magical within the music industry. ‘Darkness’ has connotations of danger and also has elements of rock, which relates to the genre of the band and magazine. Also ‘Obsession’ connotes to secrecy and has an implied impact onto the reader, that there is secrecy behind the band that has only recently been discovered, this can be seen as a puff. Also the typography of ‘obsession’ is in red and the others in black, this emphasises the word ‘obsession’ and attracts the audience, into thinking there’s something hidden that’s happened. This can also make them seem inferior, as only they know it, as they are the only ones who have brought the magazine; this can attract some people into buying the magazine.

The free CD included, entices the audience in, the CD links in with the theme of the magazine of ‘Elektra’ music. If the audience see the theme of the magazine is ‘Elektra music’ and they are a fan, then they are more than likely to buy if there is a free CD included. The colour of the album is in red. Red has connotations of love, which links in with the title of the album; ‘journey to love’. It also connects with the house colours within the magazine, of red, black and white.

The main image used, is black and white, this connotes a vintage feel, and gives a view onto who the magazine is targeting for their main audience, which is for an older audience.

The image is of Jim Morrison, who was the lead singer in a rock group called ‘The Doors’, the image of him is iconic, he was famously known for his iconic style of dress, which is of the leather trousers and topless, the black and white of the image can also connote that he is well established within the music industry. Also the typography of ‘The Doors’, are iconic as well, as the typography is the actual bands logo, this appeals to the target audience, as, if the audience is a music lover, then they will recognise this, and attracts them to the magazine, also using the logo of ‘The Doors’, connotes that they are well established within the music industry and creates a sense of importance.

The main image is also laid out in the centre, this is a convention of a music magazine and tells the audience straight way that it is a music magazine.

Layering is used throughout the front cover. The image is layered over the masthead to give the artist a dominant feel and attitude and gives the sense of superiority to the magazine, as they are well known within the music industry. Also the lead article of ‘the doors’ is place over the main image. This gives emphasises on the lead article and works well better within the front cover.

The cover lines featured, are in no text box and are just lines of text. This gives the feel of more maturity and gives a more polished look. Just like ‘Kerrang!’, the artists name is in a different colour than the description underneath, this gives it a more conventional look, and entices the reader to the artists names and them ‘showing off’ about who's in the magazine.

The language used, is more sophisticated, when compared to ‘Kerrang!’. It is clear that the target audience of ‘MOJO’ is of an older audience, by the language used. ‘Masterpiece’, ‘Greatest’ and ‘John Lennon’. The use of using more sophisticated language show how they target their audience.

The Background of Q-’Q’ is a popular music magazine which is based on a wide variety of cross genres, including alternative rock and indie rock. -’Q’ is published by Bauer media. -The frequency of ‘Q’ magazine is monthly. -The current editor of ‘Q’ magazine is Paul Rees.-’Q’ was 1st published in October 1986.-The total circulation of ‘Q’ is 80,418- The current price for ‘Q’ is £4.50

http://www.qthemusic.com/http://www.bauermedia.co.uk/Brands/Q/

-The content of ‘Q’ is famous for its in depth review sections, including, new releases in music and live concert reviews.-It is also known for its interviews with popular music artists.-Free gifts are usual for ‘Q’ magazine, e.g. books or CD’s. - Just like ‘MOJO’, ‘Q’ has a lot of surveys and votes to include the readership, e.g. .‘100 greatest songs ever’ and ‘100 greatest singers’. There are several different platforms for ‘Q’:- ‘Q’ Radio- ‘Q’ Awards- ‘Q’ Live- ‘Q’ 50- ‘Q’ TV- ‘Q’ Website

‘Q’’s Audience-Passionate for musicEngagedOpen Minded Devoted to music‘The drive to discover new music-Likes live concerts-The audience majority is 75% male and 25% female.

Analysis of a ‘Q’ front cover

The Typography of ‘Dave Grohl saves rock, again’ is in a serif font, this connotes to establish and importunacy, this reflects onto the band, ‘foo fighters’, as they are an established band in the music industry and is important. Further more, the typography also has additional connotations of an inscription in a stone, which has connotations of time and that the band are ‘embedded’ into the music industry, further highlighting that they are established into the music industry and that they are of a ‘rarity’.

Layering is used through out this magazine cover, this is convention of music magazines. The main image is layered over the masthead, this gives, the artist a sense of dominance and powerful, this can connote that he is powerful within the music industry, the expression and graphics on his face, add to the dominance nature. Also, covering up the masthead, gives the magazine a sense of well established and well-known in the music industry.

The pull quote of ‘This will kill me’, entices the reader and acts like a enticement, so the audience will want to read the full article. Also ‘kill’ has connotations of violence and implies that something bad is about to happened and urges the reader to read on. The typography of the pull quote, is in red and is in serif font, this creates for a serious effect and as its in red, it connotes t danger and death, this links in with the actual quote.

Analysis of a ‘Q’ front cover

The cover lines featured on the front cover, are another convention of a front cover. The cover lines in this magazine, do not feature a text box and use lines. Similar to all of the other magazines researched, they have different colours when featuring the artists name. This emphasises the artist name and hooks the reader in so they might buy it more.

The red circle, located in the top right hand corner, entices the readers attention and shows that there is a free endorsement. The red is in theme with the house colours, which make the endorsement stand out more. The red circle, also looks like a sticker which had been placed on it, it looks effective as it stands out among the page. The black typography of ‘free!’ stands out against the white typography and the red circle. This attracts there audience, as ‘Q’ has a wide audience, so it attracts the younger audience with the free gift.

The direct mode of address is used, to invite the reader in and adds to the shocking image. The main image of the artist is in the centre, this adds to the effectiveness of the image and again, entices the reader. The house colours used are red and white. Because ‘Q’ appeals to a wide audience, the magazine needed to appeal to a wide audience. The use of colours and a polished feel adds to the maturity of the magazine, however the use of the free endorsements and the strong image that has connotations of rock culture, creates a good balance between the younger audience and older audience. The language techniques used, also from an older audience. E.g. ‘sex, drugs and golf in la’, this suggests of an older audience and shows that of the majority of their audience, of 20s and 30s and hard core music fans.

The Background of Kerrang!- ‘Kerrang!’ is the worlds biggest selling weekly rock magazine. - ‘Kerrang!’ is published by Bauer consumer media. -The name ‘Kerrang!’ is onomatopoeic for the sound when playing a power chord on an electric guitar.-The frequency of ‘Kerrang!’ is weekly.-The total circulation is 42,967.-Their first issue was on 6th June 1981.-The magazine was first published weekly, but due to high demand it was made weekly.-They include a nu metal genre, they feature bands like, ‘Slipknot’, ‘Linkin park’ and ‘Staind’. -From the 6th June 2011 James McMahan is now editor of ‘Kerrang!’. -Currently ‘Kerrang!’ costs £2.20-There are several platforms for their magazine:- ‘Kerrang!’ Magazine- ‘Kerrang!’ Radio- ‘Kerrang!’ Website- ‘Kerrang!’ TV- ‘Kerrang!’ Awards- ‘Kerrang!’ TourKerrang!’s audience‘Kerrang!’s audience is niche. They mainly target that of males who have a deep interest in rock culture and music. They also are targeting a younger audience, when compared to ‘Q’ Magazine. -‘Kerrang!’ also includes in depth articles and themes that are heavy rock and its background. -‘Kerrang!’ is also aimed at the youth and their lifestyles and has an rocky edge. -They are also appealed to males.

’Young, individually minded and passionate consumers defined by attitude, passion and loyalty’ -Kerrang! Magazine

http://www.bauermedia.co.uk/Brands/Kerrang/ http://www.kerrang.com/

Analysis of a ‘Kerrang!’ front coverThe main image used is of a woman, and is part of a band called ‘Evanescence’. The direct mode of address, draws the reader in and shows that she is dominant, this also shows her as powerful. Adding to her dominance, layering is used to convey the sense that she is important, as the image is over the masthead. This highlights the means that she is superior, but that because the music magazine is well-known, the magazine doesn’t need to show their name and connotes to a well established magazine in the music industry. Also, having the image fill up most of the page and using a bleed in the image, on the front cover, it adds to this sense as well.

The image also further creates an iconic image of her as a band member and has all of the attention on her , the use of using this type of image is that the target audience of the magazine which is hardcode music fans, will recognize this as her and automatically connect with the magazine and are more lenient to buy it, the mise-en-scene also adds to the , she persona within her band and her image, is dark make-up and black hair, and dark clothes, these all have connotations of dark and gothic, but also gives a sense of heavy rock, which conveys the strong means of the genre of the magazine.

The medium close up and central positioning of the image further creates a more interesting composition and also entices the reader in more, as because it’s a central positioning, (one of a magazine conventions), it attracts the audience to the magazine. In addition using a female on a male targeted magazine, creates sex appeal to try and make males attracted to it and then they buy it.

The pull quote of ‘I’m finally happy…’, anchors the image in the front cover. The effect of the pull out quote, shows the artist getting personal with the magazine, this entices the reader and makes the reader think that she is talking to the magazine and to the reader personally. The ellipses after the pull quote, entices the reader further into reading the article, as it shows that there is more information to me found out. In addition the word ‘finally’ shows that she wasn’t happy before and that maybe something has happened and the magazine is implying that they know, so this attracts the reader further.

The lead article is in yellow typography, and contrast well with the background of black. This makes the band name stand out and attracts the reader further. Yellow has connotations of happiness and joy, this can be reflected onto the pull quote used and creates more of a believable and well laid out composition. The artist name is also illuminated in yellow, this creates emphasises onto the artist and intrigue the audience.

The skyline used, is highlighted using the red strip across the top of the page. Using a different colour than the house colour on the front cover, makes the skyline stand out. The words are further emphasises by using a contrasting colour of white on red. The words ‘Now with 83% more new music than before!’, entices the reader, as the use of persuasive language used , hooks the reader in. This also attracts their target audience, as it claims to be featuring more music in the magazine , this intrigues the audience, because the target audience is of hard-core music fans, so this would attract them more and the magazine want to show that they have included more music, have included it.

The magazine, include free posters and listings of gigs, this hooks the reader in, as because the audience of ‘Kerrang!’ Are hard-core music fans, they would be interested in posters and gigs listed, so this adds to another point to attracting their target audience. The cover lines used, is a convention used on music magazines. The use of these, show what else is featured in the magazine. The typography is smaller than the masthead and lead article, as the magazine want the audience attention on the lead article and no the less important cover lines. The cover lines are in different colours. The name of the artist is in red which stand out among the page and links in with the skyline colour, it also suggests that the artists are important, and the words underneath are in black which suggest this information is less important.

The direct mode of address is inviting the reader in, this gives us clues about the type of magazine and relationship the magazine wants to have with its audience is that they want to make it seem personal and want to create the sense that the magazine has authority, as they know about the artist.

The style of writing used, appeals to their target audience of youth and males, as they use simplistic language when compared to ‘Q’ which is for a different audience. The language also includes buzz words, e.g. ‘awesome’ ‘win!’ and ‘plus’, this hooks the reader in and shows us, that using simplistic and persuasive language shows that it is more targeted for teenagers and early 20s. The cover lines are also featured in a text box to create a further feel of youthfulness.

The barcode and price line, is included in every music magazine is a convention, and is conventionally located at the bottom right hand corner.