Contents page analysis, Kerrang

The contents page of 'Kerrang' magazine is layed out clearly, and in quite an ordered manner.

The background colour is dark, which makes the text stand out more, ans makes the page overall look more bold and eyecatching.

The 'Contents' font is scractchy, and ties in with the rock theme of the magazine and makes it look more interesting, and bold.

There are three images at the top of the page, which consist of mid shots and a long shot. They link to page numbers, which makes it easier for the reader to locate certain pages. The pictures also stand out, in two of them the people are looking directly at the camera, which make sthe reader feel more invloved, becaus ethey almost jump out the page.

There is another picture that is a mid shot in the left hand corner, and it is of a band member from 'Funeral of a friend'. He is looking directly at the camera, so it looks as though he is looking at you and gesturing at you, which makes you feel more involved. It also adds a sense of fun to the magaizne, and makes it more interesting. Readers can recognise what the picture is about, and because the page number is directly above it, they can locate it quickly.

There is a special offer at the bottom of the page which advertises Kerrang magazine and informs the reader that they can get the magazine chaply delivered to them, and makes the reader think about the offer and consider it.

Overall i think that this contents page is quite bold and clear, and it isnt too cluttered, so it makes it easier to locate pages that are relevant tp the reader. It is aimed at people who enjoy rock music, and the colour scheme, fonts and photos portray this.

Contents page analysis, Mixmag

The contents page of 'Mixmag' is fairly simple, and clear to understand.
On the front page there is a medium shot of a girl in the left corner, which takes up most of the space on the page, and draws your eyes to that first. There is also another picture in the right hand corner of David Guetta, this is a medium shot, but is alot smaller than the other picture, therefore it doesnt immediately catch your eye.

The page numbers on the two pictures are fairly large, and stand out, which makes it easier to find what you are looking for, and therfore more likely to buy the magazine again.
The background colour is black, and the text is in white, which makes it all stand out, and the colours compliment each other. There is also yelllow text, which stands out against the black background.

There is a banner at the bottom of the contents page which offers a 'free cd' and this makes people more interested because they could win something, and it makes it look as though the magazine is worth its money.

Text such as 'VIP' Aand 'Features' are in bold, which again makes them stand out, and makes the reader focus on the information that follows them because it seems important. They also have sub-headings in bold, which lets the reader know what the mini paragrahs are about, and enables them to find the page that they are looking for faster.

On the second page of the contents page there are more pictures which are bright and colourful and stand out. It makes the page look more interesting and busy. All the images are together on the right hand side, and this makes it easier to focus, and the fact that the page numbers link with the photos enavles the reader to find what they are looking for faster, because they can relate it with the photos.

All the subheadings continue in white against a black background, which makes it look more sophisticated. They are underlined and bold, and so are clear to understand means that pages are easier to locate, which i feel is important.

I really like the layout of this contents page because i feel that it is easy, and clear to understand, and enables people to find what they are looking for. The pictures really stand out, and i really like the colour scheme because it is bold, and looks flashy. I think that the font and the text colour really compliment the page, and makes it look more expensive, and worth the money.

Internet research, different genres of music magazines

I found magazines that covered music genres such as:

• Pop


• Rock


• R&B


• Club


• DJ


• Indie


• Grime


• Acoustic

Textual analysis 2- Q magazine

This magazine is very eyecatching, and i think that if i saw it in a shop i would stop and buy it, simply because the front page looks so bold and interesting. The colours are quite classy, and stand out, they all compliment each other, and then the red Q in the top left hand corner almost jumps out the page because it is bright and stands out, this is also ths masthead, and usually the first thing you see when you look at the magazine.

Bands such as 'U2', 'Oasis' and 'The Stone Roses' have a red 'Exclusive' by them to push the story, and sell the magazine. These are indicated wth blue arrows, which again makes them stand out and draws your attention to them. It also makes you think that the magazine is worth its money because its exclusive, and only in that magazine.

'Wicked, Wicked' is bigger than the rest of the byline to make it look more dangerous and also sexually relating to the image of Lily Allen on the front page with two panthers. The image is a long shot, and uses simple colours so that it isnt too overpowering, and looks more expensive. Lily Allen in topless and facing away, and this draws men in, and 'Sexy Beast' that is by it turns more attention to the picture, and it could show that Lily Allen has a wild side, making people want to buy it to read about her.

The price is very small and hidden in the right bottom hand corner, generally because it is £3.90, which is quite expensive for a magazine. This means that people are more likely to buy it because they havt looked at the price, because it isnt right there in your face.

'25' stands out, and is in a circle, this is done to draw attention to the fact that you are getting alot for your money, and makes it seem like there is alot of conten, therfore worth buying.

Audience Questionnaire

1. Gender:
[] Male
[] Female

2. Age:
[] 10-13
[] 14-17
[] 17-20
[] Other Pease state ........

3. Current Education:
[] School
[] College
[] University
[] Work
[] Other

4. Favourite Genre of music
[] Rock
[] Pop
[] RnB
[] Classical
[] Country
[] Heavy Metal
[] Other (Please state)..........................

5. Would you prefer the magazine to be on one genre of music, or feature a different rage of genres?
[] Just one genre (please state) ................
[] A different range of genres
[] Don't Mind

6. Whats you favourite music magazine?
[] Kerrang
[] Q
[] Top Of The Pops
[] Mojo
[] Rock sound
[] Metal hammer
[] NME
[]Other (Please state) ..........................

7. Whats your prefered colour scheme?
[] Black and Purple
[] Black and Pink
[] Different shades of blue
[] Pink and Purple
[] Red and black
[] Red and white
[] Other (Please State) ...................................

8. Would you prefer more pictures or more text?
[] Pictures
[] Text
[] Both, equally balanced

9. How much would you be willing to pay?
[] £1.50
[] £1.80
[] £2.00
[] More
[] Less

10. How often would you buy a music magazine?
[] Never
[] Very rarely
[] Once a month
[] Once a week
[] Other (Please State) .........................

11. Would you prefer: (tick two)
[] Information on gigs and tours
[] Latest gossip on music/bands
[] Competitions
[] Reviews on albums and gigs

Thankyou :)

Textual analysis 1- Kerrang magazine

I have analysed and examined this Kerrang magazine, and explored the different types of genres and styles that a magazine can contain. The magazine has a masthead which is 'Kerrang' (the name of the magazine) and this uses onomatopeia because the word kerrang sounds like an electric guitar sound, which associates the magazine with loud music, also the way that 'Kerrang' is cracking like glass suggests that the magazine is about loud music. The masthead is eye catching, and bold. The price shows that it is on special offer, which draws people in.

The price is positioned just below the masthead, so that it is clear and visible to see, and makes people think that the magazine is even more worth getting because its on offer and therefore makes it seem more appealing. The Strapline is individual to the magazine, and shows the people looking at it what the magazine includes. For example it says "WIN! A SIGNED LED ZEPPELIN GUITAR" this draws people in because they could win something, and makes them think that the magazine is more unique, and therefore worth buying. The Cover lines are bold, and stand out, and the main cover line is "GUNS N'ROSES CHINESE DEMOCRACY:IT'S HERE" and this looks as though it is the main story, and that alot of people would be excited and interested about it. This also draws people in because it is so bold, it looks important so makes them more liukely to stop and read it, and hopefully buy it if it interests them.

The image is of Axl Rose and is a medium close up. It almost looks as though he is performing to you, and stands out, almost jumps out the page. It makes the magazine look more appealing and stand out more because the artist is right there in your face. The target audience looks as though it is teenagers that are intereseted in rock music, and want to hear about their favourite bands, enter competitions and generally read about rock music. The Brand identity is 'Kerrang'.

Starting my music magazine

10 Weeks in total

Week 1-

• Start Textual analysis
• Update Blog

Week 2-

• Textual analysis
• Questionnaire, audience feedback
  

Week 3-

• Internet and audience research
• Treatment sheet
• Colour and Font

Week 4-

• Draft Layouts
• Photoshoot
  

Week 5-

• More detailed drafts
• Concentrate on structure and layout
  

Week 6-

• Constructing Page, front cover
• Looking at different designs and styles

Week 7-

• Constructing Page
• Contents Page
• Reviewing questionnaire

Week 8-

• Constructing Page
• Double Page spread
• Reviewing questionnaire
  

Week 9-

• Evaluation
  

Week 10-

• Evaluation