1. Analysing A Music Magazine In order to ensure my music magazine follows conventions, I will analyse a pre-existing magazine the same genre as mine will be. I will therefore analyse ‘Kerrang!’ magazine. I will analyse the front cover, contents page and double page spread of the magazines, which come from three separate issues of the magazine.

2. The Title of the magazine is distinctive and unique to the magazine. The font is very bold and it stands out greatly. The white block colour contrasts with the other colours on the cover. The subject of the photo looks distinctive and fits with the target demographics of the magazine. The man is looking straight at the camera, so there is an element of eye contact, however the fact that half his face is covered by his hand makes him seem insecure or vulnerable, which contrasts with his body art and general image. The magazine is offering 15% off at a clothing place, which suggests the type of people the magazine is appealing to, as the clothing line is alternative and not mainstream. The two secondary artists featured also seem to be genre specific, and would appeal to a readership that likes different, non-mainstream music.

3. The claim that the magazine contains the ‘Most revealing interview ever’ attracts attention and gives the magazine exclusivity over other competing magazines. The claim of having ‘The UK’s Biggest Gig Guide’ would attract many people to the magazine as gigs appeal to people, and music fans would be interested to know what is in the future, so would be more likely to pick up the magazine. The language of the magazine cover is informal and colloquial, which would suggest a young readership and a light-hearted approach. The look of the man is very genre specific and suggests the readers are used to this type of personality.

4. Although my target readers will be alternative and the magazine will be aimed at people similar to the target demographics of ‘Kerrang!’ magazine, I don’t think my magazine will be as genre specific as the front cover analysed. This is because I feel some of the people I am aiming to attract will be put off by some of the featured artists of the magazine and the pictures in it. I think my magazine will be more mainstream, and possibly aimed at an audience slightly younger than ‘Kerrang!’s. This does not however mean that I will not take inspiration from the cover, as the font and unique style of it appeals to me, and I will aim to have a similar, but individual, brand indetity.

5. This double page spread features a central image of six mean in what appears to be a cathedral. The men look quite old, compared to the target readership of ‘Kerrang!’ magazine, but this could mean that they are the type of people the reader aspires to be. The central focus in this photo is the man with sunglasses on. The sunglasses add to the mystery of him, however they make him less relatable than the men on his left. The people on the right however do not seem engaging either. I would not say this picture is inviting or would encourage the reader to look further. The main body of text in this double page spread is in five short columns spread across the pages. This is because the picture takes up most of the space, so the focus of the article seems more attractive than the content. The writing is in a white band, which prevents any difficulties in reading it with the photo as the background.

6. The double page spread does not appeal to me, and I think there is too much focus on the picture over the content. I dont think I will make the basis of my double page spread one picture, I think I will instead incorporate multiple pictures to make the pages more appealing than I found this one.

7. The theme of the contents page is white, yellow and black. These colours stand out and aren’t gender specific, which could make the magazine appeal to both sexes. The page listings are very conventional. The photos in the contents look rough and not set up, which adds to the edgy effect of the magazine, and makes it appear as if it was just thrown together, which would appeal to the target readership.

8. The contents page follows conventions. The rough theme from the font in the front cover is duplicated in the contents, and although the contents page is standard, it looks original as well, from the style of pictures used and the colour scheme. I like the simplicity of this contents page and I don’t think its too stimulating or too plain, I think the combination is just right.