This is an issue of Kerrang! magaazine from March 2004. I will be analyzing this indie/rock genre magazine for my coursework.
Colour
The colour scheme of this magazine is mainly black white, yellow and pink. The black and white aspect of the colour are both affective in making the magazine immediately look like a rock genre as they are typically indie/rock colours. However the contrasting colours yellow and pink make the magazine look unique and unusual as they are not typical colorus used on an indie/rock magazine, they also due to their fun and brightness add youth to the magazine and therefore appeal perfectly for Kerrang!'s target audience of teens. The magazine is clearly for a unisex audience as a lot of black is used and pictures of men shown, yet the pink reinforces the fact this is also appealed at young girls. The masthead is black portraying a dark rock side to the magazine, yellow is used for the heading 'ICONS' which illuminates this main heading on the front cover enforcing it to be the first thing the reader will notice. This is an effective selling point in manipulating the audience to see what will attract them to read on. Further more, the pink colour is used for the smaller heading '25 rock stars who changed your world' then alternative colours are used for the heading below. This allows the magazine to look exciting, and therefore connotes the the buyer that if the content of the magazine is also exciting.
Design & Layout
A strapline is situated at the top of the front cover, a typical convention of a music magazine. This consists of a slogan giving an insight about an interview that is in the magazine and allows the reader to want to read more of the magazine due to this teaser. The actual masthead is printed in a font that looks like it has been smashed, this represents rebellion perfect in capturing the attention of their target audience of young indie/rock fans who will have stereotypically acted in a rebellious manor several times. The main image on the cover is lying on top of the masthead, covering it in some parts. This connotes that the magazine is well known and established so the fans and buyers will automatically know what the magazine is without having to clearly see the masthead, representing the idea that the magazine is successful and should be good. In the center of the page, the main heading is situated clearly grabbing the readers attention due to its position, allowing it to be the first thing the readers notice. There are pictures scattered around the page and filling the majority of it, this creates a hectic and busy page reflecting the lives of the target audience (young teens). Finally the main image is situated on top of all other images showing its importance, and highlighting the fact that in this edition of Kerrang! Billie Joel Armstrong is the main feature.
Images + Pose/Hairstyle/Make Up
The main image is of Billie Joel Armstrong filling the majority of the page to highlight his importance to this specific edition of Kerrang!, attracting a large indie/rock audience as his music is indie/rock and very successful. The image is a medium shot allowing his upper body to be on show, and also allowing his eye contact with the reader to be distinct as it is not to far away. Having eye contact with the reader is essential in establishing a relationship between the reader and the magazine and making them want to buy it. The expression on his face is serious portraying this indie/rock attitude yet again, in addition to his pose which consists of his hands held up by his head creating a quirky and unusual image. This pose allows his wrist tattoos to clearly show reinforcing the rebellious attitude portrayed in the masthead. His hair is black along with his eye make-up presenting a gothic/dark theme to the front page attracting a rock audience who may identify with this look, also the medium shot allows his black coloured hoody to be on show again adding to this indie/rock image. Several other images are used of other artists involved in the magazine making it look more exciting as oppose to lots of text on the front cover. The majority of the other images consists of rock artists with dark make up on reinforcing this rock/gothic theme. Mostly all other images are of artists and their faces yet there is one at the bottom of the page showing a band at a gig getting grabbed by their fans, this represents a hectic situation and chaos again, and also allows the buyer to relate to that image as they have probably been to gigs like that.
How Are The Words Used On The Cover
As usual the masthead is the largest writing so it stands out and the magazines is able to establish itself as Kerrang! magazine. The font appears as if it has been smashed creating a sense of rebellion to the page effective as a stereo-typical indie/rock music follower will relate to that. The main heading on the page is in the center and really stands out due to the bright colouring, this allows the words '25 rock stars who changed your world' to stand out and would effectively draw in an indie/rock audience as they would want to know who these rock stars are as some of them may be their favourite artists. There is also a bit of text saying 'and more....' with the use of ellipses there reader will be compelled to read due to the teasing aspect of this.
Language
The language on this cover is all simple which is good as it is not intimidating for the young target audience of Kerrang!. It also allows the text to be easily read and understandable and creates a pleasant easy read for buyers.
Overall Impression
I think that this front cover is very successful in attracting the target audience of young teens, through the colour scheme which adds excitement, the chaotic feel to the page due to lots of pictures and text scattered around and using a very popular indie/rock singer as the main image on the front page. The cover follows The text is easily read due to everyday language being used which creates a pleasant text to read. The business of the page connotes that the inside will have a large content to attractive to a buying audience, and the bright colouring would make this magazine stand out from others on the shelf. By using a very famous indie/rock artists Kerrang! are cleverly manipulating the audience to want to buy the magazine as they will want to read about him.
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