Analysis of Kerrang!March 2007 – Within Temptation Edition

The Kerrang! MagazineThe Kerrang magazine originally started out, as a one-time supplement of the “Sounds” newspaper, which was designed to report on the “New Wave of British Heavy Metal”, in 1981. Initially the publication only came out monthly, then came once every fortnight, it wasn’t until 1987 that it came weekly as we know it nowadays. In the early 2000s Kerrang was named the best-selling British music magazine. The current editor is James McMahon, who was formally the feature editor on NME magazine.Kerrang has a niche target audience who are:

•Aged 15+ •Both genders•Mainly people who enjoy listening to rock/metal/punk.

Link to homepage of Kerrang: http://www.kerrang.com/

Front Cover:Header: On this issue are names of other bands of this particular genre, this draws more readers in as if “Within Temptation” wasn’t what they fancy reading there are all these other bands to read instead, which might be more pleasing for them. The footer was also in this style.

Barcode/Price/Date/Issue No: This magazine has followed the conventions of having the barcode/... in the bottom right hand corner, as it helps the buyers as they will always look in the same spot for this information.

Main Image: This edition has the rock band “Within Temptation” on it’s front cover, as she is female she might appeal to the female audience more, as they can relate to her. Her clothing fits in with the genre, as fishnet tights are probably associated with this genre. Conventionally her eyes are looking at us, which is direct address to the readers, inviting them to read her article. Her posture could suggest that she is coming out from hiding as they are the apparent “new superstars!”so that links with the coverline. Also using a well known band brings in the band’s fan-base resulting in more profit for the magazine and publicity.

Masthead: It is in the same place as all the other issues, central and big and bold to capture the buyers attention. Following the magazine conventions the masthead here is the biggest text on this cover giving it importance. Although her head is blocking half of the name out, but using the same font style, will ensure that the target audience will recognise it either way. The name Kerrang also fits with the genre as it is the sound given off when playing a power chord on a electric guitar.

Coverlines: Conventionally around the central picture, it just gives an insight to what is included inside. Majority of them are based on an artist of this genre, which pulls in more readers as their favourite might be featured. Also there is a freebie of a magazine which is typical for the majority of music magazines.

House-style: On this issue the colours used are black/white/gold/red. Even the main image matches this, the font style as well is the same throughout. This is a convention of all magazines and makes them look more professional. These colours are also neutral, to ensure that this is a magazine designed for both genders.

Background: The background on this issue is very plain, this helps empathise the central image of her, so she is the main focus point when buyers look at this cover.

Main Coverline: On this issue it is mainly the name of the band, with a little tag branding them as the “new superstars” this is beneficial for the band as if they are “new on the scene” this magazine will ensure that readers should look out for them more. The text is big/bold and is the 2nd biggest text on the cover, attracts the audience – this is a convention of the majority of music magazines.

Mode of Address: As the target audience for this magazine includes young adults, the language is informal but direct to the readers to ensure that they could buy it, it also links in with the main image as she has direct address to the readers through her eyes.

Subscription: Is in the bottom left hand corner, out of the way but still noticeable for readers if they are interested.

Editorial: Is in the top left hand corner, quite small compared to the rest of the text on this page. This shows it doesn’t have a great significance, and probably hasn’t got much relations to the other articles in this edition. A particular convention has been used here with using an image of the editor embedded somewhere within their little note.

Contents Page: House style: Is the same as the front cover (convention), to keep the professionalism of the magazine. The colours are white/black/gold/red, the red hasn’t been used heavily on this page, but just in the maroon background as well as the black. Gold has been used on the titles of the other articles in this issue, whilst the majority of the other text is white, this keeps it more interesting and splits the page up. The style of the fonts is the same as well from the front cover, giving the words “Contents” and “This Week” big/bold letters makes it draw focus from the readers onto it, so it makes the reader’s acknowledge what other articles are involved in this issue, so they are more likely to read it.

Images: The main one is the biggest aspect of this page, it is of another artist in hope that the magazine will sell more if it branches out to different fan bases, this artist has a grunt look on his face which links in with the genre of this magazine. The other pictures are off other artists, but are a lot smaller. All the images on this page are of male artists (exclude the editor), which suggests that using a female on the cover means they have to get the male audience in by using a lot of male artists. They also have a little caption under the picture briefly saying some aspect of the picture and the page number to find the article on.

Structure: Mainly lead by images, is in the form of rule of thirds making it conventional. Having the text split up makes the page look more interesting, rather than a dull read you’d expect elsewhere.

Mode of Address: On this page is direct but informal to make it again less boring to read, using the words like “Doggy” doesn’t seem like Standard English. This helps drive the magazine away from being a newspaper and keeps the entertaining aspect. Having direct address ensures that the audience are involved in the magazine and will want to buy another after, they feel like they are part of the musical fan base of Kerrang.

Double Page Article: Tag: The band’s name is conventionally put in the top right corner of the page, in the style of paper being ripped out of a notepad, to give it a rough edge.

Pull Quote: A quote pulled from the article, so the readers get a little teaser of what to expect in the article. Putting it by the image highlights it is her own words, and using bigger lettering on some of the words pulls the focus on them, like highlighting “Evanescence” a well known Goth rock band, lead by a female singer will instantly draw the readers to read this article.

Byline/Picture Credit: Conventionally the smallest text on this article, making it hardly noticeable to the readers, mimicking it’s unimportance compared to the rest of the article.

Standfirst: Under the title of the article, it simply summaries some aspect of the artist, in this article it is introducing them to the readers who haven’t heard about them as well as a brief summary of what to expect from them. Is in the bottom left hand corner, out of the way but still noticeable for readers if they are interested.

Main Image: Is from the same photo-shoot as the front cover, with the same props and clothing. Typical feature of a double page article is having the whole image taking up one page of the article. She seems very relaxed, which could reflect that the band are relaxed about their current status, as this relates back to the Standfirst saying they aren’t going “shout about it” in their raise to fame. She isn’t looking direct at the camera, which gives a sense to read the article to get more involved in this article.

House-style: Again is the same as the front cover and the contents page except they haven’t got any reference to gold on this page just red/black/white. The title font is the same as the one used on the front cover for their name, to show that this is article hinted at on the front cover. The majority of the red is coming from her red chair, helping to split up the page.

Drop Capital: Challenged convention where the article hasn’t used an enlarge letter to start of the article, but rather a bold heading, which splits up the different parts of the article.

Mode of Address: Is direct as using big lettering for the title is in your face making you read it. The language will have formality to it as it is an article but it still be slightly informal as well, so the readers can relate to it, as well as find it interesting.