Analysis of Kerrang -Task 2Poonam ParmarCandidate number: 1786

Background• Produced by the company-Bauer Media Group• Editor of Kerrang- James McMahon

• First published on June 6,1981 which was a one off supplement in the sounds newspaper.

• Launched monthly magazine its high demand meant it could be printed off eventually weekly.

• During the 1980s and early 1990s the magazine placed many thrash metal acts on the cover (like Motley Crue, Slayer, Bon Jovi) readers often criticise the magazine for repeating this process every time a new musical trend becomes popular.

• Kerrang!’s popularity rose again with the hiring of editor Paul Rees at the turn of the millennium.

• One survey showed that 83% of readers of Kerrang! bought an album as a direct result of an article in their magazine. This shows just how much of an effect advertising has on the demographic audience.

Front Cover

Masthead-“KERRANG!” is clearly shown to the buyers of this particular magazine which is stretched out at the top of this publication- which takes up almost a fifth of the page and uses a dramatic font style http://www.dafont.com/ almost like broken glass shattered which suggests rebellion and anger which can be associated with Rock. The exclamation mark chosen at the end of the masthead gives the front cover bit more edge and a dramatic effect to stress the title.

Inserts-By placing inserts from inside the magazine on the front cover gives the reader more of an indication of what’s inside the magazine also by ‘poster special’ suggests that the audience are going to get something free.

The Main Cover line-by using ‘PARAMORE’ capitalized emphasises the bands name and how important this is, however the line being sans serif brings out a strong and heavy message being portrayed with the use of black which connotes negativity, rather than a more sophisticated feel that you would associate with more feminine music magazines even though there is a female placed directly in front of the page which avoids the stereotype of women.

The sell lines/cover lines- The main sell line anchors the main image ‘I have nothing left to prove’ this suggests that Hayley has reached her destination in music and has finally done what she can. Again with the capitalised font giving throughout the cover proposes a strong message of importance with the typography being sans serif.

Header-indicates what’s in the magazine; by using ‘win!’ connotes a message to audiences of succession and receiving some sort of prize, a competition draws audiences in and allows them to be interested in purchasing the magazine.

Footer- The footer is almost represented as a banner which is a strip running along the bottom of this magazine. The footer simply lists other bands/artists that will feature in the magazine, the use of the word “Plus” at the beginning of the footer suggests there’s will be a lot going on in the magazine.

Use of flash- by using an auto shape with images of a guitar gives a fun feel to the magazine. The use of the ‘Huge 7-day rock guide’ immediately draws the readers inside as it’s something exciting, by stating that it’s a 7-day guide indicates that Kerrang wants you to purchase this magazine every day to see what sort of guide this is.

Background-the background and overall layout of Kerrang is very bland with and plain with, a white back drop to allow the audiences gaze to be on her and the main cover lines, which could give an impression of how women like to be neat and tidy in what they do this gives a stereotypical view of how readers/society could look at this magazine front cover.

Barcodes. Dates. Issue. Price-by using the barcode, date and price in the right hand side of the magazine it’s relatively small which allows the audience to almost forget it and are not focused on that to ensure that the attraction is the main image and masthead. It is an essential elements typical on a magazine in order to sell copies.

Colours-by using 3 main colours throughout this music magazine gives it a more stylised, cohesive structure to the magazine. The colour whites, blacks and yellow connote a message that it’s a new and original yet sticks to there theme of being a rock magazine, by using the colour yellow symbolises a different approach to Kerrang to target a more wider range of people. The yellow gives the front cover a perseverance of new life so in this case Hayley is embracing what she done to get to this stage. By contrasting the image with white gives the magazine a more different approach to what Kerrang normally like to follow.

Main Image-The main image is a mid shot of the lead singer of Paramore which is clearly visible on the left third of Hayley Williams, she has tilted her head slightly which suggests a more feminine approach even though she has interests of a more male originated genre-rock even though she is women, this challenges the stereotype of Hayley being a typical women. Hayley is wearing a mellow yellow coloured t-shirt with the word ‘security’ printed on top the t-shirt is quite casual which denotes that she is still very feminine, the lexis suggests the state of being free from danger or threat with music in this sense. Her eye contact is directly looking at the camera which shows her confidence and shows the connection she wants to make with the viewers.

Rule of thirds- The layout observes the rule of thirds to add interest to the target audience.The cover is image dominated and feels very busy and almost cluttered on the left third of the magazine, which could suggest a unconventional readership of rock magazines and none conformists who break the rules the intersections enables a viewer to directly look at those points. Here you can see that face is the main attraction of Hayley William the magazine, readers are attracted to this as she is a female interest to men.

Language- The use of written language on the front cover is very direct and commanding ensuring that the reader does what the magazine wants to entice them in. For example, ‘answer your questions’ this shows that you need to read what you have wrote.

Contents Page

Masthead-The masthead has been consistent throughout the magazine which suggests the unified style/theme to the magazine and does not need to be changed as Kerrang targets the audience who read there publication entirely. By using the same big, shattered glass lettering advocates that they are powerful, strong and determined in there music.

Colours-The colours have been consistence and themed which allows the ‘Kerrang’ to stand out with those particular colours its named for. Yellow=very effective for attracting attention is energetic which is what this magazine is portraying.White= which connotes new beginning of Hayley enthusiasm and a purpose to create new music.Black can have a denotation of being bold and to emphasise the colour on the page however the connation of using black throughout the magazine could be to imply a mystery but also that rock music tends to be quite gothic. Although using these consistent colour Kerrang have stuck to very dim, low key colours to bring this sort of impact of how night life, gigs and clubs would be like.

Rule of thirds-has been used again here where Kerrang have followed the typical conventions of a music magazine to allow the attraction of the gaze to fall on to these hotspots of the magazine. For example the first box draws attention to the photograph insert and the main background image behind.

Main Image-is a photograph at an medium close up , of what looks like some band members waiting to be autographed this has taken up one whole page of the contents to show to the readers that this is what the main focus is, its to get them intrigued in. The staging of the background in the image represents a gig or concert of this band which implies that they travel a lot in order to perform.

Background, Layout & Composition -The background image and overall style is very cluttered on the contents page compared to the front cover, which shows that a lot is going on in this magazine and that it is busy. By splitting the page into two separate sections; main image at the top and the contents at the bottom gives it a different method which possibly gain interest some readers.

Editors Note-The editors note on the let third of the magazine helps the readers feel more involved and engaged in what's happening by the use of 2nd person using words such as ‘we’ in the introduction acknowledges the audience to feel connected. Also the editor has hand drawn her signature (serif) which shows the contrast between the blocked lettering that.

Subscription box-is being used to allow audiences to be a member of the Kerrang club and be part of all news, gossips, action etc. By adding the contact details it promotes forward that you should ring them to get people involved, also the price is indicated so that you are getting false gimmicks.

Date& issue number-to show the cover date and number.

By-line is used to indicate who the images and text is written by.The contents page is spilt up into 5 columns which can be confusing and look chaotic, however Kerrang have chosen to represent it in this way to show the busy lifestyle Kerrang music play.

Sub Heading blocked out into black sub-sections-by using the blocked out background and a bold type on to draws attention to the sub-section.

Page Numbers & Brief summary-this allows the readers to navigate through the magazine and find what they need quickly and effectively which increases the sales of the magazine if its quick and easy for the reader.

Kerrang have chosen to pull out ‘Alice in chains’ and ‘August Burns Red’ and place those 2 bands at the top of the page away from the other revenant news below, this suggests that they are important to this contents page and they may be the band who are playing.

Footer/Banner-Being used at the top to show the importance of the magazine and frames the page.

‘Bring me to the horizon’ is a cover line used here targeted at the audience. By using ‘horizon’ which is a defined meaning ‘a line at which the earth’s surface and the sky appear to meet.The circular boundary of the part of the earths surface visible from a particular point, ignoring irregularities and obstructions.’ However Kerrang have used this lexis in this case to suggest they are above any level of music which reveals a connotation of higher authority, empowerment and confidence

Double Page Spread

By-Line- A by-line could have been used in this magazine to show who the photographer of this specific publication was whereas in the NME magazine they have. But has been used to indicate who the copy has been written by.

Sub Heading-Gives the a heading to a subsection of a particular piece of text which provides a short brief overview in what is involved. Here the sub heading is in a blue to emphasise the text underneath but also blue has connation's of landscape which is which links in with the background.

Background-The background is very dull, dark and can almost see a skyline in the near distant this suggests that the ‘Paramore’ are on tour somewhere whilst playing there music or a backdrop to allow the audience not to focus on the background and the image itself.

Text wrap-Is used on this double page spread to allow the band member in front which enables you- the audience is focus on him rather than the image, but also so it is easier to see. The way ‘Paramore’ is on a slant to and wrapped around the image suggests that Kerrang wants us to see his head.

Drop cap-a drop cap could have been used here in the sub heading to emphasise the importance of the article which would draw readers in.

Page Number- is one of the main key conventions usually on a magazine which helps the viewers find out the title name and what page number it is.

The double page spread has not been split up into columns however has been fully justified which allows all the words to be in portion and displays it better on the screen.

Copy-The copy is very basic and easily eligible to read with minimal formal language which suggests this magazine is colloquial and not hard to interpret which is suitable for people who lack in education.

Colours-The use of colour schemes on this page is very grey, dull and low key lighting is used, compared to front cover & contents page, which gives of an impression that Kerrang can alternate there images to fit the taste of the audience. The use of yellow again still is being presented to be very bright, bold and is adding to the page that they are a new band so listen to us.

Main Heading- ‘Paramore is main typography here which illustrates the band in this photograph by placing this here beside it gives new audiences indication of who this band is.

Anchor- ‘In semiology any caption or key elements that fixes the meaning of an image and directs the viewer toward a preferred reading.’ For example the main heading ‘Paramore’ on the left hand side of the page is a terminal area where most people wouldn’t look however it is there to relate to the main image and what the copy is about but also the bright yellow colour which is empathises the title.

Rule of thirds-Kerrang have followed the emblematic convention of a music magazine to allow the attraction of the audiences gaze to fall on to these hotspots of the magazine especially when this double page spread is dominantly image lead. For example on the right third this is focusing entirely on Hayley Williams as she the attraction to men being the only female who is associated with men which does straightaway draws attention to the photograph and it’s intersection points.

Main Image-This double page spread is very image based with only the band-Paramore. The fact that this is very image manipulated is to attract maybe a target audience who do not prefer to read large amounts of text, which could give a stereotypical point in the readership of Kerrang magazine are uneducated and are only interested in purely images.

Hayley Williams is the core focus here as she is almost segregated from her band as she is exposed to be in colour not in black & white compared to her band members and the overall all image. Kerrang may have chosen to do this as the target audience is predominantly males and this would suggest that she is portrayed as a sex object to entice men.

Hayley’s hair is bright orange with elements of blonde in, which may connote that she is fierce and ready to rock almost all the time-music is what she lives for, also the blonde in her hair could imply that she is female and sometimes blonde is stereotyped as being ‘dumb’ and to have ‘blonde moments’ as though she is placed in a male surroundings of rock has features of being feminine.

Audience & Institutions

Target Audience: The magazine appeals to a specific niche audience mainly males however some females to branch out Kerrang audiences. They range from 18-25 because it concerns topics and themes that are relevant to people who listen to and are interested by rock music and its background. With a stable income of ideally £100 weekly.

Attractions: Kerrang readers are attracted to gigs, concerts and a outgoing lifestyle that revolves around music.

Musical Interests/favourite

artists: Outgoing, motivated to

listen and enjoy company with

friends.

Cost of magazine: This magazine would cost

£4.95

Social Class: The social class of Kerrang would

have quite a high income and would be middle

class who have disposable income.

House Style/Ethos‘A company's preferred manner of presentation and layout of written material’The ethos & house style of Kerrang is represented through the use of bold colour, image lead magazine and layout for instance

Yellow: which attracts attention, is bright and fresh

White: which helps connote an image of purity and new music, also placed as a backdrop allows us to focus on the images & copy.

Black: which helps reinforce the idea of rock music being mysterious and quite dull.

The colours throughout the magazine portrays the overall image of Kerrang music and what they want to reveal throughout the design, composition and images.

Analysis of Written Article • The article of Kerrang talks about how the Paramore became as a

band and how they are preparing the set for there next big video.• The text talks about how they formed to become unison and how

they met. Although their blend of emo-pop and slick, anthemic rock & roll eventually made them stars. Paramore began humbly enough in Franklin, where Hayley Williams met brothers Josh and Zac Farro after moving to town from Mississippi.

• The following summer saw the release of the band's sophomore album, Riot!, which was recorded alongside producer David Bendeth. This is one of the songs in the album.

• The style of the article is very informal with some use of slang which suggests that they are targeting a specific audience, which could relate to a stereotype of how rock viewers are uneducated this is revealed from the double page spread when using image based pages. The article is written in one short column with of approx100-120 words which indicates that it will not dis-interest the reader.

• The main heading/headline is quite dramatic with the use of bold chunky handwriting which gives an impression that it’s not hand written and Sans-serif font. The use of this is that it wants to show the importance of the article and make sure audiences are drawn to it.