Music Magazine Analysis

Kerrang Magazine

Introduction• UK based magazine devoted to rock music.• Published by Bauer Media Group.• First published on June 6th 1981 as a one-off supplement in the Sounds

newspaper.• It started off as a monthly publication, going to fortnightly and eventually in

1987 it went weekly. • Priced at £2.20.• Targeted at 14-21 year olds, interested in heavy metal/rock music• It is named after the sound made when play a power chord on an electric guitar.• Kerrang! Was initially devoted to the new wave of British heavy metal and the

rise of hard rock acts.• The original owner was United Newspapers who then sold it to EMAP in 1991

who then sold it to Bauer Media Group In 2008. • In the early 2000’s it became the best selling British music magazine.

Target Audience• Kerrang is aimed at a niche target audience.

• The target audience listen to the bands and artists that are shown in the magazine.

• Most of these bands and artists are within the rock and metal genres.

• This is shown through the images and information in the magazine, but also

through the font and colours. • A lot of capitals are used to give the

text a violent effect – similar to the violent stereotypes given to metal music and it’s fans.• The colours black and red are often used, which are colours associated with rock music.

Masthead

• The masthead is in all capitals to make it bold and almost aggressive – fitting with the theme of rock and metal music.

• The font is also made to look cracked – linking to the idea that the word ‘Kerrang’ is meant to sound like the onomatopoeic thrashing sound of a guitar.

• It also creates an easily recognisable house style that sets Kerrang apart from other alternative music magazine such as NME and Q.

The Barcode• The barcode is usually situated at the bottom right-hand corner of the magazines front cover.• Underneath the barcode is the issue number, which is useful to those who collect the magazine.• There is also the price, which is currently £2.20 per issue, and the magazine is published weekly.• The date is also situated under the barcode which is useful as it makes it easy to identify when the issue was released and when the next issue will be released.• Also situated under the barcode is the Kerrang website address, which is useful as it

allows people to easily get in contact with them and also provides a form of promotion for the company.

Main Cover Image• The cover image nearly always takes up the whole cover of the magazine to

show that it is the topic of the main article inside.• Even if the band is unknown to the viewer, the cover line will usually confirm

who they are by giving a description of the story inside.• The clothing of the bands on the front cover of Kerrang are not usually

‘different’, and are most commonly representative of a casual fashion style.• However, sometimes an extreme fashion style can be expressed on the front

cover, most typically when covering bands with gothic aspects who choose to wear make up and dress to express their genre.

• The cover images are usually posed either in a fun way or in a serious, professional way, depending on the band and their attitudes towards music.

• The lead singer/frontman of the band is often situated at the front of the image although in some cases another member is, especially when the lead singer is not the most famous.

Mode of Address• Nearly all text written in capitalised white font ‘AMAZING’ the way the

editor uses direct informal language to help the magazine stand out from others like it and to connect with the reader

• A lot of colloquial and slang terms are use – suggesting the magazine is suited towards a younger audience and that Kerrang try to connect with them.

• The layout of the magazine is easy to look at to and easy to follow as there is lots of subheadings that help in guiding the reader round the magazine.

• Dark colours such as red and black are used on main bodies of text and the same colours have been used for page numbers, connoting anger/danger and aggression

• Black is also quite a moody colour, which suggest s a predominantly male audience.