My Magazine Photos

‘NME’ & ‘Kerrang’ Cover analysis

NME on the whole follows typical magazine normalities but conversely does differ in some ways from those such as Kerrang. Kerrang aims at a more of a punk target audience and NME hosts a more varied target audience because the subject material of NME is much broader. Although NME isn’t an unknown magazine, one which it would be necessary to see the whole masthead for the magazine to be recognized, they have chosen to go against the mainstream view for the masthead to be behind the image. This is shown in the other magazine that I am choosing to analyse, Kerrang, as in this case the masthead is partially compromised by the image. The way NME have chosen to present their masthead is to ensure the name is in full view of the audience and easily seen. Although Kerrang have compromised the masthead they keep the masthead consistently in the middle across the whole width of the cover, this is to ensure the reader can easily recognise it.

With the two of the magazines having different target audiences, the colour schemes are different. With Kerrang it has an easily noticeable colour scheme of dark background colours, such as navy blue and black, contrasting to the bright splash of colour of the fonts that are yellow and white. This colour scheme ensures that it stands out and is easily read.

As I have stated earlier, both of the magazine covers follow basic magazine traits. This is as NME and Kerrang both advertise bands that the target audience would like. Also another aspect that you’d expect on music magazine front covers is posters.

‘NME’ & ‘Kerrang’ Contents analysis

The contents page of a magazine is a page to notify the reader of what the magazine has in the issue. In order to create a good contents page, it must be displayed well, therefore having a good layout suited to the magazine, and thus making it suited to the target audience. Other aspects of the contents page consist of it being aesthetically pleasing to the eye and easy to comprehend at a glance.

The contents page of Kerrang is separated into segments, with images covering most of the page, then having the information shown around them. This means the way the layout is the reader is instantaneously drawn to the images, allowing them to feel more involved within the magazine, and be more entertained. The colours that were used on the front cover, which were yellow, black and dark blue (navy) are also used in the contents page, thus giving the magazine a colour scheme. Two images stand out in particular, a large dark image, and a large white and yellow image. These colours contrast against the white background and each other, meaning the images stand out and catch the reader’s attention. This contrasts to NME where it has a more of a linear layout with a thin black line separating each piece of information. Although the way in which the page numbers are set out do not follow a linear layout as they’re scattered over the page in no order. A black and white colour scheme adds to the professional aspect of the magazine and makes it clear to understand.

The use of exclamation marks in the text of Kerrang embodies heavy music and the attitude of the reader. This is the indication of the style of the magazine through the contents.

Institutional data ‘Music Magazine’

The Magazine(NME)

Price/Cost	£2.20
Launch Date	1952
Frequency	Weekly
Target Market	Men 17-30
Circulation	56,284

The Reader

Social Class of A, B, C1	73%
Average Reader Age	25
Ratio of Male to Female Readers	73%/27%
Average Working Status	34% full time, 18% part time and 26% full time students: 93%
Amount of Readers That Own a Computer	93%
Amount Of Readers With Internet Access	96%
Amount of Issues Read	62% read at least 3 out of 4 issues
Reading Time	Almost half (49%) have been reading NME for at least 3 years
Length of Time to Read an Issue	84% think the magazine gives them what they want spending an average of 46 minutes reading each issue

Breakdown of cast, props, setting, location report for magazine

I will need a group of four teen boys to create a fictional boyband. They will need to be wearing a similar shade of clothing that's smart and aesthetically pleasing to the eye. I will also need a fictional artist with a guitar and a leather jacket for a rock look. Furthermore, the cast will include two girls with a vintage look that are appealing to the target audience. The location for the boyband will be somewhere low lit and outside. This will also be the place for the single rock look cast member. The two girls location will be somewhere bright with a plain background.

These are the initial layout ideas for the Contents and the Front Page