Analysing Front Covers Of Rock Magazines

Isaac Marsh

Some of the masthead for the Kerrang magazine is being covered up by the key signifier suggesting that the magazine is well known and that the reader will be able to recognise that it’s a Kerrang magazine. The Kerrang masthead had black font and white background to make it stand out more because white and black are contrasting colours. The text has cracks in it to make it stand out more and give the masthead more emphasis/power.

The key signifier for the magazine is using direct address to grab the consumers attention. The image is using superimposition over the masthead suggesting that the band is the main focus point of getting consumers attention with it taking a good majority of the magazine cover. Since the band (Foo fighters) is taking up most of the cover they will be a well known band (mainstream). The front band member is the singer and is the main focus because he is in front of his other band members.

Anchorage text for the main signifier this is so the consumer knows who the band is and what is going to be about them inside the magazine.

“Free” is a buzz word to grab the readers attention and encourage the consumer to buy it.

The house colours for the magazine are red, yellow, white and black. The white and black contrast each other to make the text/images stand out.

The key signifier is using superimposition over the logo which shows that the magazine is confident that consumer will be able to recognise the magazine meaning its a well know music magazine. The logo is red and white to make it stand out to the rest of the magazine so its the first part of the magazine the consumer looks at.

This is the anchorage text for the main key signifier so the reader knows who the band is and tells the reader what the main article inside is going to be.

The word “Exclusive” is a puff so it helps influence the consumer to buy it.

The main signifier takes up almost all of the magazine cover because The Prodigy are a well known band (mainstream) so people will recognise the band and people will get the magazine since they like the band. With the main signifier screaming into a megaphone its suggesting that the ground is cracking to show the power of his voice. This will intrigue the consumer so they will want to find out more so they will buy the magazine.

The house colours for the magazine is grey, red, white and black.

The Masthead is only being partially being covered up suggesting that the magazine isn’t that well known and they need to show the name of the magazine so consumer knows what its called. The New Musical Express masthead is white to make it stand out because its on a blue background.

The key signifier for the magazine is using direct address by looking into the camera so the audience thinks he's looking at them this grabs the audiences attention. The main image is the lead singer from Muse which is a very mainstream band suggesting this magazine is aimed at a mainstream audience. The text is not covering his face so the consumer can easily identify him.

Anchorage text for the main signifier so you know that it’s a band member from the band Muse and what the article is going to be about.

The house colours for the magazine are red and white.