as media: foundation portfolio

 

 

 

 

 

Front Cover ​​

Layout - 

The layout of Kerrang magazine follows most forms and conventions of music magazines.

It is quite a cluttered layout with a  cover features such as Coverlines and images filling most of the space. The masthead fits the entire width of the page and is in the largest font on the page making it a noticeable feature. The look of the "shatter" in the masthead adds to the identity of the brand giving to its rock/edgy look this appeals to the male target audience. The publication also uses a fair amount of images and large fonts to accomplish the cluttered appearance and use all available space helping draw in the audience.

Whereas NME uses a more basic layout which helps to connote the publication's slightly more sophisticated nature - in both design and content. The masthead doesn't take up the whole page but still has good effect standing out, it is solid and bold bright red with a white outline. The main Coverline tends to be in the same red also helping with the brand identity. The reds continuous use adds to the brands identity and the simplicity of NME appeals to all target audiences (teens/young adults AND older adults).

 

Images - 

The Main Image in both magazines follow Forms and Conventions and takes up almost the whole page making it very eye catching the example editions feature Joe Strummer and Twenty Øne Pilots looking straight at the audience creating a personal interaction and bond with the consumer this will encourage people purchase magazines.

Images used on the front cover of Kerrang magazine reflect the genre tending to be simple photoshoot photo and use plain background featuring the artist/band edited to enhance their features to be as aesthetically pleasing as possible. The artists tend to be dressed in dark clothes and pulling either expressionless/miserable expressions this connotes the artists music and the lighting is artificial from above facing on the artists faces leaving shadows underneath. Occastional Props are used such as accessories like glasses for example in this issue.

Whereas, in NME the main image has a background (the artist stood in) a location this example being in the countryside possibly on a railway track this intrigues and leaves curiosity about the story with it. This is the difference being the variety of shots one tone backdrops or real life backgrounds more sophisticated. The fact that the images tend to be set outside this therefore means natural lighting is used. The artist is wearing dark clothing, this is similar to Kerrang's style and also has a emotionless/miserable facial expression. With magazines images artist body language is slightly leaning forward maybe to entice readers.

​

​

​

Fonts -

The fonts used on the front cover of NME are all very similar in the way that most titles are bold, use the colour scheme Red, White and Black and are easy to read (the occasion circle in yellow used to highlight important cover lines or special editions). I think that the simple font type is used to appeal to everyone as the as so basic and simple that it doesn't just appeal to one specific audience. The size and position of font conforms all forms and conventions of a music magazine being the main coverline and title being the biggest with smaller cover lines being smaller and around the side.

​

In much the same way, the fonts used on Kerrang magazine's front covers are mostly similar to each other.  The publications uses bold fonts also some are slightly italic. The magazine uses a edgy messy tear like textured shape, I believe they do this to bring their audience's attention to the most interesting topics and detract their focus from the other "less" important features. It follows normal music magazine size conventions but is very cluttered using different types of font positioning.

 

Colours - 

The colours used on the front covers of Kerrang magazine tend to be Black, White and Red occasionally yellow, these appeal to the male target audience yet again and are generally associated with rock. These are also mostly contrasting and are used to highlight making features more noticeable.

​

NME uses majority Red and White occasionally black or yellow or other colours (pastels on very occasion maybe to appeal to a female audience) so slightly different. This Is a simpler colour scheme using less main colours and also lighter colours maybe to reflect the lighter less heavier rock music.

 

Backgrounds - 

Kerrang and NME both tend to use the original main cover photograph as their backgrounds of the whole front cover doing nothing to the photos appearance just placing features on top of it.

However, Kerrang tends to use the previously talked about "edgy messy tear like textured" shape backgrounds ton coverlines etc to highlight them whereas on occasion NME uses block full circles for this same purpose. 

​

Features - 

Both NME and Kerrang magazine use all of the traditional forms and conventions and features of a front cover of a music magazine. Both magazines covers contain a Masthead, Cover lines, a Dateline, Barcode, Main image and Main cover line and the Left third. The only difference between the features of the two rock magazine covers is that NME has a selling line whilst Kerrang seises to have this feature - perhaps it wants to be seen as less professional formal media outlet than it's competitors. 

 

Style of language used -

I would describe NME magazine's use of language as equally grammatically precise and although uses basic language using + or "and more", but far more formal. there is no use of abbreviated words on their front page, this helps to maintain the publications appeal to older target audience. they also use a more sophisticated vocabulary such as "Revolutionary" "Punk Icon" instead of Kerrang's use of more teen words like "Mayhem", Puns such as "Crumb's and Roses" Informal Slang and catchy words such as "exclusive" this is to appeal to its teen audience.

 

 

 

 

 

 

​

​

Contents Page Analysis

 

Layout -

Both magazines have very similar contents pages there are more similarties than before on the front cover. Both publications have basic forms and conventions mentioned previously. Also Both have a Title which says Kerrang/NME "this week", both feature one larger photo about an artist and contents being divided up into sections such as "News" and "Features", each page number is bold and red, next to the page number is the name of the article followed by a description/"sneak peak" of information about the article.  

 

The only big differences are NME's contents text are based on the right, Kerrang's at the bottom. on the left's of the magazines NME has a band index side bar and Kerrang has a editors letter also overall NME uses few pictures and more text. whereas Kerrang's layout is very simplistic using few words and lots of pictures with numbers indicating to the pages instead.

 

Images -

Images used in both magazines are real-life shots of artists that are getting a bigger contents page space "mention" in the month's issue, they also both feature a front cover of each magazine usually with the subscription box.

In Kerrang magazine these photographs tend to be of a live performance nature (hair flicking, guitars) and also kerrang features a lot of smaller photos which are usually photographs of bands and artists posing similar to the front cover photos.

in NME these images were a lot more superficial and the artist/band is posing rather than performing this shows more about rock culture than the music produced.

 

Fonts -

It appears another similarity between the two magazines is their choice of font, Both using similar basic fonts  they had used on the front covers this maintain's a sense of unity through the magazine.

For Kerrang magazine, this meant a continued use of the bold bordered font that follows their front covers, Even using the Kerrang shattered effect on the titles to stick with the brands identity.

For NME, this meant a continuation of their use of simple bold font.

 

Colours -

The same colour scheme's that was used on the front covers continues into the content page. However, The only change is more black is used on these pages, with one other main colour and a secondary colour (in this case Kerrang's being mainly Black and Yellow with a splash of red, and NME's being majority Black and Red with minor yellow). I think this colour scheme is being used to subtly remind readers the page is important information and is more serious. 

​

Backgrounds -

Both magazines feature a plain white background that is used to display text and images on. although the pages do feature slightly different layouts. 

Both NME and Kerrang use block black backgrounds over titles but there is slight some variety of this being that NME uses the whole column row block and Kerrang only highlights the title, NME also uses shapes such as arrows and Kerrang sticks to block boxes.

​

Features - 

Both Kerrang and NME magazine use all the traditional features of a contents page each of the magazines have a title,subtitle,images,text,name of magazine, issue and page numbering.

​

Style of language used -

The style of language used on these contents pages are very similar to the language use on the magazine front covers. Kerrang magazine continues its use of abbreviations and slang language whilst NME maintains use of more sophisticated language and formal tone. 

​

​

​

​

Double Page Spread Analysis

​

General layout -

The layout of Kerrang magazine's double page spreads are usually as busy as their front covers sat they are. They contain lots images, lots of text, titles with some banners and labels that are used to fill the spread.

In contrast to this, NME double page spread contain more presence of emptiness and are overall structured and well played out. I think that this suits NME's style as it appeals to a more wider target audience.

In both spreads the image takes up at least one page worth of space.

 

Images - 

In both spreads the image takes up at least one page worth of space.

In Kerrang, the main image takes up the whole of the left hand page, following codes and conventions of most magazines. This picture is in black and white making it look classic and professional. The main image gives the reader an illustrated picture of what the article could be about, then underneath the article itself are smaller pictures. The smaller pictures also give a small insight into the article.

NME also uses only one main image per double page spread - occasionally accompanied by some smaller, relevant images on the opposing side of the spread, tucked into the text provided. 

 

Fonts - 

The fonts used in both magazines double page spreads are stayed the same to ensure that the magazines both appear structures and flow well.

​

In Kerrang the style that the title of the article is written is very interesting. Each letter is in the style of letter in a newspaper. But each letter is a different size, making it different and quirky. It also reflects the rebellious attitude that the magazine often portrays in other articles. The title of the article takes up more room than the picture and the actual article itself. This shows that the magazine is trying to grab the eye of a reader that is maybe just flicking through the magazine. The font of the text is large and easy to read, it keeps the same effect used on most ‘Kerrang’ front covers by making the lettering look grubby and dirty. Reflects the attitude of the band depicted and the magazine itself.

​

Colours - 

The colours used throughout Kerrang magazine's double page spread are bright therefore Black White and Yellow and occasionally red are used throughout the colours are we'll assciotsted with the Rock genre. It also changed depending on the issue colours vary

 

The colour scheme used on NME's double page spreads sticks miliartly to the colour scheme Red white and black occasional yellow

 

Backgrounds - 

Again, Backgrounds are similar to previous pages. Kerrang tends to favour White backgrounds and NME either uses the photograph as its background or a White background.

 

Features -

Both Kerrang and NME magazine use traditional features of a double page spread. The Double Page spreads consistently use clear titles, subtitling, image(s), Text, Page number.

 

Style of language used - 

The only difference is style of language is Kerrang is informal and more aimed at teens as previously spoke about whereas NME contains more sophisticated language and formal tone.

​

After this Genre Research i have discovered even though small the rock genre contains variations and difference and I also have enquired a more in depth knowledge on the Rock Genre.