analysis of three music magazine covers: Q, KERRANG and UNCUT

1. Magazine analysis:
Covers
Analysis of the covers of three magazines:
Q, KERRANG and UNCUT

2. Logo(1)
Q
Special
edition(9)
Slogan(2)
Pull quotes(3)
Cover lines(8)
Main cover
line(4)
Barcode, date
issue
number(5)
Main image(6)
Colour
scheme and
style(7)

3. 1.
2.
3.
4.
Logo is large, easily noticed and distinguishable. It’s not obvious what the
genre is just by the logo. Bold single letter, stands out in strong contrast from
the red background. Single letter ‘Q’ derived from ‘cue the music.’ Being in
the background suggests it is already a successfully established magazine
and requires minimal characteristics to be recognised.
Slogan small compared to logo, just underneath it so as not to draw
attention from main part of the magazine but still easily found. Being in the
background suggests it is already a successfully established magazine and
requires minimal characteristics to be recognised. Only showing part of the
slogan makes the reader engage as they have to think about what it could be
to arrive at ‘discover great music’
Pull quotes are used to show that an interview is within, without using the
word interview and gives reliability to this promise as it is a quote from the
interview. It is clearly not the main focus as everything around it is much
bigger and more colourful. This is because the magazine is designed to grab
the readers attention, then give them a little more information so that they
buy the magazine.
4) Main cover line is large and the same red as in their house style- except
the last three words to make them stand out more. This connoted a more
established connection between the band and the magazine- seemingly
legitimising their claims to an interview. It explains the main image and link
to the pull quote above to give further information to the reader.

4. 5)
6)
7)
8)
The barcode, date and issue number and all grouped together in the bottom left
hand corner as, to the average reader, they are not important. Having them here
allows more room for the main focus of the cover while making the information
easily accessible to anyone who would want it- such as collectors.
The main image is a full page picture of the vocalist of the band- red hot chilli
peppers. The image is large and eye grabbing and the vocalist has been made to
appear like he is secretly a robot. This then conjures images of the Terminator; a
cybernetic organism from the future that is notoriously difficult to stop. By using
this it brings connotations of the band being classic and yet modern, bringing
them to a new generation of fans.
The colour scheme that is used is mainly red, white and black (with the
exception of some of the cover lines.) This is typical of most rock
magazines, though each gives a slight variation. The style and layout of the
magazine also gives clues as to it’s intended audience. Everything is centred
around the main image, which suggests that this is what is important to the
audience, but also points out the other key features- suggesting that the
audience wants more than just interviews.
The cover lines used are linked with it being a special edition, it gives further
information on what will be in the magazine but does not give away any major
details. Being in a different colour to the main colour scheme it suggests that this
is a ‘one time only’ special- not normally in the magazine.

5. • 9) This issue (September 2011) is a special issue, in which they list the top bands
and tracks. The cover lines then give further information, telling the reader some of
the names on that list, which draws them in to see who else made the cut.

6. Logo(1)
KERRANG
sky line(9)
Main image(8)
Colour
scheme and
style(2)
Main cover
line(3)
Cover lines(7)
Give aways(4)
Banner with
buzz
words(5)
Barcode, date
issue
number(6)

7. 1)
2)
3)
4)
Logo is black, with a crack effect and based on the sound an electric guitar
makes. This all makes it obvious that it is a rock magazine, harder than Q.
Bold letters, stands out in strong contrast from the white background.
Derived from the sound of a electric guitar. Being in the background suggests
it is already a successfully established magazine and requires minimal
characteristics to be recognised.
Colour scheme is mainly black, white, red and yellow This is typical of most
rock magazines, though each gives a slight variation. The style and layout of
the magazine also gives clues as to it’s intended audience. Everything is
dwarfed by and underneath the main image, which suggests that this is what
is important to the audience, but also points out the other key featuressuggesting that the audience wants more than just interviews.
Main cover line is about Avenged Sevenfold, a well known and popular rock
band. This also explains the main image an shows what the main focus of
the magazine is on. Stands out from the rest of the magazine, draws more
attention to it.
Giving away free stuff is another technique often employed by magazines
and means that more people will but it simply for the gift. The gift is often
not truly free as the price varies with the quality of the ‘gift’. Music
magazines mostly give out band posters and occasionally CDs. Another
variation of this is to offer a competition, winning a much higher value item
than a free gift and increases profits as more people buy and less stuff is
given away.

8. 5)
6)
7)
7)
8)
Banner with buzz words. This offers additional information on the contents of the
magazine, but makes it seem more exciting and exclusive to that magazine.
The barcode, date and issue number and all grouped together in the bottom
right hand corner as, to the average reader, they are not important. Having them
here allows more room for the main focus of the cover while making the
information easily accessible to anyone who would want it- such as collectors.
The cover lines give further information on what is in the magazine, it shows
interviews and lists their top albums.
The main image is a half page picture of the band Avenged Sevenfold, a well
known and popular rock band. This also explains the main cover line and shows
what the main focus of the magazine is on. Stands out from the rest of the
magazine, draws more attention to it and therefore the cover lines around it.
Skyline shows extra things that are in the magazine that would not normally be
there but would be of interest to some of their readers, drawing in those that
want it but not discouraging others as it could be passed by being small and out
of the way.

9. Logo(1)
UNCUT
Main image(8)
Colour
scheme and
style(2)
Main cover
line(3)
Cover lines(7)
Give away(4)
List of extra
features(5)
Barcode, date
issue
number(6)

10. 1)
2)
3)
4)
Logo is large, easily noticed and distinguishable. It’s not obvious what the genre
is just by the logo. Bold single letter, stands out in strong contrast from the red
background. Being in the background suggests it is already an established
magazine but still shows the majority of it, suggesting it is not as well known as Q
or KERRANG.
The colour scheme that is used is mainly red, white and black (with the exception
of some of the cover lines.) This is typical of most rock magazines, though each
gives a slight variation. The style and layout of the magazine also gives clues as
to it’s intended audience. Everything is centred around the main image, which
suggests that this is what is important to the audience, but also points out the
other key features- suggesting that the audience wants more than just
interviews. Uncut is more reserved than the other covers, suggesting it is aimed
at a younger audience. It uses the sae colours as the others but in a much milder
way, there appears to be a lot more white and empty space.
Uncut appears to be aimed at an older audience as thus is more reserved. The
main cover line is of a 52 page review of the best songs of 2013. This may not be
as exciting as those of Q and KERRANG but is well suited to their target audience.
Giving away free stuff is another technique often employed by magazines and
means that more people will but it simply for the gift. The gift is often not truly
free as the price varies with the quality of the ‘gift’. Music magazines mostly give
out band posters and occasionally CDs. Another variation of this is to offer a
competition, winning a much higher value item than a free gift and increases
profits as more people buy and less stuff is given away.

11. • 5) This offers additional information on the contents of the magazine, showing that
there is more to it than what is in the cover lines. This means it cn suit a wider
range of audiences.
• 6) The barcode, date and issue number and all grouped together in the bottom
right hand corner as, to the average reader, they are not important. Having them
here allows more room for the main focus of the cover while making the
information easily accessible to anyone who would want it- such as collectors.
• 7) The cover lines used are linked with it being a special edition, it gives further
information on what will be in the magazine but does not give away any major
details. Being in a different colour to the main colour scheme it suggests that this is
a ‘one time only’ special- not normally in the magazine.
• 8) The main image is of an older more respectable gentleman, reflecting the
audience the magazine is aimed at. The rest of the magazine is based around
him, suggesting that he is to do with the main aspect of the magazine, but that
there are other aspects to it.