Shay Onojaife

 

General

• Which company produces the magazine?

'Kerrang!' is published by Bauer Media Group

 

• What is the target audience according to the publisher’s website? (Look at the 

media info kit for advertisers, which describe the ideal reader and give 

detailed audience research information). (In the rest of your analysis be sure 

to relate your points to how the magazine is appealing to this target 

audience.) 

 

The target audience for 'Kerrang!' is both males and females who are interested in or like rock music, probably for around the age 15 - 27 year olds due to the swearing and celebrities associated with the magazine. As it is as UK based magazine is suggests that it is aimed for people in the UK.

 

• How much does it cost?

£2.20

 

• How often is it published? 

Weekly. Launched as a monthly magazine but it began to appear on a fortnightly basis later, and in 1987 it went weekly. the fact that it was a monthly magazine makes it more glossy and exclusive but making it a weekly magazine makes more of a connection with the audience as it is more frequent.

 

• What is its circulation?

37,603 (June 2013)

 

• Work out the approximate monthly revenue streams from advertising and circulation. 

£3419.23

 

• Prepare an annotated analysis of the cover.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The cover

• The title: why is it called that? What does the title connote? 

 

The title is 'Kerrang!' and is named after the 'onomatopoeic word that derives from the sound made when playing a power chord on a distorted electric guitar' this is a clear connotation of what genre of magazine is for the audience before they've even seen the content. It also connotates a more fun and relaxed tone to the magazine and its brand identity. 

 

• The masthead/title logo – analyse it.

The masthead is at the top of the magazine

which is conventional for all types of magazine

and makes it look professional.

 

 

 

 

 

This is important as it suggests that the magazine is laid back and therefore reflects the audience that will be reading the magazine. There are also edges that seem to be ragged and cracks in the title which portrays an image of violence, which may mirror the connotations of the genre of rock music.

 

• Is there a strapline? Analyse it. 

There is no strapline used which may be done as 'Kerrang!' is known through the title itself and doesn't need an explanation as it is very clear what genre of magazine it is etc. It also suggests that the magazine is so popular that many recognise it by the name and a strapline is not needed. 

 

• What is the main image? Analyse the facial expression, direction of gaze, body language, clothing etc. How does this reach out towards the ideal reader identified above?

The main image on the front is of Ozzy Osborne.

'Kerrang!' used him as he is an English heavy 

metal artist and the magazine is UK based

and he is of the same genre therefore making

him able to appeal to the audience and because of

celebrity endorsement he will make people want to

buy it.  His facial expression is intense as he looks as

if he is yelling,the fact that he is pointing at 

the camera (and therefore the audience) is significant

as it engages the audience and also looks as if he is

challenging them to buy the magazine.

 

• What other images appear on the cover? Why?

There are pictures of things associated with the content inside. One of the pictures is of individual posters included in the magazine which is done to entice the reader into buying it.

 

 

 

 

 

Not only is it selling a bit of the magazine to the audience but through celebrity endorsenment it is also promoting the artists       that are featured and makes the aduience either want to know more about them or those who already know/like them will buy      the magazine because they want the poster. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What content is promoted by the cover lines? 

From the magazine cover it is suggested that it is a look into the private life of Ozzy Osborne and his home.

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Explain the connotations of typefaces (fonts), graphics, colours etc. 

None of the typefaces on the cover are serif; they are all san serif                     which is done to show how it is a less formal magazine. The colour scheme in the magazine is black, white yellow and red.                 The colour red could represent blood and aggression and danger. Yellow could also represent warning like the yellow police tape. The colour black suggests death and violence. However when white is used it usually connotates peace and innocence, but in the type there is a dark shadow around some of it which suggests that this is taken away when you read this magazine or listen to this music. 

 

• What sort of language/language features/language devices can you identify? 

How does the cover “talk” to its reader?

the use of direct address engages the audience as it is more personal and therefore creates a bond with the reader and the magazine "would you lick their Pringles?" there is also use of expletives            this also suggests a more informal tone and as it is quite big it suggests the readers will be used to and probably use this type of colloquial language. 

 

• Does the cover look similar to other magazines? If so why? What does this 

magazine offer which rivals don’t (ie what is its USP)?

 

 

• Is there anything else distinctive about the cover/format? (eg size)

A lot of the information on the front cover overlaps and seems to be layed out in a messy structure. This could suggest that the magazine is more fun and spontaneous and could also reflect the types of people buying the magazine and represent them. Moreover the fact that everything seems to be overlapping on the front cover makes the magazine look like it's full of information and that entices the reader to buy it.