Main Task

Magazine Research (Front Covers)

To determine how to make the best magazine I can, I have conducted research into music magazines of all genres. However I have mainly focused on jazz magazines as this is the genre I will be creating my magazine for.

To start with, I looked at the well known jazz magazine 'Wire'.

• Older generation of model aimed at audiences of 40+.
• Extreme close up showing every detail of the model's skin connoting simplicity and showing that unlike other magazines that care about looks and style, this one does not as such.
• Black and white colour scheme, again connoting simplicity.
• The model is looking at the camera which enhances the intensity of the front cover.
• The colour link between the models eyebrows, beard and the title of the magazine, make the magazine seem even more simplistic and help promote the colour scheme.
• The lack of callouts again connotes simplicity but also helps draw the audiences eye to the picture boost.
• The font used on the cover is more spaced as there is no need to cram it together as it is not necessary to fit more onto the page.
• A sans serif font is used throughout.

Next I looked at the contrasting rock magazine 'Kerrang!'.

• Younger generation of models to appeal to a younger audience of under 25's
• Many call outs give the magazine a more lively front cover again appealing to a younger generation.
• The use of brighter colours connote liveliness, which appeals to a younger audience.
• More than one photo is seen on the front cover (in call outs) which gives the audience more of an insight  of what is to come in the magazine.
• The colour scheme is mainly dark bold colours like black and grey, this is contrasted by the use of yellow and red borders which stand out from the other areas of the front cover drawing the reader's eyes to it.
• The font colour is inconsistent across the front page, the font is not only black and white but also yellow.
• The font also changes across the page depending what the type is saying. This helps differentiate between quotes and headlines. 
• A sans serif font is used throughout.

So far, the conclusion I have come to whilst analysing these magazines is that Jazz magazines are more commonly associated with an older generation, encouraged by the use of older models and the simplicity of the whole magazine. In contrast to this, rock magazines are (as expected) more dark and scary connoting violence and death. Rock magazines are evidently more about the look and style of the artist and audience whereas Jazz magazines focus more so on the musical aspect.