The purpose of a magazine’s front cover is to not only to protect the pages inside but to catch the attention of readers so they are curious or intrigued so they have to buy it. The more attractive and informative the cover is, the higher the chance of it being bought. The covers of magazines can be used to target various audiences. Different genres of magazines will have different target audiences. Mizz, for example, is targeted at teenage girls, this is evident by the use of pinks and purples, and the type of lead article. However, National Geographic is aimed at an older market of both sexes, which is displayed by the gender neutral colours and the intelligent articles featured on the cover. Music magazine covers vary depending on the style of music they are promoting, for example Kerrang magazine is aimed at teenage/young adult listeners of the rock persuasion; however Rolling Stone magazine, while still promoting rock music it is aimed at an older audience.
The cover of Kerrang features the usual colours seen in the mast head, which are white and black – these colours are bold as they are opposite, so the title of the magazine is easily identifiable. Furthermore, by using black and white the colours will never clash with any featured colours, so the mast head can always have the same identifiable colour. The third colour which is featured is yellow; the connotation of these colours all together is linked to the Paramore album cover – as Paramore is featured on this specific cover. Furthermore, the connotation of yellow is often associated with spring and this was the season in which the magazine was published. In addition, yellow is an eye catching colour, which will make the average customer be attracted to the front cover. In comparison, the Rolling Stone magazine features a more mature colour scheme, which complements the character of Johhny Depp – who is featured on the cover and therefore attracts the slightly older reader. The mast head is the notorious colour and style which has been used since the magazine began in the form of a newspaper in the sixties. The colours used on the covers of these magazines are fairly different and I think this is due to the difference in target audience. The only similarity in the colours used is the use of black and white for text, these colours have been used because they are easy to read and stand out against contrasting background – unlike yellow on a white background for example.
The main graphic on the Kerrang cover is an image of Hayley Williams, the lead singer of the band Paramore. She is shown wearing a yellow top with the writing “Security” in black, this is similar to the yellow and black police tape used at crime scenes – this suggests that she isn’t as innocent as she is portraying through her facial expression. Her pose is rather provocative which could be targeting teenage boys because she is often used as a “pin up” girl and adorns many teenage boys’ walls. Similarly, Johnny Depp is the main image on the Rolling Stone cover and he is seen as a “sex symbol” within popular culture, this is conveyed through this image by his seductive expression. His expression is very mysterious, which represents his character, and furthers his attractive image. The clothes he is wearing also furthers this image because his shirt has an open collar, but the image is a close up shot so the customer could be left wanting to see more, therefore they are more inclined to buy the magazine. His clothes also has the connotation of a pirate costume, especially with the necklaces he is wearing, this will make the reader remember his character Captain Jack Sparrow in The Pirate’s of the Caribbean and will influence the customers to buy the magazine. The poses shown on the covers are similar because they are both showing the sensuous side to their character, leaving the reader wanting to know what they reveal in the article. Both celebrities on the magazine covers have eye contact with the camera so this connects them to the reader and draws the customer in.
The layout of the Kerrang cover is given a hap-hazard look, which represents the target audience of teenage boys, because they are stereotypically messy. Whereas the Rolling Stone cover is more controlled and contrived, this shows that it is aimed at more mature readers. The cover lines of both magazines are shown on the left third, which is often used in magazine covers as it is vital for sales in shops where the magazine is not shown straight on. Despite the fact that the masthead is covered slightly by the model it is still recognisable from the obscure name (not many magazines begin with ‘K’). Similarly, the mast head for the Rolling Stone magazine is easily recognisable from the iconic “R” which is visible in the left third. In fact even when the cover is shown face on the mast head is half covered by Johnny Depp’s head because the customer doesn't need to see the full title as the Rolling Stone magazine is so iconic that everyone knows which brand it is. The lead article of both magazines is shown on the left to entice the buyers. However, in Kerrang the other articles are displayed in flash boxes but in Rolling Stone’s the major articles are written similarly to the lead article. Flash boxes are often used when aimed towards younger readers. The Kerrang cover has a skyline to add more information as to what else is inside the magazine, in this case it is a competition, but the Rolling Stone magazine is more high-end as it is more expensive so it is less likely to promote a competition on the front cover. Another feature that is specific to price range is the fact that the Kerrang cover has a barcode on the cover, which is a practicality, but the Rolling Stone cover does not have a barcode because it is seen as unsightly and it would ruin the fresh image it represents. The images and article titles complement each other on both magazine cover, despite their differences compared to each other. I believe the difference in layout is mainly due to the difference in target market.
In conclusion, the covers of both of these magazines work very well, I think they attract attention and create intrigue for the customer so they are persuaded to buy it. The covers are well targeted to the magazine's demographic. Kerrang has an innovative design which is suitable for younger readers, whereas Rolling Stone has a more traditional look to it, which readers associate with the legendary history of the magazine. In my opinion, both magazine covers are very successful in conveying the intended message due to the use of colour and image - this will increase sales. The magazine covers are also successful in enticing customers to buy that specific magazine rather than the many other options that are available in the competitive market.
