George Butter

To kick start my project I wanted to look at existing magazine covers for inspiration and ideas on how I wanted my magazine to look. I have analysed each magazine cover commenting on individual aspects and how and why each aspect works. This exercise not only gave me ideas for my own magazine but helped me understand industry methods and conventions, which will allow me to create my own professional magazine.


Kerrang!'s logo is so iconic that you can still see that this is a Kerrang! magazine even when a large amount of it is hidden. On the majority of their front covers (excluding some of the new ones) They have kept this logo the same size position and colour throughout their huge number of issues. I like this logo it is completely in tune with the genre of their magazine the font used is grungy however it isn't to over the top. I think the simplicity of it is what makes it so recognisable.

On Kerrang!'s front cover there is often a lot going on. This gives the feeling that there is loads to see and read inside the magazine however in my opinion it is a bit of an eyesore all of these articals trying to grab your attention at the same time.

They have limited themselves to four major colours, red black white and gold. I think this is a good idea as this front cover is busy enough without throwing in a rainbow of colours.

Kerrang! often do a poster special, using a freebie to attract an audiences attention is always going to work, especially when the audience of this magazine pay for posters.




Next I decided to look at a different genre of music to compare and analyse different techniques used in the industry to attract different audiences.
ATM or Atmosphere magazines front cover is much more contemporary. The logo is clean cut, stylish and simple, but just as recognisable as Kerrang!'s logo. On every issue of ATM the logo is positioned in the same place however the colour often changes to complement the colours in the main photo. The main photo always fills the whole front cover and is the only photo as opposed to other magazines which use a range of framed photos. Instead of using photos and short sentences to display other articles inside, ATM magazine just use a list of artists, this keeps the front cover looking simple and stylish.

The main photo always features one artist, like in all of the magazines I have looked at the photos are always studio quality rather than that of hello magazine where the photo is often taken by paparazzi. The artist is also always dressed in a way that appeals to the target audience.

Like K! Atmosphere magazine use a freebie to attract readers of the target market. After comparing the two magazines I have decided to go down the route of a contemporary styled front cover as I think this is much more creative and aesthetically pleasing.




In a very similar style to ATM, Knowledge Magazine or Kmag use a just one image which fills up the whole page they then just use writing to display other articles. All photos used are from photo shoots rather than taken from events or paparazzi photos. This is what keeps both of these two magazines looking stylish and creative.

 Kmag uses more graphical decorations than ATM. These decoration are always simple and go well with the rest of the features on the page. White is always used in the logo and the white bar that the bar code is on, then they use only one more colour which goes well with the background photo. The featured artist in each issue always have there name written in the centre of the cover. and the artists are always dressed in modern up to date clothes that would appeal to the target audience.

Kmag also include a CD as a free gift to attract the target market, this is something I am considering using on my magazine.




Jockey Slut is a much older magazine but it is still an iconic magazine. Jockey Slut wasn't just about the music is was about the culture and lifestyle.  Featuring what are now cult bands, reference to drugs and use of dialect and slang in their articles Jockey Slut really drew in their target audience.

The front page features reviews, interviews and a range of other articles. The trademark logo completely consistent through every issue always in the same position and never behind the main photo. The logo is simple and easy to recognise, and although isn't hugely aesthetically pleasing it always compliments the rest of the page.

Unlike other magazines Jockey Slut didn't try to get appealing and clean photos the artists they featured were always in their true form and it wasn't unusual for this person the be smoking or drinking alcohol.






















Rinse is the leading drum and bass magazine. I hugely like there Front cover each issue keeping the white bar down the side the only thing changing is the picture and the coloured part of the logo. The white bar captures and displays the cover stories and also the promotion.

There main photo is often quite creative and has had subtle affects applied to it. The main photo are always quite unusual but still look really good and stylish.

After the logo the next biggest piece of writing is the promotion. this is a good way to make it stand out to potential buyers but to still be quite stylish and subtle.