This analysis of Kerrang contents pages will investigate the recurring codes and conventions throughout Kerrang! contents pages. The pages selected above show some general conventions of music magazine contents pages that the audience expect to see. This includes a main image, smaller related images, a title, column titles/subheadings and a list of the magazine’s content. Kerrang! contents pages are usually image heavy, with about 50%-70% of the page being images, and 30%-50% text. This is appealing to the target audience who is mostly male, and therefore will respond to visuals more than text. Kerrang has two common layouts. The layout of features on the contents page depends on whether the main image is landscape or portrait.
All of the contents pages feature a main image. Main
images will usually be a professionally set up photo (like the front cover) or
a candid shot a band performing. Certain issues may break away from this
convention and use a candid photo showing the wild antics of band member (see
the first contents page above). In a similar way to their front covers,
Kerrang! will often only use the lead band member in the main image as a symbol
of importance but also because the audience will be able to recognise the main
member. When all the band members are featured in the main image, there is no
particular formation which recurs throughout different issues. For example, some
issues may have the triangular and pentagonal formation which is conventional on
the front cover, but other issues show the band in a disorganised arrangement.
The image will show iconography through the use of casual clothing, long and
untidy hair, dark makeup or musical (i.e. instruments, microphones, speakers).
In professional shots, the artist will usually be looking directly at the
camera with a relaxed pose, attracting the audience’s attention. However candid
shots are usually taken when there is action, so the artist will usually be
focussed on other things in the image (e.g. playing their instrument).
As the genre of rock is dominated by males, the contents
page usually only contains images of male band members. Nevertheless, this
convention is occasionally broken by the use of a female artist, as shown in
one of the contents pages above. This contents page featuring the female member
of We Are The In Crowd also breaks the colour conventions of Kerrang! contents pages by using bright
blue and pink rather than black, white, red and yellow. She is posed with her
hands outstretched to outline her face and draw attention to it. This issue may
have appealed more to females and possibly broadened the target audience by
showing that females don’t need to be completely defeminised to be in a rock band.
Features shown in the front cover will be continued on
the contents page. For example, Slipknot are shown wearing their masks, just as
they would have done for the front cover.
Smaller images on the contents pages will preview a
variety of articles, including album covers (indicating an album review) and interviews
with commonly featured artists. This will appeal to the male audience who
prefer images over text. Double page spread previews are important as they show
that the magazine has contact with the band and the information given can be
trusted. People might look at the contents page before buying a magazine, so
this is an important selling feature. The small images are most commonly in a
disorganised format; they appear tilted and are arranged to appear as if they
are layered and overlap each other. This maintains the informal and relaxed style
of the magazine, as well as giving the impression that the magazine is packed
with a huge variety of content.
The title ‘Contents’ is almost always placed in the top
left or top right corner of Kerrang!
contents pages, which is conventional of music magazines. Otherwise, the title
‘Kerrang Contents’ may be used at the top of the page when a portrait main
image is used. However it is often placed between the images and the text when
a landscape main image is used. The colour of this often changes between
issues, although it is most often black and yellow or red and white. The
distressed font used for the masthead on the front cover is used in the title
and subheadings on the contents page to maintain brand identity. When a
landscape photo is used, the list of contents is in columns and is placed below
the main image. When a portrait image is used, the contents are listed on the
right side of the main image without columns.
The list of contents has subheading to clearly indicate
the sections of the magazine. Kerrang!
usually uses the subheadings, ‘Feedback’, ‘News’, ‘Win!’, ‘Live Reviews’,
‘Posters’, ‘Features’, ‘Album Reviews’, ‘Gig guide’ and ‘The K! Quiz’. These
subheadings clearly show that the magazine focuses on music rather than fashion
or celebrity gossip. The subheadings ‘Feedback’ and ‘Win!’ suggests that Kerrang! gives the reader an opportunity
to interact and voice their opinions on the magazine, as well as be rewarded
with the chance to win a prize for buying the magazine. Under the subheadings
are lists of articles that fit into that category, accompanied by page numbers
for convenience and sometimes a brief description to give more information. The
editor’s letter is usually included to the left of the contents when a
landscape main image is used. Otherwise, it placed below a portrait main image.
However, some special issues do not include an editor’s letter as the space is
needed to fit the list of contents, but this is rare.