Conventions Analysis Front Cover

The name of the magazine is short because it makes it more memorable for the audience. Also because the fact that the name is more unique and therefore more memorable. The name of the magazine has a shamed glass effect which fits well the genre of the magazine and will help to attract the correct audience to buy the magazine. 

The main image is a medium close up of one of the stars for the main article. The star is looking directly at the camera which makes it look like they is looking at the audience which makes the audience feel like they are looking at them and draws the audience to buy the magazine. The fact that the image is of a band member will help draw attention to the magazine because the audience will be more likely to buy it if they see a celebrity they like on the front cover.

The main story is the first story to be seen by the audience as it is in the middle of the page and the image behind the story relates to it. The name of the band is also included in the article which means that people who like the band are more likely to buy the magazine with the intentions of reading that specific article. 

The quote on the cover of the magazine is relating to the main story and it brings more focus onto what the story could be about. It will make the audience curious as to the context the quote would be used in and the audience will want to buy it.

The magazine used thumbnail pictures to show the what other articles are going to be in the magazine or what posters they are going to receive if they buy the magazine. They put these on the font so that people will see a picture of a band or singer they like and want to buy the magazine for either a chance to read a story about them or have a poster.

They have used the four collectable magazine covers to try and get the fans of the band used in the main image to buy four versions of the same magazine. They do this so the audience can have a magazine with each member on the front and so the magazine can earn more money.

The skyline stories/footer stories at the top/bottom of the page are there to give hints at the range of different stories in the magazine.

The barcode, price, date, website, and issue number are there to make the magazine sell-able and so that the audience can be aware that the magazine is legitimate. it also tells the audience where they can find more information about the magazine and how much it will be costing them to buy it.


Audience
The audience for this magazine would be people interested in rock music and are interested in learning more about the different bands in this genre. The average age for this magazine would be 22 because they are young adults that will have enough money to buy a weekly magazine but are still young enough to be really interested in bands. The majority of the buyers for this magazine are male because conventionally males are usually into rock music.

Ideology
The ideology of this magazine is to celebrate this genre of music and to appreciate the different bands that create music for this genre. This magazine's main focus is rock, heavy metal, and occasionally indie music and hasn't changed it's topic in the years it has been made. 

Institution 
This magazine is published by Bauer Media Group. Q, Mojo and Kerrang! are three of the music magazines being published in the UK by Bauer Media Group. They also have 50% stake in Box Television, which produce TV channels such as 4Music, The Box, Heat, Kerrang!, Kiss, Magic, and Smash Hits.


Representation 
The main image on the magazine is of one of the band members, but it is unusually of the one of the guitar players instead of the lead singer. But this is because this issue of the magazine has different variations of the same magazine but they have four different pictures on the front. There is a magazine cover for each band member, which is there for the fans who really like this band specifically to either choose their favourite or get all four. The main image is also a profession shot which shows the star of the image in better quality. Also during the shoot they will take many photographs to try and find the best ones that will fit the front cover, the contents page, and the double page spread. The band member on the front of the magazine is smiling which is unusual for this genre of magazine, typically on the front of a rock magazine the star would either have a sullen expression or rage filled because this is the light that rock stars are portrayed in. The star on the front cover has the typical clothing of someone in a rock band because he has a jacket with the sleeves cut off, predominantly black t-shirt, and dyed black hair which is also of a longer length.