Analysis of music magazine front cover: Magazine 2

Background information:Clash is a music and fashion magazine based in the United Kingdom. It is published 10 times a year by Music Republic Ltd. Its first issue in 2004 won Best New Magazine award at the PPA Magazine Awards and Music Magazine of the Year- Record of the Day Awards 2005 and 2011. The magazine focuses on a wide variety of genres including indie and popular music. Clash has a wider target audience; both male and female, generally younger/teenagers, however it also tries to appeal to more grown up people through articles on long-established musicians. As the magazine claims, their typical readers are gig-going, fashionconscious and tech hungry. The magazine furthermore concentrates, other than music, on fashion and often their effect on surrounding culture, film and technology. Title/Masthead:The masthead Clash is written in large, sans serif font. The name of the magazine is onomatopoeia itself;hence the masthead may be expected to look similar toKerrang magazines style of cracked typography. However, the masthead is bold and clear, written in white, making it look edgy and immediately obvious as to what kind of magazine it is. The masthead is placed in the centre of the top section of the coverlikewise with most magazines- filling in the whole are from side to side, which stands out. As the background image is in strong colours, the white letters contrast with it nicely. Main graphic:The main graphic is of Irish actor and singer, Cillian Murphy. Since making his debut in his home country in the late 1990s, he has also acted in British and American cinema in many different roles, hence it is likely that people will have heard of him/seen him, and are interested to find out more about him.

Clash magazine tend to feature less mainstream, nevertheless talented and/or recognised performers, thus Cillian Murphy is a suitable person to be featured on this magazine. His face has a muchbronzed colour, with pink undertones and yellow lights shone on it that bring out his distinctive facial features. His hair looks sleek and shin, combed back with a few pieces hanging here and there; this gives a sort of elegant, yet still easy -going look to the subject matter. He seems to be wearing a collared, pinkish yellow, satin blouse, all buttoned up. It has a somewhat retro (90s) yet contemporary feel. We could thus assume thatheis a stylish person and has his own taste. The post-production to achieve such a polished look of the subject matter, shows a high level of technical skills, which tech hungry readers will want to see. The image is a close-up profile shot of Cillian, looking down and away from the camera; this type of shot conveys a real sense of emotion and helps the audience to connect with the subject, therefore attracting them to buy the magazine. Cover line: Devil May Care is a type of attitude, used to refer to very casual, worry-free people. These three words are a short but effective cover line, which, therefore is likely to create curiosity and arouse peoples interest to read the article. The words are written below each other, and this brings more emphasis on them. They are placed beside the right eye of the subject; this brings more attention to his eyes and therefore reinforces the idea that he is an individual who should be paid attention to, and one who doesnt necessarily abide to the rules of society. Subheading: The subheading in a way is a confirmation to the reader that the subject seen on the cover does indeed have a freewheeling attitude. In other words, he behaves in a relaxed way that is not restricted by rules or accepted ways of doing things. Straplines: As Clash magazine is very diverse; it features articles on a variety of things. This months issue is The Film Issue, featuring film directors such as Werner Herzog and Don Letts, graphic designer Saul Bass, film actor Crispin Glover, English electronic dance music duo- Orbital, and article on 1982: The Sci-Fi Revolution, in addition to Riz Ahmed- British actor and rapper and Nick Frost- British actor. These names are not particularly what one would see/read in a music (and fashion) magazine; however they are suitable for Clash magazines target audience, who are used to and are interested in reading about things from a number of areas, such as the film industry. Barcode: The barcode on this magazine is relatively small, placed on the bottom right corner. Price: UK 3.50, US $4.00 Issue no.: Issue 73, May 2012

Clash on their magazine: This is the music magazine for people who are passionate about a wide range of artists, with no authentic genre off limits. You'll get in-depth listings of 'Ones to watch' as well as regular interviews with the biggest names in music, from Red Hot Chili Peppers to Jay-Z.If you're into fashion, the magazine publishes two special fashion issues every year alongside regular creative photo shoots with bands. You'll also find a six-page cinema section each month and an annual Film Issue, which goes beyond Hollywood to bring you the best releases worldwide. This is a great monthly read for dedicated music fans who want to stay on top of every aspect of today's pop culture.

Opinion: Overall, Clash magazine gives off a grown-up and tasteful feel, with a professional and stylish look, which suits well its target audience. The style and design is kept consistent for that professional look, making the magazine such a popular one in the UK. Everything from the colour scheme to the design of the magazine gives a very indie vibe. I will highly consider using Clashs page design and layout for inspiration for my own magazine cover.