Analysis of Title Blocks: NME and Kerrang

Analysis of Title Blocks 

NME:

This title block incorporates bold colour and capital letters to draw attention from passers-by and as a way to create a distinctive identity for the magazine. The colour is bold, the letters are in capitals, these two factors are included not only to stand out on a magazine rack, but also to tell the audience about how "NME" sees itself: they are a bold, powerful music magazine, they aren’t fancy, they are elegant, they are just there, and everyone just has to deal with that since they are clearly making no concessions for anyone. This surly image is created as a way to attract their target audience of trendy readers aged roughly 17-21; this is a young audience that is about admittedly new trends, but mainly about rebellion, being gauche and outlandish and in the face of society. This title block is doing all of those things, so by extension the magazine is doing all of those things. Their target audience is, therefore, more likely to see these traits in the magazine’s identity as positive and are more likely to not only buy the magazine because of this, they will identify with it as well.  

Kerrang:

This title block is stark and monotone: white on black. The letters are bold and uncompromising, they also look like glass shattering; there’s an exclamation mark at the end of the block as well. "Kerrang" is a surly, heavy metal magazine, their audience is made of people who are part of the heavy metal niche and that niche has connotations with aggression and darkness amongst other things. The fact that the letters are shattering, the fact that the letters are in capitals, the fact that there is an exclamation mark at the end of the word, all convey this aggression and therefore make it a large part of the magazine’s identity. The title becomes a bellow instead of just a statement thanks to all of these aspects, it becomes a roar, it becomes the defining aspect of heavy metal; the bleak colour scheme conveys a darkness and gloom, again another motif of metal. The target audience will identify and appreciate this, and they will therefore align themselves with the magazine. This title block is a very good way to establish the magazine’s identity from the outset, it is also a great way to build up a very loyal fan base in a highly simplistic manner.