I'll be doing my media homework on Big Cheese Magazine. I feel that this magazine best encompasses often used tools, effects and common clichés with media production, and I will go through some of them in detail later on. Images will be supplied alongside the text that refers to it.
One thing I can find just from the magazine cover is that that this magazine covers mainly rock/alternative rock artists as well as covering punk. This information can all be figured out very quickly as the bands the magazine details are directly listed below the title, this allows readers to quickly find the main focuses. The main feature, Frank Turner, is centred towards the middle of the cover with a full bleed image and a cover story that relates to him. Other artists such as 'Black Veil Brides' & 'Neck Deep' are scattered out on the cover they avoid overlapping the main image so the text doesn't take over the page. This tells me even before opening the magazine Frank Turner is more dominant (more pages devoted) than some of the other artists featured. The full bleed image compliments Frank Turner's brand of sophistication and not so much arrogance, this is apparent in his less hardcore, folk, sound.
Towards the bottom of the cover are more artists [Alexisonfire, Young Guns, Lamb Of God, Disturbed] in a almost list-like configuration with images of the bands behind their band names, this shows that there are stories relating to them, but not necessary as much as the brand that is 'Frank Turner'.
Moving on inside the magazine it is immediately apparent that this magazine has many advertisements. This can really damage the magazine's reputation, as it seems like written content is given up for commercial retail space. Less content gives the consumer less reasons to part with their hard-earned money, and it makes the magazine company seem lazy and money centric. This could be the reason for the lower price of the magazine at £3.99; instead of for example £4.50 for Empire, which has a lot less ads. Another reason for the low cost and high density of advertisements is the affect of the low, niche popularity of the magazine; low cost to entice potential readers and high amount of ads to keep the magazine producer/publisher afloat. At least the ads are related to the subject matter of the magazine, they mostly resemble tours and concerts, as well as album releases.
Navigation of the magazine can sometimes be difficult with the amount of graphics layered over each other. But various sections are useful and lead the reader to a 'good read' such as the 'Cream Cheese' section, where it explores what the editor and designers are listening to right now. This is a good addition as it humanises the editors of the magazine and makes them seem approachable over social media and have their own opinions that they want to share.
The cover advertises the free posters within the magazine as a unique selling point, and it makes a change from the rest of the content within the magazine.
To summarise the content within the magazine its basically what it said it was at the beginning: Rock, Punk & Alternative. But to elaborate on that; there are many interviews between the editors and the bands themselves, for instance the magazine interviewed a rock band named 'Breakout' (images below). Other features of this magazine include the major news stories in rock and punk culture such as a news story I've found:
"Crossfaith; The Japanese metalcore maniacs have revealed details of their upcoming fourth album. Titled 'Xeno', it will be released on September 18th through UNFD and will feature guest vocals from Cabel Shomo (Beartooth) and Benji Webbe (Skindred). The band have already posted the ripping title track and, if that's not all exciting enough, they're hitting the UK to support Skindred in November, starting on November 4th at Southhampton Guildhall and closing out on November 14th at London's Brixton Academy.".
News stories like these allow avid, music listeners to catchup on some industry news and scoops, as well as point out UK specific tours and album releases.
A full list of the talent covered in this magazine are as follows: Black Veil Brides, Neck Deep, Frank Turner, Alexisonfire, Young Guns, Lamb Of God, Disturbed, Eskimo Callboy, Atreyu, Thy Art is Murder, Fear Factory, Lindemann, Man Overboard, We Came As Romans, Wilson, Between The Buried & Me, Creeper and Less Than Jake (All of these are pointed out on the front cover).
The acts featured in the Blast part of the magazine (Breaking out artists, pg. 28) are as follows: American Fangs, Elements, Homebound, Bar Stool Preachers, Harker, Knock Off, An Elegy, Wearing Scars, Black Tongue, Honeymoon Disease, Kagoule, The Endeavour, Bryan McPherson, The Izuna Drop, Open Shores and Peasant's King.
The magazine had a chat with Victims Of Circumstance; alongside information about gigs and events for the months ahead at page 86.
At page 92, the magazine uses their critics' judgement and reviews recent music. Here we see Bullet For My Valentine, Five Finger Death Punch, Frank Carter And The Rattlesnakes and Refused.
Lastly, on 102, the magazine gives a tribute to Billy Idol.
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