Kerrang magazine was created due to noise ‘Kerrang’ that a guitar makes when you strum it. The magazine’s featured genre of music is rock and the name is very fitting to the style of music. This Magazines masthead is quite recognisable as it has remained the same since the magazine was created. The masthead has a exclamation mark at the end, suggesting that it is quite a loud magazine, this also reflect the music being loud as it is loosely a rock genre, therefore it features quite loud music. The name has quite aggressive connotations which is further emphasized by the style of the masthead. The black lines over the white writing make it look like broken glass as if it has been smashed, this further created the idea of a loud and aggressive magazine. This also makes the name sound as though it is an onomatopoeia and it feels rebellious. Additionally the edges of the letters are not neat and it feels quite messy, however this continues to create a rebellious fell to the name and seems as though it would reflect the target audience of the magazine. The monochrome colour scheme is simple and effective as it allows more attention to be spent of the other parts of the magazine, and it also allows the use of colour on other parts of the magazine.

The name of the magazine ‘NME’ is an acronym of the previous name ‘New Music express’, the name was shortened so people would have an easier time or remembering it. Once they changed the name to an acronym the name became rather informal and is consequently more fitting to the magazine style, as the reader is not expecting a very smart and formal magazine. and has connotations of rebellion and defiance. The name of the magazine ‘NME’ sounds like the word ‘enemy’, this similarity is purposely done to reflect the type of rebellious and possibly aggressive music that the magazine features. Additionally it mirrors the audience and how they would act as the name is quite alternative and defiant, the people reading the magazine and listening to the music featured will resemble the same rebellious attitude. The large capital letters ‘NME’ visually stand out to the reader as they are in a bright red font and red is very noticeable, and the white outline around the letters make the red even more vibrant. The choice of colour signifies danger and it is very alerting. The dangerous red colour, coupled with the connotations behind the name sounding like the word ‘enemy’ create quite a combative feel.

The masthead is very recognisable and memorable as it is just one single letter. The one letter name is because originally it was to be called Cue (as in the sense of cueing a record, ready to play), however they changed the name of the magazine as it would possibly be mistaken for a snooker magazine. The font is quite delicate and elegant which gives and indication as to the featured style of music. Another reason is that a single-letter title would be more prominent on newsstands, so there is a higher chance of people picking up the magazine due to the fact it is easy to spot and is short. The simplicity of the white Q on a red background is very clean and simple and implies that the music featured in the magazine will be of good quality and be simple, yet effective. The colour scheme used is once again very elegant and simple and stands out as it is a very rich red that is used. The colour red has connotations of power and love whilst the white represents innocence and elegance, this creates a juxtaposing colour scheme that stands out due to the contrasting colours and their meaning.