Masthead Design Research

 Billboard is an American magazine, focusing on the most popular music out at the time whatever genre. The style of the font in bright  - spaces filled with primary colours, this being said it doesn't look too overwheming or tacky. In normal circumstances red, blue and yellow TOGETHER would create the impression of a pre school student without any knowledge of colour co-ordination but somehow it actually works against all odds. Its sans-sarif font is all in lower case par the first letter.

                             Mojo - A spin off of Q. All in caps but slightly curvy. A rather dull font and common masthead design if you ask me - but what do I know! Without wishing to offend anyone from Bauer any further, the small itallic scrawl of 'the music magazine' is slightly unidentifiable without a magnifying glass. Anyone would think that the red italics would stand out - but unfortunately Bauer, it doesn't. The name MOJO conveys the relation to a perhaps sexual nature inclining an adult target audience. It also implys enthusiasm which is not enhanced in the font style. Although it does make me think of Austin Powers strangely, an undesired intention i'm sure.

Q - Red to alert the reader and draw their attention. Q originating from prolonged name 'Cue'. Yes, a musical reference which is expected in a musical magazine. The box form/diameter segregates the logo from the main page and can be seen as a constant from issue to issue. The name Q in my opinion is short and sweet - unlike any other popular magazine it says it all with one letter. A simplistic masthead but a bold statement and corporal identity.

Rolling Stone is actually not just dedicated to music in fact but I can do a brief connotation regardless. Obviously inspired by the infamous band, the font creates a sense of individuality and style. It's a classy look. The darkened red is highlighted by the white slyly round the circumference of each letter enhancing it's  visibility and impact.

I have mentioned this before but I think this masthead has a unique connotation...like Q, the name is music related but the onomatepia makes it sound querky. KERRANG - the sound coming off a guitar when strummed. It is enhanced further by cracking the letters as if a window because is so loud. The white CAPS on black are plain but it jumps out at the customer.

The Fly - Published by HMV. The name I do not know the history behind really but it doesn't appear to have any direct links to music which I think a music magazine should have. I want to put a music related name in mine. It again,is simple. The black and white does not scream out to you unlike KERRANG. It is nothing special or creative but it works in a way. It appears to be a regular feature of most mastheads all being in capital letters making the words stronger and more emphatic.