Magazine cover production - banner

The previous posts explains how I have decided that it would be a good idea to follow the typical codes and conventions of existing rock/alternative music magazines in oder to establish my magazine as a success, even against competetors.
In order to do this, I am going to include a number of 'typical' features of magazine covers - starting with the banners.

I decided to use Adobe Photoshop to try and create my own banner for use on my magazine.
In order to create my banner, I used a simple black strip across the top of the page as a starting point, with this as the result:

Then I decided that I needed to decide how to use my banner.

I had to choose between using it for a 'competiton', a slogan for my magazine or to feature bands.

I decided the latter would be the more successful option, as I know that it is a successful feature of existing magazines of the same genre and I believe it will make my magazine look more successful and professional.

I did some research into bands of the 'alternative/rock' genre in order to establish my target audience's musical preferences.This was useful as I was able to decide which bands would be more highly successful in attracting my audience to my magazine by using existing bands they are already interested in.
I decided to use a mix of rock and alternative bands in order to appeal to a broad audience within my target audience, this influenced my ideas of which artists to feature on the cover.
I decided to use: 'my chemical romance', 'paramore', 'greenday', 'placebo' and 'underoath'.
I then added these choices in a font that would contrast the black background - in order to stand out:

I thought that it was a successful first attempt at a banner as it stands out to the audience and would make my magazine look more professional. However, I think that I need something to 'split up' the bands on my banner, to perfect it.
After doing further research into banners on magazine covers, I found that 'Kerrang!' used little star symbols in order to seperate their bands, like this.
I think this is a highly successful feature, as it seperates the bands in order to look more professional within the cover page of their magazines.
I decided that I would use this feature for my own magazine, however I would make the star symbols a different colour, in order for them to stand our further:

I believe the banner at the top of my page is highly successful, as it has the professional look that I was going for and it will make my magazine appeal more to the audience.
I asked a few classmates (my target audience) if they liked the banner, and the answer was a resounding 'yes'.
At the suggestion of another similar feature at the bottom of the page, including more bands and a 'PLUS' that is a convention often found on magazine covers, it was suggested that I try this idea and see how it turns out, so I did:

I used the same colour scheme as my original top banner, and I believe that this is a successful addition to my cover - just as the first banner was.

My target audience agreed that this would work well on my front cover in order to appeal a target audience that are already interested in the bands that are featured - encouraging them to buy my magazine in order to find out about the band/artist.