Thursday 9 May 2013
Tuesday 7 May 2013
Digital Distribution - Mock Exam
Digital distribution through social networking partly and quite significantly does affect marketing and consumption of music. Pro-sumers like myself used YouTube, Facebook and Twitter and this heavily affected the popularity of the mash-up I made. Indie labels like Warp do use YouTube and Twitter to promote their artists and boost potential buyers of their music. Additionally, Major labels like Sony do heavily market artists music through online media like YouTube and Twitter which massively increases the amount of people that buy into the music. Although looking at Beck who is a DIY artsist who has not utilised social networking, but rather sold his sheet music on-line which many pro-sumer fans of his have purchase; showing that social networking is not the only way to market music.
By using social networking the Major label Sony via its subsidary label Syco have went on to market One Direction very effectively through YouTube and Twitter. This can be seen through One Direction's most viewed video on YouTube 'What Makes You Beautiful' which went number one in several countries worldwide. Although social networking was not the only thing used, it brought along most of the success One Direction achieved through the song. Syco did also use translation to market the song by marketing it in various ways depending on the culture of a country it was to sell the music in. Also without digital distribution the song would have acheived no where near it initial success as most of the money came through ITunes rather than actual physical CD's. This shows how digital distribution allows a much greater opportunity to market artists on a worldwide scale which is much more efficient in expanding to a large audience.
I being a pro-sumer within my group working under the alias DJ Claudio High used social networking as the main basis of marketing the mash-up I made. Twitter, YouTube and Soundcloud were the main things used to market my music mash-up which allowed me to reach a wide audience and gain over 200 views on my YouTube video. Constant retweets through Twitter to the YouTube video helped significantly in increasing the views. Although, the music was not that good, the high frequency of marketing used helped increase its popularity. This does show how digital distribution significantly plays a part towards music marketing. With the song I made just being a large amount of pirated music mashed up together this can pose an argument to say through my role as a pro-sumer I am devaluing music.
The DIY artist Beck actually did not really use digital distribution towards marketing his music. Rather he sold it as sheet music and many of his loyal niche' prosumer fanbase bought this and went on to create their own music interpretations of the sheet music. This does show that although there is some power acquired when it comes to social networking, it is not neccessarily needed to market music. On the other hand, Beck's sheet music has been produced with videos from the prosumer audience which use YouTube to market themselves. This still does show the use of social networking being used to market artists.
I believe that digital distribution is the main aspect in marketing current music of today. With a large amount of music being marketed mainly through YouTube, Twitter and Facebook this does bring the most potential audience for artists.
By using social networking the Major label Sony via its subsidary label Syco have went on to market One Direction very effectively through YouTube and Twitter. This can be seen through One Direction's most viewed video on YouTube 'What Makes You Beautiful' which went number one in several countries worldwide. Although social networking was not the only thing used, it brought along most of the success One Direction achieved through the song. Syco did also use translation to market the song by marketing it in various ways depending on the culture of a country it was to sell the music in. Also without digital distribution the song would have acheived no where near it initial success as most of the money came through ITunes rather than actual physical CD's. This shows how digital distribution allows a much greater opportunity to market artists on a worldwide scale which is much more efficient in expanding to a large audience.
I being a pro-sumer within my group working under the alias DJ Claudio High used social networking as the main basis of marketing the mash-up I made. Twitter, YouTube and Soundcloud were the main things used to market my music mash-up which allowed me to reach a wide audience and gain over 200 views on my YouTube video. Constant retweets through Twitter to the YouTube video helped significantly in increasing the views. Although, the music was not that good, the high frequency of marketing used helped increase its popularity. This does show how digital distribution significantly plays a part towards music marketing. With the song I made just being a large amount of pirated music mashed up together this can pose an argument to say through my role as a pro-sumer I am devaluing music.
The DIY artist Beck actually did not really use digital distribution towards marketing his music. Rather he sold it as sheet music and many of his loyal niche' prosumer fanbase bought this and went on to create their own music interpretations of the sheet music. This does show that although there is some power acquired when it comes to social networking, it is not neccessarily needed to market music. On the other hand, Beck's sheet music has been produced with videos from the prosumer audience which use YouTube to market themselves. This still does show the use of social networking being used to market artists.
I believe that digital distribution is the main aspect in marketing current music of today. With a large amount of music being marketed mainly through YouTube, Twitter and Facebook this does bring the most potential audience for artists.
Tuesday 30 April 2013
Successful media products depend as much upon marketing and distribution to a specific audience as they do upon good practices to what extent would you agree with this statement.
I partly agree with this statement as would involve creating very good audiophile sound that an audience will appreciate. On the other hand, marketing through social networking such as YouTube, Facebook and Twitter is just as important as without these artists are very unlikely to be discovered.
Thursday 25 April 2013
Translation - Mock Exam
Digital media technologies continue to develop. How is this significant to media institutions and audiences?
The rise of digital technologies has subsequently meant that the power of fame can be granted to nearly anyone, not depending on their musical talent but rather they're effectiveness in using these new technologies to market themselves. This shows a significant change in how the media industry is know run, with A&R scouts looking for popularity of an artist rather than actual talent. Examples of digital technologies include YouTube ,Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and Soundcloud. These are the main social networking sites artists use to market themselves.
Within my group we created a DJ under the pseudonym 'DJ Claudio High' and went onto utilize a diverse range of social media networks that include: YouTube, Tumblr, Twitter and Soundcloud. Through using quite a range of digital technologies we were able to effectively market the artist better. The social networking also helped in building a relationship with the audience as they interacted with the DJ; as well as this it gave us a huge opportunity in promoting our completely unknown artist to the world-wide web. Digital media was most effective with YouTube, with which our promotion gained us 253 views, 7 likes and 1 comment (which was positive). Also with Twitter we continuously were posting links to DJ Claudio High's mix, via our Twitter pages along with the one we created for DJ Claudio High.
Although we only created a simple mash-up of songs, it is clear that through using digital media, especially YouTube and Twitter we were able to gain views. We also acted as prosumers in creating the mix, we followed artists that interest us and used their songs in the mash-up we made. The actual mix was not anything special but with the views we achieved in quick succession does show how important and significant digital media can be.It would have been much more difficult for us to achieve 253 views if there was no digital media, a lot of other techniques like Radio air-time and sending music to a record label are very costly and less likely to result in success.
It can be argued that we are just using digital technology to boost a song with no real originality and therefore just really a soundscape of the current type of music of today's generation. Although, it can be said that through digital media it is a great opportunity for unknown artists to get discovered and create a real connection with their fans.
The rise of digital technologies has subsequently meant that the power of fame can be granted to nearly anyone, not depending on their musical talent but rather they're effectiveness in using these new technologies to market themselves. This shows a significant change in how the media industry is know run, with A&R scouts looking for popularity of an artist rather than actual talent. Examples of digital technologies include YouTube ,Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and Soundcloud. These are the main social networking sites artists use to market themselves.
Within my group we created a DJ under the pseudonym 'DJ Claudio High' and went onto utilize a diverse range of social media networks that include: YouTube, Tumblr, Twitter and Soundcloud. Through using quite a range of digital technologies we were able to effectively market the artist better. The social networking also helped in building a relationship with the audience as they interacted with the DJ; as well as this it gave us a huge opportunity in promoting our completely unknown artist to the world-wide web. Digital media was most effective with YouTube, with which our promotion gained us 253 views, 7 likes and 1 comment (which was positive). Also with Twitter we continuously were posting links to DJ Claudio High's mix, via our Twitter pages along with the one we created for DJ Claudio High.
Although we only created a simple mash-up of songs, it is clear that through using digital media, especially YouTube and Twitter we were able to gain views. We also acted as prosumers in creating the mix, we followed artists that interest us and used their songs in the mash-up we made. The actual mix was not anything special but with the views we achieved in quick succession does show how important and significant digital media can be.It would have been much more difficult for us to achieve 253 views if there was no digital media, a lot of other techniques like Radio air-time and sending music to a record label are very costly and less likely to result in success.
It can be argued that we are just using digital technology to boost a song with no real originality and therefore just really a soundscape of the current type of music of today's generation. Although, it can be said that through digital media it is a great opportunity for unknown artists to get discovered and create a real connection with their fans.
Thursday 18 April 2013
DJ Claudio High Mix
The DJ Claudio High (my DJ name) that I have created and exchanged via soundcloud and YouTube.
Friday 12 April 2013
Music Industry Case Study Questions 1 & 5
Task 2 Question 1 & 5
1. One Direction are a worldwide selling band from the UK. They were formed in 2010 and despite not winning the X Factor they have gone on to sell millions of records worldwide. They are signed to Syco/Columbia Records (subsidiaries of Sony Music Entertainment).
Their debut album (Up All Night) went number 1 in 15 countries and they are the first UK group to go number 1 with a debut album in America. Similar to other X Factor and Britain's Got Talent contestants One Direction have went on to acquire a record deal from Simon Cowell's Syco record label and out of all the contestants from both X Factor and Britain's Got Talent they have been the most successful.
Judging from how successful they have been could mean a new mainstream audience for the 'teen boyband' with more teenage boybands being established and selling records in the future.The partnership between Syco and Sony Records has enabled One Direction to cover various popular songs of the past. As Sony already own the rights to these songs, no-one has to pay any rights for the songs.
There could also be an increase in artists covering songs in the future, judging from the success One Direction have had in using this. Sony have many back catalogue's to their name, some of the biggest being: Michael Jackson's Thriller, Beyonce's I Am... Sacha Fierce and Whitney Houston's The Bodyguard. The wide range of susbidary labels Sony own allows them a lot of flexibility into music genres and signing a lot of various popular artists worldwide.
5. X Factor visualizes music in its use of making the whole performance from someone become a visual spectacle and attention to the actual performance is drawn away by this aspect. The high frequency of fancy strobe lights, extravagant costume and set design all make the music meaningless and the performance to be based on what can be seen, rather than the actual music itself.
Syco being a subsidiary label to Sony Music Entertainment, and Simon Cowell owning the X Factor and Syco, Syco are the producers of the X Factor and also the record label the winners of the show get signed to. As Syco are the subsidiary label to Sony, this means X Factor has a significantly large back catalogue of music contestants can perform as well as covering songs and releasing them. These back catalogues have been used as soundscapes, an example of this is Alexandre Burke and her cover of the song 'Hallelujah' by Leonard Cohen.
Both songs were released through Sony Music Entertainment. The song is a soundscape through it being released during the Christmas period and the song containing the harmonizing strings and ambient piano linked with Catholicism and the Christian religion. During the Christmas period a lot of people attend church, do Christmas caroling and other various activities linked with this song. Therefore 'Hallelujah' can create a sense of nostalgia and relate to a wide audience through its production in being a musical soundscape.
X Factor has done various soundscape back catalogue music covers on their show and these types of songs seem to generate the most money for the show. This is seen with the consistent amount of UK number ones these songs go on to achieve. - [The winning contestant's single from 2004 till 2010 was released in time for the end-of-year chart battle for the UK's Christmas number one, a spot which was gained in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2010. In 2011 and 2012, the winner's single was released a week earlier. All of the winners' singles have gone on to achieve the number one chart position nevertheless]. - Referenced from Wikipedia
1. One Direction are a worldwide selling band from the UK. They were formed in 2010 and despite not winning the X Factor they have gone on to sell millions of records worldwide. They are signed to Syco/Columbia Records (subsidiaries of Sony Music Entertainment).
Their debut album (Up All Night) went number 1 in 15 countries and they are the first UK group to go number 1 with a debut album in America. Similar to other X Factor and Britain's Got Talent contestants One Direction have went on to acquire a record deal from Simon Cowell's Syco record label and out of all the contestants from both X Factor and Britain's Got Talent they have been the most successful. Judging from how successful they have been could mean a new mainstream audience for the 'teen boyband' with more teenage boybands being established and selling records in the future.The partnership between Syco and Sony Records has enabled One Direction to cover various popular songs of the past. As Sony already own the rights to these songs, no-one has to pay any rights for the songs.
There could also be an increase in artists covering songs in the future, judging from the success One Direction have had in using this. Sony have many back catalogue's to their name, some of the biggest being: Michael Jackson's Thriller, Beyonce's I Am... Sacha Fierce and Whitney Houston's The Bodyguard. The wide range of susbidary labels Sony own allows them a lot of flexibility into music genres and signing a lot of various popular artists worldwide.
5. X Factor visualizes music in its use of making the whole performance from someone become a visual spectacle and attention to the actual performance is drawn away by this aspect. The high frequency of fancy strobe lights, extravagant costume and set design all make the music meaningless and the performance to be based on what can be seen, rather than the actual music itself.
 |
| An example of X Factor visualizing music can be seen in Misha B's performance on the show. As you can see there is such a huge amount of focus onto the stage design, set, lighting and costume, the music becomes insignificant to the performance. |
Both songs were released through Sony Music Entertainment. The song is a soundscape through it being released during the Christmas period and the song containing the harmonizing strings and ambient piano linked with Catholicism and the Christian religion. During the Christmas period a lot of people attend church, do Christmas caroling and other various activities linked with this song. Therefore 'Hallelujah' can create a sense of nostalgia and relate to a wide audience through its production in being a musical soundscape.
X Factor has done various soundscape back catalogue music covers on their show and these types of songs seem to generate the most money for the show. This is seen with the consistent amount of UK number ones these songs go on to achieve. - [The winning contestant's single from 2004 till 2010 was released in time for the end-of-year chart battle for the UK's Christmas number one, a spot which was gained in 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2010. In 2011 and 2012, the winner's single was released a week earlier. All of the winners' singles have gone on to achieve the number one chart position nevertheless]. - Referenced from Wikipedia
Wednesday 27 February 2013
Mock Exam - Social Class
In this Merlin clip, Merlin is introduced with a long shot of him walking in the castle. The shot represents Merlin's status within the castle as being out of depth in comparison to others. By framing the shot in this way, Merlin appears powerless as he has no prominence, this shows he's working class. The working class are seen as powerless due to the lack of money they have resulting in them having little significance in society, this re-enforces the working class stereotype. An over the shoulder low angle shot is used on the queen whilst Merlin speaks to her, the shot represents Merlin's' POV. Through this it shows Merlin looking up to the queen as he is working class, showing her being powerful whilst he is subordinate as she is upper class.
Merlin's costume is quite shabby and low quality clothing this helps show he is working class by the fact working class people are stereotyped to have be financially poor. The clothes are also bulging highlighting the fact that he cannot afford to buy clothes that can fit him. In comparison the queen in the castle is wearing a pink elegant dress and Arthur is wearing royal armour wear showing they are upper class. Their costumes reveal an upper class status as stereotypically the upper class are the only class who have an affiliation with royalty. By Merlin placing a liquid on the queens table in the castle this shows he is a 'delivery boy' and after he subsequently begins looking through the queens items. His job being low waged and his actions of attempts to steal the queens books re-enforce the stereotypes of the working class.
The fast paced cuts when Arthur and Merlin are fighting represent Merlin's uncivilized behaviour in provoking and fighting someone of royalty as well as a higher class. The cuts show Arthur's controlled articulate behaviour, in comparison to Merlin and his irrational uncontrolled behaviour. This conforms to the stereotype that the working class are uncultivated and mentally unskilled and that the upper class are powerful and intellectual.
At the beginning of the clip when Arthur enters the room situated in the castle, suspenseful music is used in the background, this creates the idea that Arthur is a danger. and the background music plays until the queen, someone of higher social class comes into the room. This conveys that working class people are a danger and conforms to the working class stereotype. Throughout the scene there are no graphic matches between characters. This is because a graphic match would infer some kind of equality, for example with Merlin and Arthur. This also conforms to the stereotype that people of different social classes cannot be seen as equal.
To improve my grade I have focussed on using all 4 MICRO areas to analyse the Merlin clip and I've also used key terminology.
The fast paced cuts when Arthur and Merlin are fighting represent Merlin's uncivilized behaviour in provoking and fighting someone of royalty as well as a higher class. The cuts show Arthur's controlled articulate behaviour, in comparison to Merlin and his irrational uncontrolled behaviour. This conforms to the stereotype that the working class are uncultivated and mentally unskilled and that the upper class are powerful and intellectual.
At the beginning of the clip when Arthur enters the room situated in the castle, suspenseful music is used in the background, this creates the idea that Arthur is a danger. and the background music plays until the queen, someone of higher social class comes into the room. This conveys that working class people are a danger and conforms to the working class stereotype. Throughout the scene there are no graphic matches between characters. This is because a graphic match would infer some kind of equality, for example with Merlin and Arthur. This also conforms to the stereotype that people of different social classes cannot be seen as equal.
To improve my grade I have focussed on using all 4 MICRO areas to analyse the Merlin clip and I've also used key terminology.
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