
Sunday, 11 November 2007
ALBUM COVER: CONVENTIONS
MADONNA:MUSIC
- CU/MCU picture of the artist -focus of the majority of the cover, no other distractions
MCU Madonna: hands on hips looking out to audience -direct and confident appeal to buyers
SOUNDTRACK/COMPILATION ALBUM
Album covers for soundtracks and compliations differ to those only featuring one band/artist
FRONT: Main focus of the cover is the title and usually has a smaller tagline beneath 'The Best of Dance Mania 1995' '44 seriously big hits of the year!'
- Lists of popular artists/tracks featuring in the album
- No central background image - usually pattern/ still, poster or actors from the film/ random model dancing
BACK: Again no central image -track listing makes up most of back
Saturday, 10 November 2007
CHARACTER PROFILE: PAPI CAZO
GNARLS BARKLEY
FAT BOY SLIM
BASEMENT JAXX
APHEX TWIN
AMY WINEHOUSE
COSTUME + MAKE UP


- bright bold colours
- showing lots of flesh
- sequins, glitter, feathers, beads
-tassels/hanging beads -create movement whilst dancing
- large head dresses
Belly dancer/ salsa costume

- capes/ shawls/ full skirts -again adds to movement, prop for dancing
Theatrical make up

- defined eyebrows/eyelashes
- bold primary colours
- glitter/ shimmer
- fake eyelashes
- doll-like
Face paints/ animal themed

IDEAL ACTORS/ACTRESSES:
- long thick dark hair
- tanned complexion
- exotic/ foreign looking
- energetic, dancey, confident
- mature, older looking
PRESS RELEASE: MERCADO
HONEY
Synopsis- Honey wants to be a big time dancer, but she's having trouble making it to the top.
- she's spotted by big-time producer Michael Ellis, who offers her a job. which she willingly accepts, and gets started straight away.
- She's a big hit and even gets a promotion, but soon her boss tries to take advantage of her, which Honey declines and loses her job.
- Meanwhile the community center, where Honey works voluntarily as a hip-hop dance teacher, is falling apart.
- Soon Honey is forced to find a new dance studio and finds herself in a financial snag because of her previous job loss.
- She decides to put on a big dance performance to raise money for a studio. It's a hit and Honey opens up her own studio.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29NgBfM8hKo
SAVE THE LAST DANCE
Synopsis- Sara Johnson used to be a promising high school dancer, having auditioned for Juilliard's dance school.
- In her mother's rush to get to Juilliard, she was killed in a car crash at the same time that Sara was auditioning.
- Sara failed to pass the audition, and when she found out that her mother had died on her way there, Sara felt enormous guilt, and gave up ballet.
- Sara moves in with her estranged father who lives in a predominantly African American neighborhood.
- At her new high school, Sara is befriended quickly by Chenille and brother derek who teaches her the ropes around the school.
- Chenille invites Sara to a dance club called STEPS that is totally unlike anything Sara has ever seen.
- Derek decides to take her under his wing and teach her about hip hop dancing. They practice in abandoned warehouses, school classrooms and anywhere they can find.
- Derek takes a reluctant Sara to the Joffrey Ballet and afterwards, Sara confides in him all about her mother and her dreams of Juilliard.
- Derek convinces her that she needs to do what she wants, and to follow her dreams, but she needs to get back into dance shape.
- Sara gets a new audition for Juilliard -she has prepared a ballet and hip hop dance number that she performs beautifully.
- She stumbles and stops her performance but is given encouragement by Derek to carry on and she successfully performs her routine and gets into the dance school.
- Derek and Sara are back together, and the two of them, along with Chenille and other friends, are all dancing and having a great time back at STEPS.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rXuLypueAw
IN RELATION TO OUR MUSIC VIDEO
- Both of these films have a female dominant role
- Both have themes of dance, training and working hard to be the top of their game
- Both experience struggle to achieve their goals e.g. no money, trying to get noticed
- all end positively
- the audience experiences the transition for training stages to success/fame
- Goli would fit as the part of either of these characters -inspirational image
MUSIC CHANNELS
This original purpose of the channel was to show music videos although today they also broadcast a variety of pop culture, youth culture, and reality television shows aimed at adolescents and young adults.
These channels moral influence on young people, including examples of censorship and social activism , has been the subject of debate for years.
Examples of music channels are:
MTV :MTV One -this includes general entertainment such as reality shows, interviews, behind the scenes of music videos -choice to focus on non-music programming has also been contested relentlessly, demonstrating the channel's continued impact on popular culture.
MTV Base -plays hip hop, R&B and rap music as well as corresponding programming to those genres of music
MTV Dance -dedicated dance music channel with music videos and programming of underground and mainstream dance tracks
MTV Hits- a channel which plays chart music videos
MTV Two - alternative rock music, with other commercial mainstream music types found on MTV's other music channels
MTV Flux -allows viewers to take "control" of the channel by sending in video clips to MTV Flux's website, and requesting music videos.
VH1 UK -targeted at 25-44 year olds playing chart and popular music from the 1970s to the present day. VH1 also carries music programming and themed countdown shows from their US counterpart.
VH1 Classic UK - plays all time greats from the '60s to the '90s.
TMF UK -started as a non-stop music channel, although the channel now features more and more programming from MTV and other sister channels.
The Hits, The Chart Show, B4, The Box (pop and RNB)
Classic FM TV (Classical music)
Channel U (grime, hip hop, rap, garage)
Kerrang!, Vault (rock, grunge, indie)
WHAT CHANNELS OUR ARTIST WOULD FEATURE ON:
MTV 2
As this is predominantly alternative music which I would classify our artist as, rather than mainstream.MTV FLUX
this also plays a mix of alternative and mainstream music, but an important factor which would be most appealing to fans is the idea of interactivity -being able to feedback on videos, send in responses or create your own.VH1
Even though this is mainly mainstream pop music, it is aimed at an older and more mature audience who we also wished to target our artist to, and it is this age group that are unlikely to watch any of the channels.RECORD LABELS
An independent record label operates without the funding of or outside the organisations of the major record labels.
The boundaries between major and independent labels, and the definitions of each, differ.
According to Association of Independent Music (AIM) a"major" is defined in AIM's constitution as a multinational company which (together with the companies in its group) has more than 5% of the world market for the sale of records and/or music videos. The majors are currently:
Sony
BMG
Warner
EMI
Universal Music Group (Polygram)
THE PROS OF INDIE RECORD LABELS OVER MAJOR LABELS!:
Many new emerging artists seeking to break into the industry believe that the only way to produce popular music is by 'getting signed' by a major record label.
Although it is these 'DIY' artists and labels who work locally and may only refer to themselves as semi-pros or amateurs that make up just as big a part in the industry as major labels, maybe even more so.
Although mainstream TV and radio is dominated by major label acts, and it is only on channels such as MTV2, Channel U or MTVFLUX that music videos/ performances/ interviews by artists on independent record labels may be aired.
Despite major record labels popularity in the media, it is the independent record labels that provide us with roughly 4,500 live music events in the UK every day -compared to the rare,largely populised,over priced concerts put on by well established mainstream artists. This proves that there is a lot more going on outside this media 'bubble'.
The mass and diversity of local acts puts the handful of bland national icons in perspective.
But the influence of big business gets attention, and it’s easy to forget that what’s happening in music isn't what's happening on mainstream television, radio stations or in the charts.
Other nominally "independent" labels are started (and sometimes run) by major label artists but are still owned at least in part by the major label parent. These spin-off labels are also frequently referred to as vanity labels and are intended to appease established, powerful artists and/or to give them latitude in discovering and promoting new talent.
WARP RECORDS

- Warp Records is a pioneering independent UK record label, founded in Sheffield in 1989, notable for discovering some of the most enduring artists in electronic music.
- Warp Records was founded by Steve Beckett and Rob Mitchell, from their experiences working at a record store, and producer Robert Gordon
- Initially all the album releases were gatefold sleeves and coloured vinyl, often with striking covers by The Designers Republic or Phil Wolstenholme.
- In the late 1990s the label moved its operation to London along with its physical music and merchandise store Warpmart.
- In January 2004 Warp Records launched an online digital music store, Bleep, notable for being among the few stores to completely avoid all digital rights management features in the downloadable tracks, unlike other music stores such as iTunes and Rhapsody.
ARTISTS INCLUDE:
MAXIMO PARK
APHEX TWIN
!!!
ANTI-POP CONSORTIUM
VINCENT GALLO
JACKSON & HIS COMPUTER BAND
SEEFEEL
MAJOR RECORD LABEL: EMI

The Electric and Musical Industries Ltd (EMI) is a major record label, currently one of the largest worldwide running the music industry.
This is a part of the EMI Group, a British music company comprising the major record company operateing several labels, based in Kensington in London along with a publishing company based in NY.
EMI was formed in March 1931 from a merger of the UK Columbia Graphophone Company and the Gramophone Company. From its beginning, the company was involved in both the manufacture of recording and playback equipment and the provision of music to play on its machines.
EMI has signed many popular artists from multiple genres, including The Beatles, Coldplay, Maria Callas, Pink Floyd, Queen, Legião Urbana, Kraftwerk, Iron Maiden, Marillion, Tina Turner, Kate Bush, Frank Sinatra, Radiohead, Roxette, Selena and Garth Brooks.
LIST OF EMI LABEL GROUPS:
ANGEL MUSIC GROUP
CAPITOL MUSIC GROUP
BLUE NOTE LABEL GROUP
CAROLINE DISTRIBUTION
EMI CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP
OUR ARTIST
I feel that our artist would be more suitable to an independent music label working locally, true to their style, doing lots of live performances -so that the focus is clearly on their talent and love for music. This is rather than the media bubble and mainstream image of success that would surround them on a major label.
DOMINANT FEMALES
- In the previous post
PINK
Stupid Girls
CHRISTINA AGUILERA
Moulin Rouge
Fighter
- lots of CU's and ECU's of the artists face and parts of the body
- direct address -eye contact with audience, camera on eye level
- in control and main focus of the video
- presented as object of desire to the men
- inspirational strong figure for female viewers
- theatrical and skimpy clothing -presenting strong style and attitude
- multi talented -acting, dancing, singing
Friday, 9 November 2007
ARTIST IMAGE: GOLNESSA



SIMIILAR ARTISTS:
JENNIFER LOPEZ AKA J.LO
J.Lo's true life story is actually similar to the storyline we have created for Golnessa:
- Lopez was born and raised in the South Bronx, New York
- She financed singing and dancing lessons for herself from the age of nineteen.
- After leaving a one-semester career at Baruch College, Lopez divided her time between working in a legal office, dance classes, and dance performances in Manhattan clubs at night.
- After months of auditioning for dance roles, Lopez was selected as a dancer for various rap artists' music videos and later gained her first regular high-profile job which eventually lead her to the fame she has today
This story has lead her to being typecast in films such as Maid in Manhattan and The Wedding Planner as an independant woman who works hard to earn her keep.
The story we have contsructed for Mercado also casts Golnessa as an independant dominant woman who knows her own path and bulids her ways to fame and success as a dancer.
J Lo's background as a professional dancer is apparent in her music videos in which there usually is an edited music break for her to perform a dance routine.
For example:
MY LOVE DON'T COST A THING
The dance in this is a street style with aggressive sharp quick movements contrasting with her strongly feminine image.
She is also dressed in more male type clothing tracksuit bottoms and a vest top with slicked back hair.
In the dance she maintains the centre of attention placed in the middle of a v formation -all the other dancers behind her are men which shows her dominance over them
Thursday, 8 November 2007
MARKETING: USER-GENERATED WEBSITES
YouTube is a popular video sharing website where users can upload, view, and share video clips. Videos can be rated, and the average rating and the number of times a video has been watched are both published.
The wide variety of site content includes movie and TV clips and music videos, as well as amateur content such as videoblogging and short original videos.
- The site is praised as one the most user friendly sites on the Internet.
-Unregistered users can watch most videos on the site while registered users have the ability to upload an unlimited number of videos.
- Related videos, determined by the title and tags, appear to the right of the video.
- In the second year, the site gave users the ability to post responses and subscribe to any registered user.
SOCIAL IMPACT OF YOUTUBE
Internet celebrities
YouTube's popularity has led to the creation of many YouTube Internet celebrities, popular individuals who have attracted significant publicity in their home countries from their videos.
Band and music promotion
YouTube has also become a means of promoting bands and their music. One such example is OK Go which got a huge radio hit and an MTV Video Music Awards performance out of the treadmill video for Here It Goes Again.
POSITIVES OF MARKETING ON YOUTUBE: -
Appeals to a wide audience as anyone can watch the videos
- Any type of software can be used to create a vlog -no need for high-tech expensive equipment, saving money on budget
- Has many uses and gives the audience an opportunity to feedback on the work by rating/reviewing/creating a video reply, they can also communicate with others by commenting on video clips
- Youtube acts as a search engine and archive for videos posted worldwide -anybody has access to the video
- Youtube is successful for its user-friendly approach and by the idea that it's audience play a key part in running and contributing to the site
MYSPACE :KATE NASH
MySpace is a popular social networking website in which audiences can create their own personal profile page offering an interactive, user-submitted network of friends, personal profiles, blogs, groups, photos, music and videos internationally.
MySpace profiles for musicians are different from normal profiles in that artists are allowed to upload MP3 songs. Unsigned musicians can use MySpace to post and sell music, which has proven popular among MySpace users. Kate Nash has used this feature to promote songs from her new album
Blurbs, blogs, multimedia: In the top left corner of the page is a box containing the artist name (Kate Nash), default picture (album artwork) and a brief summary of the genre (alternative, indie), where they are situated (United Kingdom, London), the number of profile views, the date last logged in and the tagline “it's all a bit homegrown”
Beneath this is a box containing a list of different ways to get in contact with the artist page and the option to add them as a friend, to a group, as a favorite or forward them to a friend.
The profile contains information about their official band website, names of band members, influences, record label, type of label and other current recommended bands.
Friend Space: contains a count of a user's friends, a "Top Friends" area, (this usually included other similar well established bands) and a link to view all of the user's friends.
Comments: Below the Friends Space is the "comments" section, wherein the user's friends may leave comments, photos or videos for all viewers to see.
Beneath this they also have a list of upcoming shows for the next few months
Bulletins: posts that are posted on to a "bulletin board" for everyone on a MySpace user's friends list to see.
The VICE myspace page has used this a service for delivering information on upcoming shows and events, updates to their site, competitions and new issues of the magazine.
Groups: allows a group of users to share a common page and message board.
Pictures: By clicking on their default picture you are able to see more pictures which they have uploaded to the page which include By enlarging the individual pictures you can see a list of comments left on it by previous visitors.
MARKETING BENEFITS
–you can choose what to put on your profile, who your friends are, how you design it and what you send out to other profiles
- Members can communicate with as many people as chosen
- It has become an increasingly influential part of contemporary popular culture
- users are able to present their thoughts and opinions to a worldwide audience without any restraints
- Enables anyone with the internet to sign up and find out more information about our artist- people worldwide to interact and communicate with each other instantly
- Myspace is currently one of the world’s most popular English language websites and has gained more popularity than similar websites to achieve nearly 80% of visits to online social networking websites -giving it a wide potential audience
- myspace’s homepage can be used to advertise the artists profile
- media such as video, pictures and music can all be shared over the internet on profile pages
MARKETING: WEBSITES
Setting up our artist with a fansite would mean that we would already need a devoted fanbase interested in Golnessa, the film Mercado or Papi Cazo to create and maintain the website. Although this may not be possible in the early stages of artist or actresses career, as they may already have to build up recognition and popularity amongst a wide audience, as these sites are usually made for well established individuals or cult status films.
Fansites may offer specialized information on the subject (which our artist may not have enough of in early stages) including pictures taken from various sources, media downloads, links to other, similar fansites, and the chance to talk to other fans.
Although despite the new low status of our artist and actress, a fansite would be a good opportunity to create a niche online audience and encourage audience participation and feedback.
Example:SPICE GIRLS FAN SITE
SPICE GIRLS FANATIC is a fan site created by fans of the legendary 90’s girl band The Spice Girls.

HOMEPAGE: The homepage is in the style of a blog displaying the latest updates, site notices and gossip posted regularly by the author ‘Justin’. This also includes official site quick links, latest releases and schedules, the latest hottest headlines and exclusive music downloads.
OTHER SITE CONTENT:
Images - pictures gathered from different websites/ magazines/ articles /blogs -from old pictures of the band when they were still together to pictures from their solo careers
Music - fans can select any information of single, promo and album releases from the Spice Girls solo and group careers. Fans are able to preview the tracks, view the lyrics and are given extras such as the dates of release, music video screen shots and their UK chart positions.
On Screen - Fans can check out all the Spice Girls movie and television details including feature-length films, documentaries, instructional videos, sitcoms, soaps and reality TV.
Stage - World tours, nationwide tours, cancelled tours, and even Broadway shows fans can get the 411 on the Spice Girls performance history including individual members
Writing - A list of all magazines, books, tour books, autobiographies and more written by or about the Spice Girls
Downloads - Desktop Wallpapers Fonts Messenger & Blog Icons Music MP3s Printable Calendar
Internet - Featured affiliates –different fan sites which have contributed to the content and making of the Spice Girls Fanatic
Street team - Fans can promote their favourite Spice Girl through the internet by downloading micro icons or jumbo icons and displaying them on their online blogs or journals to all their friends
THE POSITIVES OF A FAN SITE- Fan sites tend to be very user friendly as they are created by the fans and not professionals, encouraging audience participation
- They are usually easy to navigate- you don’t need to register/become a member to get full access to the site unlike official websites
- Most writing/blogs in conversational tone which can bring audience closer to the site and encourage feedback
- fan sites can usually display any opinions they have with the freedom to do so (democratisation)
- there is emphasis on the fact that the site has been set up by fans who are trying to interact with others through this particular interest -all through the perspective of a fan
- Narrowcasting – the website is creating a niche online community through their particular interest
OFFICAL WEBSITES
Example: THE OFFICIAL PINK WEBSITE
As this is an official site it is very professional looking, and which unlike fansites requires a sign in to experience the full advantages of the website - by doing this you sign yourself up as an official fan .
Advantages of being a member are recieving email updates, picture/video/wallpaper downloads and more
The features on the homepage are basically the same as a fansite including news, music, photos, video, events and bio -additions are the forum and store
All of these have a higher quality and provide exclusive information and sources so that material on the website is accurate and not out dated quickly.
Both of these websites would be useful to set up for our artist as they would create an online community of fans interested in finding out more about Golnessa, expanding her fanbase. This would create word of mouth marketing where fans can send on the link to friends.





