One Directions Record Label: Syco, Columbia
Genre: Pop, Pop-rock, Teen pop
Advantages of Pop Lables:
- Money for, costume, setting, location, lighting, actors and so forth - stylists - marketing people - producers - costume designers - choreographers - SPECIFIED AUDIENCE
Disadvantages:
- Cannot be unique as large record labels often 'control artists'
Lanters On The Lake Record Label: Bella Union
Genre: Indie Rock
Advantages of Indie Label:
- Lets you stay authentic and true to the music - it's about the music and not the image - loads of control over your own sound if you are a real musician
Disadvantages: - Not a wide range of audience - Not much of a budget for equipment, stylists, locations and so forth.
In the music industry there are some artists which are mainstream and are often signed to huge record labels and those who are indie (independent) this often means an artist is signed to an indie label or actually does all the work without any record label. In this post i am going to speak about the differences in mainstream and indie but also the pros and cons of both.
Young Thug VS Big Narstie
Young Thug:
Young Thug is an American artist signed to a major label Warner music group, this label also has artists such as:Rick Ross, Meek Mill and Wu Tang Clan on its roster.Young Thug only makes hip-hop music but WMG sign artists from all genres.He is most well known for his single 'Stoner' .Young Thug will reach great commercial success because he is signed to a major label because if will allow him to reach a wider global audience as well as be able to collaborate with other artists which are already well established in his genre.Been in the industry from 2011.Young thug also has his own clothing line 'young stoner life'.
Big Narstie:
Big Narstie is an English grime artist signed to dice recordings limited which is an independent label it only has 3 other artists on its roster: LDP,Caspa C, and Ohema x. Big Narstie being signed to an independent label will be aloud to do a lot more things as an artist as well as socially.He has collaborated with global stars such a N-dubz but has never reached global success.He has a small clothing line which he promotes through his music,website and vlogs.
Pros and Cons of Indie Label
When signed to an indie label you have a lot of creative control of your music for example if Big Narstie made a song he would not have to make any changes to it so it works on the commercial market
Its more about the music and not the image of the artist
Not likely to make as much money often with an indie label the artist does get to keep most of their money made but it is often not very much
Artist may have to fund some projects themselves
You are in tuned with your audience
Pros and Cons of Major Label
The artist will reach a global audience easier because major label will have more money to spend on advertising
Access to better perks Studios,marketing,production and costume designers
Choreographers to help you portray your self a certain way
Manufactured
Less creative control
This is an article which i found interesting about mainstream and independent rap music.
In the paradise video there is only one costume throughout the video and it doesn't really link to the structure of the song. Although when it changes location to the desert type setting it links because it is the elephants natural habitat. This costume also does not link to this genre of music.
Use of setting and location:
There were about 8 different locations used and some of them linked to the costume these were the zoo and the desert setting.It wasn't a typical alternative video because it wasn't performance throughout the video but only at the end.
Video 2: Kranium - Nobody has to know Genre: Dancehall
Use of costume:
In the Kranium video everyone was wearing casual clothing, which didn't really link to the song in any type of way.When they are in the house the women is wearing a red dress and he is stripped down to a vest and jeans.
Use of Location:
There were 5 locations used in total.When in the bedroom the red seductive dress links to the location because it was clear what was going to happen next.The location of the house and bedroom is typical of this genre because it is known for its explicit videos and the bedroom is normally one of the main locations.
Video 3: Young Thug- Lifestyle
Use of Costume:
In the lifestyle video the men are all wearing expensive clothing there are women in bikinis this links to the song because they are rapping about the lavish lifestyle which they live this is being projected by the clothing and women with the perfect figure.In Hiphop this is typical of artist to show of their flashy clothing.
Use of Setting:
The locations were either showing the lavish lifestyle they are living or were they have come from.The cars,private jets,big houses and ghetto areas are kind of typical settings in Hiphop videos.
This blog will discuss the representation of Gender using Nicki Minaj's music video 'Anaconda' and Super Grass 'Alright'.
Nicki Minaj's music video for 'Anaconda' is somewhat interesting!It is a rather controversial music video as there is a lot of reference to sex and sexual innuendos. Nicki Minaj's renowned for the size of her 'butt', it is her signature body part, along with her slim toned figure. She refers to the size of her bottom in most of her songs. She has an extremely large fan base, but many mothers do not commend their daughters looking up to Nicki Minaj as a role model, due to the fact she openly shows off her body in a sexual way to make money. Amongst her older women fans, young girls look up to her also. This video is deliberately over the top, this video has been planned and executed in the way Minaj's managers and producers wanted. The setting is in the jungle, it could be said this is deliberate as black people unfortunately have been racially abused in the past and have been called animalistic this is historical representation. Other settings include the gym, this connotes fitness and perhaps is sending a message out to girls that in order to attract men they have to stay thin. She is also seen in a kitchen, a domestic, feminised setting. However she slices up a banana, perhaps representing castration, showing female dominance. Overall this is a fragmented representation of a woman. Mulvey argues that women are 'dismembered' in all forms of media- there is no focus on women as a whole, but a focus on their body. She says this is responsible for some women's focus and obsession with specific parts of their bodies (bums, legs etc). Nicki Minaj is aware of how black women's bodies are presented, she's trying to use this to her advantage. She has succeeded as her body sells alot of her music, she has created a larger fan base, black women are known for having large bums and many men like that fact.
After watching the majority of music videos from the A2's last year, I have chosen a music video that impressed me,
(password: student) The main attractive aspect is the editing. The use of slow and fast motion was used throughout the video which did a successful job of emphasising certain shots and views within the video. Also, black and white shots make a clear separation between the past and the present which is useful for me as part of the audience because I am able to make sense of the story behind the visuals. One part that I like in particular is when the two buses pass each other on Waterloo bridge. This occurs in the first chorus. It is a very stunning shot because of the sunshine and matches the song perfectly. It creates a calming mood which allows me to enjoy what I am seeing because the pace is quite slow.
In this video, Nicki Minaj changes her outfit seven times. Most of her
outfits link to the setting she is in, for example, in the gym scene, she is
wearing workout clothes. All of her costumes are tight and show off her assets,
especially her bum which is what the song is basically about. The minimal
amount of clothes is typical to the hip-hop genre. There isn’t a specific
structure linking the costume and the verses.
USE OF SETTING AND LOCATION There are only three proper different looking locations in this video (the
gym, the jungle and the kitchen) the other scenes seem to be in the same place
with the white background. These locations are no well known locations. The
white background studio is typical to this genre, however the jungle is not.
USE OF PROPS This video does not really contain any typical props of this genre. In the
gym she has a Mate Fit bottle and weights, in the kitchen she has an apron and is
surrounded by fruits.
VIDEO 2: JESSIE J –
BANG BANG (RnB)
USE OF COSTUME In this video, Jessie J herself only has three costumes.
Everytime there is a new verse, out comes a different person with a different
costume. Typical to the RnB genre, the outfits are really tight and quite
revealing.
USE OF SETTING AND LOCATION This video contains three main locations; a busy street, a glamorous
bedroom and a helipad on a skyscraper. There aren’t really any links between
the locations and the costumes. However, having a helicopter on the helicopter
shows wealth which is typical to this genre; to show off.
USE OF PROPS Most of the props used in this video are linked to being rich, from the
fancy car that Jessie J comes out of, to the expensive looking glasses. Also
the use of makeup links to beauty which is an important part of the industry.
VIDEO 3: CLEAN
BANDIT- EXTRAORDINARY (DANCE)
USE OF COSTUME The main singer/narrator in
thihs video changes costumes 6 times. Everytime there is a new verse, she has a
new outfit (most of the time). He costumes link to the locations and settings;
she is in warm looking settings and her oufits suit the hot weather , shorts
vests, swimming suits etc. Also the costumes are quite simplistic.
USE OF SETTING AND LOCATION There are way more than six locations in this video in a foreign country, a
not very known location. The video is filmed in random spots of that country;
waterfalls, beaches, streets, green open spaces. The randomness of the location
is typical to the dance genre.
USE OF PROPS The use of props in this video is very minimalistic. It includes simple
things such as instruments: pianos, violins and cellos. A car was also used but
it wasn’t a flashy one.
1.The amounts of costume changes in all the videos
are quite high. All the artists change their outfits a lot.
2.Both the Hip-hop and RnB videos have similar
types of costumes; tight, revealing and OTT, whereas the outfits in the Dance
video are quite simple and casual.
3.The Hip-hop and RnB videos are filmed in either
busy locations or locations which indicate being rich, whereas the locations in
the Dance videos are very minimalistic, more pure such as all the nature
involved and calm.
4.The props in the Dance video are also
minimalistic, not put there to show off such as the instruments, whereas the
props in hip-hop and RnB, from the gold chains and the helicopter all link back
to wealth and showing off.
Laura Mulvey's theory rebels against the fifties 'perfect house wife' expectation that women will be passive, submissive, have an hourglass figure and that she must be sexy for her man. The theory was devised in the late sixties/early seventies. Mulvey rejected the idea that men were dominant in society, and did not want a patriarchal society. She proposed that women 'de-gender' themselves of sexuality and femininity in order to bring about the post feminist society. This consisted of both genders having legal equality, and that women could be confident and happy with their bodies. They could use their sexuality and femininity for themselves and play it to their advantage.
Mulvey said that male characters in film were seen as the protagonists, and they were represented as active participants in order to drive the narrative forward. She said that female characters were shown as passive, and would respond to the the actions of the male characters. Mulvey was angry that females had been fetishized and objectified by the cameras (male gaze) and believed that the Hollywood industry was controlled by men.
Opposition & Representation of Gender
Men; Strong (Muscles) Charismatic (Leadership) Sexual Confidence Good sexual performer Fighter Handsome - Rugged but not 'pretty' as the audience can't identify with this, and want to avoid homo-eroticism Intelligent/Cunning Commanding/Leaders
A strong female; Butch (Muscles) --> 'Lesbian' stereotype Demanding/Bossy Sluttish/Promiscuous Uses sex for power and to dominate men Fighting fetishized --> Elements of S&M/Bondage Hot/Beautiful/Stacked Intelligent/Manipulative
Strong male attributes in a women are represented negatively and are typically characteristics attributed to antagonists as women are seen as weak, and should fulfil the 'princess' role.
Male GazeMulvey proposed that the camera angles could be used to fetishize the female body parts, which would sexualise them and objectify them in film. She believes Hollywood is guilty of objectifying women and making it acceptable for men to look at women in this way, and it is therefore responsible for lots of gender stereotyping. By doing this the women (and women in general) are objectified; the male gaze would cause them to not be represented as a person, but as an object. Her theory is that males in the cinema get to voyeuristically objectify and look at a woman in a way that is socially acceptable.
Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics (e.g. stage performance in metal video, dance routine for boy/girl band).
There is a relationship between music and visuals (either illustrative, amplifying, contradicting).
The demands of the record label will include the need for lots of close ups of the artist and the artist may develop motifs which recur across their work (a visual style).
There is frequently reference to notion of looking (screens within screens, telescopes, etc) and particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female body.
There is often intertextual reference (to films, TV programmes, other music videos etc.)
The main function of a music video is to promote an
artist/group, their single and/or album. Through different aspects of mise en
scene, camerawork and editing, the audience are entertained and invited to
engage with the artist/story if there is one. In addition music videos often do
a good job of highlighting an artist’s talent (this could be anything from
dancing to just generally performing) making them more popular and ‘successful’
in the entertainment industry. Another function of a music video is to tell the
story of the song/lyrics through moving image.
Little mix’s video ‘salute’ supports my explanation as we see them performing looking directly at the camera which engages the audience. They become real characters and not just voices we hear on the radio. All four artists are able to portray their strong characters, this is done so especially through the use of costume. Black leather clothing may connote strength and these young women have a wide fan base all around the world, who look up to them as role models. Female power and equality are major issues and Little Mixes producers and marketisation people made sure to present the members of the group as sassy young women.
This works as promotion for the group because the audience become interested in the whole package and not just the sound.
The function of a music video is to First of all Promote the Artist. Most of the time the soul purpose of the music video is to promote the artist as the artist is the highlight and the main ingredient to make a record label lots of money. However; not all genre’s music video has the same purpose. Some music videos simply create visual pleasure for the specific target audience of that genre. Music Videos can also be used for representation. Music artists use videos to represent themselves and sometimes a sex as a certain thing. For example some female artists such as Nicki Minaj represents her self as a sex object. This has become her unique selling point. We can see this in her new music video 'Anaconda'
Music videos
are used to first of all advertise the song released by the artist. It also
helps a lot to allow the artist to set a sort of image or identity for their
fans to understand and experience. Also, a music video is made for visual
pleasure.
Rihanna’s
‘Rude Boy’ video is very complex in terms of editing. A green screen has
obviously been used for everything that is going on in the background, all
sorts of images and animations. This genre of this song R&B and I think
that Rihanna’s video includes generic signifiers of this genre. For example,
the way she is dressed; the clothes she is wearing are tight on her body or
short. Also the way she dances is very provocative and sexual. In certain
scenes she is surrounded by males, which is typical of this genre (to be
surrounded by the opposite sex) and she dances with them also. Also, the way
she dances reflects her identity and her Caribbean roots; she dances in a sort
of dancehall style hence the provocative dancing.
All the random
and bright coloured animations and images going on in the background are also
signifiers of her personality, they make her seem edgey and different. This
could intrigue the audience and especially her fans. In terms of filming, there
are not many types of shots used in this video; mostly just mid shots, wide
shots and close ups.
Request for copyright permission to use part or whole of: Krept & Konan ft Chip, French Montana, Wretch 32, Fekky, Chinx Drugs - Don't Waste My Time (Remix)
I am a student of A level media studies and for my advanced portfolio i will be working in a group to produce a promotional package for release of a new album track.I would like to request to use the above track for this project.
The finished project will not be available publicly and will be used solely for coursework purposes. The holder of the orginal project will be fully acknowledged in the finished project.
If you do not hold the rights for this song i would be grateful if you could forward this request to the appropriate person, or return it to me with the contact details in order that i might approach the copyright holder directly.
I wanted to use Rude Boy by Rihanna so I sent a letter to Def Jam asking them for permission to do so.
"Flat 61 Hornchurch
Gloucester Road
London
N17
6LR
13/08/2014
211 E 43rd St Suite
1404 New York,NY
Dear Sir/Madam,
I would like to make a music
video using ‘Rihanna – Rude Boy’.
I am a student of A Level Media Studies
and for my Advanced Portfolio I will be working in a group to produce a
promotional package for the release of a new album track. I would like to
request permission to use the above track for this project.
The finished project will not be
made available publicly and will be used solely for coursework purposes. The
holder of the original copyright will be fully acknowledged in the finished
project.
If you do not hold the rights for
this song I should be grateful if you could forward this request to the
appropriate person, or return it to me with the contact details in order that I
might approach the copyright holder directly.
Here is a copy of the letter I sent off to Sony Music UK. I was required to do this due to copyright reasons, as there are legal issues concerning the use of other artists songs without concent.
252 Fleeming Road
Walthamstow
London
E17
5EU
13/08/2014
Sony Music UK
9 Derry Street
London
W8 5HY
Dear Sir/Madam,
I would like to make a music
video using ‘Chip ft Delilah- Help Me’.
I am a student of A Level Media Studies
and for my Advanced Portfolio I will be working in a group to produce a
promotional package for the release of a new album track. I would like to
request permission to use the above track for this project.
The finished project will not be
made available publicly and will be used solely for coursework purposes. The
holder of the original copyright will be fully acknowledged in the finished
project.
If you do not hold the rights for
this song I should be grateful if you could forward this request to the
appropriate person, or return it to me with the contact details in order that I
might approach the copyright holder directly.
When in the music videos lessons in June, I learnt a variety
of different things about music videos which I didn’t know before. I now know
that in music videos the artist lip syncs with their song in order to have the
visual and the sound come together seamlessly. Michael Jackson’s video for
ghost was the longest music video ever made. Music video are not as structured
as a film they are more room for creativity, the camera does not have remain
stable. Music videos are often edited to the beat. I learned that a music video
is produced mainly for promotional purposes. Another reason an artist creates a
music video is to show their personality.
Technical
Skills
Last year for my AS year I learnt a variety of new skills
Editing:
·add titles to videos
·green screen edits
·adding animations
·creating vlogs with camtasia
·adding sound to a video
·Match cuts, jump cuts
·How to colour correct videos
Sound:
·I learned how to use creative commons to find
copyright free content
In the AS year i learnt an awful lot. I learnt how to use filming equipment including;
the fig rig
tripod
camera
lights/ dido lights
And much more!
I realised blogging ought to be consistent and thorough, irrelevant blogs that have nothing to do with the task are a waste of time. My blogs got a B last year, i'm aiming for an A this year definitely.
I also learnt about media terminology and different shot types.
Looking back on the AS year I learnt many things about music videos:
Music Videos usually relate to the lyrics in the song
'Base-Track editing' - the idea of recording the whole song in different locations and editing it so that it switches between different shots
'lip syncing' - the artist singing along to the track in the video
During the AS year I learned how to use different forms of technology in order to present my work, so this includes using technology such as Camtasia, Prezi and more importantly Final Cut Pro, to edit the work we did, these forms of technology will continue to be used throughout the A2 year also when it comes down to making our music videos.
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