Creating a Mainstream Artist - Feedback

Positive

• Good in depth explanations and stories for the individual band members and characters.
• Good album artwork and poster.
• Impressive, appropriate release story for your artist/genre and good background story.
• Poster is really detailed and shows really well the characters behind each member. Very skilfully edited.
• Band name & album name are well thought out and appropriate. 
• Identities are successful.
• Great research.
• Album cover is professional and fits well.
• Press release story is really good.
• Clothes and hair show good research and understanding
• Good to show social media (Twitter)..
• Lots of thought and effort gone in.
• Good professional images
• Good font and background on image.
• Good album cover and idea.
• Twitter page inventive and good.
• Great scandal and top notch music video concept.
• Great picture!
• Good how you personalise each member.
• Generally fab!
• Good terminology

Constructive

• Too many band members?
• Don't think Jake belongs in the band.
• Could be a bit more consistent with clothes.
• Band members don't fit together.
• Colours look a bit reggae.
• Too much variety in the group
• Colours look a bit reggae.
• Too much variety in the group.
• Could use more terminology.
• Could include a few more pictures, as some parts of the blog are too text heavy.
• More text needed. Although visuals are good, the detail is a little thin in places.

Some of the feedback  contradicts itself, and this may be because some people haven't read all of the posts. I agree that more pictures could have been used, it is a bit text heavy in places but we included images that were appropriate and these were difficult to find.

 

Creating a Mainstream Artist

Task 

We had to create a  mainstream music artist, either a male or female breakthrough artist, or a teen boy band or girl band. I worked as part of a group.

Target Audience

We decided to create an image for a boyband. Our group will consist of 5 teenage males, and target girls aged 8-18, as we feel that they make up a large part of music sales, and tend to idolise groups like One Direction, or individual singers like Justin Bieber, styles which our group will emulate. The target audience will be from the UK, USA and Australia- the English speaking countries where boybands have had notorious successes in the past- as well as some western European countries like Spain and France, who also have a history of enjoying British boybands. The fan groups will be particularly strong in cities as people there are usually the first t follow new trends in fashion, culture and in our case boybands.

Our group will be called No Limits, as we feel that suggests that there could be a naughty element to the group and a dark side. The name could also inspire our teenage target audience, an age group that are insecure and can often have confidence problems.

The 5 members will each have an individual identity within the group, suggesting they may have solo careers later in life, when the group comes to an untimely end. The frequent split ups and reformations will keep the group in the public interest.

 The Members' Individual Identities

• Jake Davies - the leader of the group. The one who is never in the headlines for the wrong reasons, and is the real foundation of the group. An idol for the teen target audience. One may compare him to Gary Barlow.

• Mike Moretti - Mike is the somewhat rebellious one, one who is often in the headlines, sleeping with various other celebrities (I expect Caroline Flack would be one), often pictured in magazines and newspapers, and seen as the sex symbol of the group. As his name suggests, he is also a bit exotic, and a bit mystic, adding to the interest surrounding him.

• Peter Hodgson - Pete is a bit of an outsider in the group, one who doesn't get much attention and it would be easy to forget he was there. He is a bit quirky and different, which he uses to try and get himself noticed, but really, the other members' actions just overshadow him, as he doesn't like going out partying.

• Sean Simpson - Sean is a loose cannon. A drug addict in the past, he met Dwayne before the group rose to fame, and has used both the group and Dwayne to overcome his problems. While the rest of the group are always well presented, Sean often goes unshaven, with an unkept hairstyle and several shirt buttons undone or ripped jeans. He is the most working class member of the group, and therefore can relate to a lot of fans.

• Dwayne Phillips - the only black member of the group, mainly there to appeal to a wider target audience. He is regarded as the coolest member of the group, being a fantastic dancer with his impressive afro. There are rumours he is gay, his close friendship with Sean causing a stir, but he has yet to come out and address those rumours.

Hair and Style

The group style themselves very much on the modern teenager. Mainstream clothing from outlets such as Topman and River Island, with branded items worn as an easy way to gain money from advertising. Popular items such as chinos, skinny jeans and Converse shoes will be worn by the band.

Their hair will be modern and stylish, but each one different so they can be easily distinguished, and have their sense of individuality. Styles such as the quiff, the Bieber-esque sweep over and others will be used within the group. Also hairstyles may change as the group advances, but no two members will have the same style at the same time.

Each band member has their own style, to keep with this theme of individuality. Perhaps each member has their own colour too, as is the case with boyband JLS. Each member will also wear a different style of clothes, so to appeal to as wide a target audience as possible.

Poster

 
This image shows the entire group, and could be used as a poster advertising the album, as well as the album cover, obviously it would be made square. The images also associate with the individual personalities assigned the members of the group, using hair, clothes and pose.
 

Album Cover

Below is a sample of the album cover for the debut album, Open For Business. It is simple and stripped back, signifying the normal, not out of the ordinary nature of the group. It also has a stripy colour theme, to go with the above poster. This shows the range of personality that there is within the group.




 

Social Media

The group will have accounts on both Facebook and Twitter, as they are both good ways of free advertising as well as gaining fans and communicating with fans.

 

Press release story

Sean, part of the teen pop sensation No Limits, has once again been caught dealing drugs at a party at his apartment in Manchester. The alarm was raised after an emergency call, bringing paramedics and the police to the band member’s crib. After an investigation, it was found that Mr Simpson had been the supplier of cocaine to several B-List celebs who were in attendance, most of whom have not been named, bar Alan Titchmarsh who was admitted to hospital as a result of the rock star styled night. The band has subsequently split and their country wide tour has been suspended. It seems that Sean just doesn't know his limits.

This story show the band's lifestyle and portrays them as cool. It gives the band members an edge and shows the members acting individually.

 Song Cover

 

 The existing song to be covered would be an updated version of Robbie Williams' Let Me Entertain You. It is a good choice, as the song has all components to be converted into a successful boyband song, with a slow acoustic verse as well as a fast paced verse, and a very catchy chorus. Robbie Williams is also an ex boyband member of course, so similarities are there to be seen, and the song's two artists are relatable.

 

 

Music Video Concept

 

 

The song begins quite slowly, so that gives an opportunity for extreme close ups of each member singing into the camera. Notably, Peter, the outsider in the group, is playing piano, while the other four are stood around singing and Mike has a guitar but all together, which Peter is noticeably not a part of.

During the chorus, the scene is at a party, with all five members on stage singing the song to screaming fans- mostly teenage girls, but some attractive boys there- perhaps with skin showing- in order to make the target audience of teenage girls interested in watching again.

In the next verse the group are each shown with a low angled camera shot which they sing down in to. Later it shows the five in a sports car with the top down singing at the top of their voices, to emphasise their celebrity lifestyles.

Noticeably Dwayne and Sean are often seen together to fit with earlier preconceptions and sexuality rumours in the press.

Music Videos of the last few years

 

Psy - Gangnam Style 2012

 

 

 

This is a crazy video to go with a crazy song. It has dance routines, interesting mise en scene, a range of camera shots and some sort of narrative. It focuses on the lifestyle of the singer and shows his wealth and power. The cutting speed changes with the tempo of the song. Slow motion is used in some parts as well. There is a huge variety of locations and shots. Also the camera moves in a variety of ways. It uses tracking, zooms, dolly's. This music video can be seen to have some comedy elements. It is similar to LMFAO's videos most notably I'm sexy and I know it.

Maroon 5 - Love Somebody 2013

 

 

This is a very artistic but simple video. The focus is on the main singer and the special effects show him appearing slowly as he touches himself (not in that way croft). The other band members also appear but with the main focus on the lead singer which is the common convention. It is different from other videos and is a new idea. There is a brief narrative but its the effects and idea that attracts the interest.

 

Dan Black - Hearts 2013

 

This is a similar idea to the sledgehammer video featured in an earlier blog post. It is a time lapse over 24 hours.

Kanye West - Power

 

This video is  new and interesting idea and is has its likeness to a painting. The camera zooms out to reveal more of the "painting" and it gets more complex. The artist is in the centre of this shrine like image connoting power, dominance and wealth. This is all about image. The big gold chain, angels, he is presented as a god. It is simple but effective. It is also helped by the fact that it is only a short song so there is no need for a narrative. 

Music Videos of the 00's

Beyoncé - Single Ladies 2008

 

 

 

 

 



 

The video features a dance routine.  Beyoncé is the main focus throughout but again like the Madonna Vogue music video other dances play a significant role. It is shot in a studio and is relatively simple. It uses black and white with background changes. The camera shots vary a little between close ups and long shots and there is some camera movement through dolly's and zooms. The cutting speed for most of the video is slow but part way through there is a short period of fast cutting before the chorus. The dancers all have the same costume, hair and makeup and the interest come from good choreography rather than mise en scene. 

 

 

Britney Spears - Toxic 2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are several scenes that alternate in this video with the lead singer wearing a different costume. There is some comedy used which works well with the genre. There is a wide range of camera shots and movement. Special effects are used a lot and they create a fast tempo which matches the song. There is some narrative structure that references spy films and some dance sequences. The video is packed full of different elements which is a common feature of videos with solo artists.

 

 

Coldplay - The Scientist

 

This video was completely new and hadn't been done in this style before. The lead singer had to lip sync the song backwards so the effect would work. The style reflects the lyrics. The cutting speed is slow and this matches the music. The mise en scene is shows the artist as normal, there is no dance moves (because of the genre) and the camera shots and transitions used are simple. The interest comes from the way it has been filmed and working out the narrative structure backwards.

 

 



Music Videos of the 90's

Vogue - Madonna

 

This video contains lots of dance and has a unique style that relates to the song. The use of black and white makes it look professional and again relates to the song. The unique dance moves have been mimicked which shows the interest the video has generated. There are lots of close ups of Madonna and she is presented almost as a model. The lighting is focused on her in several shots. There are several different scenes and costume changes that are a convention of music videos with a solo performer. There are common dancers throughout the video and these play a big role as just dancers which is uncommon. It makes use of fades and dissolves early on in the video. The mise en scene chosen has connotations of art. The costume connotes a classy and high status feeling.

 

Beastie Boys - sabotage

 

 

 

 This music video is parodying the cop TV shows of the 1970's (some shots are filmed on cameras of the time). It has many conventions of these shows and even includes credits which screen shot an image with text over it. It is an opening sequence and introduces the individual members of the band by using a montage. The cutting speed is fast which matches the music. There is no performance and no lip syncing. There is a range of camera shots and movement which effectively parody the cop shows. The mise en scene is exaggerated in order to make clear that it is a parody. 

 

 

 

Mr C - Cha Cha Slide 

 

 

 

The Cha Cha slide is an example of a dance routine that has been copied by virtually everyone . The video contains the dance routine throughout with a variety of people dancing. The dance moves are easy and they reach to a wide audience.  Some shots are in a studio while others aren't.

 

 

Daft Punk - Around the world

 

 



 

This video is shot in a studio which for videos in this time period is rare. It has lots of different dance elements to it which create interest and counter the repetition. The dance moves, mise en scene and costume add interest and it is very different from other modern music videos.

 

 

The Verve - Bittersweet symphony

 



 

This is a very simple but effective video. It shows the artists lifestyle and marks him out as different to the other actors in the video that represent the rest of society. The mise en scene is chosen carefully to mark out the singer as different. Their is also a humour element when a variety of people fall.



Music Videos of the 80's

Judas Priest - Breaking the law 1980

 

 

There is a clear narrative where the band rob a bank brought about by the theme of the song and genre of music. It adheres to conventions that are found in films with a similar narrative that it is referencing e.g. hostages, useless security guard. The cutting speed is fast to match the music. The focus is on the lead singer. He is shown the most and when we have a point of view shot from one of the hostages it is a low shot so we are looking up at him. The costumes of the band are dark and fit with the genre of music. There is some performance as well as the narrative.

 

 

 

Peter Gabriel - Sledgehammer 1986

 

 

This video has won many awards. It uses stop motion animation and it was very impressive for audiences at the time. The strange images create huge interest to attract new viewers. There is no narrative and the camera stays stationary but the variety of mise en scene and the animation create all the interest. The cuts at the start are in time with the music.

 

 

Michael Jackson - Billie Jean 1982

 

 

The video denotes Michael Jackson is shown to be special and magical by the way everything he touches glows. He is beyond everyone else. He's also shown as caring by giving to the poor. The narrative shows how "special" he is a by his ability to escape by turning invisible. The focus is entirely on him and he entertains with his dancing. It uses split screening to good effect and different framing to add interest. The setting and mise en scene shows Michael Jackson in a working class environment and one which we don't associate with a rich pop star. This is done to widen the audience by appealing to the working class. 

 

 

 

Music Videos of the 70's

Bee Gees - Stayin alive 1977

 

 

 

This video is not filmed on a set and it's not performance based. It features the band walking to the beat of the music. Lots of low shots are used to show the lead singer as dominant. The camera focusses on the lead singer while the other members of the group are behind in a triangle formation. The mise en scene used comes from the lyrics in the song. The cuts are in time with the music and the use of zooms on the long notes means the song and video match well.  

 

 

The rolling stones  - its only rock and roll

 



 

 

This is an unusual music video. The rolling stones in a bouncy castle with bubbles. It is done purely to get people to watch something different. It is just a performance video. There is a lot of low shots used where the lead singer get close to the camera and sings. It doesn't have a narrative and the mise en scene appears to make no sense whatsoever. The camera angles and shots are simple and the transitions are cuts.

 

 

John Lennon - Mind Games 1973

 

 



 

 

 

This video doesn't include any performance. It connotes John Lennon as a kind and loving fellow. It focusses on his lifestyle but not in a way that other artists portray themselves. The conventions of videos that show lifestyle are mise en scene that show wealth but here the use of people show lifestyle. It is presented almost as a documentary. The fades and dissolves fit with the song because the tempo is slow.

 

 

 

 

Music Videos of the 60's

David Bowie - Space Oddity 1969

 

 

 

It is a performance based music video. There is use of red lighting, special effects and mise en scene which connotes the space theme. Close ups of the performer are used often showing that he is the main focus. The mise en scene and use of close ups show the performer as different and therefore interesting. This is to encourage the viewer to watch again. The special effects, although simple, are effective because the viewers of the time wouldn't have seen them before. There is some experimentation with the range of camera shots from close ups to medium shots. The use of dissolves and fades when focusing on the performer and mise en scene create another interest for the viewer.

 

 

Nancy Sinatra - These Boots Are Made for Walkin' (1966)  

 

 

 

This video is filmed on a set. It allows room for the dances in the background. The dance routine is easy to copy which creates interest as people try to imitate it. he camera generally stays still while the dancers move and look to the camera in different ways. The singer is in the foreground showing that she is the main focus while the other dancers are in the background. The colours are bright because of the pop genre. There isn't a narrative and only two changes of set and the singer never changes her costume. he editing consists of simple cut transitions. The cutting speed is slow and the video relies on the dancing to create interest rather than interesting use of camera shots.

 

 The rolling stones - Jumping Jack Flash 1968

 

 

 

 

 Its a performance based video. It has a fast cutting speed when the camera shots alternate between close ups of the band members. Most of the time the camera is on the lead singer. Only the lead singer breaks the fourth wall which shows that he is the main focus. The use of black and white and then coloured lighting increases the interest for the viewer. There is a wide range of camera shots and angles used. The camera movement adds more variety and helps keep the tempo high to match the song. The use of smoke in the background connotes a bit about the lifestyle of the band and the costume make the band appear "cool" It makes the viewer want to be Mick Jagger . The extravagant makeup sets the band out as different and therefore interesting. The dancing adds another interest.