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.