The culture industry.

Remembering to reference: Production of culture/ Cultures of Production (ed) Paul Du Gay, Sage 1997.

On Mondays lesson, we started by viewing a variety of some of the X factor audiences from this year and then discussing what we would think of the acts from a recording industry point of view, for example:

- their image

- Are they different?

- Would you sell?

- to confident, maybe making them a problem to work with (diva)?

- What else can they sing?

- too vulnerable?

- Trustworthy?

If they fitted these labels and were all round pretty good, vocals and personality, then the question was would they actually fit the music industry after X factor? The X factor can be seen as a HEGEMONIC institution.

Are X factor looking for talent OR just money makers?

- What audience will they appeal to?

- What songs can they sing?

- Can they be christmas number one?

- How marketable are they?

- The artist is a 'commodity'?

- What genre will the artist fit into?

The Culture Industry:
Adorno and Horkheimer came up with the idea of 'culture industry', due to showing the view of wanting to argue that the way in which cultural items were produced was analogous to how other industries manufactured vast quantities of consumer goods. They also agrued the idea of some music was being degraded by other genres, such as opera being degraded by 'pop'.

Example of the Culture Industry are 'JLS' products:

How does the X factor change people?
X factor changes artists from their original talent, to an act that matches the music industry and the target audience in which it fits. For example it changed the group, 'JLS' who started off as an act mainly including harmonies and casual clothes to a group with a 'sex appeal' image and an act that includes now more pop/dance music.


Adorno and Horkheimer stressed the structures of economic ownership and control of the means through which cultural products are produced and argued that this directly shapes the activities of creative artists and consumers. They believed if you didn't fit the 'typical image', then you probably wouldn't fit in the business.

In example of this is boy bands, the typical boy band is known as:

-good looking
-more than 3 people
-same genre of music

The boybands below are an example of this, the only main difference between these bands is that they have different aged target audiences:

Production Journal

On the first week of getting our briefs for the music video task, we got together as a group and started to decide what genre we wanted. After we decided to choose former girl group, 'Mis-teeq's song 'Scandalous'; I decided to start looking at the genre of the song and the characteristics in which could be included in the video. I also started to analysis some more music videos and thinking about the 'edge' that our group wanted to put onto the music video style.

Genre Prezi

Genre Characteristics of 'Pop' and 'R'n'b'. on Prezi

Chosen Brief Genre Guide

Genre.

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The Wanted - Lightning Music video analysis

Lightning – The Wanted

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Chosen Brief...

Music Video Brief
You have been asked to devise and make a promotional music video for the new act detailed below. As a new act, the record label is keen that this first release appeal to a wide audience and establish an image that is both recognisably unique and appealing to their target audience. With this in mind, their first release will be a cover version and will be used as a platform for future original releases. The record label is happy for this releease to be any of the theree ssongs listed below and would like you to choose whichever one you can make a dynamic promo for, as the key thing is to get them exposed!

Good Girlz Bad
Fiona(19), Sarah(18), Louise(21) and Chelsea(19) formed Good Girlz Bad in 2009 when they all responded to an advert in theStage magazine (they are a manufactured band) and all went to performing arts schools/were working on perfoming arts courses.They are signed to Sony BMG.

Sound: Funky Pop
Ideology: Girl power makes comeback...with an edge
Influences: Spice Girls, Cyndi Lauper, Destiny's Child
Likes: Shopping, girly chats, travelling, independent women, learning new things
Dislikes: Footballer's wives, being told what to do, copycats.

THE CHANGES:
The group has thought of a few changes to this brief, including the name of the band which we have changed to, 'The Studed Roses'.

Sony Corporation

'Sony Music Entertainment is a global recorded music company with a roster that includes a broad array of both local artists and international superstars. The company boasts a vast catalog that comprises some of the most important recordings in history. It is home to premier record labels representing music from every genre.'

Sony BMG are a major Music entertainment distribution company which have a global network of companies that are invovled with their work. Record labels help the expansion of the company, record labels who are involved with Sony are:

American Recordings, Arista Nashville, Arista Records, Battery Records, Beach Street Records, BNA Records, Columbia Nashville, Columbia Records, Day 1, Epic Records, Essential Records, Flicker Records, J Records, Jive Records, LaFace Records, Legacy Recordings, MASTERWORKS, Polo Grounds, RCA Records, RCA Nashville, RCA Red Seal, RCA Victor, Reunion Records, Roc Nation, Sony Classical, Sony Music Latin, Star Time International, Verity Gospel Music Group, and Volcano Entertainment.

1. Song Entertainment company owned a variety of subsidiary labels one being one of the Big Four music companies, and includes ownership and distribution of recording labels such as Arista Records, Columbia Records, Epic Records, J Records, Jive Records, RCA Victor Records, RCA Records, Legacy Recordings, Sonic Wave America, and others.

2. The music industry is transitioning from a single product model to a different service model licensing, broadcasting, marketing, on-demand services. Other than the record label there are other products produced by other companies such as Bertelsmann which is a content and distribution company; helping with book and magazine publishers and broadcasters. They make money by producing and distributing information, which is paid for by advertisers as time goes on.

Rough Trade

Rough Trade and the 1970's:

- How did Rough Trade start?

Rough Trade started as a small record shop in 202 Kensington Park Road. Geoff Trans decided to open the record store.

- Which music trends were popular?

Punk was the most popular genre of music in which Rough Trade started their business selling, however Jamaican music is also sold.

- What was the ethos of Rough Trade at this time?

The ethos of Rough Trade at the time was, 'Anyone could make a record'. The idea of the trade being, 'a do it yourself attitude'.

- How was Rough Trade different to large corporations?

Rough Trade were different to large corporations as they sold magazines as well as records in their company, which allowed people to be in an environment where they could just listen to music. They also sold albums of bands that just sent in a recording and they got back to them with what they thought.

- What techniques were used to expand the Independent music scene?

Rough Trade expanded their Independent music scene is many ways, Richard Scott who joined in 1977 began by offereing mail order accounts, allowing the Independent music business to branch out and expand through ways in which a Mainstream couldn't. Different bands such as 'Scritti Politti', were told by Rough Trade they could perform in their store which effected the company expanding. They also allowed the people who sung to go 50/50 with shares, and allowing them to leave when they wanted to.

- How did this lead to Rough Trade's expansion?

This lead to Rough Trade's expansion due to the public appeal that they gained which Mainstream companies couldn't, as Rough Trade were more personal to people with that music taste. New bands and artists joined, allowing more variety.

- What type of business structure existed in the 1970's?

The Principle Project was the main business structure, they wasn't interested in building an Empire.

- Explain the successes of the distribution department and record label?

In 1978, Rough Trade signed up to a group of Belfast Punks and in february 1979 Rough Trade and 'Stiff little fingers' joined and was the first British Independent album to sell over 100,000 copies. The cash flow of this success allowed them to sell new records, Rough Trade began to sell and pop music; known as commerical music.

The 1980's:

- How did contracts effect the development of Rough Trade?

The contracts effecteds Rough Trade's development as because they wasn't stable contracts, Rough Trade due to this experienced financial difficulties. In 1982, the Rough Trade store was sold to three of it's staff as it was unable to fund it's business.

- What issues occured between the record label and distribution?

The Record label staff had a conflict between distribution and record label and seemed it wouldn't be resolved. Rough Trade wanted to stick to there morals of selling records by artists and bands.

- What changes did this lead to within the business structure of Rough Trade?
Firstly they left their original shop in which they started their business and moved to Kings Cross. There was also negative management towards the end of the 80's as the arguments between distribution and the record label started. 'The Smiths' relationship between Rough Trade was becoming antagonistic.

- What has been Rough Trade's ideology and how was this effected by the change in structure?

Rough Trade's ideology started as a company that ared more for principle than money, however doing the 1980's Rough Trade were finding it hard with money and 'The Smiths' were their only hope at the time to keep the business going.

- Which artists led to success for Rough Trade?

'The Smiths' led to Rough Trade being known at the time.

- What music trend emerged at the end of the 1980's?

Indie music began due to 'The Smiths' performance with Rough Trade.

- What differences were there at this time between Rough Trade and other independent music labels?

Although they was a larger corporation, Rough Trade would still sell their artists as independent.

The 1990s:
- What problems did Rough Trade incur at the start of the 1990's?

In July 1990, the company moved to yet any location and Rouh Trade began to crash as they lost money and in march 1991, the staff had been dropped.

- What effect did this have on the Record label and distrbution?

The company was falling apart and losing business, the disagreements between record label and distrubution had caused the company to break.

- How did major record labels branch out into the independent music scene?

They changed contracts due to the public performance and began with a new record label with a bigger name.

- What actions were taken to revive Rough Trade?

When Jeannette and Geoff moved into the office in 1991,they started different ways to change the company and in 1993 the signed up a new artist.

- What new music industry areas did Rough Trade begin to work in and with which artists?

Rough Trade signed up with 'Pulp', who was known as something different for the era, this change allowed Rough Trade to start up a successful business again.

21st Century:

- How was Rough Trade envolved in the 21st century?

In 2001, Rough Trade decided to come back into the industry and signed up a new band, 'The Strokes'. Rough Trade decided to do this due to their success at the end of the 90's with 'Pulp's' single, 'Common People', which reached number two in the charts. 'The Strokes kicked started Rough Trade's name back into the music industry. They also featured in the 'Timeout' magazine in London, advertising the new band and indie/guitar genre of music.

- How are their working practises different to the music produced through programmes such as X factor?

Rough Trade disagree with the way in which shows such as, 'X factor' produce music artists as they are brought into the music industry without knowing very little about the industry, explaining why many artists don't least for long periods of time after the program.

- What successes have they had at this time?

Rough Trade manage 'Duffy' as an artist and feel that when she is ready to release her singles, they help her do so.

- How was Rough Trade's ideology developed for the company in the present day?
Rough Trade's ideology has stayed the same through most of their 30 years of business, they are a laid back independent company that look after their artists.

Tenacious D - 'Tribute Music Video' analysis.

Genre Characteristics:

- Guitar - live performance

- Rock 'n' roll - braking the machine

- Ripping shirt to show his chest.

- Video is a parde as it isn't serious (linking to the idea of Jack Black being a comedian.

- Kicked out of the photobooth machine - Rock/violent-like.

- They dont look like typical rock stars (show parde).

Relationships between lyrics and visuals:

- 'We looked at each other' - they look at each other and sing the lyrics.

- Points and shows different hand signs and actions to the lyrics.

- Overall, the video illustrates the song throughout the whole music video.

Relationships between music and visual:

- Electric guitar solo shows the sound of a flash and a flash on the music video is then shown.

- Music builds up and then the visual story changes.

- Music fades out, devil dies at the end, the story ties up at the end.

Influence of the record label and use of close ups:

- Close up shots in the photo booth when they are together show their expressions.

- Close ups of the people in the video, showing them for who they are, their personality is shown, showing the comedian.

References to the notion of looking/voyeurism:

- Camera is positioned where the screen would be given the audience a different perspective

Intertextual references:

- CD at the end of the video which comes out of the photo booth.

- Ben Stiller featuring in the music video as well as a film that is linked to it.

- Dave Grohl is alos featured.

'99 Problems' Jay Z analysis

Genre characteristics:

-Urban setting: Brooklyn, NY - Jay Zs 'hood'. He makes a point of drawing our attention to this by revealing the name on his hoodie.

-Representations: of gangster lifestyle - crusing in cars, dog fights, loitering on the streets, getting pulled over by the police, basketball and guns.

- Street dancing/freestyle

- Scantily - clad 'sexy' women = cheap looking, gold bikinis

- Jail scenes - all inmates are black

- Stereotypical race representations - white guy in a suit, policeman is white, black people are on 'the streets'.

- Goes against convention of representations of wealth - lacks fancy cars, clothes, bling, women, etc.

Relationships between lyrics and visuals:

- 'From the hood' - pulled the hood down

- 'Radio' - shows visual of radio

- 'But the bitch ain't one' - female image of woman pouting.

- 'Jay Z' - pointed to himself.

- 'Fast forward' - moves hands gradually.

- 'Paparazzi' - flash movement of screen.

- 'Dollars' - does money signs with hands

- 'Hit me' - someone shots a pullet at him.

- 'talk to the Lord' - shows a crucifix.

- 'Put the pedal to the floor' - motorbike

- 'do you mind if I look round the car a little bit' - police officer goes around car.

Overall, images illustrate the lyrics - sometimes very literally somethings in a more subtle way.

Relationship between music and visual:

- Video is cut in time with the beat of the music.

- Music is hard - hitting, aggressive sounding with the emphasis on beat rather than melody - visuals are also harsh = looking and edits are fast paced to emphasis this aggression.

Influence of record label and use of close ups:

- Lots of shots of Jay Z - not all close ups but there are some.

- Close-ups of other men as well = looking.

- Shots of women are looking from long shots/mid shots - because they're not important.

- Less emphasis on Jay Z on his own - he is an established artist and doesn't need as much exposure.

- Jay Z has his own record label as well as being part of Island/ Def Jam - quite independent, evidence of less control by the label in this video than you might expect from a more mainstream/ major label.

References to the notion of looking/ voyeurism:

- Jay Z puts his hands over the camera so that it seems as through the audience is looking through his fingers.

-X ray vision shot of money in boot - we can see through the boot.

- Scopophillic treatment of women is quite uncomfortable to watch - seems totally unnecessary.

- Early establishing shots are almost point - of - view, creating the impression that the audience are looking around the hood.

- Video of Jay Z outside subway station.

Intertextual References:

- Possibly a video of him - referencing himself?

Media Lesson - Journal 2.

Hype Williams
-Signature Style: used with fisheye lens (stopped using it in 2003).
-Split screen (borders of other images either side of the shot).
-Synchronous: goes in time (showing a period of time in order).

'Love the way you lie' analysis

Analysis of ‘love the way you lie

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Joseph Kahn - Love the way you lie.

Joseph Kahn (music video director)

Joseph kahn

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Michael Jackson - appearance change.

This powerpoint shows different images of the rapid appearance change of the ‘King of Pop’, Michael Jackson from the start to the end of his career:

Michael jackson change

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Michael Jackson Case Study of Media Change

This is my Michael jackson case study of how he had changed throughout his music career from birth to death.

Media Lesson - Journal 1.

Sine cinema was invented, it allowed music and videos to be brought to life; with the music creation starting in the 1920s.

1970s- the record industry discovers TV shows as a great opportunity to promote their artists; Bohemian Ryapsody by Queen was a ground breaking video:

Technical Codes:

Camerawork - camera movement, angles and shot distance all need to be analysed. Closeups predominate, as in most TV partly because of the size of the screen and partly because of the desire to create.

Editing - through the most common form of editing associated with the music promo is fast cut montage, rending many of the images impossible to grasp on first viewing thus ensuring multiple viewing, there are ideas which use slow pace and gentler transitions to establish mood.

Editing - often enhancing the editing are digital effects which play with the original images to offer different kinds of pleasure for the audience. This might take the form of slight screens, colourisation and of course blockbuster film sytle CGI.

Greenscreen - Chro-mokey

The advert of high quality colour videotape recorders and portable video cameras.

Development: In 1990's the techniques became common

-fast cut montage

-multiple viewing

-effects

Andrew Goodwin writing in 'Dancing in the distraction factory' (Routledge 1992)

1. Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics (eg. stage performance in rock video, dance routine - pop videos)

2. There is a relationship between lyrics and visuals.

3. There is a relationship between music and visuals. Some visuals will...

Amplifies

Illustrates

Contradicts

4. 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).

5. There is frequently reference to the motion of looking (screens within screens, telecopes, etc) and particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female body.

6. There is often intertextual reference (to films, tv programmes, other music videos etc) for example Michael Jackson 'Thriller'.

Intertextual references can add another dimension of meaning to a text, as well as fulfilling an important role for audiences. They can work on different levels so that they will be understood by some, but not necessarily all, of the audience. Those who do 'get' the reference feel privilege, as though they are in on a secret.