Sunday, 20 October 2013

Unit 21.1 The purpose of a music video


The purpose of a music video

Distributors


Distributors play a huge part in the music industry. Big companies such as Sony and Universal own many smaller companies such as Interscope and Mercury. 

This gives their artists a much wider platform to advertise their music. In owning these smaller companies this gives smaller less known artists such as Afro man a bigger platform for their music. Companies such as Sony also have companies in different aspects of the media industry this is known as conglomeration - which is often found in many music labels. These can include companies in film and games. Universal for example have their own film company. This is great for advertising their artist’s music which can feature in the film its self, Which Adele’s song Sky fall did in James Bond or the song can feature in one of the advertisements before the film in a cinema. Sony owns the popular play station. The record label may decide they wish a song from their artist to feature on one of the games. The play station also uses Technology convergence as the play station is also used as a TV and a computer. This technique alone can also be known as Synergy. The record label can use this to their advantage and advertise the music on the game console. 

The record label will also show their artists music videos on music channels such as MTV and Kerrang. This advertises both the music and the artist creating a wider audience for them. The artists Music videos will also feature on many internet sites such as YouTube, Band camp and Vimeo. This will attract a much larger audience as the internet is now the main platform for music. Bon Jovi became famous through their many music videos in the eighties such as ‘Living on a prayer’. Their videos were mainly played through music channel MTV.

Income streams


Artists generate their money mainly form their tours and gigs. For instance Bon Jovi have reportedly earned up to $142 million on their recent tour in the past six months. This is an average of $8 million for each performance. (www.classicrockmagazine.com) .




During these tours the artist will also sell merchandise such as t shirts and bags. This will earn a couple more thousand for the record label. The artist will also earn a royalty each time their song is played on a radio station. The artist will earn mechanical royalties from CDs being sold in shops such as HMV. They will also receive mechanical royalties from internet companies such as amazon and E bay. Although they will not receive a large amount of money from this as most songs are downloaded of the internet. One of the most popular sites for downloading music is Sound cloud. The Artist will also gain Synchronisation royalties from their being played in films and adverts. Rihanna’s song ‘California king bed’ featured on Nivea’s 2011 advert. Rihanna would have received a synch royalty from this. An artist’s music video will have to been watched at least 200,000 times on You Tube before they will receive any money. Sony for example would have received a large royalty for many of Beyoncé's videos such as single ladies which has more than 150 million views. The songs and sometimes the artists themselves will be advertised on a YouTube channel. One of the most popular examples of this is Vevo which is owned by both Sony and Universal records. Both Sony and Universal would earn a large amount of money from the amount of hits each of their artists would receive for each video related to advertising.

Sunday, 22 September 2013

Unit 29.2 Video analysis

  



Michael Jackson - The way you make me feel 



Directed by Joe Pytka

Genre - R&B

The way you make me feel can be easily identified as R&B through the love story that can often be found in R&B. The video can also be identified through the classy dress the woman is wearing and Jackson's clothing is also very smart/casual another feature that can often be found in R&B videos. The video also has a urban setting which is often used in R&B music videos.


 

Type - Narrative/ Performance  (Conventions).

Jacksons - The way you make me feel tells the story of a street wise man trying to impress a high class lady.This is also told through the lyrics making a strong connection between the two. The title 'the way you make me feel' is shown through the storyline and lyrics as they both show a meaning of someone worth chasing. This video is also a partial performance video as Jackson lip syncs to the lyrics and dancing.

  

Star image motifs

Jacksons video shows many classic Michael Jackson motifs. Which include the classic white socks black shoes look that appears in almost all of his videos. the most obvious Jackson motif would have to be the style of dance. Which Jackson was very famous for. this also influenced a lot of modern day artists such as usher and Ne-yo.

 

Voyeuristic

 There is a voyeuristic element to the video as the public watch Michael Jackson and the back up dancers. There is also the woman and her group of friends as they watch the group dance.


Misc en scene

The video is set on a dark street at night with the street lights as lighting this maybe to give the video a more relatable and realistic image. Jacksons costume gives him a casual/smart look. the woman's costume is a classy dress. these both are to fit with the narrative.



Peter Gabriel - Sledgehammer 




Directed by - Stephan R Johnson

Genre
Prog rock/ Funk rock Sledgehammer can be identified as Funk rock through the drum and electric guitar beat. A beat that can be compared with Jimi Hendrix - Who knows (en.wikipedia.org) Sledgehammer can also be identified as Prog rock through the electric sound effects and abstract visual effects commonly found in many Prog rock songs.

Type
Concept/performance. The video for sledgehammer uses stop motion/clay animation to create the video. Sledgehammer is also a performance video as it is focused on Gabriel through out. He also mimes to the lyrics.

Conventions
The lyrics and video visuals are connected through out the music video. For example each time Sledgehammer is mentioned a Sledgehammer appears in the video. This also happens at the lyrics "you can have a bumper car. Bumping" At this point two Bumper cars appear at each side of him and bump into his neck.



Intertextual
Sledgehammer uses a inter-textual reference to David Lynch's 1977 film Eraserhead. In the film Lynch uses a clip of a moving chicken at the dinner table. (see below)In Sledgehammer there is a clip of two chickens dancing this could be a reference to that scene.



During the sledgehammer video there is a clip of fruit making a face. Another reference is to italian artists giuseppe arcimboldo famous Vortumnus (Vertumno) painting which was completed in 1590. Pictured below.


Ne-yo - One in a million 



Directed by Wayne Isham.

Genre
R&B This music video can be identified as R&B through many characteristics. Both the lyrics and video resemble a love story. the beginning of the video is set outside a classy café. Both the artist and back up dancers are dressed in a smart suit; waist coats, ties and braces. These give the video a sense of glamour which is often associated with R&B.



Type
Narrative The video displays a narrative of a man portrayed by Neyo trying to impress a woman through dancing but he gets distracted leaving the woman upset.
Conventions - The relationship between the video and lyrics are well represented through the choreography which frequently matches the lyrics. The lyrics 'all over the world' at this point the dancer create a circle like motion.

Intertextual
The video is almost like a tribute to Michael Jackson who died the year before this video was released. The story is comparable to Michael Jackson - the way you make me feel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzZ_urpj4As. The choreography almost mimics Jacksons style of dance. Neyo's suit is similar to Jacksons suit at the start of smooth criminal. The hat imaged below is also found in many of Michael Jacksons videos including you rock my world and smooth criminal.



Close ups
The close ups are mainly short depth of field of the woman. This maybe as the narrative is based around her and her reactions. There are mainly wide and mid shots of the artist as your attention is meant to be on the dancing. The voyeuristic elements of the music video are of the public watching the dance group perform both on the street and at the café.

Misc en scene
The music video is set outside a café and on the street this maybe to demonstrate the story is based on regular life situations. A skateboard is used which could be to symbolise the constant cycle of women.

Bon Jovi - Living on a prayer 




Directed by Wayne Isham.

Genre 
Rock
A Classic rock image is used for this video similar to the image below; long permed hair and leather jacket. the video can also be identified as rock through the guitar solo which is often associated with rock songs such as Queens - Bohemian rhapsody.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJ9rUzIMcZQ


Type - Performance (Conventions)
This video can be identified as a performance as it is set at a concert. Bon Jovi are on harnesses during the video this could represent the band being gods and granting the audiences prayers as the audience has done for them.

Close ups 
There are many close ups of the band members. Using short but strong lighting on the member to ensure focus on them. There is a spot light focused on the members at the time of the close ups.




Misc en scene
The costumes are a leather jacket with jeans which symbolises the classic for a rock star. The spot lights in the background constantly move and flash with the beat.