CD design Research

I research other CD cover designs to get a feel of how I would like our CD design to look.

The first CD I looked at was Miss-Teeqs CD from one of their first albums.

This CD is one of the many plain CD's i've seen. It doesn't have an image on it which is what we are looking for in our CD design, this is because we'd rather use our motif of white to represent the girls on the CD so this CD has given me inspiration for the final CD because it has the same block colour theme with just writing of the bands name and album name across it. The pink makes it seem feminine which tells the audience that this is an all female band and also attracts a younger audience so I would assume this Album was meant for 12- 18 age group. For Our CD I would like our cover to also be able to attract our target audience. This CD cover is a great source of inspiration for our groups CD design.

This CD came from Destiny's child 'Writings on the wall' album. This is a following theme on the CD because there is a plain silver CD with the track list around the CD. because Destiny's child were originally role models for our band I took a look at their CD design and found that they also use the same kind of theme as we want to use. The CD cover represents a mature style of music as its a plain and very adult colour and has writing across it in a simple font. Because this displays such a mature theme we probably wouldn't use this idea as much as we would use the mis-teeq one because our audience starts at 15 and Destiny's child audiences for this album were generally 16-25 or possibly older.

Finally I looked at TLC's creep CD which gave me as great idea. This cover is plain but the font still makes it fun and interesting. The idea of having an interesting font can be carried through on our CD because it would attract our target audience as well as allow us to use our white motif. This has given me the most inspiration out of all the CD's I've looked at because of the font and I can now base our final CD cover on this.

Advertisement Research

Advertisement research

View more presentations from Tia5133.

Digipak Covers and Research

Digipak cover research girlbands

View more presentations from Tia5133.

Record Label research

Big Mouth entertainment is the original record label for the band Ruff Diamondz. We wanted to research the record label and find out more about their demands and history as well as other artists and how long they keep their artists for so that we could see if we wanted to use this record label. Unfortunately there is no up and running website for Big Mouth Entertainment at this time however, because they already support the original band RD we have decided to consider this for our record Label.

BAD BOY RECORDS

History

Bad boy records (1993) had originally been founded as bad boy entertainment.It was founded by Rapper/producer/entrepreneur, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs. In the present times it acts as a subsidiary of Warner music group and is distributed by Atlantic records. Diddy had begun a internship as an A&R executive at Uptown Records but after being terminated he and a fellow intern founded Bad Boy entertainment. The first release was "Flava In Ya Ear" by Craig Mack which was followed by hits from artists like Notorious B.I.G and Faith Evans. The rapid development of Big Boy entertainment left Death Row entertainment sour. They were a rival Record label who also promoted rap artists and having to share the fame proved a hard task. It was When Suge Knight (CEO of Death Row) held Sean Combs responsible for his friend’s death that the feud really began. After the song ‘Hit em up’ was released at Notorious B.I.G’s expense, 2Pac Shakur ( a member of Death row and B.I.G’s long time rival) was shot dead. In 1997 Biggies double album ‘Life after Death’ was released and then he too was shot. This shooting caused speculation and controversy throughout the record labels as everyone was left to assume that both deaths had been the result of the ongoing feud. This is when Bad Boy records became infamous. In 2005 the record label saw a huge improvement in its fortunes with successes from brand new artists like Cassie and Young Joc . Sean combs also produced his own television show where he founded 2 bands after auditioning solo artists. From his show Danity Kane and Day 26 was be produced. Soon after the band Danity Kane was dissolved Sean combs, the well known band Dirty Money was created and they went on to produced songs like ‘Coming home’ with Diddy himself.


Ownership/Distribution

Arista records bought 50% stake in bad boy records but in 1993 they broke away from Arista and joined up with Universal Records but they saw no improvement. In 2005 Warner Music group bought the remainder of Bad boy’s agreement with Universal Music group. In the present times it is distributed through Warner Music Group's Atlantic Records.

Keeping the artists

Bad boy records’ is known for dropping/losing its artists quickly due to is forever changing status in the record label industry and violence caused by the label. This is shown through:
• Danity Kane:Dissolved by Diddy
• Young Joc: Left after disagreement with Sean Combs and the record Label
• Faith Evans :Left to join Capitol records after only 9 years with the Label
• Carl Thomas:Left to join Verve music group
• Murder Ma$e:Left because of the violence involved with the label. He had a calling from God
• 112: Left because of Lack of interest in the Label
• The Lox: Left because the Label gave them no direction in their career causing failure
• Shyne: Sent to jail and left after shooting with Diddy, Jennifer Lopez and Monay Hawkins
• Da Band: Dissolved by Diddy
• Dream: Broken up after disagreement and Lawsuit with Diddy
• Loon: Left to begin his own Label
• Donnie Klang: Left after winning ‘Making the band 4’ and joined Eight72 Entertainment

Artists signed to this record label are often involved with violent antics or lawsuits. Many artists leave the label because of this. The label is also strongly associated with rap artists. Although girl bands and solo females artists do join the label, they are often dropped and do not make it far in the industry.

COLUMBIA RECORDS

History

Colombia records’ was founded in 1888 evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company. Columbia Records had originally co-founded CBS in 1927 but left partnership leaving the name behind. Columbia is the oldest brand name and was the first company to produce pre-recorded records instead of blank cylinders. From 1961-1990 records were released outside of the U.S and Canada on the CBS records Label. Colombia records showed an interest in artists that produced music of the jazz and blues genre after acquiring Okeh Records in 1926 and in 1928 the executive of Colombia Records (Frank Walker) some of the first country music genre Columbia executive Frank Buckley Walker pioneered some of the first country music was pioneered. In 1931, the British Columbia Graphophone Company merged with the Gramophone Company to form Electric & Musical Industries Ltd. After a few years, the Southern Gospel Genre had become highly popular and this is where Colombia records placed its interest. They were the first and only record label to record Charles David Tilman and in 1936 the company entered a recording contract with the Chuck Wagon Gang. The chuck Wagon gang were a signature southern gospel group and became Colombia’s bestsellers with 37 million records. This was the peak of the Southern Gospel genre. In the present day, Columbia Records remains a subsidiary label of Sony Music Entertainment.

Collaborations with the UK

In 2006, Sony BMG split into 2 labels, RCA label group which supports RnB and Pop and Colombia Label group supporting Alternative dance and Rock. These are found in the UK and are recognised as UK labels.

Artists

Artists signed (former artists inc.) to Colombia records include:
• Yolanda Adams
• Artful Dodger
• Beyonce
• Destiny’s child
• Tony Bennett
• Chipmunk
• Tiffany Evans
• Fugees
• Aretha Franklin
• Lauryn Hill
• Wyclef Jean
• Janis Joplin
• Latoya Tuckett
• Mary Mary
• Nas

Keeping the artist

Compared to Bad Boy records, Colombia’s reasons for dropping artists are much more reasonable. For example Kelly Rowland was dropped by Colombia as sales of her new album didn’t do as well as they hoped. The band Kelly Rowland was in (Destiny’s child) was also signed to Colombia however their split was a result of the end Of Destiny’s child rather than the label dropping them and Beyonce Knowles, a former member of Colombia records, stayed signed onto the label before leaving to join another label that could supports her solo career. Popular UK artist Ke$ha was even signed onto the UK Colombia record label RCA and is still signed in the present day.

DEF JAM RECORDS

History

Def Jam records’ is an American record label which focuses on Urban and hip hop music. It is owned by universal Music Group and works as a part of The Island Def Jam Motown Music Group. In the UK, the label is known as Def Jam UK and works through Mercury Music Group.
Def Jam was created by Rick Rubin whilst he studied at New York University. Its first release was a single by the punk rock group Hose. Rick Rubin was shortly joined by business magnate Russell Simmons. In 1984 the first releases with Def Jam Recordings catalogue numbers were "I Need a Beat" by LL cool J and the Beastie Boys' "Rock Hard." The singles sold well, which lead to a distribution deal with CBS Records (which became SMR through Colombia records). Def Jam also signed its first and only thrash metal band, Slayer, in 1986. Although LL cool J and Public enemy had sold bestsellers, Def Jam did suffer blows to their finances however in 1994 Polygram purchased Sony's 50% stake in Def Jam Recordings. In 1995 PolyGram acquired an additional; 9.8% in Def Jam Recordings which strengthened its ownership of Def Jam, after this Rush Associated Labels renamed Def Jam Music Group. The label shortly signed Foxy Brown whose album Ill Na Na became a platinum seller in 1997.

Artists
• Big Sean (GOOD/Def Jam)
• Chrisette Michelle
• Frank Ocean
• Jay z
• Juelz Santana
• Justin Bieber
• Kanye West
• LL cool J
• Ludacris
• Nas
• Ne-Yo
• Rick Ross
• Rianna
• The Dream
• Young Jeezy

Former Artists

• Joe Budden
• Chingy
• Dru Hill
• Funkmaster flex
• Foxy Brown
• Ja Rule
• Lloyd
• Christina Milian
• N-Dubz
• Sisqo

Keeping the Artists

Def Jam has proved the best out of all research because it keeps the most artists. Artists’ that have been dropped/left, (above) dropped/left for the following reasons:
• Joe Budden: The label was unhappy with his under-development as an Artist.
• Chingy: Unable to secure a distribution deal
• Ja Rule: Involvement with Drug trade
• Christina Millian: Felt she had not been listened to and left (Island Def Jam)
• N-Dubz : Felt they were being Americanised
• Sisqo: Broke away from Dru Hill

Although many of the artists did leave, there are few artists on the list of people who have been dropped by the label and this makes the label appealing to our group.

Choosing the band

CHOOSING THE BAND on Prezi

Audience feedback 1

We decided to ask a few people what they thought of the music we intended to use and the target audience they thought we were trying to appeal to.

Audience feedback 2

Here we asked Niellah what she thought about our music and this is here response.

Audience feedback 3

In this interview we asked Katy, Aaron, Hubert and Jack what they thought about our music that we planned to use for our music video and here's what they said.

Music Video Analysis 5

Music video analysis 5

View more presentations from Tia5133

Music Video Analysis Goodwin's theories

Goodwins theory

View more presentations from Tia5133

Music Video Analysis :Where it began

Music video analysis where it began

View more presentations from Tia5133

Music Video Analysis 2

Music video analysis 2

View more presentations from Tia5133

Music Video Analysis 1

Music video analysis 1 misteeq

View more presentations from Tia5133.

SELLING THE ARTIST

KATY B-LIGHTS ON


The way the artist is sold appeals to teenage girls mainly. The way she is dressed is comfortable, casual and relates to the audience. Her performance in the video mimics target audience experience. The audience sees the artist as possibly urban and 'normal'. This is seen as making an effort to be casual and relate to the audience. The idea that Katy B is also a new artist also may be why she is dressed so casually. there is a significant contrast between miss Dynamite and Katy B as Ms Dynamite has been in the industry longer, this may be why Katy B has taken the more natural and humble look. Although the humble look is appealing to this target audiences sometimes escapism is also attractive as its allowing target audiences to escape reality and brings them into a old of endless possibilities.


KATY B-WITCHES BREW



The artists look has significantly changed and developed as her career becomes more successful. The film techniques and editing techniques have also developed with her, more special effects have been used as well to sell the artist. Her costume has also changed. Her clothes are more glamorous this could be because she has developed as an artist or because of the direction given for the type of song she is performing. She has gone from a performance based video to a concept video which shows her drastic change in her work and her new confidence in the music industry.

ANDREW GOODWIN

This is Kylie Minogue's pop video. Although it does not relate to the RnB genre is shows good examples of Goodwin's theories and gives me ideas of how I can relate this to my project.

Goodwin uses some of Freud's ideas of Voyeurism and Scropophillia. Goodwin believes that music videos generate the genre characteristics but not like a film. There is a relationship between the lyrics/music and the visuals. Mise en scene, lyrics and choreography can illustrate the meaning of the song, amplify it or contradict it. Goodwin also believes in the idea of voyeuristic imagery, the idea of receiving sexually pleasure from watching someone without their knowledge.He believes women are sexually objectified because of the voyeuristic and scropophilic elements of music videos (mostly seen in RnB and Pop videos). We watched Kylie Minogue's Video 'Can't get you out of my head' and picked out some of the points Goodwin made.



I found that the idea of having something stuck in your head (as the lyrics suggests) was shown by head gear in each layer of the music video which contributes to the mise en scene. The choreography amplified the meaning of the song by the quick, exaggerated head movements and close ups of the artist with her hands on her head. I can use the information I have gathered to construst our choreogrphy and links with lyrics and visuals. By researching Goodwin's theories I understand how to plan and create a sucsessful music video which presents the artist in the video and helps sell the single.

Heavy Metal research

Heavy metal research

View more presentations from Tia5133.

I did research on the genre 'Heavy Metal' because I wanted to explore some of the conventions of a contrasting genre so I could incorporate this into our project. Being able to understand the different conventions of another genere allowed me to challenge some of the conventions of the RnB genre. From this research I found that Heavey metal bands are usually performance videos rather than narrative or concept. I also found the the mise en scene and costume are quite dark and satanic which differes from what I want to present in the video so we couldn't use this convention however, we decided to incoportate the performance style video because I think it would work well with our genre and will allow us to merge concept and performnace style vidoe.

CUTTING RATE, FREQUENCY AND LAYERS

The cutting rate, cutting frequency and layers are important to a music video. The cuts and layers captivate the audience and can allow the audience to understand the deeper meaning of the video.



In Rihanna's Umbrella the cutting rate and frequency is rapid this captivates the audience which makes the video more interesting.The camera angles in this video also focus on the artist. This is because the video's purpose is to advertise the artist,because that is what will sell.The layers in the video involve flashing lights and has the logo of water running across the screen. This draws attention to the video also captivating the audience.



In this video the cutting rate,frequency and layers contrast with the previous video. The cutting rate and frequency go at a slower speed and the camera angles are mainly long shot and medium long shot. Although they differ from Umbrella they still have the same effect on the audience. The shots stay on the artist for a longer period of time allowing the audience to focus on the artist and the costume which sell.This video also became very popular and encouraged audiences to re create the video. This shows intertextuality.



This recreation of Beyonce Single Ladies also involves parody and satirical elements.

POSTMODERNISM AND INTERTEXTUALITY

POSTMODERNISM
Postemodernism breaks down the barriers between cultures,its key concepts are fragmentation and discontinuity. Postmodernism usually challenges conventions and goes against the normal features and displays irony and parody.
INTERTEXTUALITY
Intertextuality is a postmodern concept. it involves referring one text to another. one good example of this is Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'. This is a well known music video and features a memorable dance and theme which has been recreated many times.Some of the examples are below.

This is the T.V programme 'Glee' re-creating Thriller whilst merging it with another song. They have taken the theme of the video and used it to make their own version.

In this wedding video the dance from Thriller is being performed.

This prison has recreated the video with acting and dancing as well.

DIDDY DIRTY MONEY-COMING HOME /NOAH AND THE WALE L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N

TIA KELLY-HUNNIGALE

DIDDY-DIRTY MONEY FT SKYLAR GREY –COMING HOME.
NOAH AND THE WALE- L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N

The videos I looked at were similar in the way they created a deeper meaning using mise en scene.

Coming Home by Diddy Dirty money presented the meaning of roots and returning home to natural roots, this was done by using naturalistic lighting and make-up, which allowed the audience to gain the deeper meaning of the video. This also allowed the focus to remain on Diddy and the lyrics and the meaning behind it.
Unlike Diddy’s video, Noah and the wale used artificial lighting and themes top represent a false life. The idea of showing Marilyn Monroe represented the false media life she lived. The actress playing Marilyn appeared sad and melancholy, however this contrasted with her actions as she was dancing to the music. This could represent the false life she was living and the façade she put on. This is also shown through the props when she takes off her wig to show the real person behind the façade.

Props also help the audience develop the video’s meaning in coming home by Diddy. The props are things that relate to Diddy’s fame and fortune. You can see a stereo and money as well as a T.V and car however all these things are burnt. I think this is to show the fame and fortune he has but how it had caused destruction or tainted his natural life style and diverted him from his roots.
The location also shows his roots and its clear ground as if its ground he originated from. This location allows the audience to develop the meaning of base culture. The location in Noah and the wale shows the false lifestyle as it shows stages and performances however the man is alone which could show loneliness in the world of fame. This is also shown when Diddy walks across his location alone and we see an Extreme long shot. The props used in L.I.F.E.G.O.E.S.O.N reveals the monotonous lifestyle as we see a record playing repeatedly, which also shows in the repetitive lyrics and actions in the video.

The Lighting in Diddy’s Video reveals the natural side to Diddy’s life. Using natural sunlight the video exposes the audience to Diddy roots and culture and the meaning behind the video. The lighting in Noah and the wale contrasts greatly with the lighting in Diddy’s video as there is a lot of artificial lighting showing a false identity and a false lifestyle.

The mise en scene in both videos helps define the meaning behind the lyrics. Both videos show two different lifestyles through the mise en scene and help develop a meaning of the video.

DIDDY DIRTY MONEY

Diddy dirty money costume and make-up

View more presentations from Tia5133.

A2 Media research, Concept,Performance or Narrative ?

Media as research

View more presentations from Tia5133.

COMPARING MUSIC VIDEO MISE EN SCENE

THE KILLERS FOR-REASONS UNKNOWN

The effect of having a black and white video presents the idea of a contrast and confusion which relates to the title of the song. This confusion is also shown through the art of the costume. The sunglasses contrast with the time of day as the lead singer is wearing sunglasses at night. This represents a confused state of mind and things unknown in the singer.The monochrome costume which reflects the light allows the audience to focus more on the reasons behind the video rather than the performers. This music videos falls into the concept category.This is shown to the audience by the props used such as palm trees and the deck chairs. This is also shown by the head of the singer on a chickens body roasting. This video also fits into the performance category because the band appears to the audience.The barren land may represent a lack of something, this is also shown through the lack of make-up on the performers which goes against the stereotype of rock band singers.

NICOLE SCHERZINGER FT 50 CENT- RIGHT THERE

Unlike the previous video , this videos purpose to attract attention to the unclothed woman rather than the meaning behind the video, this video acts as an advert for the woman in this video.As in the other video, there is a lack of something in the video, however, it's clothes rather than make-up. The small tight clothing exposes sensual body parts and glamorises sex. The close ups of the female in the video force the audience to look at her rather than the meaning behind the video. The are also close ups of alcohol which suggests having a good time or wild behaviour which grabs the attention of the target audience. The buildings behind the female singer are all one colour at the beginning and blend in with the first costume she wears, however the second shot of the woman shows her wearing brightly coloured clothing which attracts the reader to focus on her rather than the rest of the video. The male in the video wears simple costume throughout and is in one location whereas the female moves location. He wears clothing suggesting he is a thug/gangster or that he has a lot of money. This is shown to the audience by his dark sunglasses, black hat and Gucci belt which sends messages to teen males that if you are a thug you can get money and women.


Mise en scene is a crucial item of music video's as it either sends a deeper message or invites its audience to replicate the behaviour in the video. This will also increase their views and promote their video.