Research - Website Guidance

The following websites help to show how to promote an artist in the best possible way:

http://musicians.about.com/od/beingamusician/ht/selfpromote.htm - shows the process of how best to contact a record label and get signed up

http://www.blues101.org/articles/promotion.htm - tips to get a band noticed

http://databass.wonderland.gen.nz/kurb_artists.htm - a company who help promote a band online for a fee

http://www.musicoutfitters.com/musicpromotion.htm - a collection of websites and helpful links to give a band the best opportunity of being spotted and being successful

These following bands have a very strong band brand identity, and their websites and promotional material all share in this

http://www.belleandsebastian.com/

http://www.metallica.com/

http://www.foofighters.com/

http://www.ladygaga.com/

http://www.paolonutini.com/

Research - What Makes A Good Music Video? [Part 3]

Analyse six music videos - look at what makes them successful. Consider camera angles, editing, mise-en-scene, sound (lip-syncing) and the relationship between music and visuals.

Gorillaz - On Melancholy Hill



- Concept based video
- Uses Gorillaz's now-trademark image of being a 'virtual' band
- Also uses a lot of ideas closely associated with the band

- Camera work is all CGI, but lots of closeups of the band's faces
- Mise-en-scene relates to the band's new album - 'Plastic Beach', and uses imagery from the sleeve notes and the cover of the album
- Editing is very swift and quick, and also displays some long shots to emphasise the images
- Very little lip-syncing - it is like a narrative video
- Heavy links between album and video, but not between song and video.

Shakira - Waka Waka



- Mainly performance based video
- Also features a lot of historic World Cup moments, as it is a World Cup song

- Lots of closeups of happy people - shows they are enjoying themselves
- Edited very well, fits the music perfectly
- Mise-en-scene is very simple, to draw attention to colours of costumes
- Lip syncing is perfect
- No lyrical links to the video

Janelle Monae - Tightrope



- Narrative-based video
- Lot of performance-based edits too

- Camera work pans, jumps and cuts to different shots, making it very interesting
- Editing is very slow, but is quick and very effective
- Mise-en-scene changes each shot, which makes it compelling to watch
- Lip-syncing is absolutely perfect
- Visual links between lyrics and video - dance moves etc.

Research - What Makes A Good Music Video? [Part 2]

Analyse six music videos - look at what makes them successful. Consider camera angles, editing, mise-en-scene, sound (lip-syncing) and the relationship between music and visuals.

Madonna - Like A Virgin



- Narrative based video
- Story is that Madonna sees a murder, the black man is accused of it, and Madonna is a witness to say it isn't.
- Video caused massive controversy because the black man is a representation of Jesus Christ.

- Long close up shots that show reactions
- Edited together to show Madonna in a 'good light'
- Mise-en-scene is set in a church, and all very realistic
- Lot of lip syncing - can tell it is using the radio edit as backing track
- All links to video ie. 'prayer' is when she prays etc.

U2 - I'll Go Crazy If I Don't Go Crazy Tonight




- Performance based video
- See the band most of the time, but more of a documentary of the band's tour date in Barcelona

- Lots of close ups of band's faces, and instrument playing - allows for us to see everything happen as it sounds (as you would want at a gig)
- Also lots of aerial shots to demonstrate the monstrosity of 'The Claw'
- Edited together quite 'jaunty', so that we get a feel that it is live
- Mise-en-scene is the same throughout - just a crowd scene and the band onstage
- Lip syncing is perfect - it would be different to what was actually recorded at the gig as it has used the album edit of the track in the video
- Very little relationship between music and visuals

Basement Jaxx - Where's Your Head At?



- Concept based video
- Videos that are very unique and are a daft idea becoming a reality

- Camera work is handheld for part of it, giving a first-person view
- Close ups as the camera is the man's eyes, and it is exactly what he sees
- Edited together on the beat of the music, and adds to the pace of the song
- Sound isn't really sung throughout the video, and is mainly synthesisers anyway
- Relationship of music to visuals is minimal

Research - What Makes A Good Music Video? [Part 1]

Analyse six music videos - look at what makes them successful. Consider camera angles, editing, mise-en-scene, sound (lip-syncing) and the relationship between music and visuals.

Lady GaGa - Bad Romance

- Narrative based video
- Basic story is that video is based in a brothel, and men continue to bid on GaGa until it hits $1m. GaGa then goes to see the man who has 'bought' her, and burns him alive, to show she is more than just a prostitute.
- Video continues with 'Telephone'

- Lots of close-ups to show her reactions
- Product placement helps to raise more revenue for further videos
- Very clean set - all white or crystal
- Perfect lip syncing
- Audio-visual links to lyrics
- Fade in and out on the beat perfectly - would look stupid if anything else

Green Day - American Idiot



- Performance based video
- Tend to be used by rock bands
- See the band at all times in every shot
- Video involves the American flag washing away - flag is green, so maybe some link with green/eco-friendly groups? Also shows that Green Day were against George W. Bush - lyrical links

- Handheld effect makes you feel the energy of the video
- Brand identity - the album cover flashes up on screens
- Continuity is poor - band move between different areas, and water levels change.
- Lot of panning and tracking shots
- Very quick cuts adds to the pace

OK Go - Here It Goes Again



- Concept based video
- Band now synonymous with concept videos
- Very simple idea but big impact

- Only uses one camera shot, which aids to the impact
- Everyone perfectly synced with each other
- Very simple background, so all you concentrate on are the band

Research - Digipaks

The content of a digipak is exactly the same as in usual CD covers; it is just getting dimensions and folds correct. They can fold in a variety of different ways. The most simple ones are a piece of card which measures 57cm x 12.5cm. The 57cm is for 4 panels of 14cm each and a spine. The two outside panels fold to the centre and are stuck down making a kind of greetings card effect. Others have pockets for booklets, or have two spines and fold in twice. All you need is to have space to put the CD, either in a pocket, or more usually in plastic-pressed panels, like a normal CD case.

For more information, click here.

A2 Media Studies 2010-11

We are studying the OCR specification, which includes:

• G324 - Advanced Portfolio in Media

The coursework brief we have been given is 'a promotion package for the release of an album, in include a music promo video, together with two of the following three options: a website homepage for the band; a cover for its release as part of a digipak; a magazine advertisement for the digipak. Over the next few months, we will be building this up, planning, researching, filming, editing and producing this video.