Moodboard at existing digipak's

This is a small collection of images of existing digipaks which i believe fits the theme of my music video, furthermore all of them are female music artist which corresponds with my own digipak, as my own music video heavily focuses on two women. Looking at most digipaks above, the female artist are shown to be sexualised e.g. Rihanna with her red lips and heavy make up, and Beyonce in the '4' album cover, she is semi-naked which follows Laura Mulvey's theory of the male gaze.

Location recce

Audience Research

I researched into my target audeince which my media product will be aimed at.I ensured that I get the correct information. I researched into their interests, characteristics, Age and which Gender would have more focus in the music video.

My audience are mainstreamers and aspirers, also they would classify as individualists as well. They go with the flow however they want to show the world that they are different. They fit in the social category of C2 D E. The target audience would watch my music video watch their favourite music artist perform or listen to their favoruite song and for entertainment/escapism. 

By watching my music video the target audience are building their personal relationship with the aritst and the people around them who also watch the music video as they have the same common interest as other viewers, and it would also be a controversial topic for them to talk about that can build up the popularity of the music video.

Equipment

Channels/Festivals

Channels
MTV 

MTV (originally an initialism of Music Television) is an American basic cable and satellite television channel owned by the MTV Networks Music & Logo Group, a unit of the Viacom Media Networks division of Viacom. 
 

The channel is headquartered in Los Angeles, and is a subsidiary of Viacom Inc. Launched on August 1, 198. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by television personalities known as VJ’s – Video Jockeys. In its early years MTV's main target demographic were young adults, but today, MTV's programming is primarily targeted at adolescents and teenagers.

MTV has got numerous sister channels in the U.S. and affiliated channels internationally, some of which have gone independent. MTV's influence on its audience, including issues related to censorship and social activism, has been a subject of debate for years.

As of August 2013, approximately 97,654,000 American households (85.51% of households with television) receive MTV.

The first music video shown on MTV was The Buggles' "Video Killed the Radio Star". This was followed by the video for Pat Benatar's "You Better Run". 

The original purpose of MTV was to be "Music Television", playing music videos 24 hours a day, seven days a week, guided by on-air personalities known as VJs, or video jockeys. The original taglines of the channel were "You'll never look at music the same way again," and "On cable. In stereo." Although the original MTV channel no longer plays music videos 24/7, several of its spin-off channels do, including MTV Hits and MTV Jams. In addition, viewers can play music videos on-demand at MTV.com. MTV continues to support a broad selection of music videos on its international channels as well.

4Music 

 

4Music is a music and entertainment channel in the United Kingdom and available on some digital television providers in the Republic of Ireland. The channel launched on 15 August 2008, replacing The Hits. It is the only Channel 4-branded channel within the Box Television network. It is available on Freeview, Virgin Media, Sky and Smallworld Cable. On 2 April 2013, all Box Television channels went free-to-air on satellite, apart from 4Music which went free-to-view.

 
4Music has coverage at both festivals during the Summer, with highlights repeated frequently throughout the Summer. The channel also has stages at both events. At T4 on the Beach since 2007 (renamed the "T4 and 4Music Stage" in 2010) and at the V Festival since 2005 (then known as the "Channel 4 Stage", renamed to the "4Music Stage" in 2008).
T4 on the Beach ended after T4 closed down on 30 December 2012.


Festivals

The festivals which I have research are the top 3 festivals in the world.

1. Donauinselfest

Donauinselfest (German for Danube Island Festival) is attended by 3.2 million people (last recorded in 2013). This is the world’s biggest festival which takes place in Vienna, Austria.

There are over 2,000 acts that perform at this festival. There is a mixture of acts that perform from different countries. There are up to 21 stages around 20 areas. The festival itself lasts for three days, its impressive how 3 million attend this 3 days festival. The festival has been lasting for 30 years and million have gathered on a 6.5 kilometre stretch of the Danube Island in Vienna to listen and see the biggest names of Austrian Music to perform. The festival also has international acts from Italy and Sweden.

2. Mawazine

Mawazine is a festival which is help in Rabat, Morocco, with an attendance of 2.5 million people – last recorded in 2013. There are 7 stages with roughly around 90 acts. This festival is huge but not as well known. The Line-up consists of African artists – specifically those from French-African artist. There is a small amount of huge international names that perform. Rabat has been vistited by top aritsts known globally such as Whitney Houston, Lionel Richie. In 2013, Rihanna headlines the festival. The festival has been beating its own attendance record, breaking the million mark for many years running now.

3. Summerfest

Summerfest is a festival held in USA, Wisconsin. This is the only USA festival in the top 3. This festival is attendenced by 800K-1million people. In 2013, the attendance recorded was 840,000. With over 800 acts and 11 stages. They have the standard array of stages: one for the main players, one for the up-and-comers, one for the locals, and then a few for different genres like electronic and rock

It hold a Guinnessbook of world records for holding the title of the world’s largest festival. The festivals line up include FUN, A-Track, Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars and more.

In 2013 The Avett Brothers/Violent Femmes were the opening headliners. This year Bruno Marks and Lady Gaga are opening headlines.

Research into Genre

Below are two videos of R&B songs which have been produced, sung and performed by different artists in different decades.

Present Day (2014) - R&B songs now are more neo-pop and have a lot of beat to it rather than focusing on real vocals and harmonies. Auto tune is used more commonly and effects to give effects to the vocals and the music itself.



A R&B song in the 90's - Songs in the 90's are more focused on the vocals and harmonies.

Analysis of Ancilary Task (Digipack)

This is a digipak which I own and have decided to analyse in depth on how it made me purchase it and what is featured insides. By analysing this digipak I can understand the conevntions and features of what needs to be in a digipak and consider them when it comes to making my own digipak for my coursework.

First of all, This cardboard digipak features a CD, a booklet which has the songs lyrics and in-depth information about who produced the song and who was behind in producing and making the songs and more, and there is the cardboard cover itself which has the album track list at the back alongside the institution information and the front - or mainly known as the album front artwork.

The Booklet inside has got many images which relate to these of the digipak. The colour scheme is consistent and features the colours of Red, Black, Gold, Silver and Grey. There is a whole set of artwork in the booklet and inside the digipak which gives the product more of a consistent flow and not have odd random bits of text and images in random places.
Lyrics and extra information is featured inside the booklet for people who purchase the digipak and want to know more about the song or learn the words to a certain song or read personal messages the artist has written to all the people they have mentioned - from producers to family members to fans.

The digipak follows the conventions of a digipak which is that it's a cardboard, it has a gatefold, CD and a booklet.


 

Work I Admire

These 3 music videos have some elements of performance and narrative into the music video. I like the concept of having a black background and having something like bright lights in contrast. In achieving that i would need to use green screen or use a spotlight instead.

In Rihanna's music video 'diamonds'. I like the black and white tone used throughout the music video. The the close ups of the artist singing in between the music video with a ray of light flickering between is something I would like incorporate into my music video. In achieving a similar look to those close ups, I would have to use the drama studio and the spotlights.

In the Airplanes music video, the silhouette of Hayley Williams while she is performing with the background of the different lights and stardust lights is also something I liked.

The Script's Hall of Fame music video have me the inspiration of having a ballerina in my music video. The dance performance will give a sense of emotion to it. I admire this music video as it's very unique and has got a message behind it. The music video narrates about 2 peoples lives. Both are failing however they persevere. The boxing guy, used to get beaten up first and now is a champion and the girl who is deaf does ballet however people are very judgemental towards her, she doesn't let that affect her. She stuggles in her audition however she ends up being a ballerina and performing a lead role.

Influence in Style

Analysis of Anciliary Task 2 (Magazine Advert)

This is part 2 of the Ancillary Task, which is part of the main task which is to create a music video.
I researched into 3 different genre artist's music advert. Each of them have similar features and follow the codes and conventions of a advert however they all differ in the way they are presented, especially with the appearance of the aritst and cover image of the advert.

Research into Other Music Video Directors

Music Theory

What is a Digipak?

Digipak-style packaging is often used for CD singles or special  editions of CD albums.
Digipaks typically consist of a gate fold (book-style)paperboard or card stock outer binding, with one or more plastic trays capable of holding a CD or DVD attached to the inside the generic"digipack" came to be used to describe all soft CD packaging.
Digipaks were first created by MeadWestvaco, and their product, called Digi-Pak, is trademarked. However, as the format became more popular and began to be used by more manufacturers. Now in current times digipaks are very common and very popular. 

Here is an example of a digipak which I own. This certain digipak has a cardboard packaging featuring a book inside and a CD.

Similar Product Research

This task portrays a music video which is similar to what i want to produce. Diamonds is a perfect music video which has a mixture of style - narrative and genre. I want my final product to be a narrative and performance style music video. The similar product research has helped me find a music video which I can be inspired by and adapt ideas into my own so that I can match it to my song/lyrics. I looked carefully into the camera shots, angles and movements used, Mise-en-scene also is a big contribution to the music video as there is a lot of symbolism going on. Furthermore, Editing has made sure that the music video gets the right feel. The quick cuts have build tension, with some scenes which leave the audience questioning themselves. Green screen and Reverse Effect are two ideas which I would like to incorporate into my final product however into my own style in order to match the song and the theme.

Research into a Artist

I have researched into Katy B who is the artist to the final song I have chosen for my final product. I researched on her recent music activity and how she entered into the music industry.
Here are few music videos of some of her singles she has released in the past.
Her music is very different compared to what I listen to daily. It's a mixture of R&B and Garage which are genres which are not common than Pop and Indie. 



 

Research into a Music Video Director

Research into Exisiting Music Labels

Analysing Exisitng Student's Work

Codes And Conventions of Music Videos

History of Music Videos

This task has been beneficial into finding out background information about music videos and how they have developed through the years. Technology has become a big impact on music videos and artists. During 1920-1970's, the purpose of the music video is different to what it is now. Modern music videos are used for marketin purpsoes to promote the aritst all over the web.