To what extent does digital distribution affect the marketing and consumption of media products in the media area you have studied?

As the music industry has developed and changed a lot has happened in the terms of digital media, distribution being one of the main developments. The Majors (Sony) have had to adapt to this, as well as Independent (Indie) Record Lables (Domino). However the audience has seemed to of blossom in this new age, becoming more active in there own age of music (prosumers). Then you have unique individuals like Beck 'Score and Song Reader' who have completely changed the way things are done in the music industry with their D.I.Y attitude.

Major record labels are greatly effected by digital distribution. Sony, is one of the big three a group of the most influental companies in the music industry, so much so that they own over 78% of the muisc industry, alot less than they used to but still powerful. The big three however used to be the big four; EMI was a previous major but was shut down as the technology age came about and more importantly the internet, this was as they tried to stop things like copyright infringement. This more importantly is digital distribution as the internet allows audiences to download for free. Then there is the matter of marketing, the usual typical way of advertisement was through billboard, radio, tv etc. However with the new Digital age they've had to adapt there marketing techniques this though is done in hidden ways. A huge successful way that Sony has used to advertise their music is through X-Factor a hit TV show all over the world, but mostly sticks to western cultures. Using there subsidiary label SyCo they have worked in the backgrounds hitting the charts as there mainstream audiences follow the trends of downloading the music from the favourite artist on the show. This is there main adaptation, also due to website allowing free access to music as well as downloads they have also had to change the way the audience consumes the music. With little to no money in buying music they instead make people pay for the experience. Tickets to attend these X-Factor live performances are greatly expensive so they get what they lose in music sales on ticket sales. Also, the idea that you can 'vote' in X-Faxtor is a fraud you vote for Sony statistics, they want to know what the audience thinks and the audience truly believe they keep the ones that they know the audience would like, not only for the music but for the looks. Visualisation is a huge part of the X-Factor, it has got the artists where they are now. An example of this would be one-direction a world famous group that is more famous for there looks and style then their actual music. In conclusion, you could say at first Sony were greatly affected by this new digital age but have learnt to adapt their marketing and consumption techniques to suit there large mainstream audiences by not directing their focus on the music and becoming even more vertically and horizontally integrated in the music business, this is only enhanced through visualisation.

Then there are Independent record label (Indies), not as large as majors, but they have thrived in this new digital age. The indie label I looked into was Domino. Indie labels typically have niche audiences, which are loyal to them a community almost. This means that they don't need to reach out to advertise their artists or their music. The audience would go to them and their website is full of promotions for each and every artist. With there more famous artists however, such as 'The Arctic Monkeys' they get there fans to advertise their music, they either follow the group or artist on a social networking site and will spread news fast of a new song, album or event happening. Furthermore as the artists have Niche audiences they get more money as their audience wants them to succeed, wants them to produce more as they are a loyal fan base, completely different to mainstream downloaders. But much like majors, Indies still use the same methods to sell the music to their audience which means that if there artists do become famous, such as The Arctic Monkeys, then mainstream audiences would illegally download the songs and the hard work that the niche audiences have put in to helping them succeed wouldn't have done much good for the group in the long run. Also they don't need to reach out to find new artists, the audience finds them for the label. So, overall, for Indie they depend on the internet in order to keep going like they are and even make themselves better. Some Indie labels like domino have started to reach to audiences at a national level which is only really possible due to digital advancement. So it greatly effects indie labels, but in a good way as it has helped them reach out and develop to next levels.

The audience has embraced the digital age with open arms. The part of the audience that is prosumers works hard in order to make their own music. However this isn't their own as they haven't produced the  music in its original form only mash it up along with other song but the amount of songs can vary depending on the Prosumer. This however goes back to Sony as even though it is huge copyright infringement the audience, but this is free advertisement for them as eventually the prosumers become quite famous. Madeon, a french prosumer, has become quite famous due to his music 'music culture'. However all prosumers are online and there advertisement comes from a slow growing fan base that they hope would tell their friends about them. But prosumers do this for free however they can put there music on places like iTunes, but it is incredibly expensive so for the most part they keep there music on free sites as unless they are really successful like Madeon then there music won't really sell. So prosumers don't really gain anything from the new digital gain anything, they just help promote other artists as well as leave viewers wanting to listen or buy one of the song in the mash-up so they help both majors and indies. So in the case of prosumers digital distribution is affected to help the labels as prosumers mashup-ups not only apply to mainstream but also niche audiences.

The D.I.Y (Do it yourself) attitude has spread across niche audiences with the help of Beck. He is an independent artist that has posted his music sheets online that his niche audience, especially the part of the audience that performs music. Beck uses his audience to market his songs as he doesn't stick to a specific genre of people meaning that his niche audience is more widespread. This means that when his music is reproduced there is larger fan base. But Becks' D.IY attitude has really flipped the stereotypical   ideals of music as by letting people use his music he is advertising himself and his music. Also as these are niche audiences the new artists would need to give credit to beck who would then be getting a larger fan base as everyone would want to hear the original version. This is his marketing, through digital media and more importantly free sights such as YouTube, he has largely promoted his audience. This then means a larger consumption rate. Furthermore if the artist become quite popular then beck could perform/tour with them as he owns the rights to the song. So all in all digital distribution has affected the D.I.Y attitude in the sense that it has given it the opportunity to expand.

In conclusion, you could say that digital distribution has effected marketing and consumption greatly. But this is both for the good and the bad as it has allowed everything to expand massively and fully allow it to reach its potential. Even majors who at first greatly opposed of this found that digital media has effected to the point where it has become better.

Music Industry - mock exam

To what extent does digital distribution affect the marketing and consumption of media products in the media area you have studied?

Digital distribution affects both the artists and audience. For major labels and independent labels it means audience can access their music for free and are also able to give their feedback on the music. Prosumers also use digital distribution to get their music and produce their music. Digital distribution has also meant that beck can use music produced by his audience and distribute it online. Digital distribution has meant that production, distribution and exchange have all blurred together in some way. 

Major labels have been affected by the introduction of digital distribution as their music is now not only in shops but online on sites such as Spotify, Soundcloud and on iTunes. The marketing of major labels now being online means that they are less likely to get an income from selling their music, meaning the only way they can make money is through live performances. However, the major labels have had to adjust to this as if they do not 'connect' with the audience then they will 'die'. EMI are an example of a major label who did not adjust to the new ways of selling music and were shut down because they did not connect with the audience. Major labels distributing their music digitally is also an advantage for the audience as they can now access their music for free. They can also leave their feedback on the music meaning the record labels will be able to see what the audiences like and develop their music to their taste. Major labels also use TV to distribute their music. For example Sony uses the TV show X factor to promote their music and to find a new artist for their record label. Using X factor is a way of digitally distributing their music as they will only select the songs to be sung from their record label; this is called synergy. The audiences will then be interested in buying/listening to that old song again or the song sung by the contestant on X factor. Major labels can also use digital distribution to their advantage because mainstream audiences now care more about the appearance of the music rather than the music itself. Digital distribution will support this as with distribution such as YouTube or X factor it is all about the image. Therefore people will watch it even more as they care more for the visualisation than the music. This means these songs will then become more popular, may be bought and therefore making more money for Sony. Major labels are therefore affected by digital distribution in positive and negative ways. They can connect to their audience better and get feedback from them, however they are conclusively losing money as the audience rarely pay for their music. 

 Indie labels have effectively become more popular due to digital distribution. Using digital distribution the record label can now get their music more global, consequently gaining a bigger audience. Indie labels will then become more successful as their previous niche audience will become international. Audiences becoming more aware of indie labels also gives them more a varied choice of music rather than just mainstream. They can then give their feedback to the indie labels, shaping the future of the production of music from the indie label, similarly with the major label. The effect of digital distribution on indie labels is very similar to major record labels as their music is now less likely to get bought, however they can now get reviews and a more global market. Conclusively, indie label music has now become more worldwide thanks to digital distribution and therefore more popular. Audiences also now have a more varied choice of music and can also access indie label's music for free.

Prosumers have had a huge advantage thanks to digital distribution. Prosumers can now access major labels and indie label's music for free and recycle their music to create their own. Being able to access this music is also thanks to digital distribution as most music is now online on sites such as YouTube or Soundcloud. Prosumers can then create their own music using recycled music and distribute it on the sites where they found the music. Using digital distribution they can then get their music noticed and eventually gain a bigger audience. Madeon is an example of a prosumer which has been successful in his work and his created music from lots of other songs. When prosumers then upload their music online they can then get feedback from the audience and find out what they like, again shaping their future production. Prosumers are an example of how PDE have all been blended together, and this is all due to digital distribution. 

DIY music has also had an advantage due to digital distribution. Beck is an example of a DIY music creator as he has written the music and then gives out the written music to his audience. With digital distribution Beck has been able to get the different creations of his music heard and therefore sell his music. People are then also more likely to hear of him and what he does and be interested in trying it for themselves, getting Beck more popular and obtaining a global audience. Beck's music shows how his audience produce his music, he then distributes it and gets feedback (Exchange) from the audience. Again, digital distribution is shown to have an effect on PDE as it has been blurred together.

In conclusion, digital distribution has affected marketing and consumption as the audience are now more involved. It has affected consumption because the audience can now access music for free, meaning prosumers can create more of their own music with little cost, and majors and indies have to connect more with their audience to allow them to take their music for free. Digital distribution also helps with the new idea of visualisation because music videos are now shown online and through TV, meaning those that are more interested in image will be satisfied with watching their music online. Audiences also become more involved as through digital distribution they can now give their feedback online, therefore shaping the future of production. 

Case Study - Sony and their reaction to online media

Sony - SyCo - X Factor

Case Study - Would I lie to you? Link this to one direction

Linking the would I lie to you case study to one direction it is easy to see that XFactor helps older songs hit the charts both the new and old versions.
One direction is also the new hit group with a contract to SyCo, who is own by sony.
SyCo runs XFactor, a programs that is almost like free advertisement for music.
This showing how majors uses their Subsidiary Labels to help promote their old music, that they get royalities for.
This showing how majors, specifically sony, has adapted to the new technological world of music.

Easter Case Study Homewok - Domino Recording Co.

Independent Labels vs Major Labels

The Independent Label that I have chosen is the label Domino.

Research into Domino

Ownership Research

Production Research

Marketing Research

Distribution and Exchange Research

Tempa

LOGO

Twitter Page

https://twitter.com/TEMPAAAAAA

Tumblr

http://tempaaaaaaa.tumblr.com/

Instagram

http://instagram.com/tempaaaaaaa

YouTube account

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKJM3dw9KsOnSqTheciB6FQ

Website 
http://tempaa111.wix.com/tempa

Song

Music Video

The Music Industry

Starter - Sex Pistols and their song E.M.I

 - At there time was the biggest punk band in the world
 - Did there own version of god save the queen
    - Anti-establishment
    - Anarchy
 - Had a problem with record companies as they represented things like;
    - Order
    - Control etc
 - EMI
     - Money grabbing
     - Selfish
     - Sealing their money

Find examples and define

Distribution
 - This is the next stage after production.
 - Distribution is in charge of marketing, production and pricing.
 - They can be independent or apart of a label, depending on if they work for a major or a
    indie label
- Kudos Distribution Company 
   - Independent Company
Copyright
 - In terms of music it either belong to the artist or the major record label
 - There are many laws in order to protects those that own stuff under copyright
 - In itself it is a law
Royalties
 - Is what the artist or company gets paid after a song gets played on the TV, or when the song is
   bought on Itunes
 - Commission
 - You don't get lot in Royalties unless it is used in something really massive
A & R (Artist & Repertoire)
 - They are apart of a company that looks for new music talent
 - They also act as the 'middle man' between the artists and companies (Record Labels)
Sampling
 - This is where you take a part of a song already recorded and use it for an instrument in your song
 - Hip hop Genre uses this
Peer to peer
 - People share music with one another
 - People of similar ages and music sharing music.
    - Sharing files over the internet
    - CD's
    - Put itunes music on CD and share
Major record label
 - There are 3 major companies
 - They run most of the music industry
 - Sony
Subsidiary label
 - Labels within a major
 - Start out as independents then gets bought by major
 - They aren't associated with the major
 - Sycho is a subsidiary of Sony
Independent label
 - An indie label that gives artists more freedom over their music than majors
 - Without funding
 - Set up by artists or their friends
 - Domino

Music Piracy Lesson

Contemporary Media

In our global age we are able to see and hear events as they occur around the world. We can access and engage with information at any time in many forms. Modern media is, in its very nature, instant, accessible and multimodal, and as such provides more opportunities than ever before for students to engage and interact with, as well as compose and publish, media.

Starter - How do institutions sell their products to audiences in contemporary media? List 3 ways

1) Popup adds

2) Adds before videos on the internet that you have to watch a few minuets of.

3) Having a page on a social networking site and advertising things on them that would come up on follower or followers of followers pages (Twitter).

Writing Task

How do institutions sell their products to audiences in contemporary media?

Traditional Sales

Traditional sales would be advertising on everyday items that the target audience would use. Advertisement at bus stops.

Digital

In digital sales institutions would us advertisements such as popups and advertisements on the side of a webpage

Combatting Piracy

To combat piracy on certain sights such as YouTube there is ways that remove videos due to things like piracy. However in order to do anything about piracy in the cinemas there is no recording allowed, websites can be removed due to the copyright infringement act.
Streaming

Streaming is a way to view videos online and more popular way among the younger generation. There are many different online sites to do this however they either cost money or the free accounts become blocked.

Research Homework - Madeon, Prosumers and PDE

Research into;

Madeon
Pop culture video
Madeon is obviously a video maker that makes older music seem new by mixing them up and makes it seem new and funny with a new video. This video at the beginning plays all the music that the younger generation of today would listen to and clearly calls it 'horrible'. The music video then goes into showing people both old and young dancing, enjoying the music till they fill like collapsing.

Research
Hugo Pierre Leclerq, Madeon is his stage name. He is 19 years of age. He is a frenchhouse/ electrohouse/ nu-disco/ pop producer. He has asscoiated acts with people like Lady Gaga. He started becoming famous after his popculture remix reached millions of views on youtube within days, subsequently because of this he know has millions of fans. He makes his world famous music using Novation Launchpad and keyboard.

Prosumers
A consumer who becomes involved with designing or customizing products for their own needs. This means that the customer becomes directly involves with the production of the produce which they wish to buy.
PDE
PDE is short for, Production, Distribution and Exchange.

Digital media technology continues to develop. How is this significant for media institutions and audiences?

The fact the digital media technology continued to develop is very significant for audiences as it gives them limitless opportunities to audiences as it allows them to get more from there favourite artist or band rather than music. This is through things like social networking. This allows the audience to see the latest thing going on with there artists and there latest releases with free advertising. Distributors only really have to do half a job in this new age of technology, this can either make there lives easier and harder. Word will spread fast at the idea of a new album coming out with a new popular artists so it saves them money from advertising and as everything is done online it doesn't cost for CD's. However the internet can be bad in the sense that it allows people to get the music they want, for free. The distributors don't get there money in, soon there will not be any distributors so from the production there would be nothing to get it out. But people, with new more advanced technology don't really need it. They can do there own recordings in there garage with the same quality that comes from a production company so the rate that digital media technology continues to develop there won't be any institutions left so its impact is very significant. 

Discuss the issues raised by media ownership in the production and exchange of media text?

The primary issues that are raised by media ownership is the internet and piracy. The internet in its self however is a piracy. Music is uploaded to sights like YouTube then, using the other sites exported onto the ones using it get free MP3 files of anymusic of their choice. There are many other sites like this, allowing the younger generation and now even the older generation to get free music, whenever they want and in anyform they want. This is the latest form of media ownerhip. People don't want CD's that take up space. This is the problem with media ownership, the younger generation have the idea branded into their head that production companies have so much money they wouldn't miss, after years of this idea the money that used to be spent starts to dwindle. This then affects the older generation that as they then too start to take on this idea that production companies are swimming in money and why should they too not download free music after they have spent a lifetime buying it?

This is the problem with media ownership as now everyone now believes that they have a right to everything, especially music as it is almost handed to them on the silver platter that is the internet.

 

Parent Interview

The major differences between a major and an independent record company

Things Wrong With the Music Industry

Stater Video, Head of A&R Records;

 - People make their own videos
 - Indie Record Labels
 - Start at Indie and work there way up to Major
 - Some people don't actually need recording labels.

What is a record label? Research

A record label is a brand and/or a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Often, a record label is also a publishing company that manages such brands and trademarks; coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing, promotion, and enforcement of copyright for sound recordings and music videos; conducts talent scouting and development of new artists ("artists and repertoire" or "A&R"); and maintains contracts with recording artists and their managers. The term "record label" derives from the circular label in the center of a vinyl record which prominently displays the manufacturer's name, along with other information.

What is a record label?

A Record Label is the main association with music. However a record label is more than the face of music. Recording Labels can be split into Production, Distribution, Marketing, Promotion, Enforcement of copy right, Talent scouts. These make sure that the music gets the type of promotion that it needs in order to make money.  Record labels pass the music on to distrubtors. Without them the music would not be made into CD's and be sold. The money from selling the CD's then go into advertising.

 Cross-media convergence? Research

Difference types of media that have been combined in order to make both media get greater promotion. It refers to different platforms of media.

What is Digi Modernism? Research

Cultural effect of new technology. It's the impact of computerization on texts and the arts. It's a whole new cultural paradigm, the successor to postmodernism which bit the dust around the turn of the millennium.

Its the cultural effects on new technologies. Digimodernism is the revised name for what used to be called pseudo-modernism. It's a whole new cultural paradigm, the successor to post modernism which bit the dust around the turn of the millennium.

Issues regarding the ownership

Class starter

Would you sign up with a large co-operation? How long would you sign up for?

 - 2 years maximum but preferable 1 year

    - Pros 

       - Most artists only have a big break/ breakout for a few years maximum

       - Gives you enough time to have a steady income and think about renewal

       - Commitment

          - You might want a break after a while 

    - Cons 

       - Alot can happen in such a short amount of time

     

Members of your group is in rehab. What would you do?

 - Remix old singles

 - Go solo

 - The company

    - Pay you off

    - Court

       - Say that the band is in breach of contract as they have split up

       - Lawyers 

Examples of cases that have had huge contractual legal argument;

 - Michael Jackson, American Idol Stars, Beatles etc

    - Sony

 - Apple and Samsung

How would you make money from a music video?

 - Royalties 

 - Be part of the contract

 - Partnership with the company

   - You make the videos with their funding and the split the profit 

   - Full pay out

 - Make the video, show the company what you could do and make a contract agreement

 - Shares

Music Class Interview

Music Industry

Different forms music comes in;
 - Records
 - Tapes
 - CD's
 - Radio
    - Popular stations
 - Internet
    - Youtube
    - Social Networking
    - Websites
    - Itunes
 - X Factor
 - Gigs
 - Podcasts
 - Charts
 - Sent between friends

Distributers;
 - EMR
 - Sony

Cross-media Convergence

 Starter - Define the following

1) Cross-media convergence
    - This is when two or more media's come together
    - E.g When the music industry and the film industry come together or when old media (like
      magazines) now distribute there information over the internet, new media.
    - An example would be the 'James Bond film Skyfall' and the 'single released by Adele Skyfall'.
    - Its not just products, it is also used as a method of advertising.

2) Synergy
    - Things that naturally go together
    - Companies work together to to promote linked products across different media.

THE DEFINITION 

What would you expand a news website to these days? (Teenagers)

1) Apple

    - Apps

2) Android 

    - Apps

3) Twitter

    - Account that is regularly updated with links to the site

    - Put comments and respond

4) FaceBook/ Tumblr

    - Account that is regularly updated with links to the site

    - Shorter versions of the stories

5) Printed forms of the paper near schools or in schools

6) Youtube account

    - Daily Update

7) Magazines

    - A magazines editions

Advertisements (Teenagers)

1) Youtube

2) Popups on websites

3) App popups

4) Around schools and colleges

5) Leaflets given to schools and colleges

6) Social Networking

    - Twitter

    - Facebook

    - Tumblr

7) News letters/ Mailing Lists

    - Subscriptions

    - `Free

8) On the side of buses

9) In the Toilets 

Most people ignore adverts they see in magazines which is why companies try to make adverts to that they jump out at your forcing you too look.

Film and Music Notes

- Media Ownership
  - Production Companies
  - People watching /Listening
    - Influence
  - Directors
  - Producer
- The Range of Products Available to the Audience
  - DVD's
    - Individuals
  - Online
    - Website owner
    - Download
    - Streaming (Websites)
  -  App store
    - Apple
    - Android
  - Cinema
  - Pirate Copies
  - Block Busters
  - Own copies not the original
- Examples
  - Charts
  - Advertisements
  - Popularity
    - Ratings (5*)
  - Reviews
  - Genre
  - Related Music
  - Social Networking
  - Electronic Media