Case Study: Music Industry

Your chosen industry: Music Industry

Your chosen case study (i.e. text/institution etc.):Applications

Have you received approval for this case study from your teacher? Yes


Research and answer the following tasks on your MEST3 exam blog:

Audience

1) How has new and digital media changed the audience experience in your chosen industry?
The audience of the music industry have changed to listen to music through on-line streaming services such as Spotify, Deezer or YouTube. CDs Tapes and Vinyl's are the traditional media of this industry. Jay Z recently released a new app for music streaming called Tidal along with other major artist such as Kanye West, Madonna and Beyonce. Listening to music is a more open and convenient experience due to new technology such as MP3s and Mobile devices.

2) Has new and digital media changed the way the audience consume your chosen product?
This generation listen to music from Mobile devices such as iPods, Phones and Tablets because its more convenient Dr Dre a legendary Hip Hop producer/artist has also released an music streaming application in the US which has become massively endorsed by other Music artist from the new gen such as School Boy Q, Ty Dolla Sign and even the slightly older artist like The Game.

3) Has the size of the audience changed as a result of new and digital media?
The audience of music has grown in the past decade due to the progression of technology as people are able not only to stream the soundtrack but are also able to view the music videos to the artist singles on on-line applications like YouTube. and this in previous years could only be viwed on Television programmes like MTV.

4) What are the positive changes new and digital media have brought to the audience of your case study? (E.g. greater choice, easier access etc.)
The changes of the rise of new technology in this industry are positive as it can be more conveniently used and the streaming services enable the audience to listen to the music without having to go through the process of buying the album or track with having to back up their phones memory on a computing programme like iTunes instead the audience can use the application by paying a monthly subscription of an average £05.00, depending of the application, and the audience are able to favourite or make their own playlists on the application as they would on their default music application.

5) What are the negative changes new and digital media have had on your chosen audience? (E.g. quality of product etc.)
Some people have argued that the quality of music was better on the traditional platforms of music like Vinyl's and Tapes as it provided an authentic and cleaner sound. Also due the on-line upload of music people have found ways to download music of these streaming sights especially of YouTube and sound-cloud and the owners of the production would be unconscious of the property being stolen

6) What about audience pleasures - have these changed as a result of new and digital media?
The streaming service have started to tackle this issue as the artist get paid on the amount of plays their songs receive.

7) What is the target audience for your chosen case study? Write a demographic/psychographic profile.
the demographic of the target audience chosen for this case study goes across all demographic as it relates to anyone with availability to the internet and the computer/mobile devices again the same with Psychographics.


Institution

1) How has new and digital media had an impact on ownership or control in your chosen industry?
the control of the music has shifted from the artist and record label to the audience because the can download the music due to file sharing and download applications.

2) What impact has new and digital media had on ownership in your chosen case study?


3) How has new and digital media changed the way institutions produce texts?
record labels and artist now often provide free music for people to download of file sharing sites like livemixtapes.com which is a web site that i use to download music from artist such as The Game, A$AP Mob etcetera to encourage their audience to buy their album or to keep relevant in this industry

4) How has new and digital media changed the way institutions distribute their product?

5) How might new and digital media threaten your chosen industry?

6) How has new and digital media changed the way your chosen industry is regulated?


UGC

1)What examples of user-generated content can you find in your case study?

2) How has UGC changed things for audiences or institutions in your chosen case study?


Marxism, Pluralism and Hegemony

1) What would be a Marxist perspective of the impact of new and digital media on your chosen case study?

2) How would a pluralist view the impact of new and digital media in your chosen industry?

3) Are there any examples of hegemony in your chosen industry or case study?


Globalisation

1) How has globalisation impacted on your chosen industry or case study?

2) In your opinion, has globalisation had a positive or negative impact on your chosen industry and case study? Why?

3) Can you find examples of cultural imperialism in your case study or industry? (The 'Americanisation' of the world)


Social media

1) How has your industry or case study used social media to promote its products?

2) Provide examples of how your case study has used social media and explain the impact this would have on audiences.

3) Is social media an opportunity or a threat to your industry and case study?


Statistics

1) What statistics can you find to illustrate the impact new and digital media has had on your industry or case study? For example, in news, the UK newspaper industry sold more than 12m copies a day in 2001 but in 2014 it was below 7m.

2) What impact have the statistics you have found had on institutions in your chosen industry?

3) What has the impact been for audiences?


Theories

1) What media theories can you apply to your chosen industry and case study? Select THREE media theories and explain how they are relevant to your case study. Note: these can be ANY of the theories we have learned over the whole of Year 12 and 13.


Issues/debates

1) What media issues and debates can you apply to your chosen industry and case study? Select THREE media issues/debates and explain how they are relevant to your case study.


Wider examples and secondary texts

1) What other texts or institutions are also relevant to your case study? What would be good secondary texts or examples to use to support the findings of your independent case study?

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/apr/13/mumford-sons-slam-plutocrats-behind-jay-zs-tidal-streaming-service

http://www.theguardian.com/music/shortcuts/2015/mar/31/tidal-jay-z-madonna-and-kanye-make-waves-in-the-streaming-business

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/oct/15/u2-bono-issues-apology-for-apple-itunes-album-download

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/sep/09/u2-songs-of-innocence-itunes-customers-free-album

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/apple-beats-plan-paid-streaming-music-service-20150326

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/mar/26/apple-to-launch-streaming-service-to-compete-with-spotify

http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/32284670

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/apr/03/how-much-musicians-make-spotify-itunes-youtube

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-27350075

http://thesource.com/2013/04/18/the-tupac-hologram-one-year-later/

http://www.nme.com/news/2pac/82307

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2910669/John-Singleton-direct-real-raw-Tupac-Shakur-biopic-starting-June.html

Collective Identity

1) Read the article and summarise each section in one sentence, starting with the section 'Who are you?'

Who are you?
The section focuses on how identity is created through the use on Media, Culture and Society

I think, therefore I am
The section is about how images used to be based on social constructs that define relationships. Identity is created based on aspects of life that aren't essentially controlled by us like religion, Class, Gender and the role we play in the family we were born into.

From citizen to consumer
Consumerism is a estension of identity and this was used in advertisements to persuade people to purchase items that they want and not needed this idea was influenced by the works of Psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud. Edward Bernays said, "it was based on not behaving as active citizens but as passive consumers", this supported the idea that identity could be constructed in terms of an externalised image which formed in the Post-Industrial consumer boom of the early 20th century.

The Rise of the individual
in the late 60s and 70s occured the start of san epidemic, the need to be individual reacting against conformist ideologies. People wanted to be seen as unique and different resulting in these people to feel empowered. Freud suggested ideas about 'The Self' imlyed that within ourselves there was a 'essential self' - the core of who we actually are. people began to challenge this, Lacan suggested 'Fragmented Self' the idea that we dont have simply one identity but obtain many.He added that fragmentation leaves use incomplete and we seek to complete our selves by imagining an ideal state of self.


Branding and lifestyle
Branding is associated  with personality and advertisement rather than selling the item is selling and identity or personality .


Who will we be?
The rise of social media and how data mining has risen to meet needs of consumers.

2) List five brands you are happy to be associated with and explain how they reflect your sense of identity.
Apple: I'm like the idea of modern technology moving forward and the aesthetics of the product emphasis on this idea because of its minimalist design.

Timberland Boots: These boots over several centuries have been a big part in the hip hop culture from the late 80s and early 90s till now and my enjoyment towards the genre has influenced me to become associated with the brand

Playstation: enables me and my freinds to enjoy our time with each other when we are at somebodies house.

Mercedes: my love for cars and the SLS AMG

Raf Simons/Rick Owen: Also apart of urban culture in recent years and the design and quality of the designers clothing is very good

3) Do you agree with the view that modern media is all about 'style over substance'? What does this expression mean?
People have begun to purchase wellkown brands over the unkown firslty because of the products branding and the associations that come with the brand that portray a certain ideology however with quality brading comes quality products, so i agree with the expression Style of substanc or form over function.

4) Explain Baudrillard's theory of 'media saturation' in one paragraph. You may need to research it online to find out more.              
Media saturation is the constant bombardment of media whether it is TV, magazines, radio, ads etc

5) Is your presence on social media an accurate reflection of who you are? Have you ever added or removed a picture from a social media site purely because of what it says about the type of person you are?      
I believe to a certain degree that our social media does reflect who we are but not completely, as I see that there is a reflection of what we want to be seen or how we want to be perceived. In regards to the picture I don’t really post pictures for the people’s approval.
               
6) What is your opinion on 'data mining'? Are you happy for companies to sell you products based on your social media presence and online search terms? Is this an invasion of privacy?

In my opinion, data mining is a low underhanded tactic to earn money but I respect in terms its smart business. It really doesn’t affect me in all honesty because I am focussed on things I want. It is a clear invasion of privacy as you are monitoring and violating through selling our information without permission.

Clip Task

ALVARADO:

This portrays black men as some thing to be pitied when they are put in penitentiary as they don't have control over their social life with family and loved ones.It also show them as dangerous as in the video they are seen as violent.

This portrays African American men as humorous and subverts the hegemonic representation of them presenting them as non-violent, however although it's a comedy sketch this could emphasis the pitied aspect of Alvarados theory.

This presents Exotic representation from Alvarado as everything in this song seems alien to the western culture and the use of high materialistic object like the mass use of gold jewellery makes the video appear that much more exotic.

FANON:

This shows these people as Primeval and de-civilised as instead of resolving the issue at hand with speech violence was almost instantly initiated displaying the two males as animal like

The clip shows Adam Deacon as an infant as throughout the trailer he is shown being undermined and not taken seriously just like a child.

The Nigerian Male in this trailer is the representation of essentialzation as the hegemonic ideologies of an African are all infused in to this one person which appear as embarrassing for the protagonist.

EDWARD SAID:

This shows people of eastern descent living in a west culture showing the cultural divide between the two cultures 

1) Reading the riots
2) Post-colonialism: Destiny Ekaragwa film analysis
3) Post-colonialism: theory 
4) Post-colonialism: clip task
4) Feminism: post-feminism article and No More Page 3 research
5) Feminism: waves and feminism and online activism
6) Collective identity and the media

NDM Post 56

HSBC bosses and BBC Trust chief face MPs over tax revelations

Two senior HSBC executives and the chair of the BBC Trust will be questioned by MPs on Monday about their role at the ban. Stuart Gulliver, the bank’s chief executive, and Chris Meares, the former head of global private banking, are due to appear before the public accounts committee at 3.15pm on Monday. Rona Fairhead the chair of bbc trust fund and HSBC non-executive director since 2004, will also be questioned by MPs.

Fairhead will come under scrutiny for her role on the HSBC board, a part-time job for which she was paid £513,000 in 2014, a 144% rise on the previous year.

at Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC), the body charged with leading the UK investigation into the files containing a list of 6,000 names.

NDM Post 55

Why are people buying fewer tablets?

Sale of the iPad has fallen by 17.7% in the three months as the company sold only 21.4 million in the last quater of 2013. IDC and Canalys as claimed that their sales in tablets had dropped. It's the first decline since Apple brought back the tablet market in 2010. IDC reported a 3.2% drop in shipments to 76.1m units, while Canalys suggested a 12% decline to 67m units.  five reasons have been pointed out as to why the market sales have dropped:

1. Tablet buyers are hanging on to them for longer

2. Larger-screened smartphones are proving popular

3 . Laptops are also competing

4. Samsung and Amazon have been struggling

5. Has there been a lack of innovation?

Feminism online

Emma Watson: HeForShe gender equality campaign

1) Summarise this example for the rest of the class in one paragraph

Emma Watson started the campaign to explain what feminism really is as she stated, "that fighting for women’s rights has too often become synonymous with man-hating," she explains that feminism isn't only a fight the women should be fighting for but is a humans right and should also include males support. After looking at the world map providing statistics of men the have supported the cause, I found that in the Russian Federation only 622 men had signed voted for the HeForShe campaign and in countries such as Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan only 14 - 15 men in had signed to show support, in Turkmenistan only 4 men had signed to petition. Watson continued to explain that as a woman with the privilege of being brought up in around people that have supported her although she is a female she felt it was her duty to address the issue and start the change not only for women in the western society that aren't being equally paid but for the less privileged women in Africa that cant be educated due to this barrier.


2) What was the initial incident or situation that sparked this example?

No event had triggered this campaign to start Emma Watson started this campaign because she realized no one else would and the people that wanted to didn't possess the power that she had as a figure in pop culture.

3) In your opinion, is this an example of a valid campaign or something of a witchhunt against people who are not doing any serious harm?

This campaign is vaild as it raises the awareness of the of the  issue with men and personally after hear of the campaign and looking it up i realized too that this issue isn't just for women and can't be done with just women because it requires men to change thier attitude and raising this issue towards men is the first step to becoming successful.



Caroline Criado Perez: female presence on banknotes

1) Summarise this example for the rest of the class in one paragraph

Caroline Criado Perez is a feminist that had recently appeared on News at ten as she campaigned against the Bank of England for replacing Elizabeth Fry on the five pound note to Winston Churchill. If this notion of Winston Churchill passes then every note would have the face of a male on the note. Apart from the Queen who is not on the note by choice. She won the protest and was told Jane Austen would then be on the ten pound note, due to her success she received many threats n Twitter.

2) What was the initial incident or situation that sparked this example?

What initiated her protest was The image of Elizabeth Fry being replaced by Winston Churchill on the 5 pound note.

3) In your opinion, is this an example of a valid campaign or something of a witchhunt against people who are not doing any serious harm?

Her (Caroline Criado Perez) place in the protest wasn't a protest. She had a valid reason as to why she initiated the protest and is why she succeeded. however the people that send her threats on twitter is seen as a witch hunt as it made no difference to the actual campaign and didn't result in Chichills face replacing Elizabeth Fry.


A silent feminist Twitter protest gets mixed support

1) Summarise this example for the rest of the class in one paragraph

The article is about the hashtag #TwitterSilence created by a feminist Caitlin Moran. She created the protest for her fellow feminist Caroline Criado-Perez, who want the image of Jane Austen on the latest Bristish Banknote. The use of not speak on the matter as a for of protest is said to be ironic because of women's inability to speak out on Twitter without incurring some form of abuse. Moran received criticism from both male and females including feminists as their perspective on pushing feminism was about talking and spreading the news of the campaign instead of not saying anything

2) What was the initial incident or situation that sparked this example?

The initial incident that had sparked this potest was the twitter abuse that was directed at Caroline Criado-Perez becuase she wanted the image of Jane Austen on the lastest banknote

3) In your opinion, is this an example of a valid campaign or something of a witchhunt against people who are not doing any serious harm?

Because of the form of protest she is doing I feel that this campaign is simply just a witchhunt also because of the quote,"I just wanted to do a thing."

Ched Evans: Who is 'Jean Hatchet' leading petitions against his return to football?

1) Summarise this example for the rest of the class in one paragraph

The article concerns the return of High Profile Striker Ched Evans to Sheffield United as a convicted rapist and about the campaigner under the pseudonym Jean Hatchet. Hatchet started the petition so that the footballer couldn't return to the sport as he is a pop culture icon. She was behind the petition that received over 160,000 signatures in support of his dismissal. She went on to talk about the blind threats she received after starting the campaign including threats to rape and to places in an acid bath


2) What was the initial incident or situation that sparked this example?

The return of Ched Evans to football and signing to Sheffield United.


3) In your opinion, is this an example of a valid campaign or something of a witchhunt against people who are not doing any serious harm?

This is a witch hunt because he is still be considered to play and the fans watch him play for his football skills not whether he is a rapist or not and people that look up to him is because of his ability to play the sport as well as he does and isn't hiss fault if he is seen as a role model because that isn't his job his job is to play the sport he enjoys and get paid for it. if any punishment is placed on him it's a slightly lower pay.