CULTURE INDUSTRY

We have started our lesson as the x-factor judges. I, Charlotte and Emily were team Tulisa, and therefore we had to speak for her.  This has given us the taste of what the judges look in the performers. We have discovered that the judges have to talk about their vocals/looks, however the thoughts that g through their heads are 'How many records will they sell? What type of audiences would they attract? How many will hit number 1sin the charts?' .  As we have gone along with the lesson we have discovered x-factor being a mainstream, money making machine.

THE CULTURE INDUSTRY
Adorno and Horkheimer have came up with the Culture Industry term, which cultural items were produced was analogous to how other industries manufactured vast quantities of consumer goods.They argued that the culture industry exhibited as an assembly line character which could be observed in the synthetic, planned method of turning out its products.
And example from the x-factor, would be JLS. They have not only released singles to sell, but merchandise too. E.G - Dolls,Condoms, Bedroom accessories.

                                          

Adorno and Horkheimer adopted the term 'Culture Industry' to argue that the way in which cultural items were produced was analogous to how other industries manufactured vast quantities of consumer goods.Their view of cultural production has been portrayed as the pessimistic lament of cultural elitists who were dismayed at what they perceived to be the homogeneity and vulgarity of mass taste. 

X - Factor can be compared to a machine, due to it's artists such as JLS as they have went into acapella with an R&B artists, however as they have been in the process of x-factor they have became an average boy band with the genre of Pop. X- factor is a capitalist institution which is seeking to keep control of the status quo.

The capitalist corporation seems to enjoy an almost omnipotent and the creative artists are not separate from but are directly connected to this system of production.

Capitalist : an economic system in which the means of production and distribution are privately owned or corporately owned.

THE X-FACTOR MACHINE

Adorno and Horkheimer linked the idea of the culture industry of a mass culture in which cultural production had become a routine, which has made undemanding cultural commodities which in turn resulted in a type of consumption that was standardized, distracted and passive.

 

STANDARDIZATION

Adorno and Horkheimer argued that all products produced by the culture industry have exhibited standardized features. Adorno said that songs that have became successful over time were often referred to as standards, a category that clearly drew attention to their formulaic character. Nothing is spontaneous about the process of cultural production: it has become a routine operation that can be carried out in an office by the application of specific formulae.
Boy bands such as Take that, Westlife and one Direction have all went through this machine. Girls are attracted by all of these artists and they all create commercial music.

PSEUDO INDIVIDUALITY

Adorno and Horkheimer were also critical of what they referred to as pseudo individuality. By this they meant the way that the culture industry assembled products that made claims to originally but which when examined more critically exhibited little more than superficial differences.

Adorno and Horkeimer evoked the image of the lock and key - an item that is mass produces in millions, whose only uniqueness lies in very minor modifications.

RESEARCH OF EXPERIMENTAL/ELECTRONIC MUSIC

Experimental music refers, in the English literature, to a compositional tradition which arose in the mid 20th Century, applied particularly in North America to music composed in such a way that it's outcome is unforeseeable. It's most famous and influential exponent was John Cage.
The term experimental is used to describe in conjunction with genre names to describe music within specific genres that pushes against their boundaries or definitions, or else whose approach is a hybrid of disparate styles, or incorporates unorthodox, new, distinctly unique ingredients.


Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in it's production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Purely electronic sound production can be achieved using devices such as the Theremin, sound synthesizer and computer.

ANALYSIS OF EXPERIMENTAL/ELECTRONIC MUSIC

ANALYSIS OF EXPERIMENTAL/ELECTRONIC MUSIC

THE CHOSEN SONG

I have chosen Soap&Skin - 'Fall Foliage'. This I have chosen due to it not having a video already, which means I have to be influenced by my ideas only. I believe that this is a very strong song due to not so many lyrics, I believe that the instrumental side of it is powerful enough to get any messages across. In the case of instrumental being so powerful, Goodwin's theory number 3 (Relationship between Music and Visuals) is what I will have to focus more into.

Soap&Skin is the experimental musical project of Austrian artist Anja Plaschg.

Anja Plaschg grew upin a small village called Gnas in southeastern Styria where her parents have a farm, she has played the piano since she was six. At 14 age, she began violin studies and developed an interest in electronic music, she attended the Graz Polytechnic for graphic design but dropped out at 16 and moved to Vienna shortly after, where she studied art at the Art Academy Master Class by Daniel Richter, but at 18 dropped out again.

Musicians Xiu Xiu, Nico, Bjork, Cat Power, Aphex Twin and composers such as Sergei Rachmaninoff and Arvo Part has had a profound effect on her music.

NEW BRIEF

As I have started to look at more R&B music videos for my analysis, I have realized that I have been stuck with this music for many years. This is when my mind has completely switched to something unusual, something that I am not familiar with at all. I have decided to go this way to see if I am capable to handle something unique and something I have never come across to. And this is experimental/electronic genre of music. As this genre was not on any of the briefs I have decided to write my own brief, and here it is;

THE CHOSEN SONG

I HAVE CAME TO THE CONCLUSION OF CHOOSING 'SURVIVOR' AS MY SONG FOR MY MUSIC VIDEO. 

I have came to this conclusion due to me being rather bored of cheesy love songs. Even though this song involves a relationship between male and female it shows that female characters are strong enough to survive without the other half. I believe that this song goes against most of love songs, due to the portrayal of independent women.

CHOOSING A SONG

I have decided to research into Destiny's Child as the song 'Bills, Bills, Bills' did not quite appeal to me, but I love the group itself. 


I have looked at a few of their songs and have narrowed them down to two;


SAY MY NAME

Say My Name was the third single from Destiny's child 1999 album The Writing's on the Wall, released through Columbia label in 2000. The single is the most successful of the four releases from the album and is considered to be one of their signature song. The song won awards for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals and Best R&B Song and two was nominated for Record of the Year and Song of the Year at the 2001 Grammy Awards and an MTV Video Music Award.
ABOUT THE SONG


Say My Name features Destiny's Child lead singer Beyonce Knowles's character calling her lover on the phone, and suspecting him of cheating. She asks him to say her name. The young man hesitates, and the narrator believes it's because he doesn't want the girl he's cheating on her with to know who she is. 








SURVIVOR

Survivor was written and composed by a band member Beyonce Knowles, Anthony Dent and Mathew Knowles for the band's third studio album Survivor (2001). The song was won for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group Vocals at the 2002 Grammy Awards.


Survivor is also about a relationship, however, this time as the girl has split up with her boyfriend she is much happier. The happiness includes more money, more relaxing, working harder. 

MUSIC VIDEO BRIEF

You have been asked to devise and make a promotional music video for the new chosen act. As a new act, the record label is keen that this first release appeal to a wide audience and establish an image that is both recognizably unique and appealing to their target audience. With this in mind, their release will be a cover version and will be used as a platform for future original releases. The key thing is to get them exposed!


GOOD GIRLZ BAD


Fiona (19), Sarah (18), Louise (21) and Chelsea (19) formed Good Girlz Bad in 2009 when they all responded to an advert in the Stage magazine (they are a manufactured band) and all went to performing arts schools/ere working on performing art courses. They are signed to Sony BMG.


Sound : Funky Pop
Ideology: Girl Power makes a comeback... with an edge
Influences: Spice girls, Cyndi Lauper, Destiny's Child
Likes: Shopping, girly chats, travelling, independent women, learning new things.
Dislikes: Footballer's wives, being told what to do, copycats.


Song choices:
1. TLC - No scrubs
2. Destiny's Child - Bills Bills Bills
3. Mis-teeq - Scandalous


                     
As I have seen this brief I knew that this was what I wanted to do, due to me being very familiar with this Genre. I am a street/hip hop dancer, which relates to this music also, which means that some dance moves can be included in my music video. 

SONY BMG

Sony BMG Music Entertainment was a recorded music company, which was a 50-50 joint venture between the Sony corporation of America and Bertelsmann AG. The venture's successor, the again-active Sony Music Entertainment, is 100% owned by the Sony Corporation of America.


1.Which subsidiary labels do Sony BMG own?

Columbia Records/Epic Label Group, Provident Label Group, RCA/Jive Label Group, Syco Music and Legacy Recordings.

2. How are Sony vertically integrated (How do they profit from the different stages of music production, distribution and consumption)?

Through being vertically integrated, Sony are able to create synergies in their operations, meaning they can improve the sales of their hardware by controlling the production and the distribution of the software. In the 1970s, Sony’s Betamax lost out to Matsushita’s VHS video tape recorder. Industry observers believed that he greater availability of VHS software in video stores naturally led consumers to choose VHS machines over Betamaxes.

3. How do Sony profit from media convergence at the level of the media product (for example, a film soundtrack or music in a video game)?

Sony profits from it’s money manufacturing consumer electronics, producing films and licensing its formats such as Blu ray. It’s music division can be an asset for the company. This is because the music can be licensed on friendly terms to Sony’s films and games and can be used to support new technology formats.

ROUGH TRADE

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS

COME UP WITH YOUROWN DEFINITION FOR INDEPENDENTMUSIC

Artists who are independent from major record label companies, which have their own time to create music and have a DIY approach to construct records.

WHY WAS THE PUNK ERA SEEN AS THE BIRTH OF INDEPENDENT LABLES?

Independent bands were distributed by Rough Trade at that time, as they could not get singed by major record labels, and this was an easy way to press their own records.

IN WHAT WAYS IS WEB 2.0 HAVING THE SAME EFFECT ON THE MUSIC INDUSTRY AS INDEPENDENT LABELS DID DURING THE EARLY PUNK ERA?

Free downloads are allowed on some websites to get a grip of the artists material made. Most websites sell downloads for digital technology such as mobile phones and mp3 players, which means that records and CDs do not sell as good as it used to due to the easy and handy ways of listening to music. This is having the same effect on the music industry as independent labels would be willing to help the unsigned artists press their records, and there would be no need for major record labels.

WHY WOULD SOME BANDS CHOOSETO STAY AN INDEPENDENT LABEL RATHER THAN SIGNINGTOA MAJOR?

Some bands choose to stay an independent label as they may not like mainstream, and this is exactly what major record labels are all about.

FIND THE DEFINITION OF HEGEMONY. HOW CAN THIS BE APPLIED TO THE INDEPENDENT VS. MAJOR WAR?

Leadership or dominance, especially by the country or social group over others.

This can be applied to the independent vs. Major wars by saying that the major record labels have the dominance over the independent labels.

DEFINE THE TERMS CAPITALISM AND COMMODITY. APPLY THE TERMSWITHIN A DESCRIPTION OF THE ROUGH TRADE DOCUMENTARY.

cap·i·tal·ism

An economic and political system in which a country's trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit.

com·mod·i·ty

1. A raw material or primary agricultural product that can be bought and sold, such as copper or coffee.

2. A useful or valuable thing, such as water or time.

USING ANDREW GOODWINS THEORY

MUSIC DIRECTOR (Anthony Mandler)

ANALYSIS USING ANDREW GOOWINS THEORY

OH LAND - 'Sun of a gun'

ANALYSIS

The video begins with flashing light bulbs on the ground. The artist appears after a few seconds into the video, facing her back to the audience. Just by this shot we can already see the 21st century look, an interesting dress. The genre here is demonstrated by the music, which sounds rather robotic, this lets the audience know that this is pop/electronic. Another genre can be revealed by the experimental dancing, and this goes by the name of experimental.The main characteristics showing that this is pop/electronic/experimental are make-up, Casual and tidy dresses and the freedom within the spacing and no shoes. Pop can be recognized by the provocative close-ups which show the artists sex appeal.

The relationship between the lyrics and the visuals is rather strong if looking at the artists. The first notice of the relationship would be the all of the lights surrounding her as she says 'I wanna live in darkness', this may show that she cannot get away from the lights. As the repetitive chorus includes the word 'Down' the artist used dance moves that include her going down. The visuals appear red with the lyrics 'Red sky creeping'.

I believe that the music and visuals have the strongest relationship within the video. This can be seen through out the entire video, as the lights switch on and off to the beats of the music. The artists moves as well as the camera shots also switch with the music beats. 

The whole focus is on the artist herself, letting the audience get to know her. Many mid shots have been used, which make the audience face the artist without giving them a choice of view. These are most likely the demands of the record label. 

As there is hardly any camera movement, the notions of looking include one thing, us viewing as an audience. 

Looking at the video over all maturity can be recognized which contrasts the genre of pop.

USING ANDREW GOOWINS THEORY

JAY-Z - '99 Problems'