Digipaks that relate to Emine's genre & audience

The style in music in which Emine performs will totally reflect upon the type of digipak and advertisment that I will be creating for her. She is a soul/r'n'b singer and I want her to be known firstly on that account then her style after LOL! There are a range of hidden and unknown artists that perform music of this type and do not get the credible recognition that they should be getting solely because soul is not as big as it were in the early 80's. However though, Emine is going to change this pandemic. I am willing to use every advertising akill and technique in the book to create a well known name and brand for my artist seeing as there is a gap in the market for someone like her. Emine's digipak will be very much simplistic, natural and showcasing her beauty, just as an first hand introduction to her fans. Three digipaks that relate to Emine's genre would be:



"Mind, body & soul" is the second studio album by English recording artist Joss Stone released in September 2004 produced by The boilerhouse boys. The fact that the album relicates colours that accompany the albums title distinctively makes this digipak very much an example of something that is to mirror what type of digipak I want to create for Emine. The warm tones of purple, yellow, orange and fade effects create an country vibe to Joss's organic talent as we know.They may also reflect upon her personality and the type of album she is presenting to us as her audience. This album may specifically be targetted to an young market of consumers of the ages of early 20's plus, people who are part of our targetted audience as well. The imagery used on the digipak are very simplistic and natural which symbolise upon the type of artist she is which is good. The manufacturers focus on her looking natural and probably doing the "normal" thing, which may also attract consumers also. Due to Stone's age a younger market probably around the ages of 15 may also be attracted to buy this album. Today I'd describe Stone as a soul/rnb version of Taylor Swift. She is uber talented and perceives the ora of being really down to earth and cool.


 
Key's 'As I am' album titles the straightforward and confessional style of music that she has recorded for this album. Key's is well known for piano and voice combo and stylish reflective music something that is very much similar to Emine's musical style apart from the fact that she does not play the piano.This album also accompanies the visual beauty and audio talent that Key's has. The album is 4 sided(could'nt get a pic of it though) and includes a range of pictures that compliment the style and genre of her music. The album includes topics that relate to the older audience however though, Alicia Key's is well known by her younger fans so they could be said to have purchased the album. Emine's album includes songs that have an mature listen but do include popular artists such as Pro Green. This should attract the younger audience who I also seek to attract(wide audience attraction).




The digipak includes a scheme that is of black & white color in which Beyonce is seen as main focus of. Due to this the artist is easily recognised by those who know of her and her fans. What I like about this digipak is that the intertextuality between the cover is obvious, the font is stylish which refelcts upon her own personal image as an artist. This is something that I want to do for my digipak so the whole product can reinforce an concept and theme of my artist. Each cover also has the title of each of her songs on the album making it easy for her fans to identitfy with their songs of choice. The mise en scene used changes with color from greys to whites making it look as though artist is under a spotlight and allowing her to stand out. There is also an image of her behind a beach which elaborates on the concept of her representing tranquility which refers to her voice  as being not harsh but soulful rnb. The album represents her audience focus being female although, she is not forgetting her male fanbase(she provides for them with her sex symbol persona). Through her distinctive appearance she separates herself from being an "normal girl" and instead an icon that is idolised by both male & females.

All artist digipak's have an aim. The way in which the artist wants to be seen is perceived through the album/single appearance. This is something that I will be putting my main focus on.

Artist's that relate to Emine's genre & audience

Emine is a distinctive performer she can be compared to the modern day singing Audrey Hepburn. However though she does don musical attributes that do remind me of some previous artists back in the day. To think of these artists was not easy I had to do a great deal of research because when group 11 created Emine we didnt think of having her like any bubble gum replica of what is in the industry today. We created an artist that 'did her' and represented what she stands for: individualism. Emine is an artist that is very pragmatic and adaptable, this allows her to attract a wide market, whether it be an older person or teenager. Emine in her videos would always add that extra something that would allow the audience to conncet with her. For example her style, her song choice and the kinds of people she puts in her videos range from different age, race and cultural background.
This is very much like the artist Florence Welch in terms of her style and music choice i'd say she is in many ways comparable to our Emine Parker. Florence Welch is an incredibly talented Brit who always tends to showcase the Brit within her in her uniquely elegant and classy videos this is very much like our Emine Parker who seeks to not be seen as an sex icon but an talented and stylish perfomer. An artist that represents Emine's musical genre clearly though would be Rebecca Ferguson. Rebecca Ferguson holds everything that I believe Emine should look like and sound like. Rebecca Ferguson has this demure style about her that screams class and elegance something that I felt I important for Emine to have as an secure identity. The difference between the two though that leaves Emine winning above is the fact that Emine struggled for her recognition and refused to ever appear on any TV talent comps, something that some consider as a cheap ticket to stardom.




However though, the artist of all time that reflects upon Emine's genre and audience target would be....

ROBERTA FLACK!


Like a blast of silky-smooth, freshly-crisp air, Flack lowered the temperature a few degrees with her creamy blend of R&B, this is the genre that Emine seeks to represent.
The prime exhibit of Flack’s ultra-cool charm can be found on the killer tune that won the Grammy Award in 1973 for Record of the Year – the timeless “Killing Me Softly with His Song.”
The elegant lady of soul was also a worthy foil for the late, great Donny Hathaway, and the two teamed up for a number of memorable performances, with maybe the ultimate being “The Closer I Get to You.”

Example of an Artist's/band's digipak & advertisement package

So we are already aware of the benefits and reasons behind a digipak and artist advertisement(if not take a look at my last blog!), (TO PROMOTE THE ARTIST VISUALLY), here I have selected an artist that continuously represents how she wants to be perceived in the industry through their advertising techniques.

Rihanna is a massive dirty pop artist who keeps nothing clean cut about her graduating 'Good girl gone bad' image. She invests alot in her image to create the well known world wide brand that we know of today. Ever gone to the shop and thought "OMG! That is sooo Riri"?
Ooh well I guess thats just me then. Rihanna not only invests in her self image but invest in her wholee brand from her navy(fans) to her haters. Shes created a range of different merchandise, perfume, t's etc just to name a few. She has also been the recent face of Armani and that should be known to boost her image more than ever!
A great skill about Rihanna's  recent business ventures is that she includes a clear visual of her genre and style. She never fails to commit, she'll be fun in one album and grungy in the next. You just never know with her! & this is why she is a favourite in the media, she never keeps herself being "predictable" but remains an artist that is always evolving as she knows just how to put on a show.

Here are examples of Riri's 'stuff':



Through these images you get the idea that Rihanna seeks to not be limited in whatever she does and this links back to her popularity as an artist. Her fans range from different ages and different races. She has also been the voice of charities that she finds close to her heart(trust me a lot of artists do this to showcase a variety in their perception).

These days as you may or may not know, artists and performers are struggling to remain relevant and most importantly gain profit from their albums and singles. So many have invested in merchandising and a highly priced concert tickets.


Rihanna's digipak for last album 'Loud':

Researching Ancillary Products - Digipak (skills development)

below shows screenshots of me learning how to use adobe photoshop.

Researching Ancillary Products - summary of class discussion around the importance and function of digipaks to the music industry.

In todays lesson (29th November 2011) we learnt:


Digipaks are used to promote the artist visually. Artists gain more revenue through  their digpaks and merchandising.





An example of an artist that promotes visually : Tinie Tempah's Disturbing London Merchandise

Digipak

We have finally finished editing our music video, and now we are moving to the ancillary project. First lesson back and we have been giving an introduction to digipaks and merchandise, and the importance of them both.

Digipak

A digipak is the packaging of a cd, whether its an album, single or DVD.  It is used to promote the artist, and reflect their genre style, often artist have a signature brand, this may include a logo which is associated with the artist previous work. Here is an example of a digipak, the font mimics the theme, it is quite cute it is clear this has been thought out as the artist is laying on candy floss, which is associated with sweet and cute things, the other font is also candy based the text has the colours mimic the candy cane. The artist is the main focus as she is centre mid frame, the colours are reasonable muted, therefore she stands out even more there's no distractions hence she is being promoted rightly, additional information such as the record label is included, the list of songs and people who helped produce the digipak. Overall the artist is obvious and the candy theme suits the artist genre, POP!


Whilst discussing what makes a successful digipak it became apparent, that portraying a theme which suits your genre, a digipak is sold in stores, and for audience to gain interest in the product it has to connote its given purpose.

Digipak & advertisement Intro

Today we understood in a more technical form of the importance of the artwork of the digipak. I call this understanding technical because before this I just thought the artists chose a theme that they wanted to follow, however the makeup of a digipak goes beyond this concept and touches upon the concept of leading a continuity that is of the artist/bands album song theme.

Why fuss with the popular artwork?
* Grabs attention
* Increases artist identity
* Provides info
* Advertisement
* Indicates artists intended direction(e.g Katy Perry undertakes the direction of fun type of poppy music)




The importance of the ancillary product to the artist and the industry (& in relation to the music vid): 


* Wide audience target
* Keeps artist hot & current
* Identity = brand
* More ideas of how artist can build empire(MONEY!)
* Increased fanbase
* Promotion for artist recognition

Researching Ancillary Products - summary of class discussion around the importance and functions of digi packs to the music industry

These are my notes from the lesson:

I believe CD covers are still used despite CD sales dropping because customers still want to put money into the hands of the artist for a physical copy of there music along with artwork. There is also collectible/memorable value in owning a CD. What the artist stands for.

Why is artwork popular?:

Promotion of the artist

Grabs attention

Collectable/memorable

Gives info

Indication of artist

Advertisement

Identity 

Mp3 file

Ancillary Product:

Artist Image / brand
without promotion artists wouldn’t be known.

Attract audience, build relationship with fan base.

Promotion

When you see ancillary related to the artist you will look their videos up

Money from merchandise to be made

Being kept in the public eye

Reach a wider audience

Adding value encourage us to part with our money

Plays on our love with music

Something special.

Digipack: Tracklisting

Name

large clear font fore-ground.
Promotional sticker

Product info copyright year of production

Web address

Back: echoing visual style of front.

3-4 colours

graqhic design

link with advertising.

Inside:

Acknowledgements

same style

track list

reviews – quotes

Do a spine

record label on front

Link between artwork and video.

DO’S

USE A CLEAR FONT (READABLE)

APPROPRIATE SIZES FOR FONT AND IMAGES

IN FOCUS

APPROPRIATE SHAPE PHOTOS

TYPE FACE REFLECT CONVENTIONS OF THE GENRE

USE A LAY OUT THAT FOLLOWS RULE OF 3^RD’S

3 COLOUR RULE . NO CLASH OF COLOURS

BARCODE





DON’T

STRETCH IMAGES

LAYER STYLES

NO UNNESSESSARY EFFECTS

TEXT ON ARTIST FACE

FONT 

In this lesson we spoke about the use of digi-packs and other Ancillary Products. It gave me a good idea about designing my album cover.

Performers person: Was it an success? Did they understand?

Like every decade before since pop music began, the 2000s brought out very talented female singers that shaped the ever-evolving pop music genre with their unique interpretations and creations of amazing songs. It seems that from 2000 to the end of the decade dance/techno music became very popular(the charts are a good example of this). Artists like Rihanna, Lady Gaga, Beyonce, and Britney especially embraced the dance/techno trend toward the end. Throughout the 2000s, songs ranged from soulful ballads to heart-pumping, rhythmical dance beats. Just-as-diverse were the singer's fascinating personas, which helped propel them to huge commercial successes. 

Our very own artist donned the persona of fearless, powerful,CONFIDENT, talented,successful, stylish, independent,skillful, modern, relatable, beautiful and unstoppable! I had to watch a lot of music(as I do always anyway) and interpret what I thought made a very good female and male artist in their character they portrayed in their music videos. I even went as far as researching on those who were deemed as incredible entertainers and public image speakers before, such as Chaka Khan, Whitney Houston, James Brown, Diana Ross, The Supremes, Bob Marley, Margret Thatcher(Yes, even Thatcher, as much as an national tyrant that she was I still consider her as an admirable female), Desmond Tutu, Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, Trevor Mcdonald and some others.  Hopefully, I did successfully channel all their entertaining attributes and my own drama experience into my performance *fingers crossed*





And last but not least one of my favourite performers/rappers of my decade... Yes it is! My American husband(in my mind)... KANYE WEST



And now my other husband...(Well in my mind he is)... Yep! You all guessed it Jamal Noel Fyffe AKA Chipmunk!