‘Distribution is the key to success.’ How far do you agree? Refer to your three main texts in your answer. [30]
From the mark scheme: "MUSIC: Distribution may be interpreted widely here and discussions on performances, videos and music releases are all valid. Other factors may include star person and music genre".
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| Relevant Records, an indie record shop in Cambridge |
KNEE JERK RESPONSE - yes or no?
Plan
Digital distribution
ideology
Global
Introduction (DAC)
Example one - Success in the music industry can be measured through a variety of ways, from album sales to financial gain, to followers on twitter, to views on youtube and completely depends on the artists. I shall argue that distribution, in particular digital distribution is the key to my artists success however, my artists have been successful in wildly different ways. In order to explore this argument, I shall be looking at Lady Gaga, a electro-pop singer who promotes a variety of ideologies, but mainly focusing on LGBT identities. Tyler, The Creator a controversial hip-hop artist who displays transgressive ideologies and Ed Sheeran, a UK indie pop artist who asks audiences to embrace their differences.Example two - Distribution is how music gets to its audiences. Physical distribution is how CDs/vinyls get to the audience, however, since the rise of digital technologies digital distribution has taken a lead, through streaming services such as Spotify and Apple music, whereby the distribution company will distribute music in digital formats insteads. Success in the music industry can be measured through a variety of ways, from albums sales, financial gain, followers on Twitter to views on Youtube. However, the nature of what ‘success’ is completely depends on the artist, but digital distribution is the key to my artist’s success. Three artists with varying factors of ‘success’ are Lady Gaga, an electro-pop singer who promotes a wide range of ideologies, mainly focuses on LGBT identities, Tyler, The Creator, a controversial hip hop artist who displays transgressive ideologies and Jorja Smith, an alternative R&B artist from the Midlands, UK.
Paragraph one - Lady Gaga
Point - Lady Gaga uses social media to interact with her audience with 78.6 million followers on twitter she is able to influence a lot of people.
Instagram,
she collaborated with Starbucks to promote her own line of drinks titled ‘Cups of Kindness’. Whereby, every 25 cents earned would go to her ‘Born This Way’ foundation. This promotes youth empowerment and wellness.
Netflix,own original documentary titled ‘Gaga: Five Foot Two’.
Judas,
music video accessed via YouTube.
Religious imagery and connotations can relate to global audiences as the metanarrative of religion, particularly Christianity, is also global.
Paragraph two - Tyler, The Creator
Clothing brand, Golf Wang.
Includes shirts, hoodies, shorts, etc. This can only be accessed through the websiteof his official clothing brand. His clothing is consistently promotedthrough his music videos and his social media platforms.
This allows the audience the gratification of social interaction, they can take joy in the fact that they wearing something of the same design, once worn by Tyler, the Creator, and they can take joy that the artist designed the clothes they have purchased. This therefore reinforces the importance of distribution, specifically digital distribution, as without music videos being put into the hands of audiences, he would not be able to promote his own clothing brand.
Twitter, and other social media platforms. Consistently promotes his clothing brand, as previously mentioned. Consistently tweets confusing, and controversial things which can be viewed as eccentric by audiences and followers. ‘I AM ASIAN AND I LIKE LETTUCE’, ‘I TRIED TO COME OUT OF THE CLOSET AND NO ONE CARED, HAHAHAHAHAHA.’ Just these two examples illustrate the confusing non-linear narrative of his Twitter feed. These tweets give the audience the gratification of social interaction and voyeurism. However, it can be argued that this voyeurism can perhaps be uncomfortable for audiences as we are placed in a very intimate position with the artist.
Paragraph three - OWN CHOICE
Point (one sentence)
Three pieces of evidence (bullet points)
How does this support your argument?