Artifact 2

Go Iceland!


I am still quite skeptic about my findings that contradict my previous guess about the death of the album as we know it. My first artifact/ interview proved me completely wrong so I decided to turn around and find out what is behind the album and what is the value in different formats of music.
Was trying to compare the pros and cons of the tradition album and the App version.
What different features they offer?




I honestly do not think my tutor allows me to use the same examples again BUT what if the good examples have become PERFECT since I have checked them? This is an album or at least Sigur Ros thinks it is. It costs around £50 but you get everything from the concert CD, Vinyl and DVD to a piece of garment that Sigur Ros wore during the tour.
I would not mind getting such thing as a gift but don't think I would purchase the album in this form. The whole message behind this specific design is really evoking and innovative as well as allowing people to get closer to the artist they adore. Let's look at the idea of collecting autographs, taking pictures with your favourite artists at gigs etc. It's all about the relationship with your music. That is the purpose of such items that look unnecessary at the first glance.




A total opposite to the traditional form of the album is the App.
Bjork is the first artist to release an album in a form of the App. Why would somebody go for such an unusual format? Because of its inventiveness and the experience of interaction that the regular album is not able to offer.

In my artifact I tried to compare the two and find the similarities between them. What is the format of tomorrow? We'll find out.

'My dissertation was about religious rap' Artefact 1

So today I went out and did my interviews. Manage to get 11 people to talk about music, record stores, collecting and consuming music, Buddhism, cover art and life in general. The only music store that allowed me to come, hang around and talk to the customers was this beautiful Classical Music Shop in Hockley. So I made a pie the night before, packed a voice recorder, my camera and just went there to see what happens.
My guess about the current trend of switching from the physical record to the digital equivalent was right.

Will listen to the recordings again (something around 2 hours in total) and get the results from there.


Three different age groups: check
Variety of opinions: check
Unexpected findings: check
Joy: definitely check!!!



p.s. the name for this post is taken from my last interview, the guy I talked to did a music course years ago.

Love, friendships, relationships and others ships. Artifact 1.

Save the music

In my research document that has already been marked I spoke about where the world is now in terms of music entertainment. What is the relationship between people and their entertainment?




The record as we know it (or, more likely as our parents knew it) is dying. It's an interesting subject or even an issue to discuss that is why I am conducting this particular research.
After having heard many different opinions and looking into the findings that others made it is time for me to go and look for my own results. This is going to happen during my search for the five artifacts.
What role does the record have now? Is it a form of art/ symbol of the past couple of decades/ portrait of an artist?

ARTIFACT 1


How do people access their music? What is the role of the human factor in the life of the record as a medium?
I am sure there are people out there who still use their old record players but in the reality they are exceptions.
My generation remembers cassette tapes, the CD era and then, finally the mighty mp3 and iTunes and its relatives. Today we are witnessing a huge transition from the physical record to the virtual online product that is easily accessible and shared.
The first artifact is going to observe people and their actions at a specific environment, in this case that will be a record store. I plan to go and interview people while they are shopping to see what is the current trend of acquiring music.


Possible questions for the record store shoppers:


AREAS:


1. Emotion
2. Tradition
3. Technology


EMOTION:

The record as a symbol/metaphor.

1. What is the first association you could point out when hearing the word 'record'?
2. Is this record store the only place you buy your music? If no, what are the other ways you purchase tracks?



TRADITION:

The medium that the world is used to.

1. What devices do you use for your music experience?
2. Is it important for you to have a physical version of an album? Does it feel more reliable than just an mp3 file?



TECHNOLOGY
How do we listen to our music today?

1. How do you feel about the record being replaced by online shopping and digital music consumption?

2. Do you think the world will be willing to adapt the new forms of the record?

3. What about YouTube and Vevo? Do you find these websites useful for finding and listening to music?

Research Progress

Trying to get to the discussion part before the draft hand in.

The books that I've read reshaped my research concept a little bit or at least helped me to structure the document in a more coherent order. I'm working on different parts at the moment but it's now clear what is missing and what needs rethinking and rewriting.

INTRODUCTION

I'm going to start with an overview of the current state of the music world. Starting from afar with the definition of The Millennials, the new generation. Their characteristics, habits, needs, ambitions.

This will lead to the worldwide indie culture concentrating on music in the first place.

Then I'll incorporate MTV and explain what role it has today. Will mention that this medium is slowly dying and this will lead me to the background.



BACKGROUND

As I understand, background is all about what's going on at the moment.
I'll try to be as up-to-date as possible.
2011, what's going on RIGHT NOW? Here I'm going to introduce YouTube, why is it important to look into this platform and what power and impact it has.

DISCUSSION
Where is the best place for an artist to appear?
Music marketing, stealth marketing. Music in advertising.
Types of music promotion.
The latest trends, biggest acts.
The use of the newest technology in music advertising.

Discussion about the world going digital.



CONCLUSION

Still a long way to get here!

Primary research.

Struggling with this little bit. Can't decide which method to use etc. Is a survey appropriate?

Music Advertising (Research)

Currently reading books on marketing and advertising as well as conceptual art.
Thinking of changing my research topic to 'Confusion: read more, understand less'.

The main areas I'll be focusing on:

HISTORY OF MUSIC VIDEOS. That will also include documenting music.

CONTEMPORARY ADVERTISING AND MARKETING.

MUSIC TV SHOWS.

YOUTUBE SENSATIONS. The new generation of celebrities.

LITERAL VISUAL PRESENCE. Denying 'seeing is believing'. Virtual bands. Gorillaz.



Today's rhetoric question:
What's the difference between a music video where you have product replacement and an advert where there's some iconic song in the background?