Research into Record Labels

 Xavier Rudd

	Universal Music Australia SaltX/Universal/Fontana Records (US/Canada) Universal Music Group (UMG) is an American music group and is the largest in the music industry. It is the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations. Universal Music Group is a wholly owned subsidiary of French media conglomerate Vivendi. Ben Howard

Ben Howard (born 24 May 1988) is an British singer-songwriter, born in Devon and currently signed to Island Records.

Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group. The label now operates as a division of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the United States (where it is now a largely rock-oriented label, much like in its heyday) and as a standalone label in the United Kingdom (also known as Island Records Group or Universal Island)

Erased Tapes Records

A London, United Kingdom based independent record label focusing on cinematic music which is widely regarded as very diverse in genres and styles. The company was established by German-born Robert Raths in early 2007.

Bella Union

A independent record label that was started up by Simon Raymonde and Robin Guthrie in 1997.
After releasing records with 4AD for a large part of their career, Cocteau Twins decided to take a step towards independence and started up the Bella Union record label, through which they could release their own work as well as any collaborative efforts. Genres - Indie rock, folk, hip-hop, alt country,

Western Vinyl

Western Vinyl is an independent record label based in Austin Texas. It was founded in 1998.

Genres - Folk music, Instrumental.

Rhino Entertainment Company

A American specialty record label and production company. It is owned by Warner Music Group.

Rhino was originally a novelty song and reissue company during the 1970s and 1980s, releasing compilation albums of pop, rock & roll, and rhythm & blues successes from the 1950s through the 1980s. They were also known for releasing retrospectives of famous comedy performers, including Richard Pryor, Stan Freberg, Tom Lehrer, and Spike Jones.

Genre - Various

Inspiration from other Music Videos

In this video, I haven't been looking at the genre or the content, but the lighting involved. Throughout the video, there is a visual effect of which the lighting is duller, or hazier. This is an idea I have for my music video, to transform the authenticity of the video with a slight sepia effect, creating a sunnier scene, such as he effect used in Paulo Nutini's 'New Shoes' video.

In this video, he also sings at the camera as if he is talking to the camera, telling the story within the song. This idea, i think incorporates well into my video ideas, as it relates back to the Guitarist in the film ' Theres something about Mary' where I got this original idea from.

Notes on Story boarding & shot ideas

Start

* Wide/Long shot - Boy watching girl in the distance (binoculars maybe)
           On the beat, jump cuts getting closer to girl.
*Medium Shot - Music begins, girl starts riding bike (forest) journey begins.
*Long Shot - Girl Cycling toward camera
*Close up - Pedals, pan up towards sunny sky and girl. ( looking thoughtful, unaware)
*Wide Shot - Girl pulls up, picks flowers. From Flowers, pan up to sky when lyrics start.
*Pan down to tree - Boy singing lyrics with guitar (cheesey) Distance girl walks past with bike.
*Medium Shot - Side profile of guitarist, boy singing cheesily " Makes you lie awake all through the night"
*Long Shot - Boy jumps down from tree to look at her during lyrics " That's why"

Switch Scenes
*Long/Wide (establishing) shot - Girl walking through wheat fields/high grass past boy singing with guitar, ignoring him.
*Close up of hand running through the long grass, or camera (p.o.v)
*Medium Shot - Girl walking towards camera, Boy watching on lip-syncing 'And every night she's seen with someone new'
* Medium Shot - Boy singing to camera (cheesy) "Never You"

Research into Settings and Suitable Lighting

A strong visual concept which I want to use in my music video, is the editing of the natural colour into a sepia tone. I think a sepia tone connotes a more authentic image, and also one of warmth and happiness. I think this relates well back to the Acoustic/Pop genre as a whole, as it connotes easy listening, and therefore easy viewing ( not too much going on, or in your face styles).

Sepia Tone Images found on the web for inspiration :)

I really like the tone in these images, I think it creates a gentle beautiful image and kind of puts a happy film over the world. I also think the colour helps to home in on the beauty of nature and scenery, which is something i want to portray in my music video.



Scenery /Settings

Nature and landscape is a particular setting I want to incorporate into my Video. Particular scenes I have pictured to fit with my song and genre, are those of an Autumnal Nature. For example, The Woods, or Forest pathways where the protagonist could ride her bike, and the male lead could kide behind trees, waiting for the right moment to approach her.

Wheat fields are also a strong image I think would create a beautiful scene when set into a sepia tone. And also the idea of brushing through corn or long grass, whilst mid-thought, i think would also show the protagonists obsession with herself and her own thoughts.

Research and Developed Ideas

A clear image that I want to include within my music video is the idolised girl on a bike ride, creating an innocent character. Also, being on her own, i will be able to interpretate her obsession with herself, and how she oblivious to the man following her, trying to catch her attention.

A few images I have found, have inspired me and helped me think of shots and angles I could use.

Characters and Stereotypes

I would like to work with stereotypes within my music video, as i think i will be able to communicate the genre easier. One specific Stereotype which i think is quite potent in all Acoustic/Pop videos, is the stereotype of the 'Pretty Blonde'. I think that Blondes are seen to be 'cuter' or more 'innocent' than the stereotypes of Brunettes, being sassier and sexy.
Therefore, i am using a Blonde girl in my music video, with the fashion, and style of the image below.

I think the image above contrasts with the image of a Brunette below. The style and image in general of the Blonde girl is the exact kind of character i would like to interpret into my music video.

Idea for Music Video

She's intoxicated by herself,
Everyday she's seen with someone else,
And every night she kisses someone new
Never you.

^     These lyrics, I am going to try and enterpretate by having the main protagonist (female) obviously intoxicated, obsessed with herself, and in the background or a P.O.V shot, the male following her, trying to get her attention etc. This could also be shown with the lyrics:

'You're waiting in the shadows for a chance,
Cause you believe at heart, that if you can,
Show to her what love is all about,
She'll change.'
Also, an other idea I had is to cut into the scene to switch between narrative and a performance in order to get lip-syncing in. I was particularly inspired by the film, 'Theres Something About Mary'

The guy playing the guitar, rather cheesily, is something that i think would relate back to the happy upbeat characteristics of my chosen Track.

What genre is it and how is this made apparent through the Key Concepts (representation, audience, institution, ideology, narrative etc)?

Goodwins Theory of Music Videos applied to Jack Johnson - Taylor

1. Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics
The genre of Acoustic/Pop holds characterists of there being a lead character, normally the artist themselves, and is based around a certain narrative relating to the lyrics of the song. Although this video does not go with the lyrics of the song, its follows an easy-going, relaxed narrative, of which most acoustic videos have. There is also nearly always a lead holding a guitar and playing, bringing the performance and lip-syning into the video to help relate the music and video together.

2. There is a relationship between lyrics and visuals
In this particular video, the lyrics don't match up with the visuals. However, the tone and beat of the video does. This video has an outside narrative, and therefore doesnt conform to Goodwins theory of Music Videos.



3. There is a relationship between the music and visuals

The visuals in the video may be edited in time to the beats or rhythm of the song.
The calm, smooth characteristics goes with the visuals of nature, and the colouring the video. For example, you would not match this video in with something fromSlipKnot( a Punk/Screamo band) as it would not meet with the beat and feel of the song and the colouring wouldn't be as bright.

4. The demands of the record label will include the need for lots of close ups of the artists and the artist may develop motifs which reoccur across their work (a visual style)

Record Labels insist on showing the artist throughout the video to sell them as an icon, and develop certain motifs or characteristics which will be instantly related back to them. Although this video does not show Jack Johnson to be the main character within the video, they still sow him regularly. Also, while researching Jack Johnsons music i have come across the re-occuring scenes of hawaii, his hometown. And with this come sbeautiful beaches and nearly always scenes showing nature at its best. This is an ongoing motif throughout Johnsons videos and is still particularly potent now. Along with the scenery, Jack's guitar is a obvious motif which is always included within a video, as it shows the characterists of the genre strongly.

5. There is frequently reference to notion of looking.

Often shown with screens within screen, looking through telescopes. Also and most commonly, the voyeuristic treatment of the female body (above).

6. There is often intertextual reference

There is quite a strong intertextual reference within this video, as Jack Johnson gets a famous actor (Ben Stiller) to play him in the video quite humourously. This could make reference to his character, shy, undramatic (unlike Stiller) and also his love of music and not the selling side of things. Therefore going against the conformities and not selling himself in his music videos.

Stills of particular lighting possibilies.

I really like the hue of these images from Ben Howards Music Video. I think it gives a really authentic feel, and this is something i would like to achieve in my music video. As you can see from the still images aswell, alot of nature is involved, something that i feel is very potent in all acoustic music videos, something too i will try to add into my own video.

Research and Planning

Within my music video I would like to converge a narrative with lip-syncing. This way I am able to put the lyrics across within the video.
An artist that fits the genre, and does this well is KT Tunstall especially in her song 'Under the Weather



Actors withing my Video
I will need to research into music videos which use females to lip-sync over male voices or visa-versa as I want to use a particular actress to be the lead in my music video. This will challenge the conventions of commercialised music videos so I think it could work well in an quirky genre.

Major Influences

My chosen track fits under the genre of Quirky/Acoustic pop music. Therefore, I believe there is alot I can do with this track.

Major Influences:

Xavier Rudd ( Acoustic/Folk)
Ben Howard (Acoustic/Pop)


This particular video of Ben Howards 'Old Pine' I really like the colour of the video. It gives an authentic feeling to the footage, something I would like to incorporate into my music video.
I would like to base my video around a narartive, along the lines of a journey of discovery etc. and I think this particular video shows this very well.

My Track :)

Lyrics:

In the sky the birds are pulling rain,
In your life a curse has got a name,
Makes you lie awake all through the night
That's why.

She's intoxicated by herself,
Everyday she's seen with someone else,
And every night she kisses someone new
Never you.

You're waiting in the shadows for a chance,
'Cause you believe at heart, that if you can,
Show to her what love is all about,
She'll change.

She'll talk to you with no one else around,
But only if you're able to entertain her,
The moment conversation stops she's gone,
Again.

Welcome to A2!

Welcome back to Media Studies! This year we're starting with our first project, making a music video! We have all decided to tackle this project alone and have been given a range of tracks to pick from. The one that i have decided to tackle on the list is track 20. The next stage is to begin research and planning to bring in ideas that i could use.