MS4 - Text, Industry & Audience: Music

Exam Approaches

Your 3 Focus Texts for Industry are:
Radiohead: 'The King of Limbs'
Lady Gaga: 'Born This Way'
Nirvana: 'Nevermind'

Details about the release patterns and success of each release are well documented on wikipedia and will provide a good basis for discussion of the central issues (use the links above): 

• Compare and contrast how audiences responded to the differing ways that the Music Industry treated these albums/CD's release
• What were the sales generated by these releases?
• What were the markets/fans for each individual release?
• What was the impact upon the Music Industry as a result of these releases?
• How did these releases appeal to differing audiences?
• What were the marketing strategies for each release?
• How was each release promoted via singles and/or video production?

Take notes on the production, promotion and markets for each release:

• Analyse/examine/discuss the production values of these artists videos
• What are the genre conventions and stylistics for each artist?
• Who would they appeal to? Why?
• Mainstream/Niche/Alternative market? Discuss
• Reasons for success? Discuss
• Reasons for popularity? Discuss
• How far did advances in technology play in the distribution and success of these releases for each artist? 
• How far has the Industry changed over time? Refer to technological advances
• What did fans/audiences want?
• Explore the uses and gratifications of each text for those audience

B1. How important is the internet to your selected industry? Refer to your chosen texts in your answer. [30]

B2. Explore the impact of digital technologies on your selected industry. [30]

B3. With reference to your selected industry, explore how far your chosen texts are global [30]

B4. Explore how your chosen texts use digital technology in their marketing. [30]