Summary of research

Our group had decided on filming a music video as we had quite a few of ideas already we then decided on making one of muses videos as we discussed it was in the genre we chose which is ‘alternative’ or ‘indie rock’ our ideas consisted of either live music event or based around the band playing, with a sub plot happening simultaneously. We have also decided on a target audience of 15-25 and obviously trying to keep it in style with the band so that existing muse fans can also enjoy it, we have also chosen to keep it as mainstream as we possibly can.

Originally ‘indie rock’ was made to reject mainstream culture however they have started to be influenced more by it to incorporate this standard culture. However the videos and lyrics still address social concern like drug abuse or environmentalism.

From all of my research I have found that music videos are a very important part of the music industry. They have been used to promote the artist since the concept of a music video Music videos are used to promote the artist and to increase their profit. For this reason they need to have a large target audience so it is enjoyable for the majority therefore most modern videos are made to be highly mainstream. They also give the viewer a chance to observe the bands style and performance.

The distribution part of production is also a very important part as this is the vital stage in letting the fans gain access to their material. Ideally the artist would like their video on a popular music channel like MTV as then not only the fans have access to it, meaning general public can watch and then maybe start to appreciate the band, and purchase the album. The band would also make money from allowing the channel to play their work. YouTube is a good way for the band to get heard as it is free and good videos spread fast on the internet.

The Theorists I used have allowed me to analyse some music videos, Roland Barthes’s theory has made it easier for me to analyse not only the bands music videos but there dig packs and magazine reviews allowing me to get an incite on the bands technique and style. Karl Marx’s theory had told me I have to make the video mainstream so a large number of viewers enjoy it therefore making money and Laura Mulvey said that the videos are filmed from a male perspective and this it is the social standard. I have put these theories in to practice and analysed a selection of our desired genre these gave me a general idea of what to expect in an ‘alternative’ music video. I then analysed some of muse’s our chosen artist’s videos this gave me an idea of there general style including elements like they mainly have the band as the centre of attention and that they use a lot of the colour red also in most of their videos they have filmed form a male point of view. And that; like there lyrics the videos portray general topics of social concern. From analyzing digipacks and magazine adverts I have found the general style of advertising from how attract attention and keeping it in style with the artist.