Digipak Photography

Recently, Liam and Connor went out to take photographs for our digipak cover. We shot many locations some close to home, and others in town. For this we put a standard digital alarm clock in many locations taking photos and then edited the time 4:00AM onto (This being the name of the song we have chosen.) We decided on the shot for the digipak cover would be one of the first we took. This was located just around the corner from my house so very easy to access if any re-shoots required. The shot has the alarm clock taking up practically all of the foreground with a road bending into a corner blurred out in the background via depth of field.

Map

A = Photograph Location

B = Liams House

C = School

Permission Response

This was the email that mixy sent us back, confirming that we have his permission to use his name, song etc. We can now carry on with the products and research.

email to Mixy

This is an email that we have sent Mixy to confirm that we have permission to use him for our project.

"Hello,
This is just an email to confirm that we have permission to use your song, and you also agree to us using yourself for our project. including creating, a Digi-pak and website to accompany the video.
Please send back an email agreeing to this."

Target Markets

A target market is a specific group of people the music is aimed at. The production company can aim it at certain groups by the different types of advertising and marketing they do, e.g. teenagers are more likely to be targeted by advertising that is online. Looking at similar artists such as eminem it is clear that his target audience is that of a younger age range, roughly 16-30. This means we will target our music video and music by Mixy to the same age range. This is the ideal age for our genre of music.

Blog Update

In the last couple of months me and the group have completed the following tasks:

• Choosing the song
• Lyrics
• Discussions with the artist (Mixy)
• Research
• Digipak development
• Digipak prototype
• Etc.

I hope to have these added as soon as possible, with images and videos.

we have currently been working on our digipak, we have also created the digipak aswell as just designing it. Pictures of this will soon be uploaded on here.

Collage Of Album Covers

Here is a collage of some album covers i have created using photoshop, these images can help me and my group to create a digipak design. The eminem album cover called '3am' could be quite useful because the song we are using is called '4am'. We could use some of the font ideas and play about with colours and texts in order to create what we consider to be the perfect digipak for our chosen song.

Digipaks typically consist of a gatefold (book-style) paperboard or card stock outer binding, with one or more plastic trays capable of holding a CD or DVD attached to the inside. Since Digipaks were among the first alternatives to jewel cases to be used by major record companies, and because there is no other common name for Digipak-style packaging made by other companies, the term digipak or Digi-Pak is often used generically.
Digipak-style packaging is often used for CD singles or special editions of CD albums and the tall DVD Digipak is used as a premium package for DVDs and DVD sets.
Although less vulnerable to cracking than a jewel case, the disc tray inside the package (particularly the "teeth" of the hub which secure the disc in place) remains rather brittle and is prone to cracking if the package is crushed. Digipak-style cases grew in popularity among record labels and recording artists in the early 2000s. Folk band Show of Hands were one of their first bands to use a digipak, on their 1997 album Dark Fields.
Manufacturers have sought to reduce environmental impact and improve functionality by introducing recycled components into its trays; one has announced a 100% post-consumer PET tray made from recycled bottles, which also eliminates the need for the brittle "teeth". Many printers use recycled or sustainable material for the board stock.
Historically, Digipak was only available in large quantities. However, AGI has recently introduced a new product called digipak i-create for the consumer market. Digipak i-create is a web-supported concept that is aimed at music, photo and creative markets.
Digipaks usually resemble the type of music the CD contains for example a rock CD would sterotypically use dark colours to portray what the music is like. Our digipak would need to be more colourful and attractive to the audience it is aimed at which would be young adults, Although Mixys music is not sterotypical rap our album will still need to follow the codes and conventions of a rap music album. Our images and logo will  be funky and fresh in order for the audience to realate to them. Examples of Album covers are shown below:

Eminem's music is stereotypical rap. The text used on this album is very simple and bold, this draws your attention to the name 'Eminem'. The 'E' is backwards which is something that is noticeably done throughout his albums, this makes the audience relate to it as being him. Throughout his albums his name is in bold lettering and is clear on the front of the album. When on shop shelf's the customer and quickly identify his albums. The image on the front of this album relates to the name 'Recovery' as Eminem laying there could indicate that he was recovering from something perhaps mentally or physically. Most of his albums also have a picture of him on the front and he is there throughout his music videos this is also a stereotype of rap music. On this album the walls don't look particularly clean witch also relates to the fact rap music is usually about sex and violence and is not a clean way of living. In the corner the 'Parental Advisory' logo is there to indicate that strong language is used throughout this CD, this is an important logo when buying a CD and it shows the customer it wouldn't be suitable for young people to listen to.

This is the sort of album and style we will need to base our Digipak around.

The album cover shown above is a stereotypical rock band, The colours and the image used show us instantly that the music will be of a rock nature. The lettering used is more grungy and not perfect and the image of the heart with blood dripping would only attract audiences that where into rock, the image perhaps does not relate to any of the music on the CD and dose not relate to the title 'American Idiot' but the image dose portray the 'Rock' genre. The colours used are very basic and only 3 colours are used. The colours are dark and the black and reds are a common stereotype for rock music albums.

Definition;

A Digipak is a type of CD packaging made out of card stock or other heavy paper/cardboard material. Digipaks are able to flip open like a book, or be in three parts, so that one portion of the packaging can open to the right and one to the left, with the CD located in the centre portion.

For our group to create our Digipak we had to consider the following:

• Logo
• Font Styles
• Layout
• Images
• What information to include

Conventions:
When looking through various Digipaks, I noticed some conventions of the product, that are useful information when you have to create your own.

1. It had either 4 or 6 panels.
2. A main image was placed on the front either being a logo, symbol or image to respesent the artist.
3. A track list on the back
4. Logo of the production company
5. Barcode
6. Name of the album & artist
7. Same theme running throughout digipak

Lyrics

I have listened to 4am from Mixy's MMX Mixtape and wrote out the lyrics to the best of my ability hilighting all of the woman parts in pink and the anything else: notes, instrumental, etc. in orange. Here is a link where you can download Mixy's Album from http://locality1.com/2011/01/08/mixy-mmx-mixtape-free-download/.

4 a.m.

you promise me you wait for me, cause i ll be savin all my love for you. and i will be home sooooooon. you promise me you wait for me, i need to know you feel the same way too. ill be home, ill be home soon.


(female singer sings: "ahhh ohhh ah oh ahhh oooo aaa ahhh" (echo))
when i saw her i was amazed, when she smiled at me i smiled back, she inspired so many words on my page its like i got my inner child back, and i like that i seen her plans to see if she'll come out with me for a drink and a chat, i can't dance and i cocked up from where i sat, i knew i didn't have a chance me and the lads where having a laugh on the lash chattin about the class of ass on the lash that we saw out and how we would love to get in there pants, but i got a glans from that pretty thing and i have had more than a glass, so I'm cocky and confident enough to go over and ask hey sweet how about how about how about.


you light up and let us see the rain yeah. for the while; its four o'clock in the morning and it's starting to get light!! you light up and let us see the rain yeah. for the while; its four o'clock in the morning and it's starting to get light!


(female singer sings: "ahhh ohhh ah oh ahhh oooo aaa ahhh" (echo))
so i wake up, 3:58 rough, next to a sleeping beauty who's still a cutie without her make up, its about the third date but, i think i like her enough to put the stakes up, trust, maybe i should know her better still I'm just happy i met her impressed i could get her bit early to say stay forever; whatever happens i won't forget her, i know that already, and maybe we could go steady and keep it sweet till it starts to go heavy, I'll never be ready, but as she sleeps she looks so sweet, i lay a kiss on her cheek she opens her beautiful eyes looks at me, smiles, and speaks speaks Sp speaks s speaks


you light up and let us see the rain yeah. for the while; its four o'clock in the morning and it's starting to get light!! you light up and let us see the rain yeah. for the while; its four o'clock in the morning and it's starting to get light!


i never thought i would ask you to promise me there's a lot of things i don't wana see when you are far away in a place you don't wana be, honestly we should be looking at property raisin a family, happy does it have to be like this i know gradually you'll come back to me you said you were ready to marry me, but i guess we'll have to see where we're at, when you come back and bring the fun back to a sum we've done that done math and I've do another dumb track, i feel strong I've stung and hung that we're both under that sun that sines, should be together instead we're other sides of the world remember how we spent our time it's boy over here you're seven hours ahead or am i just seven behind. just seven behind. just seven behind. 


(female singer sings: "ahhh ohhh ah oh ahhh oooo aaa ahhh" (echo))
what ever happens i wont forget her (echo/dreamy)


dream you're near (echo/dreamy)


promise me (echo/dreamy)


back to me (echo/dreamy)


just seven behind. just seven behind. just seven behind. (echo/dreamy)


when it's four am where i am it 11 am where you are, i know it's too far and too hard but sweet heart i try and keep a true heart, when its four am where you are it's nine pm here and you are on my mind when i am awake and when i sleep i dream you are near. dream you are near. dream you are near.


you light up and let us see the rain yeah. for the while; its four o'clock in the morning and it's starting to get light!! you light up and let us see the rain yeah. for the while; its four o'clock in the morning and it's starting to get light!


Ending instrumental

Our Meeting

Last week we met with mixy and presented our music video ideas to him and we settled on a final idea.
After proposing our ideas to Mixy and discussing his ideas we had a group vote on which song to do. Mixy has already had a video made for "Pretty Spanish Girl" so we decided against this one, his newest song "You Know" had big plans that seemed to ambitious for our time frame so we decided upon "4a.m." a slow song that has a love song feel. we have discussed the ideas for this video and will have more follow up meetings about the progressions of the project.

Our Media Proposal

Meeting.

On the 8th of October Connor called Mixy, this was after our group presentation where we presented our three ideas to the class; since then more development has been done to one idea. we have aranged to meet with Mixy on the 14th of October, at 1:30pm, we plan to show him the project proposal and discuss ideas with him. we will record this meating and post it on our blogs.

Codes and Conventions of a Music Video

Music Video on Prezi

Top Record Lables

The definition of a record label is: a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos.

Major labels 1988–1998 (Big Six)

1. Warner Music Group
2. EMI
3. Sony Music
4. BMG Music
5. Universal Music Group
6. Polygram

Major labels 1998–2004 (Big Five)

1. Warner Music Group
2. EMI
3. Sony Music
4. BMG Music
5. Universal Music Group

Major labels 2004–2008 (Big Four)

1. Warner Music Group
2. EMI
3. Sony BMG
4. Universal Music Group

Major labels since 2009 (Big Four)

1. Sony Music Entertainment
2. EMI Group
3. Warner Music Group
4. Universal Music Group

Webpage Analysis

Website Analysis

This is what Jason Derulo's webpage looks like once you have entred it. Once again the main viewpoint is a picture of him and his name 'Jason Derulo' in big lettering with a colourful font, this acts as the wall paper for the site. The same theme is followed throughout the site. It is easy to navigate arround and the options you can click on are well labled and easy to see e.g. Home, News, Music, Videos ect. On this page there is the opportunity to sign up to the mailing list, a section for news on his music videos and tours ect. His latest music video is shown on this page along with reference to Jason Derulo's Facebook page, myspace and twitter accounts, this is to encourage fans to follow him and keep up to date with him throughout their lifes. The site would be aimed at young adults becasue that is the age group which most commonly listens to this type of urban music.

 The wesite is designed in order to attract that age group. The funky fonts and colours are used for that reason.

Dappy- No Regrets music analysis

This Music Video breaks the normal codes and conventions of  a R&B video. I would say this video is inbetween a Pop and R&B genre.
The opening scene is a shot of 'Dappy' (the singer) standing on top of a building, this sets the scene for the video. At the beging there is alot of shots fading over one another, i think this is to show the past, since the song is called 'No Regrets' this could mean he regrets things that have happend in the past, this also shows a connection between lyrics and visuals. The atmosphere also has connection to the lyrics, the atmosphere is calm and just shows daily situations, the transitons are slow and gentle which represents the calm nature of the song. Most of the video is based arround the singing 'dappy' and there is alot of close up shots of the singer, a example of this is shown below:

This is a common code and convention of a R&B video.

There are often intertextual references the lyrics 'Cos I’m famous.. Call me Gallagher.. ‘Cos I’m so shameless' relate to the tv episode shamless. He also says 'back to to future, Marty Mcfly' which relates to the film 'Back to the Future'. The name Michael Caine is also mentioned. This shows there is alot of intertextual analysis in this song. I beleive this helps the audience relate to the lyrics of the song and the message that is trying to be put across.

The is also alot of violence, arguing and fights, this could be showing you what his past was like. The fighting scene is in slow motion, i think his is so it fits in with the mood of the music.

Goodwins Theory

Andrew Goodwin's 6 features of music videos;
In his book 'Dancing in the Distraction Factory' Andrew Goodwin points out characteristics and features that can be found in music videos.

1. Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics.(e.g. stage performance in metal videos, dance routine for boy/girl band, aspiration in Hip Hop)

2. There is a relationship between lyrics and visuals.The lyrics are represented with images. (either illustrative, amplifying, contradicting).

3. There is a relationship between music and visuals.The tone and atmosphere of the visual reflects that of the music. (either illustrative, amplifying, contradicting).

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

5. There is frequently reference to notion of looking.(screens within screens, mirrors, stages, etc) and particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female body.

6. There are often intertextual references.(to films, TV programmes, other music videos, etc).

What is a digi pak

View more presentations from francescaa09

Music Video Ideas- Mixy

Mixy is an artist that we are considering for the final video, he writes his own lyrics. most of them are about stories and have a meaning behind them unlike the mass produced music of the current age; that consist of sex, drugs and violence. One reason that we would like to use his music is to help break the stereotype that is a associated with rap music, it isn't about sex, drinking and drugs; it is poetry that flows and has a meaning. another reason is that his music inspires, every lyric is purposeful, and just like a poem it has a meaning . 


4 a.m.
he has wrote a song called "4 a.m." this is a slow song, and i interpret it to be about falling in love and the getting separated by distance. however, this is based on the chorus ("you promise me, you wait for me, as i will be saving all the love for you, and i will be home soon") and like poetry there can be hidden meanings and metaphors. although listening to the lyrics you can tell that he is passionately in love with this person, describing everything in great details. then comes the distance "when its four am where i am, its eleven am where you are. i know its too far and too hard, but sweetheart i try to keep a true heart." he begins to have doubts about the strength of their relationship. it ends on a cliff-hanger not letting you know if they meet again, and have a "happily ever after", allowing the audience add their own ending. this will involve the audience and let them sympathise with the artist.
i would like to create a video to this using videos that follow the lyrics for example: when they are laying in bed, have some shots of him kissing her and her eyes opening slowly. then whilst the chorus is playing after the separate have him doing everyday tasks, and then flashing back to him and her doing the same thing: getting a coffee and someone spills it on him, then a flash back to when that happened and she helped clean it up. then there can be him rapping at a location (possibly a balcony) and her living life somewhere else (walking down a high street). this would have slow edits possibly fades, to go with the slow melody.

Pretty Spanish Girl
this song is about holiday romance, with a twist. meeting a girl in a club, dancing and then making out; then she leaves him to go to the bathroom, however he then finds out that she has taken his wallet and left the club. this song is very catchy and has a fast but mellow spanish backing track. if we were to create a music video for this song it would flow with the lyrics, using lots of different camera angles and fast cuts and panning, this would to show the initial passion and nerves that are building up. however, when he finds out about the betrayal the edits slow and lessen; showing how he now realises he intentions.

My Love
my love is a song that initially I thought to be about relationships and break-ups however, at the beginning of the song Mixy says "see if you catch the twist on this, you might need to listen to it again when you are finished" so this makes me think that there is a hidden meaning in the lyrics. he uses many metaphors in the lyrics... TO BE CONTINUED

Codes and Conventions of a Music Video

The purpose of a music video is to sell products, the most obvious thing which is the snog featured in the video. However, other connected products are also marketed by a music video. For example, the album the song is featured on, the film the song is part of the soundtrack for, an upcoming  tour by the artist and merchandise like t-shirts. However, music videos are an unusual form of marketing as they allow the audience full access to the product they are selling. When a music video is show, the audience is able to hear the song the video is for so they are 'getting; the product that is being promoted. When other products are advertised, such as a brand of coffee or an item of clothing, the advert suggests the product is desirable but the audience does not get to taste the coffee or wear he clothes


Most music videos rely heavily upon clothing and conventions of behavior associated with the specific genre of music being used. The following vase study illustrates how music videos use such conventions of the musical genres but also help to create them.
R&B Music Videos

• Usually a narrative
• Artist/Band always shown
• Usually dance routine
• Close up of artist
• Usually set in calm locations such as houses, beaches
• Hadley no performance
• Women usually wear revealing clothing
• money portrayed positively
• Alcohol and party scene
• Use of special effects
• Examples; Destiny's Child, Rhianna

R&B music videos often include women and the main singer dancing. There is usually quite low lighting, with flashing lights to create a club scene which is the usual setting for a R&B music video. The women in these music videos are often wearing revealing clothing and dancing in a sexual way. These videos portray wealth and power and there are usually cars, lots of jewelry, alcohol and money.

Hip-Hop Videos

• Usually includes the artist
• Normally set in a club or a party environment
• usually no storyline
• typically women dancers or models. Usually half naked
• Features Manson and branded clothing
• Usually other famous artists are featured in the video
• Examples: 50 Cent, B.I.G-Notorious

Rock Music Videos

• Usually dark/deep colours
• Displays the band performing on stage
• Usually no narrative
• Eerie/Weird videos
• Uneasy camera movements
• Hand-held shots
• Usually no use of special effects
• Examples; Rolling Stones, Limp Bizkit

Pop Music Videos

• Colourful
• Close up of artists- shows innocence
• Fun and light hearted
• Appeals to younger target audience
• Shows artist/band involved in dance routines
• Good mood-Location-Happy for example a beach/friends
• Teenage scenario (having a crush)
• Video usually has narrative
• Example; Britney spears, Lady Gaga

Indie/Rock Music Videos

• Show artist or band throughout the video
• Some special effects
• Usually calm setting but changes when beat kicks in
• May be black and white
• Sometimes has a narrative
• Close up of artists and characters shown in video
• Shows band performing
• Example; Snow Patrol, Kings Of Leon, Kasabian

Dance Music Videos

• Dance Routines
• Sometimes narrative
• Location- Clubs or party
• Upbeat and fun videos
• Women dancers usually half naked
• Bright colours
• All dancers wearing similar costumes
• Examples; Eric Pryds, Basshunter, Faithless

Music Analysis (Jason Derulo- Dont Wanna Do Home)

The Genre of this music video shown above is R&B, this is a typical video for this genre as includes Jason Derulo singing and dancing with women. The beginning of the video is him with women around him, there are clips in between of a party which is presumed to be the night before, the lyrics 'dont wanna go home' relate to this scene. The music relates to the visuals as he is dancing to the music, throughout the video there is dancing, girls and dark lighting with flashing lights, this suggests a club atmosphere which also relates to the lyrics. The video includes women wearing hardly any clothes, to show of their body's this is a typical representation of a R&B music video.The video includes lots of close ups of the singer. There is frequent reference to notion of looking, thorough out the video, the camera is focued on the main singer (Jason Derulo) and the camera is directed towards him. 
The video has sexual references throughout that link to the lyrics 'I just met this sexy Haitian girl moving like a dancer, Told her and her girlfriend that's speaking my cobana'
Jason Derulo is  an American singer-songwriter. Who is typically known for R&B music.
The camera normally shows a wide area, unless focusing in on certain items in the room or peoples facial expressions e.g. focus in on peoples expressions to show they are asleep, making you think perhaps they are tired after a night out.  Also when they are dancing to show the happiness on their faces to make you think they are having a good night.

Welcome :)

This is my new blog for A2 Media :) our group now consists of Connor, Liam and Myself. We are going to create a music video, along with digi pack and webpage.