The Internet and the Music Industry

After writing a couple of songs, I finally got the opportunity to record them (on Apple's Garage Band) and (big sigh of relief) finish my coursework! The end result is something that I am not entirely pleased with, the songs are slightly ropey and the lyrics too hurried, but at least that's not what I will be marked on. There is one glaring disadvantage with my coursework; it has no message. The only thing the demo presents, is me with a guitar and, as Lecturer Henry pointed out, it has almost become "art for arts sake".

However, my proposed target audience is better defined. The internet has greatly increased the opportunities for new and emerging bands and artists, with specific websites devoted to helping all those poor people with delusions of grandeur (including me) get signed. For attracting my target audience; the record companies, I've signed up to a website called Record of the Day. The site has helped launch the careers of bands such as Nizlopi and Keane and works by sending members songs directly to the record companies who can provide feedback and in some cases offer record deals. To attract a more ordinary internet user I considered signing up to MySpace, a site which has helped the Arctic Monkeys achieve chart success. However, the site is extremely popular and swamped with wannabe artists, making the chances of being heard extremely slim. I decided not to join.

So now its on to revision which is in actual fact, something I really enjoy.

Did you really believe me? No, I'm not exactly relishing revision but it is a necessary evil.

The lecture today was the last before the exam, so as usual, it was packed. Henry mentioned this blog a couple of times and even said that it could dipped into for a spot of revision. I would just like to finish with a disclaimer...

This blog is only intended as a guide, anything written in here is my opinion and interpretation and should not be relied on in an exam...you're whole career cannot depend on my blog, I can't cope with the pressure!

Slightly More than 15 Minutes of Fame

You'd think that a lecture on Celebrities would be passable, that picking up a copy of Heat Magazine would be more beneficial. However, much to my surprise, the lecture was actually very thought provoking and a lot more intelligent than I imagined! Future students: It's definately worth going to this lecture!

I missed last weeks lecture due to a obviously contaminated beef burger from Chicken Hut, (a place I won't be attending again). The lecture discussed the rise of the celebrity culture, reasons for it and its roots.

This weeks talk focused on the Commodification of Celebrities and was conducted by the trendiest looking professor I have ever seen: Ellis Cashmore. I found an old BBC news story on him today: Apparently he once (or still does) taught a module on David Beckham (see here).

The lecture in a paragraph: Celebrities are the ideal of ourselves, although reality TV has diluted the 'us and them' dicotomy. We tend to put Jade Goody through the 'Othering' process, similar to the way we perceive Al-Quaeda. Jordan on the other hand is the commercial alter-ego of Katie Price which is marketed to a completely different niche. A similar phenomenon can be seen in the multiple personalities and characters of Rap and Hip-Hop artists. Vertical integration of corporations means that companies can own, produce, distribute and collect the sales revenue of celebrities.

Up to a point I disagree with Ellis where he says that it is very difficult for a celebrity to become famous due to being invisible to the public eye. The graffitti artist Banksy is only known for his random artistic daubings which perhaps contributes to his mystery and ambiguity, feeding his (admittidly cultish) fame. Syd Barrett, the reclusive founder member of Pink Floyd disappeared from society in the early 70s and went back to live with his Mum. However, he does tend to get photographed in the Daily Mail from time to time.

Some interesting questions were put on the OHP at the end and will undoubtedly be similar to ones on the exam. But I will be annoying and not put any of them up here, you'll have to go to the lecture for that!

Advice for Video Making

The last lecture featured a talk from an external lecturer, Mike Neary from Warwick University. He had come in to talk about a video he and some of his students had constructed for their Sociology Courswork. The video was shown and we discussed ways and means of making our own videos at Aston.

Although the lecture was clear and useful, I feel it came a little too late. Most students have already decided on what their coursework will entail and even those who have chosen to do a video are fairly advanced in their research and ideas. Next year hopefully the talk will come earlier in the term.

However, the Sociology team at Warwick are involved in advice and conduct presentations around the country assisting students with their projects. If you want to get in touch with Mike with any questions or queries regarding the coursework, especially with regards to videos, check out his blog.