Song BMG Biography....

Sony BMG Music Entertainment was a global recorded music company, which was a 50–50 joint venture between the Sony Corporation of America and Bertelsmann AG. The venture’s successor, the again-active Sony Music Entertainment, is 100% owned by the Sony Corporation of America.
Sony BMG Music Entertainment formed in 2004 when Sony Music Entertainment and Bertelsmann Music Group merged.


Sony BMG Music Entertainment formed in 2004 when Sony Music Entertainment and Bertelsmann Music Group merged.


With his new position Mr. Schmidt-Holtz will have overall management responsibility for the company and be based in New York. Mr. Lack, as Chairman of the Board, will lead the company's public policy and industry , and operating responsibility and oversight for the theatrical film business of Sony BMG, and be based in New York.


The joint venture SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT was formally announced on August 5, 2004. It is 50% owned by Bertelsmann and 50% owned by Sony Corporation of America. It encompasses some of the most influential and successful record labels in the world and a wide variety of recording artists, and operates worldwide. Schmidt-Holtz and Lack were instrumental in joining together to begin the negotiations and ultimately implement the joint venture.

Mr Schmidt - Holtz said...
"I am honored to be asked to lead Sony BMG and to take us forward as a leader in music and entertainment. I know a deep commitment to our artists and our shareholders is shared by our employees worldwide, and by working together we will continue to grow Sony BMG as a creative powerhouse." said Rolf Schmidt-Holtz, CEO, SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT

1. The subsidiary labels that SONY BMG own are one of the Big Four music companies, and includes ownership and distribution of recording labels such as Arista Records, Columbia Records, Epic Records, J Records, Jive Records, RCA Victor Records, RCA Records, Legacy Recordings, Sonic Wave America, and others.
 
2. The music industry is transitioning from a single product model to a different service model licensing, broadcasting, marketing, on-demand services. Bertelsmann sold its stake because it's a traditional, horizontally-integrated media company. Sony bought it because it's a vertically-integrated company well equipped to take advantage of it's inter-divisional synergies. that this is a victory for vertical integration in a period of diversifying revenue opportunities for music.
Bertelsmann is a content and distribution company. Besides the record label, its main holdings are book and magazine publishers and broadcasters. They make money by producing and distributing information, which is eventually paid for by advertisers and shoppers.
 
3.Sony profits from its money manufacturing consumer electronics, producing films, and licensing its formats e.g. Blu-ray, Playstation, and even owns some retail. Even though the company does profit from recorded music, its music division can be an asset for the company. This is because the music can be licensed on friendly terms to Sony's movies, games, and distribution portals, and can be used to support new technology formats.

Wayne Isham - Music Video Director.

Wayne Isham born 1958 is an American music video director who has directed music videos of many popular artists; such as, Kelly Clarkson, *NSYNC, Sheryl Crow,Madonna, Avril Lavigne, Bon Jovi and many others.

Waynes signature trade marks are Nested Zooms and Technocranes. Waynes personal quotes; 'No Wayne, no pain!'

Watching these videos in class we found a repeated theme of all videos resembling a performance element, on stage and to an audience.

For each genre with a similar audience showed familiar scene and atmosphere. For example Bon Jovi's videos 'You gave love a bad name' and 'Living on a Prayer' showed intimate 'backstage' setting followed with a performance to the crowd in an arena. Showing Waynes unique style and 'stamp' on music videos.

Watching Wayne's videos made me analyse his style and critique his videos. From the mise-en- scene down to extras all followed suit with the genre of music. In Enrique's video for ' I Like it' and Ricky Martin's video 'She Bangs' which attract similar audiences both show party scenes, sexuality, SFX and Pop influenced. Showing that these are factor which audiences of this genre are attracted to.

Rough Trade Records

Rough Trade Records is an independent record label based in London, United Kingdom. It was started in 1978 by Geoff Travis. Geoff Travis was traveling in North America and amassed a huge record collection as he moved from coast to coast, He then shipped these records back to the UK which became the basis of the Rough Trade Shop. The label grew out of the Rough Trade Shop, founded by Travis in west London in 1976. The Label was set up in 1978 and also went into the distribution business. Distributing amongst others "Joey Parratts" first band The Flying Brix. It became independent from the shop in 1982, then went bankrupt in 1991, ruining quite a few smaller record labels to which money was owed. Rough Trade was relaunched in 2000.

Rough Trade specialised primarily in European post-punk and other alternative rock of the late 1970s and early 1980s. In the late 1980s Rough Trade branched out by issuing an eponymous album by Lucinda Williams. Other early signings included Agitpop, The Raincoats, Young Marble Giants, The Smiths and Scritti Politti.

Madonna - Queen of Pop

Madonna - Queen of Pop on Prezi

Analysis of Music Video - The Pretender - Foo Fighters

"The Pretender" is a song by the American alternative rock band Foo Fighters. The music video was directed by Sam Brown. It is presented in letterbox format which shows pans, zooms, tracking shots.

 It consists of the band performing the song in an open space with many strip lights on the ceiling. Behind the band is a large red screen, which is thick and solid, the video is very imitate and puts the audience within the space almost like there watching with the pans and zooms. The music here demonstrates the genre characteristics, with the instruments being shown and the band playing alone, showing the 'rock' characteristics.
The image of the band are fairly typical and follow suit to the genre, baggy jeans and long hair.
The band is then faced by what appears to be a riot police officer, who stands behind a black line on the floor. He has the number 21 on his bullet-proof vest. This possibly showing how they may be in trouble with the police, causing them to use a 'SWAT' like team of officers. Enforcing there 'bad' reputations of a rock band.
 As the song continues, he is joined by more riot police officers. As the quieter bridge begins, the video slows down as the officers charge at the band. Just as the band repeats the song's louder chorus, the screen suddenly explodes and a red liquid erupts from the red screen overwhelming the police officers but affecting the band to a lesser extent.
In the video their is not a strong link between lyrics and visuals, but the 'angy' content suits the visuals perfectly.

Analysis of Music Video - We Made You - Eminem.

"We Made You" is a song by hip hop musician Eminem. Produced by Dr. Dre and co-produced by Doc Ish and Eminem himself.

The singles music video was directed by Joseph Kahn. The video was filmed in Las Vegas and features star appearances by Dr. Dre, 50 Cent, Rihanna, Cynthia Nixon, Denaun Porter, Bobby Lee, The Palms hotel owner George Maloof, Melissa Peterman, actress Trisha Paytas (playing Jessica Simpson), Derrick Barry (of America's Got Talent fame) (playing Britney Spears) and pornographic actress Lisa Ann (as Sarah Palin).

Here this video shows the Eminem we all know and love. Here he demonstrates a different side to his ever serious persona.
The video and song have intertexual references, stylistically where they imitate celebrities, theme and narrative follow cuts of all things 'current' including politics. Also the content, subtle references through lyrics and visuals. Which have a strong link throughout.

Here this connotes to an audience Eminems lighter side as an entertainer. In the serious rap industry, he shows he can show the funnier side to his lyrics and the society hes living in.

The song shows the clear rap genre, but unlike anything the audience has heard before by other rap artists, Eminem shows his individuality with videos like this showing that he cant take himself too seriously. The video does not follow the 'rap' genre of codes and conventions. There are no references to violence, girls, sex or drugs, simply just humour. Possibly diverting to the 'pop' in this video. However in contrast to this there are limited 'pop' conventions in this video, his awkward dancing, and humorous close ups stating Eminems unique genre of music.

However this video started some controversy. As the video including the 'Sarah Palin' scandal at the heart of the Presidential race, which of course caused issues within the news. Also an overweight Jessica Simpson and Kim Khardasian being a man, cause up raw within the celeb world. Resulting in Eminem not being too popular!

Analysis of Music Video - ' Vogue' Madonna.

This video directed by The video was directed by David Fincher and shot at The Burbank Studios in Burbank, California on February 9–10, 1990. Filmed in black-and-white, the video recalls the look of films and photography from The Golden Age of Hollywood. Many of the scenes are recreations of  famous photographs.
There was some controversy surrounding the video due to a scene in which Madonna's breasts and, if the viewer looks closely, her nipples could be seen through her sheer lace blouse. MTV wanted to remove this scene, but Madonna refused, and the video aired with the shot intact. The video was edited in Australia for daytime screenings, with the sheer blouse images replaced with slow motion shots of other parts of the video.

This video saw Madonna in a different light to her previous stuff. Here she took on a glamorous, classy look.With emphasise on lighting and black and white the video recreated a photography shoot, shown through the title 'Vogue.' The video has a strong relationship between lyrics and visuals to connote a deep meaning.

The opening demonstrates her constantly re-invention, however still showing her sexuality. Her sexual posing and provocative clothing closely show her sexual denotations. The close ups here occur throughout the duration of the video, again showing her sexual side and emphasise on the 'photography styled shoot.'
Throughout the video, the sets a very simplistic showing the emphasise on shots and lighting, also the constant hint of painting during the opening. Hinting at her theme for the video and her classy image, this is contrasted however in her 'daring' lace vest which is clear to see her breasts showing through.

As this video is based in the 'pop' genre the video does not necessary follow suit to the conventions only one being the dance routine. It appears that her original audience would be 'teens and tweens' but here this video has such a more 'classy' take that which may appeal to older audiences. As her audience may not understand the appeal of this video, and the reasons for it.

The repetitive dance routine shows one of the conventions of the 'pop' music video. However the dance is still up keeping her 'classy' image she is setting, there is no provocative moves. She is dressed in a black trouser suit again promoting her higher class image.

As the video was created to re created famous photographs from people like Marilyn Monroe and Katherine Hepburn their are similar shots of this throughout the video, where Madonna is laying on the piano. This of course showing inter textual references, stylistically by imitating style.

Analysis of Music Video - My Lovin En Vogue

En Vogue is an American female R&B vocal group from Oakland, California. The group has won more MTV Video Music Awards than any other female group in MTV history, a total of seven, along with four Soul Train Awards, six American Music Awards, and seven Grammy nominations.

The video begins with the flashing's of the band, in a 60's style. With backed up hair and silver dresses, this shows their classy look for a older girl group.
The music here demonstrates the genre by the pop, hip hop mix. There are many characteristics of the pop genre, with repetitive dance routines and provocative close ups. Which show the bands sex appeal.
There isn't a strong a relationship between lyrics and visuals. As the video takes place in a studio with limited lighting, and background. Simply just a plain blue and white background. Showing the emphasise possibly on them. The close ups of the solo singer, are very promiscuous, with her being scantily dresses and singing to the camera. This shows strong sexual appeal to the audience.
The overall look of the video has a strong mature look, which contrasts many 'poppy' acts around at that time.

Conventions of Music Videos...

• Establishing shot to set the mood or scene for the video, EG narrative or genre
• Mise en scene establishing where it is set / mood for the video
• Editing usually follows the tempo or beat of the song
• Certain props an usually resemble lyrics
• Narrative starts to unravel, story as well as a performance
• 'Acting' reflects the lyrics
• Montage editing
• Camera shot can reflect the genre
• Close ups of the artist or band

General Research

What is a Music Video?

A music video is a short film or video that accompanies a complete piece of music/song. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings. ...

The first type of music video originated in 1894, which was a type of illustrated song. A set of images were drawn by artists to accompany the song, to depict more of a meaning.
With the influence of film technology called the 'Talkies' this allowed music videos to become more advanced, hence being called 'Soundies'. As they developed in the 1940's they were called 'Promotional clips' mostly used by jazz musicians but also a showcase for comedians and dancers.

The revolutionized music video

The Beatles was one of the first acts to use the music video as a promotional and story teller tool! Still in the format of black and white, following 'talkie' conventions 'A Hard Days Night' was presented as a mock documentary.
There second feature 'Help' was shot in black and white in international locations. It featured a recurring conventions of today's music videos, like close ups, contrasting camera angles and shots. And were the first of this type. The Beatles, began making these promotional clips for distributions globally. This also helped the commuting in places where they could to be in person.


The Beginning of Music Television...

British screens started to view music videos, with the introduction of the long running show 'Top of the Pops' started to show them in the late 1970's, but however where filtered with the more 'dairing' videos.
However in 1981 an American channel was dawning a 24 hour music video channel called MTV, this led by the 1980's music videos would become integral to promote popular music.  



In 1983, the most successful and influential music video of all time was released for Michael Jackson's song "Thriller". The video set new standards for production, having cost $500,000 to film, this set new heights for music videos.

General Research...

Since cinema was invented it created the abilility to birng songs and music to life. Advances in technololgy have tranformed the music video into what it is today.

The early years...
Music videos since 1920's many jazz musicans such as Bessie Smith to accompany popular films.

Bob Dylan
1965 - Bob Dylan - Subterranean Homesick Blues was credited as one of the first modern music videos.

Pop Music...
Pop music TV shows, 1970 TV's great oppourtunity to promote their artists. They focus on producing short 'promos' early music video which started to replace the live performance of the artistson the TV stage.

Bohemian Rhapsody...

1975 - Bohemian Rhapsody - Groundbreaking  by Queen, marked the beginning of the videomusic era and set the language for the modernmusic video. First to use advanced visual effects.

Technical Codes...

Camerawork - as with any moving image text. how the camera is used and how images are sequenced will have signicant imapct upon meaning.
Camera movement, angle and shot distance all need to be analysed. Camera movement may accompany movement of performers walking, dancing. But it may also be used to create a more dynamic feel to stage performance by for instance constantly circling the band as they perform on stage.

The close up does predominate as in most TV partley because of the size of the screen and partly because of the desire to create and a sense of intimacy for the viewer.
It emphasizes half of the commodity on sale but not just the song,but the artists and particulary the voice.

Editing...
Through the most common form of editing associated with the muic promo is fast cut montage,rendering many of the images impossible to grasp on first viewing thus ensuring multiple, viewing, there are videos which use slow pace and gentler transistions to establish mood.
This is particualrly apparent for the work of many female solo artists with a broad audience appeal such as dido.
Often enhancing the editing are digital effects which play witht the original images to offer different kinds of pleasure for the audience, split screens,colourisation, CGI.

-Fast cut montage
-Multiple viewing
-spilt commanly used
- 35 MM film

Andrew Goodwin’s Theory

Andrew Goodwin has identified a number of key features which distinguish the music video as a form:

There is a relationship between the lyrics and the visuals, with the visuals illustrating,amplifying or contradicting the lyrics.There is a relationship between the music and the visuals, with the visuals illustrating,

amplifying or contradicting the music.Genres are complex and diverse in terms of music video style and iconography. Record companies will demand a lot of close-ups of the main artist or vocalist. Voyeurism is present in many music videos, especially in the treatment of females, but also in terms of systems of looking. Some examples are screens within screens,cameras, mirrors, etc. There are likely to be inter textual references, either to other music videos or to films and TV texts, these provide further gratification and pleasure for the viewers/fans.

This theory was presented in his book Dancing in The Distraction Factory.

 Doing some research on Andrew Goodwin i found this presentation on slide share outlining his theory in detail and making it easy to understand! 

Andrew Goodwin’s Theory

View more presentations from guestc6d43a4a.

Adorno and Horkeimer...

• They were sociologists and philosophers.
• They argued through film, radio and magazines can manipulate the masses into passivity.
• Easy consumption make people docile and content.

The theory states that culture not only mirrors society, but also takes an important role in shaping society through the processes of standardisation and commodification, creating objects rather than subjects. The culture industry claims to serve the consumers' needs for entertainment, and is delivering what the consumer wants. "The standardised forms, it is claimed, were originally derived from the needs of the consumers: that is why they are accepted with so little resistance. In reality, a cycle of manipulation and retroactive need is unifying the system ever more tightly". By meeting these needs, the industry is manipulating the consumers to desire what it produces. The outcome is that mass production feeds a mass market that minimises the identity and tastes of the individual consumers.

The culture industry claims to serve the consumers needs for entertaining. The culture mirrors society and categorises into height, middle or low brow. This applies to the music industry and video. Due to the capitalism and materialism/ money.

Here is a video to explain this theory;

Case Study.....Beyonce'

One artist who i admire most would be Beyonce Knowles, from here amazing group career with Destiny's Child to and even better career with her solo material. She has been in the music industry from the age of 15 years old, and certainly made an impact becoming one of the biggest super stars of the 21st century.
Her string of music videos, always attract huge audiences and are big hit in the charts, from teaming up with Lady Gaga and Jay Z....
Here's an insight into Beyonce herself.....

Beyoncé Giselle Knowles was born September 4, 1981, The American R&B and pop recording artist, actress and fashion model. Born and raised in Houston. Beyonce' rose to fame in the late 1990s as the lead singer of the R&B girl group Destiny's Child, one of the world's best-selling girl groups of all time.
During Destiny's Child, Beyonce' released her debut solo album Dangerously in Love in 2003,which became one of the most successful albums of that year, earning her a then record-tying five Grammy Awards.
Beyonce has sold over 11.2 million albums and nearly 25 million singles in the United States.According to Sony, her total album and single sales, when combined with the group, have surpassed 100 million. On December 11, 2009, Billboard listed Knowles as the most successful female artist of the 2000s decade and the top Radio Artist of the decade.In February 2010, the RIAA listed her as the top certified artist of the decade. In 2010, VH1 listed Knowles at number 52 on its list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.

My favourite Beyonce' music video.....



I enjoyed this video because the amazing dance routine that became a hit with certain celebrities trying to imitate the dance! And also how simple it was to make but how interesting it is to watch.