G322 - what you need to know.

Intro To Music Industry

View more presentations from Luke Palmer.

Representation - final word (for now)

Check out this BBC documentary about how the southern states of the USA have been represented, re-represented and mis-represented in Hollywood Cinema. There's not a lot of close analysis, but it gives an excellent overview into hos regional identity (probably the hardest of the seven areas to talk about) is built up through moving images. Note Rich Hall's argument throughout the piece; his terminology is of a very high level. Well worth watching to give you an idea about how you could construct your own argument - boosting EAA marks.

Lushxxx

Lushuxxx are a girl group from Liverpool consisting of three members. They are: Ali, a 19 year old redhead with a half-finished fashion degree. Caz is a 21 year old black girl from London who does most of the singing. She has expressed an interest in writing her own material. Finally, Michelle, a 21 year old blonde who has modelled for various magazines and newspapers but has not done any nude work. Michelle has a male following as a result of her magazine work that could be exploited. The group has been assembled by a promotions agent who has worked with the label previously with some limited success. He is insistent that this is the big one and is shopping the girls around all of the major labels. Their music is up-beat and club-based and thinly veiled euphemisms abound in the lyrics. Some demos have been produced and handed to several big name DJs with sampling agreements. Basshunter and a couple of others have responded positively, though no remixes have been heard as yet.

Bill Steel

Sign me mate! Scoop-do-wap!Billy is a 23 year old from Melbourne, Australia. He has a smooth and sensual voice that belies his young age. His music is blues based and immensely listen-to-able (an industry term there, ed.). He moved to London six years ago and, deciding to abandon his homeland, has settled here with full citizenship pending. He has played on a number of occasions with big-name blues and country singers in the USA, and is developing a cult following in Louisiana and Mississippi. He is an amiable and friendly chap, always willing to change songs to accommodate new ideas and suggestions and to work with new people. However, he has thrown a couple of tantrums when pushed too far, becoming tetchy about the ownership he has over his material. A number of US based independent (true and major-distributed) labels have shown considerable interest, but Billy is keen to sign a deal in the UK.

The jilts

The jilts (with a lower-case ‘j’, they insist) are an indie-rock group from Manchester. They have been together for three years and have built a steady following both in their home town and in London, where they played six times last year to crowds in excess of 500. Their music is edgy but accessible, guitar driven and punchy. They have produced two EPs so far, both under their own steam. A local Manchester radio station will showcase this band next week by playing two of their tracks on five occasions during peak times. In addition, they have a huge Myspace fan base. They have just agreed to support another new band on tour – Gringly Man – who have just signed to a rival label on a five album deal.

Sierra Seville

Sierra is a pop starlet waiting to happen. She is three months shy of seventeen and was discovered at her local shopping mall by a modelling agent two years ago. She was then heard singing before a shoot by a marketing executive from another record label. Her canny manager turned down their offer of a six figure sum to secure a recording contract and is now shopping around. She has had song offers from Gary Barlow and the team behind Brittany Spears’ comeback album. She can dance and pose, but her singing is of dubious quality without a significant amount of digital technology. However, there is no doubt at all that, following the current glut of blonde, wobbly headed girl acts, the market is going mental for this kind of thing.

Snoutwarbler

Snoutwarbler or ‘The Snouts’ to their small collective of dedicated fans are a Hungarian Metal band from Prague. They are heavily influenced by Metallica and Iron Maiden, but incorporate Hungarian folk instruments into their songs. Their live performance utilises costume, masks and pyrotechnics and it is through their live shows that they have gained a solid fan base amongst the underground metal scene. The band have been together for 8 years with no changes to the line up. They all live together and seem to get along excellently. As secure as the band seem in themselves and their music, it is undeniable that they court controversy. There are rumours of drug use within the band that none of the members have sought to deny. They have visited England on three occasions to varied reception. At last year’s Reading Festival there were a number of objects thrown at the stage. The band have released four albums so far on a Hungarian true independent label. These albums have broken even despite a limited number of UK releases.