Final Music Video Evaluation

Problems Encountered

Recently our music video for the first draft and final draft have encounter problems to play with the visuals and audio aspects due to the factor of copyright laws/issues. As of this, even though we have asked the Universal Music Groups UK permission to use the song for only educational purposes and they have given us permission to use it online via You Tube, other issues have had an unfortunate matter over the use of UMG on copyright grounds.

This has had some concern of the viewing content of the music video and the group have tried our very best to target the issue with a plan of action to post a copyright notice to You Tube stating that the video is only for educational purposes. Although, whenever this issue will be fully resolved or not depends, as the group could be facing a major issue facing the factor of copyright laws and legislations.

However, the group still has been able to get a significant number of views and responses for the music video from the target audience before we had encountered this factor, so not getting audience responses has not been an issue for me and the group. In addition, within the music videos first draft and final draft blog posts I have been able to put hyperlinks within the blog posts above the video so that the viewer can click and watch the video on a Google Drive platform, which I believe is a good way to try and tackle this issue and so still be able to get a growing number of views. Below are a few screenshots showing how I have been able to condemn with this issue. 

Final Music Video Questionnaire

As an individual, I have decided to create a final questionnaire based upon the whole promotional package for the music video, tour poster and CD Packaging. I have collected a wide range of responses of up to 12 from people within my target demographics age group to other younger and older age groups. Overall the responses present that the group have created a successful media product, showing that we have constructed our research, planning and all other stages of production successfully. Below are some of the responses collected in which will be inserted into the final evaluation.

Biggest Selling Artist Albums of 2014

Earlier on last year I conducted some research into the nest selling albums of 2013. Currently in 2015 I have mow been able to find out the the biggest selling artist albums of 2014. according to the official chart the groups music video as well as album cover base upon last years album "IN THE LONELY HOUR" proved to be the very successful hitting to be number 2 in the top 40 biggest selling artist albums of last year. From this I believe that me and the group made the right decision  into choosing the song and artists using cross media marketing/convergence of the media products we have designed based upon the artists of Sam Smith. As of this, I believe the music video could prove to be very popular and entraining to view for a variety of  members within the groups target demographic. 

Music Video - Final Draft

The final product is now finished and has been uploaded to youtube for the public to view. The group are now happy with the music video that we have created in regards to the changes and adjustments made. We believe that we have created a better product in this final version and we all believe that we have successfully completed our journey into creating a successful music video.

(If the video does not have audio or play please click here to view the final version)

Final Editing

Me and one of the group members Ian Pelgrave are now in the process of constructing the final editing editions before publishing our final music video product. Taken from our audiences responses to the music video we have made a number changes in order to make the video more professional and suited towards the genre of indie/pop. Below are some screenshots of our final process before we publish the final music video.

Final Album Cover/CD Packaging

This is the final CD Packaging with the group's final Album cover that Kieran Winrow created for the group. From his research I believe that Keiran has successfully created a professional media product that will be used as part of our promotional package to promote the music video as well using the tour poster.

CD Packaging Imposed

After Kieran creating the design template for the group’s cd packaging and album cover, I have decided to impose the design on an actual package to provide the 3D view of the cd packing. In order to do this I have used a blank CD wallet to help me create the design.  I have inserted the 3 dimensional version below.

Final Tour Poster

Based upon the final results collected, most of our audience prefer my tour poster that I have designed. I have now finished the tour poster for our group. Through the comments and feedback I have been given from people I believe that I have created a professional tour poster that will be used to promote the artist and our music video. In addition my research into tour posters has benefit me as well which has allowed me to construct and put together a professional poster. I have used the typical codes and conventions in order to put together this media product. Below I have inserted an image of the final tour poster. You can visit my individual blog page to view my progression post throughout making the product. Fell free to leave any comments below and tell me your review of the media product I have designed.

Twitter Page Set Up

Today I have officially set up a twitter page for the artist who the group are promoting. As you can see the image we have used are the same images used on the facebook page so it will make it more simple for the audience to recognise the artist.

The group will be posting tweets as often as possible as well as facebook posts in order to show that we are working on producing our final media product of our music video as well as presenting the album cover and tour poster.

All these media products we are producing will contribute to promoting the artist himself. The use of these social networking site page will also help us to widen our target demographics of indie/pop fans by more everyday web users making the artists more recognisable.

I have again inserted a screenshot of the twitter page and embedded the web page below. On the right hand side of the blog I have also included a link to the feeds posted on our twitter page. This will show you the groups most recent tweets based upon promoting the artist.

Sam Smith (@artistsamsmith) | Twitter

Facebook Page Set Up

This week I have now been able to set up a facebook page in order to promote our artist and music video itself. From my research into websites and social networking pages I have used the typical aspects and conventions to set up a facebook page such as a profile image, cover image and the first post of the page. It has just recently been set up so it will take time for the group to receive a number of likes in order for web users to become more familiarized with the artist himself. Below I have inserted a screenshot of the page as well as embedding the website in order for anyone to view. Later on today I will also set up a twitter page in order to promote the artist.

Sam Smith

Website Analysis

One of the essential tasks that must be done in order to promote our music video, is to create a Facebook and Twitter page promoting the artists and the final version of the music video. Creating a website pages and social networking pages can benefit any artist/band as it will help to serve recognition and spread the word to a wider audience, especially people who associate themselves with technology such as social media.

I have decided to conduct a website analysis of band/artists pages as well as analysing a facebook and twitter pages of artists within the same genre of the groups music video. This will help me to receive an insight as to how the layout, style and format of our webpages should be designed in regards to promoting our media products.

CD Packaging Design

The image below displays the overall design and measurments of the CD package in relation to promoting the album. This was conducted by the research of Kieran Winrow that was also posted on the group blog and will finally be conducted using the digital software of indesign, while I am undergoing the construction of the tour poster. 

Tour Poster - Progression/Development

This week I have been working and constructing our tour poster which is one of our groups promotional packages to promote the music video and the artist. With the skills I have equipped myself with using the software of Photoshop, I have been able to manipulate, adjust and edit certain images and parts of the text to create this promotional product.

The images within the tour poster are original images that the group had taken during the photo shoot and production process of the music video. I have taken screenshots of my progression throughout constructing the tour poster, in which I have inserted below.

As you can see I have used the typical conventions of a tour poster such as the artists name, the main image of the artists, tour dates and ticket prices etc.

I have effectively adjusted and manipulated the representation of the artist as I want to make the tour poster more engaging for our target demographic to view and help stimulate a keener interest. I believe that this appearance/representation to the audience will help to create a professional identity in regards to the image of the artists shown. Please feel free to leave any comment below to give me your personal view of the product that I am creating. Any feedback would be much appreciated.

Profile Picture Logo and Cover Image Design

We will be soon creating a Facebook and Twitter Page based upon marketing and promoting the music video and artist himself. Below I have created a simple logo design for our social networking profile picture as well as a cover image using the elements of photoshop. This is so that when our target demographic view the page, they will know and easily recognise this logo in regards to the artist's identity.

Student Film Permission

Shortly after receiving the email confirming our permission to use the song in our group from the record company, they then sent a document attachment providing me the information with guidelines on using the song for its specific purpose based upon educational reasons.

I have opened and read the document sent by the Universal Film and TV Licensing company. We were told that we can use the song for our specific educational purpose as long as we can follow the conditions stated in the document that was sent to us. 

It was stated that "In view of the educational nature of the project we are happy for you to use the above tracks free of charge under the following conditions:"I have embed the document below.

Charlie Mossmam - Student Film Permission

First Response from the Record Company

Recently I have emailed the record company in regards to asking permission to use the group’s song choice stay with me for our music video. I have now just received any email in regards to a response stating that the record company is happy to give us permission to use the song for our music video. One of the company managers Merchandani Jason stated that "We are happy for you to use this recording in an educational setting". I have screenshot the email response below and now the group will be able to make our music video go viral across the web by adjusting the video settings to public.

Capitol Records - Additonal Research

I have decided to thorough my research into the music industry as it will benefit me towards developing my knowledge of the company in relation to the group chosen artist Sam Smith. Below are a few facts that I have found out about the company as well as embedding the Capitol Record home website page in which I have browsed around. I thought it would be suitable to know aspects of the company before contacting them to know whether we will have permission to use the song for our music video.

• Parent Company - Universal Music Group
• Founded in Los Angeles in 1942
• Apply and work with a various of genres 
• Released material in relation to popular and world wide artist such as Sam Smith, Katy Perry as well as bands such as Coldplay

Capitol Records | The official website of Capitol Records

Capitol Records/Copyright Post

Capitol Records are the record label in which owe the groups song choice "Stay with Me" by Sam Smith. The record company is a major American record label that is part of the capitol music group is owned by one of the big four companies, the Universal Music Group. As of this we have decided to sign our song with the major record label of the Universal Music Group. However so that the group is able to use the song in our music video and let the media product go viral across the web, we must have permission from the record company to use the song in terms of copyrights. In order to get permission I have decided to email the closest record company to Capital Record who are PMR Records asking permission. I have taken a screenshot of the email I sent below which is to par@pmrrecords.com.

CD Package Sketch Outline

As well as currently developing on the designing of the tour poster, the group are now undergoing the first stages as to how the overall cd packing design will be viewed. Below is a drawn sketch outline as to how the overall packing and sign will look like on completion of the media product, including the codes and conventions labelled that would be identified on a typical cd package.

Record Labels

I have now began to look at the promotional activities that will help market our final version of the music video.  I have now decided to conduct some research in regards to record labels. Having a record label is a major part of marketing our media product as well as using other media products such as album covers and tour posters as it will help to create a wider audience in regard the audience viewing our video. I have created a prezi as to what a record label is, researching major record labels and what the their key artists are. This research will help the group to decide which record label will be most suitable to sign for.

Tour Poster Sketch Design

Before developing the tour poster I have decided to create a brief sketch/mock up of what the groups tour poster layout will consist of in terms of the graphological design. Below is an image of the layout of the tour poster in terms of considering the codes and conventions of a typical tour poster in regards to my research into the media products. This has provided me an the group with a better view as how we will be approaching the design and construction of the tour poster design.