Feedback on our artist

Feedback on Phoenix Sargant

Today we received feedback on the work we had done on our mainstream artist, here are the responses from members of our class + target audience

Positives

- Logo is impressive and successful

- Shows good artist image

- Good costume/hair

- Appropriate release story for genre and artist

- Appropriate props and amazing music video concept

- Highlighting key words is effective

- Lyrics are a good addition

- Good effort and lots of detail- very consistent throughout

- Good balance between text and imagery

- Good choice of cover song

- Good use of hair to emphasise his identity

Improvements

- Compare to other similar artists and analyse their target audiences

- Take own photos

- Needs a turtle neck sweater

- More advertising

- More detail on target audience

Press release stories

Press release story:

The press release story for our artist Phoenix is going to talk about his struggles of his upbringing, a great example of this kind of press release story of a current mainstream artist is Bruno Mars who talked to Capital about it. I feel that by creating this style of press release it makes the audience sympathise with our artist, something which they would not typically do due to the rough and urban nature of his music and the publicity that already comes from it. It also shows the audience of his music from similar situations that they too can get out of the rough environment.






In this press release story Phoenix will talk about his struggles growing up in the rough parts of London and his traumas as a child stemming from his father dying at an early age and his mother struggling to look after him and his brother, something that also lead to him getting bullied in school by the other children for years. This story will also talk about his lead up to drug abuse when he was young because of his struggles and make him a relatable character because of this. This story will not only create sympathy for him from his audience, but will allow them to admire him and set him as a role model for those going through struggles or drug abuse.

Press release photos

Press Release Photo's

Press release photo's are another key area that needs to be specifically tailored to display our artist in the exact way that we need him to be shown in. This area is key to making sure our artist appeals to the widest target demographic possible and is crucial to the potential overnight success our artist could have.

Red Carpet Events

Phoenix Sargant needs to be shown at big, celebrity-only events. This is crucial as it immediately gives our artist publicity, as he can promote his new song to the masses and ensure it becomes popular. It also reinforces his status as a celebrity, someone that people can aspire to be. Costume is also crucial for these photo's, as shown by Will-i-am in the above photo, as he wears clothes typical of the genre of music he represents, which is something we will ensure Phoenix does. The red carpet events are also useful for the future, as they allow our artist to talk to other celebrities, potentially setting up duets in the future to appeal to an even wider target demographic

Normal Life

Our artist does however need to be shown as someone who is relatable and down-to-earth. If some photos are published showing our artist in everyday situations such as walking to the shop, hanging out with family etc, then this will help to mass-market our artist in a way that makes sure he is popular and liked in the correct way. We want Phoenix to be a role-model so despite typical rap and hip-hop conventions of doing drugs and partying we feel it is more important to make him seem like someone teenagers and our target market can look up to and aspire to be like. In these photos our artist can also have some of his props and costumes which are key to portraying him in the way we want, for example his mascot dog and his fancy car.

Gigs/Clubs

The last set of press release photos we need is ones of our artist performing and having a good time. These photos will be crucial to showing our artist as someone who can potentially sell out arena's and is idolised and adored by everyone who see's them.. This also makes people want to buy tickets to see the artist as they see everyone at the gig enjoying themselves and want to do it themselves. Photo's at clubs will also help to sell the artist into rap and hip-hop conventions of non-stop partying, something that will appeal to our target market as they are teenagers so would love to live the lifestyle that our artist is portrayed to be living.

Costume and Hair

Costume:

The costume that Phoenix will be wearing will be stereotypical of the hip-hop genre he is from, particularly taking inspiration from the music video he will do ("Mrs Jackson" by OutKast). Although taking inspiration from the genre he is within, his costume will be modified to include some popular fashion trends of today as he is a "mainstream" artist and thus needs some of the conventions that go with that title.

For the main part of Phoenix's costume he will be wearing a slightly over-sized football Jersey, I have chosen to have him wear this as we feel it fits the conventions of the hip-hop genre but also allows for the jersey to be personalised to possibly have "Phoenix" or "Sargant" on the back to build up his character in this debut music video. Although the example jersey I have shown on the left is an american football one, I will adapt the style and create a fictional team which allows us to choose colours for him as an artist which would be black with an orange trim. The number of the jersey could also be changed to a significant number or one that makes suggestions to the target audience such as the number "69"

The pants that our character will be wearing are some skinny jeans. Although not something typically seen in the hip-hop genre who wear baggy jeans, we have gone with this style as the skinny style of them is something that is currently in fashion and because of this helps to target the mainstream market which is something that artists within the mainstream market do.
The accessories that our character will be wearing are very typical of the hip-hop genre's and some are still widely used within the mainstream market. One key feature of our artists costume will be the recognisable glasses that he will wear and which are one of the main features on his logo, the glasses I have chosen for him to wear are currently quite popular among fashion and I feel they will appeal to the mainstream market.

As well as the glasses we will also have a few gold necklaces as part of his accessories. I have chosen to include these "chains" as part of his costume as they are a majorconvention within rap and hip-hop artists costume and will hopefully establish our character in those genres too. Although we are targeting the mainstream market, both accessories are something that will help to make him recognisable.

The shoes that Phoenix will wear as part of his costume are quite stereotypical of the hip-hop/rap genre, but also fit quite well into the current fashion trends, I feel by choosing these, he appeals to all elements as a mainstream artist and increases the size of his target audience. I have again chose the colours black and orange as part of this costume as they become a trade mark associated with our artist.

Hair:

Phoenix's hairstyle is something that is a major factor in his identity, the afro that we have chose is extremely typical of his race and the genre of music that he appeals to. The afro is also a hairstyle that cannot be seen as unfashionable and because of this, helps him appeal to the current mainstream market in which fashion is a major element. Phoenix's hair acts like part of his costume as it stays consistent throughout and again helps to build up his persona.

Props

Props

Props are an essential part of conveying what an artist represents and what kind of market they appeal to. In this case, our rapper Phoenix Sargant will be mainly trying to appeal to a working class teenage market, so the props must reflect this.

Prop 1- Fancy Car

 The use of an extremely expensive car is one that is commonly used by many mainstream artists in the music industry. It is mainly used to show off just how rich and famous the artist is, as no normal person could afford such a luxury. It also makes people want to be the artist, as they see them as rich and famous and having everything you could possibly want, so they aspire to be like them. Luxury cars are also used a lot in the hip-hop and rap genre's , and whilst not being very working class the car appeals to this market as it is something that people can aspire to obtain, and makes them think of the artist as above everyone else.

Prop/Person 2- Extremely Generic Celebrity Girlfriend

Whilst not strictly a prop, a celebrity girlfriend will be another way to gain both publicity and marketing and appeal to an even wider range of people. With both being celebrities, paparazzi and the media will delight in printing popular news stories such as "Phoenix Sargant Names Son South West" and "Kim and Phoenix split after row over Botox". With this extra media coverage Phoenix can expand his media dominance and become an overnight sensation. It also appeals to the teenage male market as they can only dream of getting with such a delightful woman with such a fantastic personality, and makes them aspire to be Phoenix.

Prop/Animal 3- Bulldog

Again, not strictly a prop but a dog is something that will help appeal Phoenix to a mass market. The bulldog can be Phoenix's mascot, appearing in music videos and travelling around with him, appearing on TV shows etc. This is important as it appears to give Phoenix a soft side, so despite him being a rapper and a working class man he is also a kind, caring man. This gives a good interpretation of Phoenix to the media and helps to display him as an idol.

Music video concept

Phoenix Sargant- Music Video concept.

After researching into the music video market for this genre of music, it is clear that there are some stereotypes that we will need to use in order for our artist to appeal to a wide audience.

The first thing we need to use is the classic hip-hop shot. This is where the artist walks towards the camera whilst rapping and the camera is below them, making them seem bigger and more intimidating.  This will be very useful in the rapping sections of the cover, as it will allow Phoenix to still have a traditional hip-hop feel about him, appealing to fans of the genre whilst combining other genre's with it. It also makes him seem higher and even above the people watching, as he is portrayed as tall and looked up upon.

Another key thing to utilise is the location of the music video. In most mainstream hip-hop and dance videos, the location in usually a club or a beach, so this is where we should shoot our music video, as it is a popular location for people who like the genre and it allows us to portray Phoenix as rebellious and adored, as all the other people in the club will be watching and dancing along with him, as he is the famous rapper. This also allows us to drag in other typical conventions of mainstream music videos, such as the use of sexualised women to make the video appeal to teenage boys, and the use of props and costume that reflect our rapper as someone who is rich and famous, but has had to rise up from a working class background to become this rap sensation.  Overall all these conventions will have to be used to ensure our video appeals to the widest audience possible and catapults our artist into stardom.

The music video

At the start of the video, Phoenix will be shown pulling up to a club in a fancy car, much like the beginning of the "Club Can't Handle Me" music video by Flo-Rida. We use this because it immediately introduces our artist as being rich and famous, something that many mainstream rappers also use to connote them being better and higher up than everyone else, whilst maintaining the fact that they have had to come from a working class background.                                                          

 

Phoenix will then be shown getting out of the car and walking into the club, with people screaming and asking for his autograph. After this the chorus will kick in. This is used because it shows our artist as being extremely popular and adored, as everyone wants to be him and everyone wants to meet him.

For every chorus and for all the dance beats in the song, Phoenix will be shown singing in a huge crowd of people in the club, whilst they all dance and enjoy themselves to his song. This is another technique used by many mainstream artists, as again it shows just how popular and universally adored he is, and also makes the song seem great as everyone is having a good time dancing to it and enjoying themselves, whilst still making Phoenix the centre focal point of the song.

During the rap parts of the song however, a more traditional approach to the hip-hop genre will be used to ensure that Phoenix appeals to the widest demographic possible. In these parts Phoenix will be shown with the typical hip-hop shot,in an urban, working class environment away from the action in the chorus.  This allows Phoenix to appear to have "worked up from the bottom" and makes him appeal to working class people as they see him as one of them and something to want to and aspire to be.

This music video, whilst only being a basic concept, will appeal to a huge demographic of people and ensure that Phoenix becomes extremely popular, as it conforms to many hip-hop and dance stereotypes, making him seem bigger and better than everyone else and ensuring that he is still given a working-class background. 

Editing the lyrics to suit a wider market

Ms Jackson by Phoenix Sargant- Edited Lyrics

"Ms. Jackson"

Woooooo!
Yeah, go like this

[CHORUS :]
I'm sorry Ms. Jackson (oh)
I am for real
Never meant to leave you all alone
Please can you just go pick up the phone
I'm sorry Ms. Jackson (oh)
I am for real
Never meant to leave you all alone
Please can you just go pick up the phone

[ DANCE BEAT- LASTS 15 SECONDS]
Me and you baby
Got a special thang going on
Your dad says it's puppy love
We say it's full grown
Hope that we feel this
Feel this way forever
You could plan a pretty picnic
But you can't predict the weather, Ms. Jackson

[CHORUS]

Ten times out of nine, now if I'm blind fine
The quickest muzzle throw it on my mouth and I'll decline
King meets queen, then the puppy love thing, together dream
Bout that crib with the Goodyear swing
On the oak tree, I hope we feel like this forever
Forever, forever, ever, forever, ever?


[CHORUS]

[DANCE BEAT DROPS, RAP BEGINS DURING]

I love your dad and everything, see I ain't the one who laid down

He want to mess me up he says I'm just a clown

He never got a chance to hear my side of the story we was divided

He had barbeques and cookouts

I never get invited

Despite it, I show him the utmost respect when I visit you

All you do is defend that man when I call you, yeah

[CHORUS x2]

In the above lyrics I have edited the original song into a much more catchy and mainstream song, which will appeal to a wide demographic of listeners. The first thing I did was add more choruses to the song, which allows the catchy part of the song, the "Sorry Ms Jackson" to get stuck in people's heads and make them want to come back again and again for more. After doing this I then added some dance beats into the song, one at the beginning and one near the end. This makes people want to carry on listening, especially if they are a dance and techno fan and will want to hear the dance part again and again, yet again increasing replay-ability and allowing 3 different genre's of music to converge into one. The final thing I did was to edit some of the rap and chorus lyrics to change the song from a dispute between a man and his ex-girlfriends mother to a song about a man who loves a girl but her dad keeps getting in the way. This makes it a lot more relatable, as many teenage girls may have problems with their parents not allowing them to see boys, so this will appeal to them and hopefully propel our artist into the same space as artists such as "One Direction" and "Nicki Minaj".