Beck Song Reader

Song reader.net is a website where Beck has published a book of over 100 pages of lyrics for people to interpret how they want. This various different people will have different styles in the way they sing and interpret the lyrics. The website allows people to publish there own versions of the lyrics. This is uploaded via modern technology such as soundcloud, YouTube or iTunes. This is important to Beck as their is no hard copy of the album, only websites with the best versions and videos that fans have posted online.

Major and DIY

A major label is a worldwide label that has well known artists signed to them, DIY on the other hand is a solo artist who doesn't have the support of a record label. Beck is an example of DIY.

Ownership and Back Catalogue

A major record label should have a back catalogue where they go through the artists associated with the label and take new songs to repackage them with a new artist to make more money. Ownership is where the created of the music owns the music, people who wish to use them have to contact the owner to get persimmon and mostly pays for the usage of the music. Beck is an example as people pay to use song reader to cover his songs.

Production

Artists create the music, lyrics and finalise the song and don't physically create a CD or album. It is then upto the fans of beck. To create and produce the song for him. This doesn't cost a lot of money to produce the album as their is no need to pay record companies and studios to produce the songs as he has made his album successful through his fans. 

Exchange

The songs are exchanged between Becks fans as they make videos of how they interpret the song. This creates a link between the fans and the music as each different person enterpret it differently. 

They also exchange via feedback through likes and comments on YouTube or soundcloud. The more likes and good reviews the more likely it will be recognised by Beck and then placed on the official song reader website where it can be listened to by fans.

Distribution and Marketing

The music is distributed through fans and the sheet music, Becks fans distribute there versions between fans to show there interpretation. The music created has been sent to companies like amazon and published on YouTube where music videos have been made by fans for him who are prosumers to show their own interpretation of the song.

Translation

 The music sheets are given to fans, they then interpret it and translate it. This is then uploaded using soundcloud or YouTube so that it can be published to iTunes. This is important as the only way to listen to this music is though the internet as their is no physical copy of the album.

Easter Homework - XL Recordings

My chosen label is: XL Recordings

Who are they?
XL Recordings is a British Independent record label owned by Richard Russell. Originated as Beggars Banquet Records.
Who have they promoted?
XL Recordings has worked with The Prodigy, Beck, Radiohead, The White Stripes, Dizzee Rascal, M.I.A, Vampire Weekend, The Horrors, Electric Six,  The xx, Gil Scott-Heron, Jai Paul, Tyler, The Creator, Sigur Ros and Adele.



Only a few of these artists are well known, the most popular artists are:
The Prodigy
Dizzee Rascal
Adele

None of the above artists are featured on the Radio One Playlist. A wide range of radio stations including Capital, Kiss, Heart, Magic and Smooth play mainly Adele's music. These stations also have their own steaming websites and TV channels which would play Adele's music.

Benefits from new media technology
This new music is widely marketed. Music can be marketed online via iTunes, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram and through television. Music can also be accessed free of charge using Youtube or Spotifly, this makes money by playing advertisements before and throughout the song. New media technology also allows you to transport your music around using an iPod, iPhone or MP3 player.

Adele

Dizzee Rascal

Adele & Dizzee Rascal have both been to music festivals, Adele/Dizzee Rascal has taken part in her own concert and been a part of a group concert involving other artists. For example Adele has performed live at the Royal Albert Hall and Dizzee Rascal has performed at the Jingle Bell Ball.

The label was originally based in London but is now based in London and New York. XL Recordings is owned by Richard Russell and is distributed by "Beggars Group" who distribute various other Labels artists. The label was founded by Richard Russell, Tim Palmer and Nick Halkes.

XL Recordings has their own website where they sell their artists CD's, they also sell artist merchandise on their online shop. 

XL Recordings has their own recording studio in London.

This label promotes their artists by hosting their own concerts and publishing their work to spotify, youtube and allowing radio stations to play their tracks.

Adele is also featured in The Guardian paper after she has performed live, for example after Adele got a Grammy award she tweeted and the daily mail publishes this: 

Below is a screenshot of XL Recordings own YouTube channel where they promote their artists music:

HMV stock a range of different artist albums who are signed by XL Recordings, below the screenshot shows some examples: 

Music Industry - Class Notes

Key terms

Distribution - Selling music to customers via Internet, iTunes, albums etc. Concerts 

Copyright - Protection against artists work, have to pay to own the music. Cannot be replicated

Royalties - When the company/artists get a % of the money made, eg. When an artists song is played on the radio the artist will get commission.

A&R (Artist & Repertoire) - part of the company that look for new music talent, middle man between artists and companies

Sampling - Using a piece or part of a song that has been used in another piece of media

Peer to peer - People who share music between each other

Major Record Label - A worldwide label that signs major well known artists, are horizontally and vertically intergrated enabling them to work more efficiently as they own each individual sectors of the industry which let's them work cheaper.

Subsidiary Label - labels within a major label, eg. Sycho who is within Sony

Independent Label - A label based in one country, gives artist freedom and let's them exlpore themselves as am artist.