The Task

During A2, the focus is on music and the way music is promoted using the artist to the target audience.
The 3 tasks to be completed at A2 that demonstrate our knowledge of how music is sold are;

• A promotional package for the release of an album, to include a music promo video;
• A digipak for the album's release;
• A magazine advertisement for the digipak.

Goodwin's conventions of what should be included in a music video will help me to create a realistic looking video. These conventions are; 

Music videos demonstrate genre characteristics. (e.g. stage performance in metal videos, dance routine for boy/girl band, aspiration in Hip Hop).

There is a relationship between lyrics and visuals. The lyrics are represented with images. (Either illustrative, amplifying, contradicting).

There is a relationship between music and visuals. The tone and atmosphere of the visual reflects that of the music. (Either illustrative, amplifying, contradicting). This is linked to the concept of Synaesthesia - Seeing the sound, the visual, including the editing make the sound visual. There is a physical representation of verse/chorus structure.

“This idea is absolutely central to understand music videos as they build on the soundtrack’s visual associations in order to connect with the audience and provide additional pleasure.” Pete Fraser

The demands of the record label will include the need for lots of close ups of the artist and the artist may develop motifs which recur across their work (a visual style that reflects their star image/persona).

There is frequently reference to notion of looking (screens within screens, mirrors, stages, etc.) and particularly voyeuristic treatment of the female body. (Mulvey)

There are often intertextual references (to films, TV programmes, other music videos etc.). (Barthes, Allen, Stewart)