Music Video Directors Study-Wayne Isham

Wayne Isham was born in 1958 and is an American music video director who has directed music videos of many popular artists. As well as this, he has directed many films too. 

Descriptions of some of his music videos:



Will Smith-Miami-1998

• Changes locations
• Combination of green screen, studio shots and real locations (miami beach)
• By 1998, he had more money now so the videos are more complicated
• Use of special effects
• Use of live performance
• There is a dance break

Ricky Martin-She bangs-2000

• Use of special effects
• He is the only man in the video which has a lot of sexual inuendos
• The video is more dance based than previous videas Wayne has directed
• Genre-pop/latin

N'sync-Bye Bye Bye-2000

• Use of special effects once again
• Alot of dancing with a break
• Change of location again
• First video that has a narrative/storyline
• Less sexiness than other videos he has directed

Bon Jovi-It's my life-2000

• Staged
• Change of location
• Use of special effects-jumping off bridge
• First sign of technology-computers
• There is a narrative/storyline again
• Actors are telling story where the artists are just singing

Kelly Clarkson-Life Would Suck-2009

• On stage
• There is no special effects this time
• There is a narrative/storyline though
• Advertises a mobile phone-Product placement
• When the beat kicks in the light shines

Sony BMG

   Sony BMG Music Entertainment was a global recorded music company. They began as a result of a 50-50 joint venture between Music Entertainment and Bertelsmann Music Group completed on March 4, 2004. On August 5, 2008 Sony Corp. bought Bertelsmann AG's 50 percent stake in the music company for $1.2 billion to get full control. The music company will be renamed Sony Music Entertainment Inc and this allowed Sony to have ownership of current and previous artists and also to better intergrate its functions with Playstation 3. The music company is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America and operates music labels such as Arista Records and more.
   In October 2007, Song BMG successfully sued Jammie Thomas, who made $36, 000 a year by making 24 songs available for download on the 'Kazaa' file-sharing network. Also, in 2008, Sony did not restrict minor children's participation in its websites, therefore paid a $1 million fine.

1. What are the subsidairy labels that sony bmg own?
Sony BMG is one of the four major record labels, the others are, Universal Music Group, EMI and Warner Music Group. Sony operates music labels such as, Arista Records, Upstate Records, Columbia Records, Epic Records, J Records, Jive Records, RCA Records and Zomba Records.
 
2. How does sony benefit from being a vertically intergrated company?
Bertelsmann sold its stake because it's a traditional, horizontally-integrated media company. Sony bought it because it's a vertically-integrated company well equipped to take advantage of it's inter-divisional synergies.


3. How does it profit from products other than music?
Sony makes it's money from electronics and producing films but also through products such as, playstation and blu-ray.  

Rough Trade-21st century

How has Rough Trade evolved in the 21st century?

Previously, Rough Trade had made mistakes not having their artists to a contract so when the 'Strokes' came along in 2000, they signed up. As well as these, so did 'The Libertines'.

 

How are their working practises different to the music produced through programmes such as X Factor?

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What success did they have at this time?

'Duffy' was a developement deal with them at the time but then brought Rough Trade's first number one single.

How has Rough Trade's ideology developed for the company in the present day?

When they started out no-one knew anything about the industry they was going in to and they learnt along the way. For example, the arguments between distribution and the record label and also using contracts. Although the idea of the love for music and helping artists who cannot make the larger industry, it has developed into also helping themselves. 

Rough Trade- 1990's

What problems did Rough Trade incur at the start of the 1990’s?
At the start of the 1990's, two thirds of the staff had been axed and it was coming to an end. The company's name had got sold off and Geoff Travis moved into an office with a new partner, Jeannette Lee.

What effect did this have on the Record label and distribution?
It was falling apart and coming to an end, the arguments between the record label and distribution was bringing the company down.

How did major record labels branch out into the independent music scene?
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What actions were taken to revive Rough Trade?
Well, Geoff and his new partner Jeannette moved into an office in 1991. In 1993, there was new artist management and hearing a clip from the band 'Pulp', which was something different that they had not heard before, made them realise that Rough Trade can still be successful.

Rough Trade-1980's

How did contracts effect the development of Rough Trade?
As Rough Trade's artist were selling and becoming bigger in the music industry, they would then sign up with larger corporations as a better opportunity, such as, 'Aztec' and 'Scritti Politti'. This meant Rough Trade were losing their artist before making it to number one's etc.

What issues occured between the record label and distribution?
In 1982, Rough Trade had to hire and accountant which lead to them nearly going bust and closing the shop. This created a riff between the record label and distribution. As they become more of a larger organisation, distribution accounted for 90% of Rough Trade and it ended up being like 'war' between the distribution and the record label, especially Geoff Travis.

What changes did this lead to within the structure of Rough Trade?
In 1984, they left the original shop and moved to Kings Cross. 'The Smiths' were also on a contract to Rough Trade this time, so they had learnt from their mistakes. There was also bad management towards the end of the 80's as the arguments between distribution and the record label was strong.

What has been Rough Trade’s ideology and how was this effected by the change in structure?

Well Rough Trade's ideolgy when they first started was all about the music, however, now artists were being put on contracts it was more about not losing them. Also, as they had to close down, it was about making money as well.

Which artist lead to success for Rough Trade?

Although many artists were made successful through Rough Trade, 'The Smiths' were the ones who introduced Indie music. As they were on a contract, they became successful with Rough Trade and Indie music became mainstream since punk was.

What differences were there between Rough Trade and independant labels and this time?

Independant labels at this time wanted 4-% share. Also, although in a larger corporationm, they would sell artists as independant, whereas Rough Trade was.

Rough Trade: 1970's

How did Rough Trade start?
Rough Trade started 20th February 1976, with a shop that traded music with bands that couldn't make it in the real industry.

Which music trends were popular?
Punk was very popular when Rough Trade started out, selling music from artists such as 'Per Ubu'. Reggae was also sold in the shop soon into the trade as there were many cultures around.

What was the ethos of Rough Trade at this time and how were they different?
  Rough Trade was different from the major corporations as their artists were treated equally and not under control. They had freedom. The larger corporations would have their artists under contract or tell them what to sell. For example, Robert Wyatt became a solo artist with Rough Trade as he wasnt allowed to produce certain songs.
  Also, Rough Trade wasnt there for the money they wanted to help bands who couldnt make the larger industry. Punk at the time was rebelious and made a statement of being different and that's what Rough Trade was all about, they were individual.

What techniques were used to expand the independant music scene?
On each artists alubms in the shop, there would be instructions on how to make your own album covers, press vinyls and advice on becoming more successful. This would inspire more people to follow their dreams and see that they can do it themselves too.

How did this lead to Rough Trade's expansion?
It brang more publicity to the shop as more and more artists were starting to produce music. This lead to them becoming a record label in 1978.

Explain the successes of the distribution departement and the record label?
In 1979 Richard Scott was in charge of International distribution. This enabled the trade to grow more as a company as they were producing more and more artists such as 'Stiff Little Fingers'.

Case Study- Madonna: Creation of the Queen of Pop

• Born August 16, 1958
• She's a pop singer, song-writer, record producer and an actress
• From Detroit, Michigan and then moved to New York to study ballet
• Released her album in 1983
• She's had three number one albums on the 'Billboard 300' in the 1980's
• Seventh album 'Ray of light' and made four more consecutive albums
• Had roles in twenty-two films
• Won a Goldne Globe award for role in the 1996 film 'Evita'
• Recording Indusrty Association of America - Best selling female rock artist of 20th Century
• Sixty-three million certified albums in the United States
• She has two biological children and an adopted child

1982-Sire Records-'Everybody'

• Directed by Ed Steinberg- first release
• Budget of $1500 dollars
• Clothing- Lace tops, capri pants and cross jewellery were her trade marks and copied by many people- looks like a boy (80's fashion), dramatic make-up (drag queen/hooker), glam earrings, it was a hard look.

1984-Sire Records-'Like a virgin'

• Directed by Mary Lambert
• Stayed at Number one U.S charts for six weeks
• Fairytale, more feminine, white-pure and black-tainted, different images, venice is romantic and there is a sexual undertone

1985-'Desperately seeking susan'

• Releasing tracks with her film work
• First concert tour- Virgin tour with the Beastie Boys
• Penthouse and Playboy magazines published black and white nude photos of her in the 1970's

1989-'Like a Prayer'

• Directed by Mary Lambert
• Winner People's choice MTV awards
• Signed a deal with pepsi- there was angelic crosses but seen as disrespectful as she is dressed like a slag

1991-Sire Records-'Vogue'

• Directed by David Fletcher who is a fashion photographer
• When Madonna became blonde
• Her eighth number one single
• MTV wanted to cut scene out of the video of her showing the outline of her breasts but they failed

• Marilyn Monroe style, classy, black and white, classic 50's.

1992-Maverick Records-'Erotica'

• Directed by Fabien Baron
• Maverick was her own company
• Joint venture with Time Warner
• $60 million recording and business deal
• 20% royalty- same as Michael Jackson
• Sold 500,000 copies in the United States
• MTV showed it three times before banning it
• Explicit images, showed use of drugs and it contrasted with the use of crosses

1996-Evita-'You must love me'

• When the film 'Evita' was released
• She sang 'Dont cry for me Argentina' and 'You must love me' which won an Academy award
• Global award for best actress
• Classy, natural and she was acting her age

1998-Maverick-'Ray of Light'

• Album debuted at number two in the United States
• Album produced three U.S top ten singles
• Won three grammy awards
• Ranked number 363 on Rolling Stones list of '500 Greatest albums'
• Inspired by 'Royaanisqatsi'
• Played a violin teacher in 'Music of the Heart' but left the project
• Hippie clothes, club scene, looking younger, was bit of a time lapse

2001-Maverick-'What it feels like for a girl'

• Directed by Guy Richie
• Banned on MTV awards and VH1 due to scenes of murder by a car-violent
• Starred in 'The next best thing'

2002-'Die another day'

• Starred in 'Swept Away' which was directed by Guy Richie
• Failed and released to video in the U.K
• 20th James Bond film-she has cameo role