Possible Promotional Strategies

Being a small artist just starting out, promotional strategies must support the amount of funding you have (that will most likely be a smaller amount) as well as being as effective as you can make them, some of these may be:

• Allowing your music to be purchased and downloaded online
• Doing various gigs and shows around the local area, to aquire an audience
• Promotion via social networking sites, e.g Facebook, Twitter, Youtube.
• Posters in windows of small record shops

Some of these are more doable than others, though all would give the desired effect, the question would be which of the would be the most cost effective.

Adding Text to the Adverts

As well as taking initial photos, I decided to play around with the text that will accompany them.
A majority of Magazine Adverts are quite simple, and while only containing small amounts of text, make sure that it describes and sells the product effectively, and grasps the audiences attention. For most adverts, there are key features which it must describe, these are:

• Artists name
• Name of Album
• Single which the album contains
• Release date

This is one design I have tried, and added text to, what I think was one of the most effective body shots. It simply features all the necessary information (Artists name, album name etc) In a white font that resembles what I have used on the digi-pack cover, as to keep continuity between the artists products and adverts. The text keeps quite big near the top, as to grab the audiences attention with the most important information. In the bottom corners of the advert are the artists various websites, being very small, if the reader has been interested in both the image, and the text, they will read down to see where they can find out more information about the artists.

I am aware that in this particular advert, the writing is quite difficult to read, and I find this to be a fault with the background, as this is only an initial design, I will look to take this image again, using a different, possible more neutral background.

Here, I have added text to again, what I think is the best side shot. The text keeps to the same conventions as the previous design, yet, while being easier to read, includes two quotes, from things that have been said about the artist. These help, not only to further entice the audience that the artist is good and upcoming, but also that others, possibly even well known people, have seen or listened to this artists music and like it, persuading the audience to listen for themselves. Again, I feel this is not the best shot I can possibly get, and so will search for better locations.

Initial Advert Designs

In order to get a feel for what I'd like the advert to look like, I have taken some photos close to the images I have previously described:



I find the body shot photos quite effective, as they give a reflective, pensive attitude to the image, and the audience is forced to focus on the artist, and could spark the question: "What is he thinking?". it also represents a lot of emotion, which in turn could tell the audience that his songs are filled with emotion. The orange background also makes for a eye-catching image, and as they are leaves, it signifies the time of year, prompting the audience to relate even more. The fourth photo is a shot with simply just the body and bottom half of the head, whilst still being similar to it's predecessors, seems to draw the attention to the artist even more. Not only does he take up more of the frame, it draws more attention, as it adds a small sense of mystery, as the audience cannot see the entire artist.
The last two are side shots, with scenery in the background. As the artist is looking into the distance, it still keeps with the pensive, contemplative theme of the advert, as to allow the audience to want to understand the artists, possibly complex mind, and his emotions, which they could assume are portrayed through his music. I feel there's not enough of the artist in these shots, and should involve less of the scenery, as I feel it subtracts attention from the artist a little. Also, as these are only initial photos, I could consider changing the location, as to give a  more suitable view to suit with the theme of the advert.

Image for Magazine Advertisement

The image for a magazine advertisement has to be both eye catching and aesthetically pleasing to the target audience, in order for it to grab their attention and pursuade them to buy it.
I have decided to use a photo of the artist for the advertisement, as this would be what would attract the audience the most, though a key feature of the advert is what this photo would look like:

This image is one idea of what I would want it to look like. The pose is the artist simply looking down. This could be effective as it portays a good deal about the artist: that he may be shy, nervous and quirky, a figure that males can relate to and females may find attractive, therefore drawing their attention to it. It is also very simplistic, as the artist take up a majority of the image, it focuses the audiences attention on him.

This is another possibility for the advert. This one features the artist leaning up against a wall and looking directly at the camera. This is a much more maculine photo, and possibly features a strong sex appeal to women, and a role model for men. The fact the pose is looking directly at the camera, instantly creates a connection with the audience, allowing them to relate themselves not just to the photo, but to the advert, as it implies that the advert is directed and addressing them.

This particular photo may also be effective black and white, as to compliment the digipack cover:
Though this may be too similar and result in too much use of black and white.

Digipack Cover Design Ideas

Using Fireworks on Windows, and following up from the feedback I recieve for my Photo Ideas, I decided to build on the image and start adding text and finalsing the Digipack cover.

I've decided to name the digipack "Things Left Unsaid" as I think this fits with the theme of the song I am producing the video for, and further songs that would appear on the album. Based on my target audience, artists that are similar to me name not only their songs, but their albums after emotions and relationships, and therefore it would be more appropriate to name my album "Things Left Unsaid" instead of my previous idea, "Cityscapes"

This is one of the ideas for my Digipack cover. It has a dark and mysterious feel which relates well to the title and it's theme, memories and regrets. By keeping the colours black and white it gives a very simplistic effect, but also manages to highlight the key features of the cover. I chose to keep the text white, and it contrasts well with predominantly dark, and the font gives an errie effect, which again, compliments the theme.

This one is very similar, although with a different and more simple font.

This one is the coloured version of the image. It brings to life the image, stripping away it's simplicity and replacing it with more depth. The font is different also, And I think this one may be the most effective, as it is quite simplistic, but also contains a flare with give the image of a professional musicians signature font.

This is a combination of both, using the sketched image, with the better font. In comparison to the first idea that uses this image, the font is more understandable, and adds an even more simplistic feel towards the image.



I will send these to a group of my target audience, and give their opinions on my ideas.

Edit: From the audience response I received, they said that they do prefer the last one, as it has "A unique effect" and "would portray the digipack effectively". Though they also said that the color one would be just as good at "Bringing it to life"and contains more detail. 
In conclusion I will go with the black and white option, as this seems to be the one that pleases the audience more.

Magazine Advert Deconstruction

There are many different forms and ways to layout an advertisement for a product within a magazine, and adverts for Digi-packs and CDs are no exception. They can range from very extravagant and eye catching aesthetics, to simple and to the point connotations.

This is an advert for Cee Lo Green's album "The Lady Killer". the top half is a picture of the artist himself, while underneath, in his signature font, the artists' name and album title, followed by the date of the album release and the single.
whilst being very simple, there are many signifier it could include. The fact the majority of the advert is a picture of the artist examples that his image is clearly very important, and that a majority of his target audience must appeal to his looks. It could also, simply be to attract possible audiences who may recognise him from various other publicity he has done for this album.
The artists name is written in pink, this could further show that it is directed at possibly a female audience, and also that this advert could be part of quite a feminine magazine, as pink writing is not something that is common within male magazines. The smaller writing at the bottom tells the audience that it includes the "No.1 single" and underneath that, says "The greatest male voice in US soul "Sunday times"". This shows significance, as once the audience has been drawn in by the picture and the artist, it then goes on to say how good and popular both the artist and the album is, therefore further persuading the audience to buy it. Right at the bottom in the smallest writing, there is the artists website and his record label, once the audience has read the rest of the advert, if they are an avid fan or wishing to know more about the artist, they can take note of this information, whereas otherwise, it is too small for someone who is just skimming over the advert, and may not be noticed as easily.

This advertisement was found in Rolling Stones, an accomplished music magazine, and is promoting Morrisey's "Years of Refusal. It features a picture of Morrisey holding a baby, with his name, and album title behind him. This advert was found in the bottom right corner of a page and is quite small, therefore it must be aimed at specific fans of the artist that will easily recognise him and pay attention to even the smallest of appearances. Both the writing and Morrissey's shirt are in a light blue colour, this usually signifies innocence and serenity, and the fact he is holding a baby could be used to attract a female audience that may believe him to be a good family figure, though the fact he is standing with his chest out, in quite a triumphant, macho pose may be a contrast to this. On either side of his is information relating to the album, such as "Out now" and "Featuring "I'm throwing my arms around Paris"" This is quite short and again, may relate to his quite specific audience, reminding them the album has been release, and a popular song that it contains. Again, as the very bottom of the advert in a very small writing, there is the artists website and record label on the left, and an exhibitor of the album "Best buy" on the right. This straight away tells the audience where they can purchase this album from, and also persuades them to go to this specific shop, as it may be at the best price, aswell as increasing reputation for the shop.

Ancillary Product Two - Magazine Advertisement

For my second Ancillary product, I am going to be producing a magazine advertisement to promote my
Digi-pack.

The purpose of a magazine advertisement is to promote a product, in this case, the Digi-pack and it's artist and usually contains a number of key features, such as:

• A picture of the artist, and the product
• Information about the product
• Catchy images and colour schemes to attract the customers
• Large bold writing to again, attract attention to the advert.

It also must include various information about the Digi-pack, for example:

• Release date
• When/where it is available
• What the content of the Digi-pack is/what it contains.

The aesthetics of the advert also have to be very pleasing and appealing to the target audience, as to encourage them to buy the product, as well as the magazine. This is usually done by combining large bold writing, often in an appealing font, with pictures that stand out, normally of the artist, very large and significant.