Research into the industry, form and genre

Industry - Who is the Universal Music Group?

The Universal Music Group, Inc. provides a range of services that contribute to the music industry through a network of subsidiaries, joint ventures, and licenses. Services include: recording; publishing; merchandising; manufacturing; marketing; selling; and distributing music. 

Some of their most iconic and influential labels & brands are Abbey Road Studios, Capitol Music Group, Motown, all of which have had a major impact and contribution into creating some of the most prolific artists of the 21st century. Artists alike Queen, Bob Marley, Frank Sinatra, The Rolling Stones and The Beatles have made a cultural impact on the way that music has developed in the past 100 years, all of which have been associated with the corporation. 

The global music corporation has a social responsibility to, as the world's leading music company, 'nurture music, and to foster artistry and self-expression'. With the aim of trying to 'find common ground' through music. They do this through a range of charities, a majority affiliated with children, such as: 'Little Kids Rock', 'The Fresh Air Fund', 'City of Hope', 'Musicians on Call' and 'She is the Music'. As well as their 'Task Force For Meaning Change' campaign. 

Form 

The term 'cross-media' is used to refer to the distribution of content amongst different media. It is a key feature of marketing as it helps to make connections with audiences and build bridges amongst different media platforms. For example, music videos and websites are a common united method of promoting artists. From the music video, a link would be found that allows the audience to access the websites content. The content is often exclusive, including behind the scenes of production as well as an insight into the artists, in order to attract a fan base and allows them to have an insight to the artist's values and sound. Often, the websites match either the theme of the music video or the aesthetic of the artist. This gives the audience an extended knowledge of the messages and values that the artist is trying to express. 

Genre

A love song is a song that expresses the theme of romantic love. They can come in many different forms, however stories of falling in love or out of and heartbreak are typically the main topics. Love songs are present in any genre, as they are not a specific feature. They can be found in a variety of music genres throughout history. Some examples include: 

• 'Heather' - Conan Gray - Pop
• 'Your Song' - Elton John - Rock
• 'The Most Beautiful Thing' - Bruno Major - Alternative/Indie
• 'Serendipity' - BTS - Alternative R&B

 

Music Videos made for love songs typically feature a narrative, allowing the audience to see a full love story. However, there are many different variants when it comes to music videos for this certain theme. The music video may have a set narrative or may be more performance based. Depending on the genre and purpose of the song, the narrative and mise-en-scene will all be catered towards the artist's vision.