Coursework - Music Industry Details / Information

On the written side of my coursework I felt it was important to have details on the music industry itself as the overall aim of my coursework is to create a music magazine. 

The first research I did into the financial sides of the industry was where and how music can be accessed. This can be through a variety of things;

Downloads - Both illegal and legal downloads such as the use of 'ITunes'.

Physical Items - This can be through the purchase of CD's or records.

Streaming - A well known streaming site is known as 'Spotify', this is where you can access the music without downloading it.

I then continued my research into looking at record labels and independant labels. The difference between them is that major record labels have many businesses running and hold major artists, they are well known and very profitable. Whereas independant labels are the ones who run off one manager and hold three or four smaller artists, prehaps from local areas. 

Major Record Labels - EMI , Sony , Universal

Independant Labels - 679 Artists , Domino , Jeepster

When focusing on the promotional features of music magazines I came across a varied amount of points and ways in which music can be promoted. You can promote a lot of music through the use of TV interviews, getting your artist to appear as guests on well known chat shows, this can also include radio interviews. The money or profit made from this allows for the upkeep of the labels. Comercial Sponsership is also a popular promotional feature, again the money gained from this allows for the upkeep of labels. The main point of promoting a brand is that you are trying to sell a product to an audience which leaves them wanting more or wanting to purchase the product which always allows for a profit to be made.

When analysing the purpose of promotional features in the music industry, it is because;

It keeps the fanbase / audience up to date
Advertises the artist or brand
Useful for introducing new artists through interviews