Artist Name: J. Cole
Profession: Rapper, Producer, Song Writer
Introduction
J Cole has become one of the most talked about rappers to date because of his chilled and relaxed style of rapping. He is signed to ROC Nation (Jay-z), He first came to people's attention because he could produce and rap so he didn't need anyone to provide for him. This is how he links in with me because he is the reason I started making instrumentals.
Trajectory of J Cole
J Cole began rapping at the age of 12, he began taking it serious at 15 when he decided to join a group of rappers He began rapping under the name of Therapist at 15. When he first started he still had the same style. He enhanced his skills further for many years before releasing his first mixtape 'The Come Up' in the year 2007 in which was the year he gained some hype. After he gained that hype he was contacted by Jay-z and signed in 2009. He then released his second mixtape 'The Warm Up' n 2009 and his third was released in the same.
In my opinion I believe J Cole showed a lot of heart and determination and that is the key to achieving in anything you want. He stood outside of jay-z 's studio for 3 hours to give him an instrumental and was turned down but still pursued his dream. J Cole started posting music on forums at 17 so he gave himself to get a style and not to rush anything and perfect his craft, this is the difference between J Cole and most rappers he won't rush anything. And I think that's why jay-z signed J Cole, because he could see that Cole wouldn't need to ask for help for instrumentals and would work for what he wants and not just get complacent.
Thursday 10 July 2014
Tuesday 3 June 2014
UNIT 9 PRODUCTION DIARY
1) Equipment List
Pro Tools 10 -
To Mix/Master Vocals as this is better suited and has more plug-ins available.
Pro Tools SE -
To record, As this is a basic software it doesn't do alot so it doesn't get confusing and can be used for it fundamental uses.
M-Audio Producer USB Microphone -
This Condenser microphone was used as it excludes any background noises, distortion or any other
noises.
Compaq Laptop -
Used to Mix/Master as it is a newer model and can run the programs smoother and faster and also without any fault.
Acer laptop -
Used to just record as it is a older model and can sometimes have problems running all the plug-ins all at once.
Bush Stereo system -
This stereo system includes a bass speaker, subwoofers (L,R) and additional surround sound speakers. This is so that the playback is perfect and every aspect of the recording can be heard, because if a smaller system was used you wouldnt be able to pick up all the little details that are changed during mixing and mastering.
Mic Stand -
Used to position the microphone wherever the artist wants it to be. E.g. the artist could want it lower than their mouth or higher, they could also want it to be slanted etc.
Pop Shield -
Used to make sure that the recording is clean. it cuts out all the hard consonant sounds.
2) Recording
The recording process begins with myself (producer) and the artist entering the room (studio) and setting up. For the Producer (me) setting up is making sure the microphone is working and that the microphone is set up in a location where feedback/background noises are not an issue. And for the artist, setting up would be making sure that they have the correct verse and that their voice is clear and making sure that they are ready to record the verse/hook to the best of their ability.
I set up the microphone in a position that is just below the artists mouth, this way the artist can be in a comfortable position and not have to strain their neck whilst looking up or looking all the way down. I also made sure to make a point to the artist about how close to the microphone they should be before and during the recording this way i can experiment with the sound/feel of the overall track. e.g i can tell the artist to go closer and rap/sing in a softer voice or tell them to move away and shout.
The instrumental that was used was made in FL Studio using plug-ins and samples such as Kanye West and Eminem. The MIDI Data was inputted by using a mouse and a 32 key MIDI keyboard, The information that was input was edited using a mouse. I edited attributes such as velocity, tempo, duration, panning, pitch and volume. These were to change certain aspects of the instrumental.
3) Mixing
To mix i just had to do the vocals as i had already done the instrumental on FL Studio, First of all i added a 3 band Equalizer and Compressor.
I Then added a low pass filter to the Equalizer and moved its cut off point to about 200 khz this way the bass has been removed from the voice and does not clash or does not cause any distortion to the instrumental and it remains clear.
I also found the most distorted sound by turning the mid band up and moving it around, once i identified it i removed it slightly by turning it down a couple decibels, by doing this I'm ensuring that the vocal is clear and does not have that loud substance in it to cause distortion.
Once i had done that i boosted the high band a bit to make the vocals stand out more and give the vocals more life, because who wants vocals that sound plain and dull.
The artist pronounced some of his consonants a bit too hard and after several takes it was still the same, to overcome this problem i used a built in plug-in called a de-esser this removes some of the high frequency noises that are produced by the artist whilst recording.
When everything was mixed down and i was happy with the quality of the vocals i then messed around with the level of them to make sure that when they were at their peak they were in level with the rest and not too overpowering of the instrumental, i also made sure that when the vocals were at their lowest they were still at the right level and not overpowered by the instrumental.
4) Mastering
To master everything i had to turn off all electronic appliances that had built in fans that could cause a distraction to my ear and would affect the level at which i mastered the final track. First of all i made sure that the rendering settings were suitable and they were what they should be to be the best quality on CD, I then added a bass boost on the instrumental to give it more of dark feel as sometimes for me it didn't sound dark enough.
Pro Tools 10 -
To Mix/Master Vocals as this is better suited and has more plug-ins available.
Pro Tools SE -
To record, As this is a basic software it doesn't do alot so it doesn't get confusing and can be used for it fundamental uses.
M-Audio Producer USB Microphone -
This Condenser microphone was used as it excludes any background noises, distortion or any other
noises.
Compaq Laptop -
Used to Mix/Master as it is a newer model and can run the programs smoother and faster and also without any fault.
Acer laptop -
Used to just record as it is a older model and can sometimes have problems running all the plug-ins all at once.
Bush Stereo system -
This stereo system includes a bass speaker, subwoofers (L,R) and additional surround sound speakers. This is so that the playback is perfect and every aspect of the recording can be heard, because if a smaller system was used you wouldnt be able to pick up all the little details that are changed during mixing and mastering.
Mic Stand -
Used to position the microphone wherever the artist wants it to be. E.g. the artist could want it lower than their mouth or higher, they could also want it to be slanted etc.
Pop Shield -
Used to make sure that the recording is clean. it cuts out all the hard consonant sounds.
2) Recording
The recording process begins with myself (producer) and the artist entering the room (studio) and setting up. For the Producer (me) setting up is making sure the microphone is working and that the microphone is set up in a location where feedback/background noises are not an issue. And for the artist, setting up would be making sure that they have the correct verse and that their voice is clear and making sure that they are ready to record the verse/hook to the best of their ability.
I set up the microphone in a position that is just below the artists mouth, this way the artist can be in a comfortable position and not have to strain their neck whilst looking up or looking all the way down. I also made sure to make a point to the artist about how close to the microphone they should be before and during the recording this way i can experiment with the sound/feel of the overall track. e.g i can tell the artist to go closer and rap/sing in a softer voice or tell them to move away and shout.
The instrumental that was used was made in FL Studio using plug-ins and samples such as Kanye West and Eminem. The MIDI Data was inputted by using a mouse and a 32 key MIDI keyboard, The information that was input was edited using a mouse. I edited attributes such as velocity, tempo, duration, panning, pitch and volume. These were to change certain aspects of the instrumental.
3) Mixing
To mix i just had to do the vocals as i had already done the instrumental on FL Studio, First of all i added a 3 band Equalizer and Compressor.
I Then added a low pass filter to the Equalizer and moved its cut off point to about 200 khz this way the bass has been removed from the voice and does not clash or does not cause any distortion to the instrumental and it remains clear.
I also found the most distorted sound by turning the mid band up and moving it around, once i identified it i removed it slightly by turning it down a couple decibels, by doing this I'm ensuring that the vocal is clear and does not have that loud substance in it to cause distortion.
Once i had done that i boosted the high band a bit to make the vocals stand out more and give the vocals more life, because who wants vocals that sound plain and dull.
The artist pronounced some of his consonants a bit too hard and after several takes it was still the same, to overcome this problem i used a built in plug-in called a de-esser this removes some of the high frequency noises that are produced by the artist whilst recording.
When everything was mixed down and i was happy with the quality of the vocals i then messed around with the level of them to make sure that when they were at their peak they were in level with the rest and not too overpowering of the instrumental, i also made sure that when the vocals were at their lowest they were still at the right level and not overpowered by the instrumental.
4) Mastering
Friday 9 May 2014
Royalties
Types of Royalties
Mechanical Copyright Protection Society (MCPS) - Collects sale for copyright holder, This goes to the record company as they will retain rights to your music. But once that period is over you will be able to get the full amount.
Performing Right Society (PRS) - Established in 1912. PRS Collects money for writers of the music that is publicly performed. Main income for PRS is; Music played on Television, Radio & in concerts. The PRS and PPL are very similar, PRS is for the writers of the music whereas PPL is for the performers of the music.
Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL) - Established in 1934 by EMI and Decca. PPL collects and distributes money on behalf of record companies and performers.
VPL - VPL was established in 1984 and is exactly like PPL but instead they deal with music videos. VPL collects money and distributes for the rights holder.
How to claim these
To claim all of these you must sign up to the specific program that you want. There are official websites where you'll sign up and pay standard fees (if necessary). Once you've signed up it will be your responsibility (if unsigned) to record when/where you're music/recordings have been played and length (sampling). All of these factors will determine how much you get paid. There is a minimum that an artist can be paid, this is to avoid having the membership fee at a ridiculous high price. Once you've performed a song or written a song or heard your song being played you need to log it and submit to receive payments.
Licensing
To be able to provide entertainment through music you will need obtain the right licenses. you will need to obtain licenses from
PRS - A Music Licence is required for live performance. This includes jukeboxes, CDs, video, radio, TV or live bands and discos.
PPL - A PPL licence is needed for the playing of original recordings; e.g. CDs, tapes or records, including jukeboxes and background music systems and by means of radio or TV in the vast majority of cases.
VPL - A VPL license is needed for the public playing of music videos.
Protecting your idea
Copyright - "Copyright is a legal concept, enacted by most governments, that grants the creator of an original work exclusive rights to its use and distribution, usually for a limited time, with the intention of enabling the creator of intellectual wealth" Definition from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright
Trademark - "A trademark is a recognizable sign, design or expression which identifies products or services of a particular source from those of others." Definition from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trademark
You can copyright your creations in many different ways i will list the two most common ;
Why Royalties/Copyright/Licenses are needed
All of these are needed to make a musician's life easier, although it does benefit the government alot aswell.
Royalties - Royalties are needed to ensure that artists receive money and have a healthy income because most of the artists that are signed up to PPL, PRS and MCPS are unsigned and are in need of the extra money. Royalties also tie in with copyright because it ensures the right person is financially credited.
Trademark - Trademark is important because it ensures that an idea cannot be plagiarized or mimicked, this means that an idea can stay original.
Copyright - Copyright makes it easier for the right person to be intellectually credited, without this it would be hard to claim sosomething as yours.
Bibliography
Mechanical Copyright Protection Society (MCPS) - Collects sale for copyright holder, This goes to the record company as they will retain rights to your music. But once that period is over you will be able to get the full amount.
Performing Right Society (PRS) - Established in 1912. PRS Collects money for writers of the music that is publicly performed. Main income for PRS is; Music played on Television, Radio & in concerts. The PRS and PPL are very similar, PRS is for the writers of the music whereas PPL is for the performers of the music.
Phonographic Performance Limited (PPL) - Established in 1934 by EMI and Decca. PPL collects and distributes money on behalf of record companies and performers.
VPL - VPL was established in 1984 and is exactly like PPL but instead they deal with music videos. VPL collects money and distributes for the rights holder.
How to claim these
To claim all of these you must sign up to the specific program that you want. There are official websites where you'll sign up and pay standard fees (if necessary). Once you've signed up it will be your responsibility (if unsigned) to record when/where you're music/recordings have been played and length (sampling). All of these factors will determine how much you get paid. There is a minimum that an artist can be paid, this is to avoid having the membership fee at a ridiculous high price. Once you've performed a song or written a song or heard your song being played you need to log it and submit to receive payments.
Licensing
To be able to provide entertainment through music you will need obtain the right licenses. you will need to obtain licenses from
PRS - A Music Licence is required for live performance. This includes jukeboxes, CDs, video, radio, TV or live bands and discos.
PPL - A PPL licence is needed for the playing of original recordings; e.g. CDs, tapes or records, including jukeboxes and background music systems and by means of radio or TV in the vast majority of cases.
VPL - A VPL license is needed for the public playing of music videos.
Protecting your idea
Copyright - "Copyright is a legal concept, enacted by most governments, that grants the creator of an original work exclusive rights to its use and distribution, usually for a limited time, with the intention of enabling the creator of intellectual wealth" Definition from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright
Trademark - "A trademark is a recognizable sign, design or expression which identifies products or services of a particular source from those of others." Definition from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trademark
You can copyright your creations in many different ways i will list the two most common ;
- Mail - This is also known as 'Poor Man's Copyright' as it is the most commonly used method of copyright. This method is risky and through research i have found out it can be faked quite easy, so if copyrighting use several methods. First you must mail yourself the thing you wish to copyright e.g. (music, scripts, websites, software etc). Seal it, and mail it using a time stamp and do not open when it's done.
- Online - This is a quick easy way to copyright something and is hassle free you go onto www.copyrightservice.co.uk this is possibly the best way to copyright as its done through the government. To copyright online you have to register, create a claim, pay your standard fee and then wait for your claim to be accepted.
Why Royalties/Copyright/Licenses are needed
All of these are needed to make a musician's life easier, although it does benefit the government alot aswell.
Royalties - Royalties are needed to ensure that artists receive money and have a healthy income because most of the artists that are signed up to PPL, PRS and MCPS are unsigned and are in need of the extra money. Royalties also tie in with copyright because it ensures the right person is financially credited.
Trademark - Trademark is important because it ensures that an idea cannot be plagiarized or mimicked, this means that an idea can stay original.
Copyright - Copyright makes it easier for the right person to be intellectually credited, without this it would be hard to claim sosomething as yours.
Bibliography
- http://www.prsformusic.com/users/businessesandliveevents/livevenuesevents/soundadvice/aguidetolicences/Pages/aguidetolicences.aspx
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PRS_for_Music
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mechanical-Copyright_Protection_Society
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phonographic_Performance_Limited
- http://www.bbc.co.uk/academy/production/article/art20130702112135229
- http://www.prsformusic.com/aboutus/FAQs/copyrightfaqs/Pages/default.aspx
Thursday 1 May 2014
Techniques And Technology
The Massive plugin is a synthesizer plugin for DAW'S. It is used in many genres of music such as; Dubstep, Glitch-hop, Electro etc.
The Massive plugin would benefit me greatly as i want to be able to produce several genres including dubstep, and most dubstep producers use this plugin as it has the most to offer.
Dubstep producers 12th planet & Flinch talking about
Massive and what you can achieve through using it.
To achieve a professional and high standard with this plugin, i will have to purchase the software aswell as purchasing some guides to get the best out of it. I will also have to spend numerous hours on this software getting the hang of it and perfecting sounds and effect. As this is a plugin most of the skills will have to be self taught as it will have to be my style as i cant copy other producers.
Although I am focusing on one plugin it will benefit me alot as the language and effects used in this plugin will be present in other professional plugins. So if i can gain knowledge and build skills in this plugin i will be able to transfer them.
This plugin will develop me as a producer because it will enhance my skills and understanding so that i am able to use other DAW'S because Massive works on all and is the same on all, meaning i can have my presets on whatever system i'm on.
Monday 21 April 2014
Textures and Acoustic Environments
Track 1 - Pitt State Marching Band - Gangnam Style
Track 2 - Tallis Scholars - Allegri: Miserere
Track 3 - 102.9 The Buzz Acoustic Session: Phoenix - Trying To Be Cool
Track 1
Is the instrumentation and texture of the music suitable for the acoustic environment? Why?
Yes, because of the quantity of instruments that are being played at one time, If these instruments were to be played inside it would be too loud and not nice to listen to but because it is outside the sound has to travel quite a distance to be heard.
As the camera (and its microphone) moves around the band, do you notice any difference in the sound? Describe the difference.
Yes, the sound changes as the band move away from the camera as the microphone will be picking up sound from the building to the far side rather than picking the sound up from the band. It also decreases in volume because of this, it sounds filtered at times because of the buildings and the soft materials, such as the grass.
Track 2
In the first 1 minute and 13 seconds you hear 3 different textures. Describe them, including how many and what type of voices are present.
In the 1st minute & 13 seconds you hear 3 different textures, those textures are; Monophonic, Polyphonic & Homophonic. There is a monophonic texture in the song because there is a part where they are all singing the same line but at different pitches and then it goes into Polyphonic. And another melody starts taking place with the main one continuing. And then finally there is a Homophonic section that is in this piece of music, This is noticeable because the singers are singing the same rhythm and same time. There are 7 voices present, Ranging from High to low this adds variation and achieving a better overall sound
Describe the acoustic environment in which it is being performed.
It is being performed in an wet open space with a high ceiling and hard materials that are dense, This will create a atmospheric sound and very strong reverb. There will be strong reverb because there will be no materials to absorb the sound, so it will have more strength and be able to bounce around the room quicker.
Is the music appropriate for this environment? Why?
This music is perfect for this environment because it was written for it. The composer wanted the sound to be atmospheric and relaxed and the reverb and the whole resonance of the environment has accomplished that. Also
Track 3
Describe the texture of the music.
I think this piece of music has two textures as it has hints of homophonic and polyphonic sounds. In the homophonic definition a example is given that matches that of the song. There is one performer helped by the band. I also say it is polyphonic because it has subtle hints another melody, there is a piano that backs up the guitar.
What is the effect of the acoustic environment on the music?
The recording is in a studio so the reverb will generally be low but as the room is built with wood panel the sound will bounce back and create some reverb because its a dense material and sound won't be absorbed. Also its got carpet flooring so this will absorb some of the sound but not a lot. It seems to be an open space so overall I feel the acoustics are good for this recording as there isn't any unnecessary reverb.
Wednesday 12 March 2014
Roles & Contracts
Introduction
Throughout this blog post i will be exploring in depth a record company.
I will study in depth an A&R and publishing within a record company.
An A&R is just a small part of a vast industry, they may be their opinion can have massive effects on millions of lives (depending on how well they perform their job) as they are the ones who determine who record companies sign.
An Artist manager is vital for the music industry as they voice the opinion of the artist and to the record company and others, They will be making decisions such as ; Which producers the artists work with, where and when they do album signings etc.
A&R
Salary/hours/working environment
The field of an A&R is split up from beginners and professionals so there is no fixed rate of salary, it all depends on your experience and track record you can earn from 17,550 to £113,750, this is the average pay for a A&R. It is said that a well known, highly rated A&R could demand a massive six figure salary with performance bonuses etc.
An A&R will work long hours as they have to build up a portfolio of successful artists and compete with others that will be looking for the hidden talent also, so they have to be up to date with everything all the time. But with the advance of the internet this has become alot easier as A&R's can follow an artist and keep up to date with all the things they are doing.
An A&R's will start off flicking through the internet looking for gigs and festivals that they can attend to scout new acts and get them to sign with their specific label. Then maybe once they pick up and start getting noticed as 'that person' to go to they will start receiving emails from artists desperate to get signed or get noticed. So basically there is no specific working environment for an A&R as they work all over and travel quite alot looking for talent in unknown places.
Duties
An A&R's main role will be to scout new unknown talent that can be successful in the music industry and make the record company a ton of money. They will also be in charge of that artist until they release an album and if they don't make the numbers, predicted the A&R will lose their job, so once an A&R recommends an artist it is them putting their job on the line so it is a very risky job and unstable
For artists that don't write or produce their own music an A&R will also make sure that the artist is working with the right producer and right song writers so that they produce the right sound that will sell well.
An A&R will also have to build up a hefty contact list as they will tend to depend on these people to suggest new talent rather than demos and emails so the bigger the contact list the more people they'll hear about and potentially more money.
An A&R will also select the single that will be used for promotion of the artist, so this will determine the fan base that the artists develops e.g. if an A&R was to suggest a slow r&b song to be released as a single instead of a fast paced song the artist will be known for slow songs and may need to continue to go down this production path to maintain their image. But nowadays its easy to release a song in a different genre even though the artist isn't known for that genre so this decision is not as hard to pick.
Skills/Education needed
There is no minimum educational merit needed but it tends to help e.g. if a A&R was to have some qualification that would help within the music industry such as journalism then they are more likely to get a job above someone that has no qualification.
There are many skills that can enhance the quality at which an A&R will do their job and how much they will be paid and so forth.
Communication - Communication is basically an essential skill needed for an A&R as they must be able to communicate with artists at a personal level and still remain professional to get them to declare work with a record company. Also they must be able to talk to producers, song writers and have numerous connections within the industry.
Contract
There isn't necessarily a fixed contract as there is many variations to what can be offered e.g. if you are just starting out chances are you'll probably work for no payment just experience. But as you gain experience a fixed contract may be introduced as the record will want to keep hold of you. The better you do the more money you'll receive. You're payment will come after signing a new talent or you'll be paid in advance to scout several people. The first contract will be flexible if you want to get out of it as they wont make it a massive one but again that all depends on your track record. If you're having second thoughts you should sign a short-term contract with some options to extend it once it's over. The contract for an A&R doesn't guarantee anything as it is such a fast paced environment and everything is becoming digital so its harder to sell physical copies of records so not many A&R jobs are available.
Pros/Cons etc
http://www.ehow.co.uk/info_7971476_average-salary-ar-rep.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artists_and_repertoire
Throughout this blog post i will be exploring in depth a record company.
I will study in depth an A&R and publishing within a record company.
An A&R is just a small part of a vast industry, they may be their opinion can have massive effects on millions of lives (depending on how well they perform their job) as they are the ones who determine who record companies sign.
An Artist manager is vital for the music industry as they voice the opinion of the artist and to the record company and others, They will be making decisions such as ; Which producers the artists work with, where and when they do album signings etc.
A&R
Salary/hours/working environment
The field of an A&R is split up from beginners and professionals so there is no fixed rate of salary, it all depends on your experience and track record you can earn from 17,550 to £113,750, this is the average pay for a A&R. It is said that a well known, highly rated A&R could demand a massive six figure salary with performance bonuses etc.
An A&R will work long hours as they have to build up a portfolio of successful artists and compete with others that will be looking for the hidden talent also, so they have to be up to date with everything all the time. But with the advance of the internet this has become alot easier as A&R's can follow an artist and keep up to date with all the things they are doing.
An A&R's will start off flicking through the internet looking for gigs and festivals that they can attend to scout new acts and get them to sign with their specific label. Then maybe once they pick up and start getting noticed as 'that person' to go to they will start receiving emails from artists desperate to get signed or get noticed. So basically there is no specific working environment for an A&R as they work all over and travel quite alot looking for talent in unknown places.
Duties
An A&R's main role will be to scout new unknown talent that can be successful in the music industry and make the record company a ton of money. They will also be in charge of that artist until they release an album and if they don't make the numbers, predicted the A&R will lose their job, so once an A&R recommends an artist it is them putting their job on the line so it is a very risky job and unstable
For artists that don't write or produce their own music an A&R will also make sure that the artist is working with the right producer and right song writers so that they produce the right sound that will sell well.
An A&R will also have to build up a hefty contact list as they will tend to depend on these people to suggest new talent rather than demos and emails so the bigger the contact list the more people they'll hear about and potentially more money.
An A&R will also select the single that will be used for promotion of the artist, so this will determine the fan base that the artists develops e.g. if an A&R was to suggest a slow r&b song to be released as a single instead of a fast paced song the artist will be known for slow songs and may need to continue to go down this production path to maintain their image. But nowadays its easy to release a song in a different genre even though the artist isn't known for that genre so this decision is not as hard to pick.
Skills/Education needed
There is no minimum educational merit needed but it tends to help e.g. if a A&R was to have some qualification that would help within the music industry such as journalism then they are more likely to get a job above someone that has no qualification.
There are many skills that can enhance the quality at which an A&R will do their job and how much they will be paid and so forth.
Communication - Communication is basically an essential skill needed for an A&R as they must be able to communicate with artists at a personal level and still remain professional to get them to declare work with a record company. Also they must be able to talk to producers, song writers and have numerous connections within the industry.
Up-to-date with technology - As the internet develops it is key that anyone applying for an A&R role knows their stuff as they will need to follow artists that way, as music sharing is now done online more than demos as it is cheaper and quicker to produce. They must also be able to adapt and learn as the internet has new trends every other month so they must be on top of the technology.
Passion - Most of the work an A&R does will probably be done at home rather than at an office so passion is a must. Because without passion you wont build up a good portfolio of artists as you wont put in the work to find those hidden gems that will shine. Also if you are passionate about what you are doing it will be evident to the record company and artist making them more likely to want to work with you.
Contract
There isn't necessarily a fixed contract as there is many variations to what can be offered e.g. if you are just starting out chances are you'll probably work for no payment just experience. But as you gain experience a fixed contract may be introduced as the record will want to keep hold of you. The better you do the more money you'll receive. You're payment will come after signing a new talent or you'll be paid in advance to scout several people. The first contract will be flexible if you want to get out of it as they wont make it a massive one but again that all depends on your track record. If you're having second thoughts you should sign a short-term contract with some options to extend it once it's over. The contract for an A&R doesn't guarantee anything as it is such a fast paced environment and everything is becoming digital so its harder to sell physical copies of records so not many A&R jobs are available.
Pros/Cons etc
- If you are passionate about what you are doing then you should have no problem with this job in fact you will love it as you’ll be doing you enjoy. As you’ll put time and effort into what you are doing e.g. You’ll work from home and search out new talent rather than leaving everything to do in the office.
- Another pro is that you’ll meet new people and build up a contact of people in the music industry and you may be able to influence the music trend and have a massive impact on what people listen to.
- Although there are many pros there are also many cons. One is that there is so much competition out there it may be hard to find what you’re looking for and that may result in you losing your job because record companies will want someone who is active all the time and up to date with everything
- Another con is that the contract may be flawed and you may not notice that and therefore be stuck in a long term contract in which you may not like the company or maybe you feel they are paying you too little.
- Also with the coming of the Internet typical A&R jobs are being harder to keep because audiences worldwide can now skip the middle man and become their own A&R. This is becoming a worrying factor in the music industry as more and more record companies can now get direct opinions from the audience without having to have an A&R present. They can now go onto youtube and check what is trending this has helped with the progression of music but has cost many people their jobs.
Publisher
Salary/hours/working environment
There is no fixed salary as it really depends on how successful the artist is and what you will be doing for them. For example some smaller bands/artists have one person that does multiple jobs as a way to make everything cheaper. But still the salary depends on success and the relationship between the artist and artist manager, normally the manager would want something between 10-25% of what the artist is making.
As like the salary there is also no fixed hours as you have to respond to the artists needs , this could mean getting a particular type of food for the artist and making sure it is to their taste, you will basically be the artist's personal runner. They could call you up at 5am to ask you to check something for their next gig etc. so the hours are a bit sketchy and it really depends on the clingyness of the artist
There is not just one working environment if anything it is all over as the Artist manager will have to follow the artist around and go to wherever the artist tells them to so it could be done from home, office or on the go.
Duties
An artist manager works to help the artist and to make sure that they get the best for frees and also decisions such as working with specific record producers with songs to release. They also negotiate frees, book venues help with publicity and making sure that the artist maintains their image
Artist managers also help organise media events such as radio interviews, TV interviews, album signings and so forth. they do this because the artist is too busy to do these things so the artist manager will act with the artist's likes and dislikes in mind
They will also need to keep the artist in check to make sure that they are doing what they should be doing and tell them when they have gone to far. If anything being an Artist manager is basically like being their friend and guiding them to more success, money and fame.
Skills/Education needed
there are no minimum education levels required for this job however skills are essential as this job is very stressful and demanding so the artist manager must be very patient so that they don't snap on the artist and lose their job
Communication - The artist manager will be speaking for the artist most of the time and for that reason they must be able to communicate well and get their point across without seeming rude.
People's person - They must be able to make an instant impact and stay in people's mind as this job is mainly about reputation and who you know e.g. Most Artist managers start off by managing their friends so its important to build up a contact list and stay on people's good side.
Passion - Most of the work an Artist Manager does will probably be done at home rather than at an office so passion is a must. Because without passion you wont build up a good portfolio of artists. Also if you are passionate about what you are doing it will be evident to the record company and artist making them more likely to want to work with you.
Contract
There is no fixed contract as the contract is decided between the artist and the artist manager because depending on how well the artist does they may want to give a small percentage or a hefty fee. If you are a well known Artist manager you may have the upper hand as you can talk about experience. you will most likely be paid for a period of time in a lump some i checked several sites and they all gave very different answers. One said that you will be paid for organizing actual events such as album signings or tours, another one stated that you'll be paid in advance for a period of time. Also some websites said that the artist manager doesn't actually sign with a record company they sign more of a agreement between the two so that the artist manager has to work with the artists the record company pick so i'm not sure but i think the artist manager is free to leave a contract whenever they feel. The contract for an artist manager will guarantee a job with an artist and more depending on how well you do your job and hold up your end of the deal.
Pros and cons
Bibliography Salary/hours/working environment
There is no fixed salary as it really depends on how successful the artist is and what you will be doing for them. For example some smaller bands/artists have one person that does multiple jobs as a way to make everything cheaper. But still the salary depends on success and the relationship between the artist and artist manager, normally the manager would want something between 10-25% of what the artist is making.
As like the salary there is also no fixed hours as you have to respond to the artists needs , this could mean getting a particular type of food for the artist and making sure it is to their taste, you will basically be the artist's personal runner. They could call you up at 5am to ask you to check something for their next gig etc. so the hours are a bit sketchy and it really depends on the clingyness of the artist
There is not just one working environment if anything it is all over as the Artist manager will have to follow the artist around and go to wherever the artist tells them to so it could be done from home, office or on the go.
Duties
An artist manager works to help the artist and to make sure that they get the best for frees and also decisions such as working with specific record producers with songs to release. They also negotiate frees, book venues help with publicity and making sure that the artist maintains their image
Artist managers also help organise media events such as radio interviews, TV interviews, album signings and so forth. they do this because the artist is too busy to do these things so the artist manager will act with the artist's likes and dislikes in mind
They will also need to keep the artist in check to make sure that they are doing what they should be doing and tell them when they have gone to far. If anything being an Artist manager is basically like being their friend and guiding them to more success, money and fame.
Skills/Education needed
there are no minimum education levels required for this job however skills are essential as this job is very stressful and demanding so the artist manager must be very patient so that they don't snap on the artist and lose their job
Communication - The artist manager will be speaking for the artist most of the time and for that reason they must be able to communicate well and get their point across without seeming rude.
People's person - They must be able to make an instant impact and stay in people's mind as this job is mainly about reputation and who you know e.g. Most Artist managers start off by managing their friends so its important to build up a contact list and stay on people's good side.
Passion - Most of the work an Artist Manager does will probably be done at home rather than at an office so passion is a must. Because without passion you wont build up a good portfolio of artists. Also if you are passionate about what you are doing it will be evident to the record company and artist making them more likely to want to work with you.
Contract
There is no fixed contract as the contract is decided between the artist and the artist manager because depending on how well the artist does they may want to give a small percentage or a hefty fee. If you are a well known Artist manager you may have the upper hand as you can talk about experience. you will most likely be paid for a period of time in a lump some i checked several sites and they all gave very different answers. One said that you will be paid for organizing actual events such as album signings or tours, another one stated that you'll be paid in advance for a period of time. Also some websites said that the artist manager doesn't actually sign with a record company they sign more of a agreement between the two so that the artist manager has to work with the artists the record company pick so i'm not sure but i think the artist manager is free to leave a contract whenever they feel. The contract for an artist manager will guarantee a job with an artist and more depending on how well you do your job and hold up your end of the deal.
Pros and cons
- The job is a very demanding one and can drain you especially if you have an artist you don't like very much or they are too demanding. if this is the case then you will have a dreadful time with them and may want to leave.
- Depending on how well your artist does it is a very rewarding job as you can get alot of money from them, aswell as the money you can also build strong relationships with people within the industry and build up a massive list of clients so jobs will always be available
- In this line of work it really depends on who you know and if you don't know anybody to kick start your career you will be stuck in a dead end job for a while and for someone ambitious that may be too much to handle.
- Another pro is that you will be able to go to gigs for your artist and if you like them it especially good and if you don't... well who doesn't like free gigs!
http://www.ehow.co.uk/info_7971476_average-salary-ar-rep.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artists_and_repertoire
Tuesday 25 February 2014
Checking My Targets
Checking My Target
I don't think that i accomplished my target i set myself as i have not checked but i have been playing the scales occasionally and i have progressed, but very slowly as i forgot about the target i set myself.
My target for this term
I would like to improve my terminology for music theory. i will revise the notes i have made since the start of the course and test myself at the end of this term. Hopefully i will remember this target and revise them as it will sound more professional if i used proper terminology.
I don't think that i accomplished my target i set myself as i have not checked but i have been playing the scales occasionally and i have progressed, but very slowly as i forgot about the target i set myself.
My target for this term
I would like to improve my terminology for music theory. i will revise the notes i have made since the start of the course and test myself at the end of this term. Hopefully i will remember this target and revise them as it will sound more professional if i used proper terminology.
Thursday 6 February 2014
5 Styles: Listening
5 Styles: Listening
Reggae Songs
1. Mike Brooks - Money Is Not All + Dub
2. King Tubby - Waterhouse Rock
Question 1: In the first song, describe the melody (especially saying what notes it uses - feel free to use a keyboard to help you with this).
Answer 1: The melody for the 1st song is skanked. This is a common attribute in reggae music. It also creates a calm atmosphere as no instruments are right in your face, they blend well with each other.
Question 2: For each song, name the style/genre of the song and list three things (musical and/or sonic) that support your assertion.
Answer 2: Song 1 is in the Reggae genre. You can tell this because of the way the instruments are being played (the guitar is being skanked) which is a very common factor of a reggae song, It also has a slow tempo that gives it a relaxing vibe which is typical of an old reggae song. Song 1 has two types of genre though as half way through it changes into Dub, you can tell this because the drums become a more prominent factor of the song and the bass becomes more clearer as the vocals are not present and you can hear more effects without the vocals, these are all attributes that make a Dub song.
Funk Songs
1. Parliament - Flashlight
2. Sly & The Family Stone - If You Want Me To Stay
Question 1: Describe the mixing and panning in this track. (Which instruments are prominent and which are in the background; which are central, which are left and which are right?) Make some suggestions about why the track has been mixed and panned in this manner.
Answer 1: Out of all the main instruments i can hear the most prominent one is the bass guitar followed by the trumpet and then finally the piano. There also appears to be an organ beneath the instruments it can be briefly heard at 1:00 - 1:08. It is mixed in this way because the producer wants the most important sound (main melody) to be prominent to the listener. The bass guitar is in the mono setting and is panned to both sides this creates a more fuller and rich sound. It also allows instruments to be behind it without any interference.
Question 2: Is this track a funk track? What musical / sonic components of the track suggest that it is and which suggest that it is not?
Answer 2: The track is a funk track but not a typical funk track but like many genres there are different styles. A Typical funk track would normally have a melody mainly that consists of a guitar & a brass instrument E.g Trumpet/ or a woodwinds instrument (sax) although this track has those it is not at the same tempo as a regular funk song.. E.g. James Brown - Get Up Is a faster, louder and traditional funk track. With that being said the song still has the composing styles of a funk song. E.g. the chords, the notes, duration etc.
Latin Songs
1. The Girl from Ipanema - Astrud Gilberto, João Gilberto and Stan Getz
2. The Girl From Ipanema - Amy Winehouse
Question 1: Give an account of the vocals in this track. Things to consider: effects, timing, style, articulation/phrasing, improvisation etc.
Answer 1: The vocals have been given a soft bit of reverb, Also the singer pronounces words different to make the lyrics match the instrumental this is because the remade instrumental is faster than the original and the words must be either said slower or faster and in this case they are said faster. With the instrumental being faster the singer has had to improvise quite alot as the normal duration of a verse/chorus is shortened due to the speed of the instrumental.
Question 2: Compare this track with the other version above. Does the track feel different? If so, why?
Answer 2: The remake is made in a different speed so the feel is different but the original concept of BossaNova is still kept, The Lyrics have been changed slightly aswell to fit the singers preferences. But the way the singer sings in the remake is the same as the original, Slow and soft.
Blues Songs
1. Jimi Hendrix - Red House
2. Bob Dylan - Subterranean Homesick Blues
Question 1: Describe the harmony in this song. (Try and describe the pattern even if you cannot pick the chords - eg. the first chord lasts for two beats then it changes to a chord that last for 8 bars). Is the pattern familiar at all?
Answer 1: The song has a rock n roll feel to it (fast paced) the song is upbeat. The main melody of the song is the guitar which is repeated throughout there is a change in the song where a harmonica becomes the main focus. This is to break up each of the verses. The vocals are done in laid back fashion this is to make the lyrics stand out & be memorable. i would describe this song as a "sing along" song, as its a worldwide known song.
Question 2: This song has "Blues" in the title. Is it a blues song?
Answer 2: Yes & No, it is classed as blues because of the opening sequence of the melody
and also because Bob Dylan is defined as a blues artist. But the main melody reminds me of a rock and roll style and the fast paced style of the instruments and vocals is unusual for this type of genre.
Electro Songs
New Order - Blue Monday Original 12" Version
Question 1: Give as clear as possible an account of all the different sounds and instruments in the first 3 minutes and 35 seconds. You probably won't know exactly how each sound is made but you should be able to make an educated guess whether something is sampled, synthesized or actually recorded in.
Answer 1: Some of the sounds have been recorded live and then manipulated for example the kick drum is recorded live and then manipulated to be added several times because it cant be played that speed by a human. The synths and all the rest of the other instruments are recorded live.
Question 2: What is this song about? How do the electronic instruments / sounds help to create the mood?
Answer 2: The Electronic instruments have an upbeat tempo which creates a sense of joy and puts the listener in a dancing mood.
- Reggae
- Funk
- Latin
- Blues
- Electro
Reggae Songs
1. Mike Brooks - Money Is Not All + Dub
2. King Tubby - Waterhouse Rock
Question 1: In the first song, describe the melody (especially saying what notes it uses - feel free to use a keyboard to help you with this).
Answer 1: The melody for the 1st song is skanked. This is a common attribute in reggae music. It also creates a calm atmosphere as no instruments are right in your face, they blend well with each other.
Question 2: For each song, name the style/genre of the song and list three things (musical and/or sonic) that support your assertion.
Answer 2: Song 1 is in the Reggae genre. You can tell this because of the way the instruments are being played (the guitar is being skanked) which is a very common factor of a reggae song, It also has a slow tempo that gives it a relaxing vibe which is typical of an old reggae song. Song 1 has two types of genre though as half way through it changes into Dub, you can tell this because the drums become a more prominent factor of the song and the bass becomes more clearer as the vocals are not present and you can hear more effects without the vocals, these are all attributes that make a Dub song.
Funk Songs
1. Parliament - Flashlight
2. Sly & The Family Stone - If You Want Me To Stay
Question 1: Describe the mixing and panning in this track. (Which instruments are prominent and which are in the background; which are central, which are left and which are right?) Make some suggestions about why the track has been mixed and panned in this manner.
Answer 1: Out of all the main instruments i can hear the most prominent one is the bass guitar followed by the trumpet and then finally the piano. There also appears to be an organ beneath the instruments it can be briefly heard at 1:00 - 1:08. It is mixed in this way because the producer wants the most important sound (main melody) to be prominent to the listener. The bass guitar is in the mono setting and is panned to both sides this creates a more fuller and rich sound. It also allows instruments to be behind it without any interference.
Question 2: Is this track a funk track? What musical / sonic components of the track suggest that it is and which suggest that it is not?
Answer 2: The track is a funk track but not a typical funk track but like many genres there are different styles. A Typical funk track would normally have a melody mainly that consists of a guitar & a brass instrument E.g Trumpet/ or a woodwinds instrument (sax) although this track has those it is not at the same tempo as a regular funk song.. E.g. James Brown - Get Up Is a faster, louder and traditional funk track. With that being said the song still has the composing styles of a funk song. E.g. the chords, the notes, duration etc.
Latin Songs
1. The Girl from Ipanema - Astrud Gilberto, João Gilberto and Stan Getz
2. The Girl From Ipanema - Amy Winehouse
Question 1: Give an account of the vocals in this track. Things to consider: effects, timing, style, articulation/phrasing, improvisation etc.
Answer 1: The vocals have been given a soft bit of reverb, Also the singer pronounces words different to make the lyrics match the instrumental this is because the remade instrumental is faster than the original and the words must be either said slower or faster and in this case they are said faster. With the instrumental being faster the singer has had to improvise quite alot as the normal duration of a verse/chorus is shortened due to the speed of the instrumental.
Question 2: Compare this track with the other version above. Does the track feel different? If so, why?
Answer 2: The remake is made in a different speed so the feel is different but the original concept of BossaNova is still kept, The Lyrics have been changed slightly aswell to fit the singers preferences. But the way the singer sings in the remake is the same as the original, Slow and soft.
Blues Songs
1. Jimi Hendrix - Red House
2. Bob Dylan - Subterranean Homesick Blues
Question 1: Describe the harmony in this song. (Try and describe the pattern even if you cannot pick the chords - eg. the first chord lasts for two beats then it changes to a chord that last for 8 bars). Is the pattern familiar at all?
Answer 1: The song has a rock n roll feel to it (fast paced) the song is upbeat. The main melody of the song is the guitar which is repeated throughout there is a change in the song where a harmonica becomes the main focus. This is to break up each of the verses. The vocals are done in laid back fashion this is to make the lyrics stand out & be memorable. i would describe this song as a "sing along" song, as its a worldwide known song.
Question 2: This song has "Blues" in the title. Is it a blues song?
Answer 2: Yes & No, it is classed as blues because of the opening sequence of the melody
and also because Bob Dylan is defined as a blues artist. But the main melody reminds me of a rock and roll style and the fast paced style of the instruments and vocals is unusual for this type of genre.
Electro Songs
New Order - Blue Monday Original 12" Version
Question 1: Give as clear as possible an account of all the different sounds and instruments in the first 3 minutes and 35 seconds. You probably won't know exactly how each sound is made but you should be able to make an educated guess whether something is sampled, synthesized or actually recorded in.
Answer 1: Some of the sounds have been recorded live and then manipulated for example the kick drum is recorded live and then manipulated to be added several times because it cant be played that speed by a human. The synths and all the rest of the other instruments are recorded live.
Question 2: What is this song about? How do the electronic instruments / sounds help to create the mood?
Answer 2: The Electronic instruments have an upbeat tempo which creates a sense of joy and puts the listener in a dancing mood.
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