A2: Identify target audiences and potential clients

 

 Defining your target audience

Target audience is a group of people you target your product towards – the people you want to attract, who require your services, who want your product. You need to know your identified demographic, so you know what to sell and where to sell it. Radio is good for promoting upcoming artists, so you could attract an audience via radio, however radio is notorious for overplaying songs so that audience could get bored of your music with time. Live events are good because you can get a connection with your fans, however performers must deal with pressure when performing live. Identifying your target market allows marketers to focus on those most likely to purchase the product.  

For example:

Pros of Radio: Radio shows promote upcoming artists, especially Radio 1 who have specialist shows promoting upcoming artists and future hits, e.g., Future Sounds which airs at 6pm on Mondays-Thursdays. They also have “BBC Introducing” which introduces new artists to Radio 1 listeners.

Cons of Radio: Radio are known to overplay songs, which could lead to their listeners eventually getting sick of your music. You could also get mistreated and slagged off by the DJ which gives you a bad reputation.

Pros of Live Events: Live events allow the performer to get a connection with their fans

Cons of Live Events: Performers have to deal with a lot of pressure, especially on tour.

Professional musicians make a living for playing an instrument.

Four key responsibilities for a professional musician are: turning up and practising regularly to keep skills to a high standard, turn up to rehearsals on time and prepared, looking after their instruments (this includes their voice) and being able to learn new music quickly for a show.

Responsibilities for composers/songwriters are: keeping to a deadline, working with the performer so that the song or composition is at their level of performance, composing music for media, for a special event, or for a famous artist/band.

Responsibilities for a musical director/conductor are: executing clear indications and shaping the sound of the ensemble, setting the tempo, and executing clear indications by conducting, guiding the band/orchestra/choir, relaying ideas to the performers, and scheduling rehearsals.

5 key responsibilities of a sound engineer are: Choosing suitable microphones and equipment for the band’s performance, positioning, rigging and de-rigging microphones, doing sound checks so performers are happy, operating the sound desk during the show, and looking after the equipment.

Responsibilities of a roadie are: carrying equipment from trucks or vans into the show, setting up before the event, looking after the equipment stage and lights, and packing away at the end of the event.

The responsibilities of an instrument tech are: Looking after the instrument set up for the artist, fix the instrument when broken, giving advice regarding the best use of equipment, and completing sound checks for the artist.

The key attributes for all jobs mentioned are reliability, experience, personality, and knowledge.

Client List:

·         Jack L, Ash and Ritchie - These are all part of the music tech course, and I could have them create beats for me, especially if I am not a fan of the beats I have made for myself. They are all good at Cubase and other beat-making software, especially the latter who has used FL Studio for some time now. The former also aspires to be a songwriter, so I could use him for lyrics as well.

·         Brad - Also part of the tech course, he is good with the mixing desk. He is also a good lyricist and although we write much different styles of music, he could help me come up with some lyrics.

·         Jules - They are the singer for the band, they have a very good voice and if I need a vocalist on one of my tracks, I could ask them if they want to be a feature, or vice versa (they make their own music too).

·         Jack R - Could help him with his Blu Ivory project as I am good with Cubase, I could help him add effects to and mix his tracks to make them sound better.

·         Ayden - Bass player for the band, he could offer a good bassline to make the rap tracks sound funkier.

·         Moth - The band's lead guitarist, if I wanted to step out of my comfort zone and try doing a hip-hop track with rock elements, I could ask them to play a riff (I already have an idea of what this track should sound like)

 

Other support networks and organisations include

The Musicians’ Union works to maximise the employment and overall income of musicians as well as protecting and improving working conditions.  Legal Advice The Musician’s Union also offer advice, support and legal assistance based on every individual member’s needs.

The Musician’s Union actively oppose harassment and discrimination against someone’s characteristics, e.g., race, sex, colour, class, age, disability, sexuality etc., making it an equal place for everyone aspiring to become a musician.

Mentors are experienced and trusted advisors who teach and give advice to less experienced person. Mentors can share experiences with their students about their own career path, as well as provide guidance, motivation, emotional support and role modeling. You could use this support for developing new skills or working independently – this would ultimately give you the confidence you need to network and perform in the music industry.

College offers different levels of support and courses to push you one step closer to the job you would like to pursue. College could also make you aware of the equipment and technology you would need to use for your job in the industry and offer courses that help you become more experienced with said equipment.

I currently have no plans to go to university as I feel getting into university is too expensive and my brain would not be able to handle the level of work there.

Funding sources

I would need funding for recording and releasing music as a solo artist, such as FL Studio for making beats which is known to cost a lot. I would also need funding for buying equipment or else I would not be able to record music.

Places I could get funding from:

PRS (Performing Rights Society) are royalties that have not been paid yet to upcoming artists, but due to these royalties not being claimed by said artists they get put in a pot.

The Prince’s Trust is supported by celebrities who are ambassadors of the trust. The celebrities put on shows and the money earned from the shows all go to the prince’s trust. Anyone can apply for money from the trust – if you are an upcoming artist, you can apply to get money for equipment such as instruments.