A2 Identify target audiences and potential clients

 

A2 Identify Target Audiences and Potential Clients

 

Target Audience

 

My target audience are 16 – 30-year-olds who listen to heavy rock and heavy metal music I got this info from group discussion with my peers and talking to my friends who are into the same music. I need to be able to identify my target audience, so I know what my demographic is and who I’m aiming my music towards, I need to know what the scene is too as different areas in towns usually have a different metal scene.

 

A demographic is a group of people the music is marketed to. Age, gender, sex, location, and race can all define a target demographic depending on what type of music they enjoy. My target demographic would be teenagers in my age range. The target audience are people you want to attract to the music to create a wider following and a potential fanbase. They can be people who need your services or people who may offer services you require.

 

You can reach your target audience through radio stations, local and national festivals and through word of mouth. The pros of radio are that it can spread your music to a wide amount of people locally. If your music is played on BBC Tees, it could potentially be played on other BBC stations across the country, reaching out to more people. It is a great way to advertise your music and pick up new followers. It can also generate income if the radio pays you.

 

The cons of the radio station are that they might slander your name. It could overplay your music so people could get sick of it (Ed Sheeran for example). If a radio host talks over a few seconds of a song, you won’t get paid for the interrupted minute.

 

The pros of live events are that sometimes music sounds better live than in a studio. Playing with bands of the same genre can get a following from people who like that genre. Fans get to see your band live or do meet & greets.

The cons of live events are sometimes there can be technical difficulties like feedback on the microphone. Sometimes the singer may forget the lyrics to the song, or a guitar player could play the wrong notes.

Identifying Potential Music Clients

 

What is a professional musician? Someone who plays an instrument for a living. Instrumental player (In. Voice and DJ), Conductor (musical director), Backing Musician.

 

The 4 key responsibilities of being a professional musician are to train and practice regularly so I can keep my bass playing skills to a high standard. If I don’t practice a lot, I might not be as good. Turn up to rehearsals on time and prepared. If I don’t show up to them, I would have let the band down. Look after my instrument, don’t let anyone break it (although my brother has broken mine). Be able to learn new music quickly for a show, meet the deadlines. I am good at doing this for our college gigs.

 

The 5 key responsibilities of composing and song writing is to keep to a deadline. To be able to work with the performer so that the song is at their level of singing. For example, for my college gigs if we were to choose a song to cover, we can’t choose a song with a lot of harsh or deeper vocals. To be able to compose music for a TV programme, a famous singer, or a special event.

 

The 5 key responsibilities of being a musical director is to execute clear indication & shape the sound of the ensemble and group. To be able to set the tempo. Guide the band, let them know what they’re doing. Relay ideas to the performers, help them out with songs too. Schedule rehearsals.

 

The 5 responsibilities of a live sound engineer are to choose suitable microphones & equipment. I need a mic to be able to pick up my bass amp properly. To position and rig/de rig microphones. Do soundchecks, some bands like to have a specific sound or mix. For example, I would not want the bass to be too drowned out. Operate the sound desk during the show and look after the equipment.

 

The 5 responsibilities of a roadie are to carry the equipment from trucks and vans into the show. Things such as heavy amplifiers, microphones, or the drum kit. Rig the show before the event, not during. Look after and maintain the equipment, stage, and light. And de rig and pack away the equipment at the end of the show.

The responsibilities of instrumental support: Guitars, drums, general instruments. Look after the instrument set up for the show. Fix when broken, broken strings or inputs. Give advice regarding the best use of equipment and to complete soundchecks for the performers.

 

Key Attributes for the Jobs
1. Personality

2. Experience

3. Reliability

4. Knowledge

 

The main points learned today are the different responsibilities for jobs in the music industry and the different professional jobs in the industry. As a bassist, it is my responsibility to compose and write my own bass lines and music and to direct the tempo and to learn latest music quickly by practising every day. I must also look after my instrument. As a composer, I could compose music for TV shows or compose music for other musicians to spread my network and earn money. There are different jobs in the live side of the music industry, and they help with the musicians on stage. They need to get on well with the musicians to get along with them to work professionally. They must always keep a deadline, be reliable and have experience in the fields they work in.

 

My possible client list of people in the college and what other people can I link up with outside of college?

 
Moth– I have been playing guitar with them for 6 months now, I could play in a band with them outside of the college as we have a similar music taste as well and we get along with each other.

Harvey – He has been singing in the college band for a while, we get along well. I could offer him my skills in a band outside of college or even play over any tracks he has written himself.

 

Joe – Been playing in the college band for 3 months now, we play in time with each other well. He has improved my tempo skills. I could offer my skills in a band with him outside of college too and add my bass to songs he has written. I have also collaborated with him using Cubase by improvising a bassline to a drum sample and a vocal sample.

 

Jules – Known them for 6 years now, get along with them well. Been offered to join their band outside of the college. Can also play over tracks they have written themself.

 

Jack L, Oli, Ash, Ritchie – These lot are part of the tech course, they produce hip hop beats for their own original rap songs. Get along well with them. I could play over any tracks they have written. For example, I could add a bassline to any beats they have made for a hip-hop track. They can help me record my band in the studio.

 

Jack R – Could offer him a bassline for his music project “Blu Ivory” which he could sample for one of his tracks he produces. Could offer me his techie skills for recording.

 

Brad – Could potentially offer my heavy metal bass playing skills to one of his Nu Metal songs, he is learning to sing and is into metal so it would be good to hook up.

 

Sam – He has been learning drums, we have planned to rehearse some stuff together.

 

My target audience currently is teenagers from around Middlesbrough who usually go to gigs around the area. I have already played a gig in front of them and been to gigs with them and I would like to continue playing in front of them. Hopefully, this can help expand my audience to further out areas. 

 

Management duties and roles.    

Works on behalf of the artist to promote their career. Sometimes they work with the artist. Sometimes they can have the final say. This is dependent upon the size of the deal. They get 20% of the artist’s revenue. The money can come from gigs, streams, royalties. If the artist is quite diverse the manager may look after additional business. They keep all the legal stuff straight including sorting them the best deal. However, this may not be the deal that makes the most money.        

 

PR (Public Relations)
Promote the career and keep the artist profile high and front of mind. Work with the artists label and the media to get the best press reviews, they may even sort out interviews. They decide with the help of the artist and the artists management how they want to be perceived in the industry.

 

Booking Agency
They book gigs and get artist work; they book tour dates. They help with the promotion of a new album. They handle the financial and logistic requirements. Contact promotors and the venues to meet agreements with the band. Arrange contracts with promotors.

 

A&R (Artists and Repertoire)
5 Key Responsibilities:
1. Scouting for new talent & sign to a record label or sell to a label.

2. Oversee all the aspect of the process from delivery to finished recordings.

3. Development of artist as they grow & mature.

4. Manage the recording process.

5. Help find songs appropriate for the artist.

 

To be able to do these jobs, you would have to have good negotiation, communication, and leadership skills. This would help with my choice of career in the music industry as a bassist in a band as I would need someone to book gigs and tour dates for my band. I would need someone to handle our finance too. Getting my band into the public eye would also help getting us signed to a record label to record songs. Playing at gigs with other local bands can help get into the public eye by building my network. Eventually I do want to tour with the band and release an album after we have finished writing our songs. I would not want someone to ghost write, however.

 

 

You need funding to help you Finance a tour, some venues may not provide enough cash. To record and release music. To get a mentor to guide you. Buying Equipment, Guitars, Amps, etc. To record and release music would be the area that relates most to me, I need funding to release music to get my music out so people can listen to it and to get it on big platforms like Spotify or Amazon Music. Buying equipment relates to me as I’ll need a new amp. I would use the PRS and the Princes Trust to help fund my chosen career path. I would buy a new bass guitar because my current one does not sound particularly good, and it would help me create better sounding music and to play better.

 
Funding Sources

PRS Foundation: The leading funder of latest music and talent development. Pay a musician their royalties. Make sure you apply for a decent amount for a grant. Buy equipment that can help you become a better musician.

 

The Prince’s Trust: It has a lot of Music Ambassadors. They host massive, big shows like Party in the Park.

 

Sentric Academy Fund: Sentric are an independent music publisher who support artists to collect royalties they are owed. Support the next generation of music.  

 

Women Who Make Music: Break down assumptions and stereotypes within the music industry. Prove women also run the music industry. Increase the profile of women.

 

Crowd Funding: Patreon is a website/app where people can create a subscription service online for businesses. It lets fans become active participants in your work by subscribing with a monthly membership. Exclusive content. Early content. Kickstarter campaigns make ideas into reality. Creators share new visions for creative work with the communities that will come together to fund them.
 
To fund my music, I would join the PRS Foundation as I am a starting artist. It can also help pay my royalties. If I ever eventually build a bigger fanbase I can rely on crowdfunding from Patreon, give my fans some of my work early too.