Research for Music Videos: Summarise what you have learnt about the Music Industry.

What I have learnt about the music industry is that firstly is the function of a music video where it’s to promote the singer/artists. The promotion is highly important because as they become recognisable through their songs and music videos. So the way that the music industries are targeting the public is through music channels on TV like MTV, or even more crucial is through the Internet. By having sites like Youtube and VEVO, it becomes a forum for the public to access and watch music videos whenever they want. 


Music videos can also become very popular as they can be shared through social networking sites such as Facebook and the music industry can advertise their artists on these social networking sites. It is really important that the music industry stay fresh and up to date with current times because otherwise, they will lose touch with the public, which means that Record Labels are going to lose money and eventually go downhill. So its important that advertising their artists should guarantee more exposure meaning more people will notice them and buy their albums or songs. 


However, figures show that in 2011, major record labels are in serious financial threat. The four big record labels are EMI, Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group and SONY & BMG. Sales were down by 7% last year in the UK and by nearly 10% in the United States who is the largest music market. Two of the major record labels – Sony & BMG and Warner Music Group admit that their pre-Christmas sales were down by 10% and 14%. Also adding more heat to the flame, more and more people are illegally downloading music – figures show that 1.2 billion illegal downloads were done in the UK in 2000. The music industry is really suffering, as they have not found the solution to repairing lost in CD sales. For example, “Arcade Fire’s The Suburbs” may have won the Grammy, but they have sold only 1.4 million albums worldwide. Nit only are the music industry suffering but as a result of their low turnout of CD sales, record shops like HMV are being affected as they cannot sell an increasing amount of CD’s, which meant that they had to close down 60 stores to make a profit.


However, there are some artists like Take That who with the arrival of the ex member Robbie Williams, can still manage to sell large quantities of CD’s and make large numbers of money through their sold out tours which means that record labels like Universal, who manage Take That can see profits sky rocketing. In my opinion, the way that the Music Industry can rise up again is through combating Piracy though sites like Itunes and giving the audience a new angle to watch music videos and to hear songs.