Final Cut Express

Final Cut Express is the programme I will be using to edit my video using an Apple Mac computer.

The programme has many benefits, the main one being it is easy to use and understand. It is easy to add effects to the video clips and edit out any unnecessary parts I don’t need. I plan on using many different effects and techniques in order to enhance the quality of my video. I also want to make the video exciting by adding colour or distorting clips. As the song by Rouge Traders is very upbeat and has a fast tempo I plan on cutting the videos to make them change fast and quick in order to go with the beat and music.

As Final Cut Express has many layers when editing material, it is easy to create different effects with the layers and also you can play it with the song to see if it works.

The programme allows us to import pieces of material that we need in order to create the video. Also by being able to export the final version of the video we are easily able to upload it to the blog and other internet sites such as Youtube for feedback.

Independant Record Labels

An independent record label (or indie record label) is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.  The boundaries between major and independent labels, and the definitions of each, differ from commentator to commentator.  The traditional definition of a 'major' record label is one that owns its own distribution channel. Some independent record labels, in particular those with successful performing artists, sign dual-release agreements (and make other deals) with major labels and may rely to some extent on international licensing deals, distribution agreements, and other arrangements with major record labels. Major labels may also wholly or partially acquire independent labels.

TVT Records is an independent US record label founded by Steve Gottlieb. Over the course of its 25 year history the label released some 25 Gold, Platinum and Multi-platinum releases. It included Nine Inch Nails, Ja Rule, Lil Jon, Underworld, The KLF, Sevendust, Brian Jonestown Massacre and Pitbull. Its biggest commercial successes were the triple platinum Nine Inch Nails's Pretty Hate Machine, two double platinum releases by Lil Jon, and platinum releases by Snoop Dogg and the Eastside Boyz, Dashboard Confessional, Default and Ying Yang Twins.

Epitaph Records is a Hollywood, California based independent record label owned by Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz. The label was originally "just a logo and a P.O. box" created in the 1980s for the purpose of selling Bad Religion records, but has evolved into a large independent record label. Gurewitz took the name from a King Crimson song of the same name. Throughout the 80s and 90s most of the bands on Epitaph were punk and pop punk groups, while there are many post-hardcore and emo bands signed to the label too. A large portion of the record label, known as Hellcat Records, is owned by Tim Armstrong, front man of the punk rock band Rancid. Several sister-labels also exist, such as ANTI-, Burning Heart Records, Fat Possum Records, Hellcat Records and Heart & Skull Records that have signed other types of bands. Current artists signed to the label are 30 MILES, Alesana, Bad Religion, The Blackout, The colour of violence and The Draft.

Record Companies

Record labels may be small and independent, or they may be part of a large international media group. The largest four record labels are called ‘Major Labels.’ Since 1988-2009 there has been a change in these major labels. It first began with the ‘Big Six’ consisting of record labels such as Warner Music Group, EMI, Sony Music, BMG Music, Universal Music Group and Polygram. Over the years this has decreased to just 4 labels now being called the ‘Big four.’ Till today the big four record label groups are Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, EMI Group and Warner Music Group.

Universal Music Group (UMG) is the world’s largest group of record labels in the recording industry. It is the largest of the ‘Big Four’ record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations.  UMG owns a music publisher named Universal Music Publishing Group, which became the world’s largest following the acquisition of BMG Music Publishing in May 2007. "Universal Music" was once the music company attached to film studio Universal Pictures. Its origins go back to the formation of the American branch of Decca Records in 1934. Artists signed to UMG include Akon, Justin Bieber, Kanye West, Robin Thicke, Lady Gaga, Lil wayne, Drake and many more.

                                                 Lil Wayne is signed to UMG

Warner Music Group (WMG) is the third largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the big four record companies. Warner Music Group also has a music publishing arm called Warner/Chappell Music, which is currently one of the world's largest music-publishing companies.  WMG is the only one of the big four record companies that cannot trace its ancestry, WMG's roots date back to the founding of Warner Bros.  Diddy, Alesha Dixon, Gucci Mane, Gym Class Heroes, Madonna and Plan B are all artists signed with Warner Music group.

                                                      Madona is signed with WMG

Sony Music Entertainment abbreviated SME is the second largest global recorded music company of the ‘big four’ record companies and is controlled by Sony Corporation of America. The company which evolved into Sony Music was founded in 1929 as the American Record Corporation (ARC) through several smaller record companies. Sony renamed the record company Sony Music Entertainment (SME) on January 1991. Sony Music Entertainment throughout the years have signed many successful music artists. Some of these include Beyonce, Christina Aguilera, Bob Dylan, Kings of Leon, Leona Lewis and one of the most widely beloved entertainers the late Michael Jackson.

The EMI Group (Electric and Musical Industries LTD, is a music company headquartered in London, England. It is the fourth largest business groups and family of record labels in the recording industry making it the fourth of the ‘Big Four’ record companies. The Electric and Musical Industries LTD was formed in Mrach 1931 by the merger of the UK Columbia Graphophone Company Columbia Graphophone Company and the Gramophone Company, with its "His Master's Voice" record label, firms that have a history extending back to the origins of recorded sound. Artists with EMI Group include The Beatles, Katy Perry, Queen and Letoya Luckett.

Album cover analysis - Rihanna

LOUD is the fifth studio album from Rihanna, we can see a dramtic change in image and in her music by just looking at 3 of her albums. Her first album ‘Music of the Sun’ uses the conventions of an album cover having used a simplistic colour scheme which also featured in her song "Pon de Replay." We get a close up shot of Rihanna gazing straight at us, from the album cover we do not know what is to come from the artist this is created by the imagery used as Rihanna poses with a ‘mysterious’ sort of face, this emphasises the fact that she is a new artist and we can never predict what will be to come, this indulges listeners as they are excited to hear what is next. Her name ‘Rihanna’ appears at the top left hand conrner of the album cover in a different colour scheme to the one used on the rest of the album, this is done in order for the image and the artists name to stand out and be more noticeable. 

 Rated R was the fourth album to come from the singer, looking at her first to the fourth there is an overwhelming and dramtic change to her image and possibly music. The album cover still has the conventions of an album but the colour scheme is dark and dull. Rihanna poses different as to that of her first album as here she is in a moody and contemplative pose, wearing a leather top with her hand covering her right eye and each finger wrapped in an intricate set of rings. The image was taken by fashion photographer Ellen von Unwerth who stated that "Rihanna was looking to create something a bit new for the look of the album.” Unlike all the other album covers ‘RATED R’ does not feature Rihanna’s name on the album cover, this could possibly due to the fact that the imagery of the album is so powerful anybody would easily notice her although the name of the album helps to understand who she is with the ‘R’. The strong image on the cover instantly gives away the sort of music which is to be expected in this album as at the same time there was the controversy of her abusive relationship with singer Chris Brown. The album shows another side to Rihanna that we have not encountered with yet, by using such forceful and strong imagery it instantly defines her and her work.  As Rihanna would be soon touring the album helped create a ‘buzz’ of what was to be expected with the costumes, background visuals and performances.

Recently Rihanna has released LOUD her fifth album, yet again we have a change of appearance as now everything is red. Rihanna braced us with her red hair in her video of ‘Only Girl.’  Her red hair can be seen in the corners of the album and noticeably her lips are also red. Her lips are in the centre of the album cover, this may have been done in order to emphasise that Rihanna is now becoming a very successful aritst and she has the voice to speak out. The name of the album; ‘LOUD’ is also powerful as it could be said that she now has the opportunity and voice to write about things that matter to her, she does not need to create this image no more. The red in itself is loud as her prior album was black and white.  Rihanna’s name does not appear on this album cover also, as now she is a well established artist who is known worldwide, it shows how powerful and successful she is.

Album cover analysis- Lady Gaga

This is the debut album by pop artist Lady Gaga called ‘The Fame.’ The album has a clear close up shot of the artist; Lady Gaga, this is done in order for consumers to understand that this is her album. In the image Gaga is wearing glasses to hide her eyes which people do in order for them to hide their identity. Gaga’s style is very unique and peculiar; the glasses she wears in the shot are also not normal everyday glasses as they have one eye covered. This gives a brief idea of what is to be expected from the album and also for future albums to come. She herself has hidden her identity and we can expect more of this in her future material. The name of the album is written in the corner of the glasses whilst ‘LADY GAGA’ is the main text on the image, the possible reason for this would be that as her face is mostly covered some consumers may not notice that this is her album, given the fact that it is her first also. The name is therefore emphasised in order for it to be more noticeable to the consumers. The use of also dark colours and blonde hair contrast and make the image stand out, as we know Lady Gaga takes her appearance to extreme levels although she has kept it simple for her first album.

Transformation of Komal to K-ZEE

transformation of komal on Prezi

Music Video