Task 11: research into differences in appeal to target audiences of mainstream v independent

One direction got signed with Simon Cowell's record label Syco Records, which then joint as a US deal with Columbia Records.
The sorts of artists that the label specialises in are:

• Olly Murs
• Susan Boyle
• Union J
• Little Mix
• Fifth Harmony

Target audience: Female 18-24

Merchandise/ ancillary products:

• curtains- single panel duvet
• Album (CD)
• T shirts 
• Bracelet
• Slippers 
• Scarf
• Perfume
• Bags
• Calendar
• Mugs
• Watch
• Hat

You can purchase the music by going to 'snap' and then click 'music'. One direction became famous on the X Factor 2010. The boys auditioned separately, neither of them got through so Simon and the judges decided to turn them into a group (he saw potential in them). 

They staged on the 3rd place. Their first song was- 'what makes you beautiful', they became really famous: 681,561,822 views.

It sold more than 130,000 copies on it's first week.

Lanterns on the Lake

Record label : Bella Union 

Artists:

• Abe Vigoda
• The Dears
• Beach House
• Fionn Regan
• Snowbird 

Genres:

• Indie rock
• Folk
• Hip Pop
• Space rock
• Dream Pop

Ancillary products/merchandise:

• T shirt
• A3 prints
• CD album
• Bags

Advantages of being signed to an independent label:

• No force behind you making you release to albums, freedom to be creative when you want.
• Little financial backing as there is no label behind you. 
• Everything needed to create, edit, publish and distribute it is now commonly available to the public to have in their own home. 

Advantages of being signed to a mainstream label:

• The big labels will have many subsidiaries of other labels that they have bought out. This Horizontal Integration increasing the market share of a company within an industry. 
• High quality records
• Pro- advertising
• Tours

Disadvantages of being signed to an independent label:

• unlikely spending money front
• unlikely recording in million dollar studios
• unlikely to work with a world- renowned producer 

Disadvantages of being signed to a mainstream label:

• When you sign onto a major label , they own you as an artist for the duration of the contract. They will have complete creative control over your music and image.
• They will tell you when and where to be somewhere.
• They will own your music forever 

I believe that having merchandise and ancillary products is really important, this would allow more brand awareness for the artist/band. More consumers would be interested in them, which it would create more sales and profit.