Kitchenware Records

Kitchenware Records is an independent record label based in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. It was founded in 1982 by Keith Armstrong and Phil Mitchell, and was originally part of The Soul Kitchen, an artist collective and nightclub. Of this current roster of artists, Editors are currently the most successful.

The type of music:

The artists the record label promote are-

Prefab Sprout
Editors
The Motorettes
Sirens
Kate Walsh
Kid Coda
The Changes
Karima Francis
Waiting For Volkaerts

These artists all cover a wide genre of music from indie to soul, showing that 'Kitchenware records' is not mainstream but open to all types of music including more alternative and niche artists, 'we just work with music we love' is a quote from the 'Kitchenware Records' website. Also the fact that when looking at the artist and bands name they are not bands or artists you recognise excluding perhaps the 'Editors' so it shows that the label is very niche and depends on the loyalty of there fans. There is also a part of the website where the labels asks its audience to send in there own musical demos which shows the labels audience do there own 'DIY' music and are very musical people themselves.

'Kitchenware records' also distributes and promotes its music too its audience through various techniques. When just looking at the layout and design of there website they are appealing to there audience as it looks very sort of 'warehouse' and run down, which is a very niche and indie look which is the types of audience there label appeals too.

The artists on the record label are promoted on the web page by having a list of the artists and next to them being links to youtube, myspace, amazon, spotify, last fm and the artists own website. Through these links you can access information about the artists and also gain access to there music. This is an example of web 2.0 and a example of SNS (social networking sites). Another way in which the website promotes its artists is it has the artists and bands music videos on the part of the page which shows latest videos, there you can listen to the music and sample it for free.

On the actual website there is no clear way to how the music is distributed but if you simply click on the bands link it will take you straight to there website where music is offered for distribution in different formats like CD and MP3 and also there is a list of gig dates which is important for the independent label as this is an important way for them to make money.

When looking at the relationship between 'Kitchenware records' and the mainstream there are few similarities to be found. One similarity is that they both use website links to artists and social networking sites for promotion purposes but the differences are the DIY section of the 'Kitchenware records' website as it shows they are willing to take in demos and listen to more amateur and unpolished type music. The labels also offers much more niche genres of music to its audience as this is the music their audience like and at the same time is much more personal that the mainstream labels as 'Kitchenware' records depends alot on audience loyalty.

Soul Jazz Records www.souljazzrecords.co.uk

In today's lesson we looked at the music label 'Soul Jazz Records' and answered four questions whilst doing our research.




What kind of music do 'Soul Jazz Records' produce?





The music Soul Jazz records produce is very niche and not mainstream pop music, the genres of music they produce are Reggae, Dub step, House/Techno, Hip Hop, Post Punk, Funk and Soul, Jazz, Latin, and Brazilian. So it is clear to see that 'Soul Jazz' records offer a wide range of different genre music.





What strategies do 'Soul Jazz' records use to promote and distribute music ?





One of the main strategies 'Soul Jazz' records use to promote and distribute there music is through there website which is also an online store for the artists is has on its label. The website has links to all the artists which gives you detailed backgrounds on the artists and bands and about there music, also with music samples. The website reaches a wide audiences as the store has CD's, LP's, Vinyl and MP3. The website uses multi-media platforms as it has advertisements for DVDs which include music from artists on there label and also merchandise through clothes and posters and so on.





Who is the audience?





There is a very wide range of audiences for 'Soul Jazz' records as there are many small niche genres of artists which creates lots of little audiences which are not mainstream but instead more alternative. Also different labels are shown on the website, which is called 'sistalabels' which is partnerships with other labels and creates a symbiotic partnership and this specialises its audience further as its creating its own scene. The other labels on the 'Soul Jazz Records' page are Studio one, Universal sound and World Audio Foundation.





What is the relationship between 'Soul Jazz Records' and the mainstream music industry?





When comparing the two there are very few similarities as 'Soul Jazz Records' allow you to sample music but do not use social networking sites on there web page, this is to keep there core audience which is niche and not mainstream. Also something 'Soul Jazz' records do which one of the big four like 'Sony' wouldn't is join up with other labels for there benefit. Although the one similaritie i can see between the two is that they do both offer Mp3 downloads.

Notes from 05/03/10

In today's lesson we looked at key terms in the music industry and looked at the production, distribution and the consumption trends within the music industry and then were asked to blog our notes.

Key Terms-

-Web 2.0
-SNS
-Convergence
-Vertical Integration
-Synergy
-Production
-Distribution
-Consumption
-Global Village

Distribution-promoting music and getting it into shops, on the radio and downloaded for payment. Internet is now a primary source of music and illegal downloads are seen to cost the music industry money as music is now seen as 'free'. As re in decline and becoming a rarity the industry is forced to think of other distribution methods like games, live music and applications. The main problem is that its difficult to regulate distribution and the ownership of music is now 'virtual'.

Web 2.0- responsible for the changed in the distribution of music and the user generated content on the Internet.

Convergence-when one product has the ability to do more than one function. For example a phone can ring, text, play music, browse the Internet, take photos and record videos.

Consumption-people buying CD's, downloading music, paying for live concert music and purchasing related products. The user trend is now downloads meaning that record companies have to evolve to find ways of still making money. The physical format of music is now becoming obsolete and can become 'rare' and 'niche'. Bands also have to change their approach to distribution differently and technology means access to music is different with the use of ipods and iPhone and so on, therefore the music industry has to keep up with these changed by releasing music through apps and games. Music is now experienced through multi media approaches for example music videos and the guitar hero games.

Vertical Integration-one thing that producers are doing to keep profit and one company making loads of products so for example apple have Macs, Ipods, Ipads, IPhone and so on.

SNS-is social networking sites like Facebook and Myspace.

Apps-applications.

Global Village-the world becoming smaller due to technology and communication through phones, the Internet and gaming.

Production-how the music is made. The cost is no longer an issue because music can be made by anyone using prosumer technology. New technology in music is leading to more variety and spawning a new genre of new music scenes, including niche markets. There is now more competition due to the variety of approaches available and no musical talent is actually needed now meaning the quality of music may be reduced. The music charts are now no longer required or has to change to reflect listening trends, also wider media now affects the source of music for example ring tones, video games and Internet sensations.

Synergy-when people team together like NME and the record label 'Domino', also O2 and the ihone there is orange Wednesdays in cinemas.

The (2007) Stafford quote offers a helpful way of describing what is meant by the term 'music industry'.

'The music industry can be defined as the organisation of the various activities associated with performing and recording music and distributing access to those performances around the world. Because the basis of musical production is accessible to everyone with a modium of talent, the industry is both more 'open' than film making and less easily controllable than traditional broadcast television. This has lead to a longstanding institutional difference between small and 'independent' music organisations and a large corporate 'mainstream'.

When looking at the 'Stafford' quote he is saying the industry is worldwide with production to distribution to consumption. The quote also says it becomes easier to create music due to technology, so musical ability is no longer required. We can see in the quote from 'Stafford' that he is saying the industry is more 'open' do to freedom and access and the fact its not controllable or financially draining on the artist . To finish 'Stafford's' quote saids that the music industry is divided by the types of record label or institutions, there is mainstream with Sony, Warner, EMI and there is Independents with Rough Trade, Domino and Boy Better Know.