RM - 'The Big 3'

In the music industry there was the term "The Big Four". This was used for the four giant record labels in the music industry. These four companies were Sony Music Entertainment, EMI Group, Warner Music Group and Universal Music Group. However in early November, 2011, Universal Music Group bought EMI's record music division for £1.2 billion ($1.9 billion). As well as this Sony bought EMI's publishing division for £1.3 billion. Therefore this means "The Big Four" are now called "The Big Three".

EMI's record division includes artists including The Beatles, Coldplay and Tinie Tempah. Therefore showing it is understandable why both Warner Music and Universal wanted to own the division, with Universal outbidding Warner Music by $500 million.

Interscope Geffen A&M

Universal Music Group is the largest record company in the world. The company owns several record labels including Interscope Geffen A&M, The Island Def Jam Motown Music Group, Universal Republic Records andA&M/Octone.


The company has some influential artists, that have changed the genre they are/were situated in, as well as some of the biggest chart toppers in the last few decades on their label, this includes: ABBA, Guns N’ Roses, The Jackson Five, Elton John, KISS, Nirvana, The Police, Queen, Frank Sinatra, The Who and many many more. As well as Universal Music Group inpartnership with Abu Dhabi Media Company created a company called Vevo. Veco accounts can be found on Youtube for world famous artists.

Sony Music Entertainment is the second largest record company. The company owns several record labels including: Columbia Records, Epic Records, RCA Records and Syco Music*. Artists on Sony Music Entertainment includes: AC/DC, Adam and the Ants, Bullet For My Valentine, Foo Fighters and Slayer.



*Syco is jointly owned by Simon Cowell and Sony Music Entertainment, focusing on music, television and film content. Cowell uses these aspects of media to look for artists. The programs that are used for this are The X-Factor, The X-Factor USA, Britain's Got Talent and American's Got Talent. The artists that win these shows win a contract. These contracts are also tied into another record company, which is owned by Sony Music Entertainment. The record companies mentioned in the above paragraph are usually part of the contract deals.

Warner Music Group is the last remaining member of "The Big Three" and was the third in "The Big Four". The comapany founded in 1958, as Warner Bros. Records. To date the company has several distribution labels: Atlantic Records Group, Rhino Entertainment and Warner Bros. Records Group. 


As well as these distributors Warner Music Group has several subsidiaries. On these subsidiaries come a range of acts specialising in different genre. Artists on Warner Music Group includes: Paramore (who are owned by Fueled by Ramen which is on distributed by Atlantic Records Group) and Muse (who are owned by Warner Bros. Records).

Fueled By Ramen is
distributed by
Atlantic Records Group

Sources: 
Guardian - Universal Music's £1.2bn acquisition marks end of the road for EMI, Universal and Sony reach deal to buy EMI for £2.5bn, Universal Music to buy EMI's recorded music division for £1.2bn 
Wikipedia - The Big Four, Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group, Fueled by Ramen,Warner Bros. Records, Syco
Record Label Websites: Universal Music, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group

SB - Filming on tuesday (speculative)

On tuesday we will be filming some of our performance in the morning on the moor, we will be experimenting with close ups and framing as well as location scouting, we're looking for rocky outcrops and wide open flatland areas to film on where we can set up amps and equipment.

RM - Research Into The Devil Wears Prada

The Devil Wears Prada are an American metalcore band. Formed in 2005 the band's orginal line up and current line up consists of: James Baney (Keyboards), Jeremy DePoyster (Rhythm Guitar), Mike Hranica (Lead Vocals), Chris Rubey (Lead Guitar), Andy Trick (Bass) and Daniel Williams (Drums). To date the band have released four studio albums. These four albums are entitled: Dear Love: A Beautiful Discord, Plagues, With Roots Above and Branches Below, and Dead Throne.

Dear Love: A Beautiful Discord

Dear Love: A Beautiful Discord was the debut album by the band Devil Wears Prada. Released in 2006 it includes re-recorded versions of all the tracks of their demo, Patterns of a Horizon. The album has eleven songs on . The only single from the album was "Dogs Can Grow Beards All Over". The entire album length is 40 minutes.








Plagues
 

Original cover

Re-released cover

Plagues was the band's second studio album, released in 2007. The album was re-released in 2008 which includes bonus content. This bonus content includes an alternative cover, booklet art, and a DVD which features footage from Ultimatour and Warped Tour (both in 2008). The DVD also contains music videos for both singles. The two singles released from the album were "Hey John, What's Your Name Again?" and "HTML Rulez D00d".


 With Roots Above and Branches Below

This was the band's third album, released in 2009. It is considered their breakthrough album after selling 31,000 in its first week in America alone. It also recived high praise by many critics. The album had two singles on it which were "Danger: Wildman" and "Assistant to the Regional Manager". There were eleven tracks on the album, thus giving a total length of 40mins.





Dead Throne

This is the band's latest album, released in 2011, the album sold 32,000 copies in the first week, again in America alone. The album features an absence of clean vocal passages on certain songs, the first time since Dear Love: A Beautiful Discord - the band's debut album. The album has one single "Born To Lose" and and upcoming single called "R.I.T". The album features thirteen songs with the album having a length of 41 minutes.

RM - Research into Chase Music Videos

As our music video will be containing chasing scenes, I was asked to look at several music videos that contain chase scene aspects. The music videos I looked at were: Paramore's "Monster", Pulled Apart By Horses "Back To The F**K Yeah", Cavalera Conspiracy "Sanctuary", Beastie Boys "Sabotage" and Cancer Bats " Sabotage" and "Scared To Death".

Paramore - Monster

- Several shots of the band members in a hospital before chase sequence.
- Explosions in close proximity to each band member alert them which start the chase sequence.
- Jump cuts to link chase and performance scenes, which uses the music to change the shot used.
- Special effects used such as slow motion - especially used whilst explosions are behind at least one of the band members
- Shots used for chase scene are in front of of the band members. Chase scene covers several locations (hospital, church).
- Chase scene ends where the performance scenes are based.
- Camera moves slightly from left to right (or vice versa) during chase scenes.
- Variation of shots used however the majority of shots used are long shots.

 
Pulled Apart By Horses - Back To The F**K Yeah

- When the band members are being pulled by an unseen force close-ups of each band members are used.
- Each time the band members return to the centre of the forest, the location of the performance, each one appears to have blood on them and appear to be in a state of limbo. The band members also appear to be worried that the same occurrence will happen again.
- Points of view from the unforeseen monster and band members are used. During these sequences the camera shakes from side to side. However some shots are stills (normally when a band member falls).
- Throughout the chase scene there are jump cuts to other band members, who are all being chased.
- There is a wide variation of shots and angles used until the band members are back in position playing their instruments. This time they are in a further state of limbo.
- For a split second at the end the audience can see the drummer is pulled back signifying this occurrence is happening once again.


Cavalera Conspiracy - Sanctuary

- Shaky camera work throughout the music video.
- The monster is seen throughout the music video.
- Points of view from the people's prospective and the monster's are used throughout the music video.
- These sometimes consist of the person looking back to see the monster chasing him or her.
- Audience watches monster devour people and destroy the set.
- Jump cuts to performance aspect throughout the music video.
- When cast and crew members hide and the monster finds them the shots are quickened up allowing for the "prey" to escape.
- Point of views of people dead either in clear body bags or laid on the floor - blood and guts are shown.
- Everyone appears to be dead except from the band that is performing. The band is also surrounded by bodies.
- At the end the monster kills someone (shown through at point of view). The ending shot is from the person who has just been attacked prospective looking at the band finishing their performance.


 
Beastie Boys - Sabotage

- Wide variation of shot types and angles used. Panning and tracking are also used in a lot of the shots.
- Small amount of point of view shots used during the chase scenes. The majority of shots are from the "predators" prospective.
- If not a point of view the shot used is normally from the side allowing the audience to see what is happening. Sometimes shots are from the front but this is rare.


 
Cancer Bats - Sabotage

- Wide variation of shots used. Some of them the camera shakes from side to side.
- Some of the actions are repeated. An example of this is at 1.06 were a band member catches van keys.
- Point of view shots used whilst running behind other band members. Also used in front and at the side of a band member.
- Used a wide variation of shots and angles.
- Majority of chase shots are from being like the band member is being hunted.
- Several different location and environments used e.g. Streets and the car park.

 
Cancer Bats - Scared To Death

- Point of views from the monster chasing its prey and the prey itself.
- The majority of performance shots are points of view from the hooded figures - anchored through camera shaking slightly. Also through several of the hooded figures are holding cameras filming the band members.
- Snorricam used for front on close-ups whilst band members have escaped and being chased.
- Shots from still positions which track and pan are also used.

SB - Performance Sample Scene Update

We didn't get to film yesterday due to band members not showing up to practice so we couldn't get the shots we needed for the performance. However we'll be filming next week and we'll have to get some filming done at the practice next week.

RM - Research into Killswitch Engage

Killswich Engage are an American metalcore band. The band was formed after the disbandment of Overcast and Aftershock in 1999. The band's current line up consists of Howard Jones (vocals), Mike D'Antonio (bass), Joel Stroetzel and Adam Dutkiewicz (guitars), and Justin Foley (drums). At the time of this post the band have released five studio albums and on DVD. The band's five studio albums are: Killswitch Engage (2000), Alive or Just Breathing (2002), The End of Heartache (2004), As Daylight Dies (2006) and Killswitch Engage (2009). The band's one and only DVD released is titled (Set This) World Ablaze. The band are currently on Roadrunner Record's record label however their debut self-titled debut album was released on Ferret Music.
The band's debut album was self-titled was released in July 2000. The album had nine songs on accumulating to 36mins. In 2005 the album was re-released with a new cover as well as having four extra songs on which were part of a 1999 demo. These four extra songs made the album 44 mins long.

Alive or Just Breathing was the band's second album released in May 2002. This album was the last to feature Leach as the vocalist, who left the band due to family issues and depression. As well as this it is also the last album to feature Dutkiewicz on drums, after the production he switched onto guitar.This album is known for being one of the first albums to bring albums that has made mainstream into what it is today. According to Music Radar the album is listed as the 33rd greatest heavy metal album and also featured in IGN's list of 25 Greatest Metal Albums. The album consists of twelve songs lasting a total of 46 minutes. To add to this album there is meant to be a hidden thirteenth track which lasts nearly three minutes. In 2005 the album was re-released with a bonus disc with eight tracks.

The third album from Killswitch Engage, released in 2004. There were three singles to be released from this album "Rose Of Sharyn", "The End Of Heartache" and "A Bid Farewell". However the song "When Darkness Falls" appears on "Freddy vs. Jason" (2003) and "The End of Heartache" appears on the film soundtrack to Resident Evil: Apocalypse, this song also appears on the Guitar Hero: Van Halen game. It was also nominated for "Best Metal Performance" in the 47th Grammy Awards. "Breathe Life" is also used as a sample for Bullet for My Valentine's song ""My Fist, Your Mouth, Her Scars", this appears on the "All These Things I Hate (Revolve Around Me)" single. The album consisted of twelve songs lasting for 43 minutes. Although in 2005 a special edition of the album was released adding an additional six tracks.

As Daylight Dies is the fourth album by the band, released in 2006, it is one of the band's highest selling albums to date with 500,000 copies sold in the US alone! The fist single to be released from this album was "My Curse" which appeared as a playable song on Guitar Hero III as well as a downloadable song on Rock Band (1 and 2). The band released a further three singles from this album entitled: "The Arms of Sorrow", "Holy Driver" and "This is Absolution". In 2007 a special edition of the album was released including four B-sides this included "Holy Driver" which was released as the third single. The album originally had eleven songs on it before the special edition which increased the number of tracks to fifteen. As well as this a special edition DVD was released with the first three single's music videos and the making of videos for "My Curse" and "The Arms Of Sorrow"

Killswitch Engage is the band's fifth studio album as well as being the band's second self-titled album. The album was originally released in 2009, with four singles being released from it. These singles are: "Reckoning", "Starting Over", "Take Me Away" and "Save Me". The original album had eleven tracks on with the total length being 38 minutes. However a special edition was also released on the same day with an extra four songs, three of them being live. As well as this a special edition dvd was released consisting of The Making of Documentary and exclusive band interviews.

CO - Animatic progress

      

I am currently working on an animatic storyboard for the group which documents some of our proposed camera shots, scenes and more. I am creating it using Adobe Flash CS3 Professional as opposed to other groups doing it by hand, as I believe it looks a lot more presentable as well as being able to include a lot of detail then export it as a movie to watch online. However, I do intend on putting a suitable amount of detail on it which means I am taking my time with it, so the finished thing can look as decent as possible.

SB - Plan Of Action

We intend to start experimenting with filming this month, and look for interesting locations, shot types. we also need to start experimenting with the gore and start choosing how the members are going to die and where they'll die. We are also planning to do a number of Sublime Transcendence vodcasts as a group on the metalcore genre and the progress of our idea and how it has changed, we'll also be doing podcasts together as a group, we intend to do them about progression in the week and any new ideas we have thought about or problems we will face during filming.

SB - letlive. research

letlive. are primarily a hardcore band with elements of different genres mixed in there such as metalcore, jazz and funk. The band are from Los Angeles, California. The band has released three albums :

• Exhaustion, Saltwater, and Everything in Between (2004 At One Records)
• Speak Like You Talk (2005 At One Records)
• Fake History (2010 Tragic Hero), (2011 Epitaph re-release

Their latest endeavor Fake History has been quoted as; "a post-hardcore album fit for many of 2010's best-of lists" and representing "their exhilarating brand of progressive hardcore"


After a lineup change (with only vocalist/writer Jason Aalon Bulter remaining), their second album Speak Like You Talk was released in 2005, also on At One Records. The group gained momentum and after more personnel changes, signed with Tragic Hero Records in 2009. They released Fake History on Tragic Hero and it got favorable reviews The band continued touring and after signing with Epitaph Records in February 2011, undertook a brief European tour. Epitaph re-released Fake History in April 2011 with three additional tracks, including two B-sides and one new song produced by Brett Gurewitz. The re-release has been the subject of several favorable reviews. The band are known for their incredible stage presence and live shows being 'crazy'. They have four music videos of tracks that are off Fake History. These include 'Muther' 'The Sick Sick 6.8 Billion' '

All - Behind The Scenes Update

During the time between Sunburnt in December recording a demo of their song "Like A Match To An Arsonist" to now (29th December) we have struggled to export the behind the scenes footage. There have been several reasons for were: whilst exporting the first time, somehow, the video had five minutes of complete darkness added on to the end, and towards the end of the month had several days off due to Jubilee Day and a training day. As well as the need to film and edit sample footage.

However the situation with the five minutes of complete darkness has now been resolved by simple re-exporting the footage.


Here is the behind the scenes footage of the Sunburnt In December recording "Like A Match To An Arsonist":

The fully finished track:

CO - Performance Sample Scenes

We have a Jubilee Day next Wednesday, which is actually the date of our regular band practices with Sunburnt In December; this means that instead of the normal 2 hours we usually have, we will be able to spend around 5 or more hours practicing, which means we can record footage of performance as we play Like A Match To An Arsonist at practice, as we can get miming right and include it in the sample footage. We will use two cameras to shoot HD footage and import it later next week.

SB - Talking To Actors

We've talked to the actors who are going to be in  the music video which consists of the band.
Sam - Vocals
Conor - Drums
Jem - Bass
Mitch - Guitar
Elliot - Guitar

We've talked to them about costume, and how we will be buying the costume. We've all decided it would be easier if we wore plains clothes on the shoot. White/black t - shirts this would mean we're more likely to have less continuity errors based around costume. We also discussed the idea with them and got positive feedback paired with minor criticisms which we've considered and changed our idea around e.g Jem driving a van on the moor... We discussed location as well and decided that the twelve apostles maybe a tad bit to far to walk with equipment for the performance but we decided on a location close to the cow and calf but out  of the way from the general public.

CO - Convetions of magazine adverts

Magazine adverts are regularly placed to advertise a certain band or artist's forthcoming product, such as an album, a single, a digipak or a special edition disc or something similar. The other group picked out a list of common conventions concerning the layout of a magazine advert;

• The artist's name is generally the most noticeable on the magazine advert to attract the attention of the reader straight away.
• The single or album's name is also very visible in the advertisement. 
• Web address - the band's advertisement will often include urls to their Facebook website, possibly their MySpace (although MySpace is declining rapidly in popularity due to websites like Facebook and Twitter taking all their traffic). The web addresses will also detail the record label and normally a ticket website where tickets for tours and gigs can be purchased. 
• There is also sometimes an image of the band in plain view, however this is not always the case as sometimes an abstract design or something similar is shown instead. 
• In a similar style, the theme of the band or the theme of the album will be echoed in the magazine advert, for example the advert for Blink 182's new album, Neighborhoods; the album's lyrical content details some suburban-themed ideas, reflective in the advert. 
• In another form of social networking is the use of #hashtags on the microblogging website to attract attention to the band through letting other users of the website see it on their timeline. 

A Twitter user hashtagging deathcore band The Acacia Strain in a tweet
whilst also hashtagging an emotion and mentioning COD. 

• There may also be a shot of the product in its physical form rather than just the album art in a production shot that shows the reader the detail of the album or single or EP. 
• Similarly to the above point, if there isn't a photo of its physical form then there will more than likely be a picture of the album artwork accompanying the text.
• The poster or advert might also depict the name of a single that's been released prior to the whole album so that readers know something they're getting. 
• There is always a release date for the product on the magazine article, either that or if the album has already been released, "Out Now".

Lyrics To 'Like A Match To An Arsonist'

Join something greater than yourself
be on the lookout
for our eyes
we know the man in the sky
he's our everything
no mentioning
of the past is needed
we are your brothers
our hearts set to discover
the truth behind our lives

There's no need for airs or graces
faked up smiles and masked up faces
there's no need for innovation
this is your invitation
we are your new family
and we will welcome you
to our society
This new family will happily welcome you
to our
SOCIETY!

Fear is what controls you
his power will soothe you
exorcise yourself
with words of wisdom
meditate in his presence
he controls you now
he is me
he is all
he is everything you call
HOME!

(chorus)

If you're not on your best behaviour
to the brimstone you will be thrown
no saviours now
your seeds are
SOWN!

He's in your head
it's better than dead
we love you
he loves you
the pearly gates beckon for eternal bliss
only to live by certain
RULES!!

Ahhh f**k I think I'll just go to hell...

RM - A Brief History of Music Videos

During the 1980s music videos came into the limelight after the channel MTV was setup basing the channel around the medium. The first music video MTV showed was "Video Killed the Radio Star" by The Buggles. Although this was not the first station to show music videos the first one was BBC. The long-running British TV show Top of the Pops began playing music videos in the late 1970s, this meant a good video would increase a song's sales as viewers hoped to see it again the following week.

However music videos have nearly been in existent for a hundred years but were called several different names including talkies, Screen Songs, Promotional clips and Musical films.
Although modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of the accompanying single and album.

During the 2000s lo-fi videos started being made. Lo-fi is made with minimal budgets and not much shot variation. The most common lo-fi music video is called a one-shot where the entire video is one shot. The reason for these types of music video becoming what it is known for today was due to the shift towards internet broadcasting and a rise in popularity for user-generated video sites with YouTube being the leader in the market. Artists including R.E.M. and Tom Jones have had lo-fi music videos for their singles.

All - A2 Vid 2012 Treatment

Our treatment for this year's coursework.



A2 Video 2012 - Sublime Transcendence

RM - Research into bands of the genre - Meshuggah

Meshuggah are a metal band from Sweden, formed in 1987, at this time the line-up was Fredrik Thordendal (Guitar), Jens Kidman (Vocals), Johan Sjögren (Guitar), Per Sjögren (Drums) and Jörgen Lindmark (Bass). However Kidman soon left the band and started the band Calipash.

In 1988 Sjögren left Meshuggah and guitarist Jonas Lindberg took his place in the band. Although later on Thordendal found Calipash’s music more in line with what he wanted to do and so left the band, as well as leaving the band Thordendal took the band's name Meshuggah. From then on Calipash were known as Meshuggah. However after the newly re-formed group Torbjörn Granström, one of the founding members of Calipash left the band.

In 1989 Meshuggah's line up consisted of Fredrik Thordendal (Guitar and Vocals), Jens Kidman (Guitar and Vocals), Niclas Lundgren (Drums) and Peter Nordin (Bass). During this year the band released their debut EP entitled "Psykisk Testbild". However later this year Lundgren decided to leave the band. Tomas Haake replaced Lundgren in 1990 before the band recorded their debut LP entitled ""Contradictions Collapse" which was release in 1991. During this period the band had been signed to Nuclear Blast, a German record company.

Drummer Tomas Haake

At the end of 1992 and the beginning of 1993 the vocalist and guiartist (at the time), Kidman, decided to relive his guitar duties and consenrate on his vocals. This left the responsiblities for guitar to Mårten Hagström. This new line-up recorded the EP "None" in 1994 as well as "Selfcaged", which was a demo for the band's upcoming album “Destroy Erase Improve" this album was released in 1995. "Selfcaged was released in 1994. However Peter Nordin left the band due to personal reasons and illness which he suffered throughout the start of 1995. Gustaf Hielm replaced Nordin in the 1998 after being a session member for two years.

The band recorded their next albym in May 1998 and was released in November the same year, the album was called "Chaosphere". Chaosphere, showed a faster and more aggressive Meshuggah. Three years later the band released a collection of rare tracks entitled "Rare Trax". The album consisted of demos and impossible-to-find recordings. 
The band's next album was entitled "Nothing", it was released in August 2002 and it showed a Meshuggah focusing more on groove and a lower/growlier production. The band continued to promote the album until Hielm parted with the band. After the departure of Hielm the band entered the studio to record the 21 minute song later to be named “I”. With Gustav now no longer in the band, Meshuggah needed to find a new bassplayer the band recruited Dick Lövgren. In 2005 the band released “Catch Thirtythree", this new album was very guitar driven. The band's next album "obZen" was released in 2008. 


Meshuggah Discography

Albums:

Contradictions Collapse (1991)

Destroy Erase Improve (1995)

Chaosphere (1998)

Nothing (2002)

Catch Thirtythree (2005)

obZen (2008)

______________________________________________________

Compilation albums:

Rare Trax (2001)

Extended plays:

Psykisk Testbild (1989)

None (1994)

Selfcaged (1995)

The True Human Design (1997)

I (2004)