Ideologies of the music industry

Keith Negus in his 1989 book producing pop proposed that there are 2 types of music artists;

• Organic
• Synthetic

He proposed that the music industry works in two distinct ways to promote itself. The first is to promote long term success and the second method relies on short-term hits.

Organic Artists

- Develop a career initially independently of the music industry

- Tend to write and play most of the instruments on their songs

- Develop through playing live venues before signing with a record label

- Have more freedom initially to chose their image and songs for release

- May start their career independently

Examples: The Beatles, Arctic Monkeys, Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift, Chance the Rapper

Synthetic Artists

- Manufactured by the record label and TV demands

- Gnerally have animage that is directed towards a tailor made audience e.g. boy band dress to impress young girls

- Begin their careers recording songs either written for them or chosen by the record company

- Limited freedom of choice

Examples: Louisa Johnson, Justin Bieber, One Direction, JLS

The Organic Ideology of creativity:

- A 'naturalistic' approach to artists

- The seeds of success are within the artists, who have to be 'nurtured' by the record company.

- The artist is 'enhanced' by the record company

- The artist is given time to evolve and progress through their career.

- Whereas a synthetic artist is given limited time to build a fan base and career and if success is not immediately forthcoming they are 'dropped' by the label.