Audience Research.
Knowing the audience of an artist, or a genre is crucial, especially when creating a music video which fits that certain genre. My group and I have decided to create a music video based on the song 'Where Is My Mind' by the Pixies. It is of an Alternative Rock genre and the fan-base is precise, which makes them fragile and prone to confusion if the conventions were to suddenly change.We asked 4 students who were interested in Rock music, why they were interested in it, in order to work out their relationship to rock songs and perhaps how it influences them in their lives. The first question was: Do you feel that you can relate to this genre of music (in regards of the Pixies' song 'Where Is My Mind') ? Most students could relate to it because they reckoned it was close to rock music and they listen to rock on a daily basis. One student listens to rock because it fits the way they look at life, whereas another one listens to it due to their past issues, because their friends listens to rock and because it is different. The second question: 'Do you think that music influences your style ?' had a similar approach as most of the answers consisted of students saying that they dressed according to rock music. Black seemed to be the famous color worn, as well as grey to identify themselves within the fan-base and genre, in which fans create a community based on the artists and categorize themselves with a certain style. Styles have emerged from music: punk, Gothic, skaters, grunge, etc... These are all results of the music they listen to. One student claimed that he dresses as a response to the lyrics and tries to apply it in his dress-sense, illustrating the lyrics. The question 'Do you think your interest in music was emerged from your parents ?', however, was different. 2 out of 4 of the students claimed their interest in music was taken from their parents whereas the other two stated that they couldn't have due to their family's backgrounds, stating that because their families were originally from India and Africa, they couldn't have been influenced to like rock music from them. This shows the difference in backgrounds who are likely to listen to rock music and perhaps the gap between generations and how the audience of rock music artists can be diverse. 'Does music change your views ?' According to most of the students, rock music doesn't necessarily change their views but rather, to some degree. Unlike fans who worship their favorite artists, these students did admit that the music they listen to has changed the way they look at the world but hasn't totally changed their identity in order to fit the music genre and be like their favorite band or artist. The main issues these students seemed to bring up was political issues as well as bullying. 'How important is music in your life ?' Music seemed to be very important in their lives, to the point where one student said that she couldn't imagine music not being in her life, showing the impact that it would have. Music seems to be a hobby and a way in which people can isolate themselves, be at peace, 'zone out', which is why we proceeded by asking the students 'How often do you listen to music and why ?'. It seemed, most listened to music in order to be distracted while bored or in order to gain more concentration while doing homework or chores, as it'd block everything out as well as teaching them a few things through lyrics.
