Digipak Conventions

Conventions of a Digipak

Front Panel - Artist name (bigger text than the title), album title, close-up of the artists face, parental advisory, capture the genre, direct appeal to the target audience.

Back Panel - Song titles, bar code, copyright information, information about the record label, website, continuing the theme of the front cover.

Spine - Name of artist, name of the album, record label, reference number, font/colour scheme continues the theme.

Interior Panels - Detailed credits, lyrics, continuing the theme of the rest of the album, a message, images of the artist or setting, CD tray has image behind it, spread an image across two panels on the inside.

CD Tray - Image of the artist or setting, continuing theme of the rest of the sides.

Below is a template of a Digipak

Discussion of any influences you have had.

  Artists from left to right: Lana Del Rey, Amy Whinehouse, Dionne Bromfield, Nancy Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald and Eliza Doolittle.

The construction of my artist have been greatly influenced by these six artists as even though they are fairly different, they all have similar sounds and all embody the characteristics that I wish my artist to acquire. From the style of Amy, to Nancy's hair to the attitude of Lana, the sassyness of Ella, the quirkiness of Eliza and the likeability factor of Dionne.

Music Video director - research

Name: Anthony Mandler

Age: 41
Born in: Denver, Colorado, United States of America
Date of Birth: April 18th 1973
 Occupation: American film director, music video director, television commercial director and photographer.

Renowned work: 
Jay Z and Justin Timberlake, “Holy Grail;” Rihanna – “Diamonds;” Drake – “Find Your Love” Anthony Mandler is  Rihanna's favourite video director as the two have reportedly come together for 16 different music videos, beginning with "Unfaithful" in 2006 and most recently "Diamonds" in 2012.


He has also written and directed music videos for other prominent artists including: Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Eminem, Usher, Shakira, Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez, Justin Bieber, 50 Cent, Ne-Yo, Nicki Minaj, Drake, Snoop Dogg, Cheryl Cole, M.I.A., Duran Duran, Mary J Blige, Fun and Lana Del Rey. From the array of different artists he's worked with it's clear to see that he's a versatile director as he has collaborated with people from all different type of music genres from pop videos for Cheryl Cole and Taylor Swift to rap/ hip-hop videos for Snoop Dogg and 50 Cent.

Director's style:
From watching a lot of his videos it is clear to see that he loves a narrative. Below are a few videos that illustrate this:



   

This is a song and video that depicts a relationship to be similar to a drug addiction as the low points in the relationship are like withdraws from drugs.

Below are screenshots taken from music videos directed by Anthony Mandler, Ride by Lana Del Rey, Only Girl and Diamonds by Rihanna. Both videos share Goodwin's theory of Star image as they both feature either close ups of the artist or extreme close ups to connect them to their audiences. In Lana's video Mandler has chosen to use a lot of wide shots to showcase her surroundings, coinciding with the meaning of the song, being free and alive, thus heightening that with his choice of shots and angles.

Below Mandler has chosen to use wide shots again to showcase the artist, Rihanna and to amplify the lyrics of the song, "make me feel like I'm the only girl in the world," as by using this shot the audience clearly see that she is the only one there.

The shot below is a beautiful extreme close up Rihanna, which really captures her emotions, thus really making the audience empathise with her, depicting her as the victim.

Record Label - Polydor

The chosen Record Label for my artiste is Polydor Records as I believe that my artist is well suited to it, through its calibre of artists it is clear that they are able to work with people from all different types of genres and styles of music. Polydor Records is a British record label that is under Universal Music Group. It currently operates as a front-line label under the Interscope Geffen A&M label, which distributes Polydor's releases in the United States. The label’s current artists include similar artists to my artist Liberty such as: Duffy, Skylar Grey, Kate Nash and of course Lana Del Rey; proving it would be a great match.

CD Cover Collage

Below is a collage of CD covers from artists that I like and covers that I found intriguing and interesting.

From looking at these covers I've noticed a few similarities and generic conventions:

• Most of the covers just have the artist on the cover
• Most of the covers just show the artists face
• The use of Close Up's show the stars as quite vulnerable- to connect with their audience
• Hints of colour are used to make titles or themes of the album stand out.

Beyonce's Pretty Hurts analysis

Warwick Avenue by Duffy

Another song that featured on my short list.

Tears Dry On Their Own by Amy Winehouse

The Only Exception by Paramore

This is another contender as I like the idea of having a love interest for my artist, moreover, I also like the idea of introducing the artists vulnerable side, thus allowing them to connect with her.


 

A Thousand Years by Christina Perri

Jar of Hearts by Christina Perri

This is another potential song for my music video as I like the idea of using a slow sad song as I'd be able to use more close up shots of my artist which is what most record companies do especially when launching a brand new artist.

Chasing Pavements by Adele

This song has made it to my short list of potential songs for my music video.