Ideologies of the music industry

Keith Negus - In his 1989 book producing pop proposing that there are 2 types of music artists

1. Organic
2. Synthetic
He proposed that the music industry works in 2 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 singing with a record label

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

• May start their career independently

Examples:

- Ed Sheeran 

- Taylor Swift

- Arctic Monkeys

- The Beatles

- Kasabian

- Queen

- Kings Of Leon

- Oasis

- The Killers

- Coldplay

- Lana Del Rey

Synthetic artists

• Manufactured by the record labels and TV demands

• Generally have an image that is directed towards a tailor made audience e.g. a boy band dress to impress young girls

• Begin their careers recording songs either written for them or chosen by a record company

• Limited freedom of choice

Examples:

- One Direction

- JLS

- Girls Aloud

- Destiny's Child

- Louisa Johnson

- Cher Lloyd

- Union J

- Little Mix

- James Arthur

- Black Eyed Peas

- Ariana Grande 

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 image of 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 fanbase and career and if success is not immediately forthcoming they are 'dropped' by the label