DigiPak and Poster Conventions

General Conventions of a Music Digipak;

• Barcode
• Record Label Name and Logo
• Artist Logo/Name
• Website Address
• Images of the Artist
• Track List
• Relevant images and fonts
• Album name

   







Music Poster Conventions

Conventions by laurenmabs on GoAnimate


ICONOGRAPHY within digipak and posters
Definition - 1. symbolic representation, especially the conventional meaningsattached to an image or images.

2.

subject matter in the visual arts, especially with reference to theconventions regarding the treatment of a subject in artisticrepresentation.

Examples of Iconography;
Katy Perry

Prism is an album that is sending Katy Perry into adulthood. Her last album, Teenage Dream in 2010 sent number 1's through the charts and was a hit with her target audience of teen poppers. The new album is about her past relationships, as a pop star this is a common convention that can be found upon pop music is the use of feelings within songs. The types of songs Katy Perry is producing appeals to her teen audience because it is relatable. She has a wider audience than just teenagers too because of her ability to connect with people. The charming imagery and iconography that is produced of her is very different to for example Christina Aguilera or Rihanna as they are portrayed in a different light, a less provocative light. This would also come under Laura Mulvey's theory about The Male Gaze. Katy on the other hand, like my artist I have created for my media music video is a more down to earth, innocence girl and I can look at her images, even though she is in her late twenties and relate to her from all ages. I wish to show this through my work.

In her album artwork she has featured a wide range of pastel colouring, these are connoted to youth as well as spring/summer. People favourite these months due to being able to wear these colours and have a positive outlook about it therefore it is a great way to produce an album and draw in a positive outlook on the actual product. The album was released in October therefore it is a contradiction to the time of year however it gets people looking forward to the following year where her tour will be taking place in May, the connection between the spring and summer months.

The tenth track on her album 'Love Me' is a song that is recognisable for the loss of her partner, the insecurities she goes through and the fact she lost herself, her identity whilst in her relationship. The album artwork and posters symbolise the opposite showing her music has pushed her back into being focused and what she is wanting from life, finding her identity again. 'I'm gona love myself the way I want you to' is a lyric from the song and she states she won't stand in her own way, the tour is a huge uplifting in her life and is one thing that creates her album as a whole.

Billboard reviewed the song from the album in the following way;
10. Love Me - "I lost my own, my own identity/Forgot that you picked me for me," goes this snappy track about the sanctity of acceptance, which benefits from Bloodshy's luminescent collection of soft rhythms and escalating tempos. There's a lot to unpack in the details of "Love Me," making it one of "PRISM's" most replay-worthy tracks.

Prism Definition; a solid geometric figure whose two ends are similar, equal, and parallel rectilinear figures, and whose sides are parallelograms.
Overall across all products there is a connection to the Title of her album, her song lyrics and the style in which she portrays both. The prism style font she has produced shows a direct link to the title and leading lines to the audience. The title itself could be connoting the empire she has built up and she is now at the top of the point, she thought she was equal to her partner but she wasn't and she is the one who has come out on top. The colours show a positive side to her work and her as a person and portray what I would like to portray in my own work of my own artist.

John NewMan

There is a definite clear connection between his album artwork, the relation to the song and his personality and sense of style. The colour scheme of the album is gold, black and white, this supports John Newman's style of clothing and hair. This is visible in the music video as he is wearing a black and white suit and has highlights at the front of his fringe representing the gold. This is a very retro and vintage way of dressing and this is also shown through his pop yet alternative style of music he produces.
The album artwork has distinct leading lines and this all adds to the effect that he is centre stage and you are drawn to him at the centre of the imagery. His powerful stance and direct eye contact allows the audience to connect with him as a performer and acts as an encouragement to buy his products, as though he is looking at them. The way the album cover has been produced is shown in such a way that it could be misleading to the style of his music. Although Newman is in al the charts working with a variety of music styles the album shows a soul aspect to it due to the cover conventions. The title and style is is surrounded by could be made a connection to the Great Gatsby.

The lines and titles in Newman's work could be a relation to the legendary 1920's film. This is also based upon soul and jazz. 

The album itself has songs that are all based upon somebody that John Newman has been inspired by and relates to. This is a connection to the album because the title is Tribute. 

'Screaming out, how I've changed through time' is a lyric taken from Gold Dust a record on John Newmans album. The music that he uses is a variety of genres that he has adjusted to and built up from a young age. For example mo-town and as time has gone on his album cover shows the present (him) and the past (the background and title)

The album is full of quotations and lyrics that represent the support he has had to where he is today and the album as a whole is shown as a culmination of the lift to the point at which he is at now. The album's representation matched the album cover and title of Tribute as it is his way of thanking everyone.

The typography on his album and poster both show the modern yet old style of him as an artist and his music. They all collaborate together to make a package that best represents him which is exactly what I intend to do with my artist. By taking these conventions I have learnt from John Newman's album I can apply these to my own work for my final piece.