Introduction:

The topic that I chose for this project is the behind-the-scenes aspect of the music industry. The music industry has a special place in my life as my schooling is in music business management. In this project, I will be covering topics such as my experience going to school for music business management, artist perspective on touring and the toll it has physically and mentally, and how females are treated in the industry. This project is one of information on the industry and experiences that artists and industry professionals face. The project will not focus on album or concert reviews or any other info on tours, releases, or merchandise. Overall, the objective of this project is to inform the viewer of the work and, in some cases, the hardship that goes into musical acts.

Rationale:

This topic is essential as it shines a light on how industry professionals (primarily female) are treated. It also highlights the mental tolls that the artists go through to tour and produce the music that is adored by their fans. By highlighting these areas of the industry, I hope to inform/educate the viewer on how the industry is run in order to have that successful artist or show.

Core angles/questions relevant to the topic:

  • How females are expected to act/ be treated in the industry
  • How touring affects mental health
  • Hardships that the artist has experienced while producing music/tour
  • What was it like being taught by industry professionals?
  • What about touring/performing live music makes it worth it?
  • Highlights of touring/working in the industry
  • How has covid-19 affected the industry and live music sector?
  • Talk about how there are many toxic areas of the industry and how are you working towards improving that area/creating a safe space for industry professionals and music listeners
  • The power of music has to unite many different people

Media Outline:

Informative Text Story w/photos: Having a background in the music industry has left me with experiences that would be interesting to share with people who are interested in working in the music industry and do not know where to start. This story will cover my inspiration to want to work in the industry and the steps I took to achieve that dream. This story will also include how making as many connections as you can is beneficial to excelling in the industry and information on how I applied those connections. Although I am no longer active in the industry, sharing this information with people who want more information on what it takes to get started is essential. This type of information-based story is best suited for text as it is a narrative of the authors personal experience and isn’t an interview type of exchange.

Audio Interviews: Being a female who was once active in the music industry, I would like to have an open discussion with other females who were/are currently working in the industry. This story will be talking about their experiences from starting their career to where they are now. It will also include a discussion of how they are treated differently from their male counterparts. This is a meaningful conversation to have as it highlights how the industry looks down on female artists and industry professionals. By having this conversation, I hope it makes the consumer aware of how hard it is for females in this industry and possibly has them help drive change. This story is best suited for an audio interview as it is more of an open conversation about expectations in the music industry.

Investigative Video: Having many friends who are musical artists, I have seen how hard it is for a touring musician mentally and physically. These hardships that they experience are generally swept under the carpet and rarely talked about. Mental health is a significant topic that we discuss today and is an appropriate topic to discuss. The average live show patron-only cares about how good the production is and not how these shows affect the artist. By looking into what an artist is expected to do in regards to performing to their label’s standard and the fans standard, we can see how pressure from outside sources affects the way an artist acts/thinks. This story is best suited for a video format as it can showcase emotion and genuine feeling that an artist goes through in their typical day to day.