Research: Genres

What are genres?

A music genre is a conventional category that identifies some pieces of music as belonging to a shared tradition or set of conventions. There are many multiple genres within the music genre including mainstream and hybrid genres.

Examples of some genres:

Pop, jazz, rock, R&B, rap, house, blues, indie, country, latin, folk, reggae, kpop, new age, alternative, rock, heavy metal, electronic

There are many genres within the music industry and therefore to fulfil the audiences expectations, you must meet it by creating something new for the audience to listen to. Artists also have their own style of music which means their voices may appeal to different types of genres and fans. This makes it easier to separate music making it easier for the audience to identify it.

Genres and Characteristics

Certain genres have specific types of conventions which only appeal to their target audience, for example:

• Rock - Common conventions of rock would include a performance from the whole band, drums, guitars, black/ dark leather clothing, older white males. A conventional target audience for the genre rock would mostly appeal to an older audience preferably white males ages 18-50. These group of people enjoy listening to loud, dominating music which is supported by loud musical instruments.

• Pop - Pop is one of the mainstream music genres that everyone probably knows, it consists of young male and female artists, boy/ girl bands, fashionable clothing with bold statements sometimes wacky, colourful, happy lifestyles, mostly performance and narrative based. A conventional target audience for pop music would range from teenagers to young adults -from ages to 12-25 who can relate to the artist and enjoy watching their music videos. Because of this, pop artists usually have a large following.

• R&B/Soul - Conventions associated with this genre main includes male artists, urban locations, provocative women wearing minimal clothing tattoos, jewellery and dancing. The target audience are usually teenagers to young adults, generally ages 16-25. This is because they may like watching the young artists that look visually appealing making it more entertaining for them.

• Hip-hop - Conventions of the hip-pop genre often includes large amounts of people involved within a narrative who are usually dancing or acting something out. Often includes appealing mise en scene to promote wealth, expensive cars, money, jewellery, dominant male artists, powerful independent female artists, urban locations. The target audience for this genre would include male teenagers to young adults aged from 15-35 as they can relate to the music video and lyrics or could strive to become wealthy like them one day.

• Indie - Common conventions from the music genre indie includes a calm and relaxed atmosphere, commonly performance and concept based, low budget, suburban locations such as studios, fields/forests, musical instruments. The target audience usually targets young males who like to listen instrumental musical and may find the lyrics quite relatable.

• Jazz - This genre is usually dominated by male artists, instruments including a saxophone and piano often associated as 'male instruments' as this genre follows back to the 1910's, an era very male dominated. Smartly dressed in black suits and bow ties, performance based. The target audience for this genre is often for older males and females who enjoy listening to distinctive voices and instruments playing.

• Techno - Electronic instruments, bright colours and flashing lights, unclear narrative, usually concept based, lighting effects, upbeat atmosphere, artists wearing casual clothing. The target audience for this genre are usually younger individuals of both genders, aged between 18-29 who find this type of upbeat, club music appealing and enjoyable.

• Country - Narrative based, simple and mellow, artist usually plays the main character, rural locations such as fields and farms, mise en scene such as trucks and cowboy boots and natural lighting. Country often targets middle aged male and females who are likely to be family orientated and enjoy upbeat music like country.

• Reggae - Common conventions for the genre reggae usually consists of slow tempos, off beat rhythms, black male artists, bright colours, urban locations and performance based music videos. The target audience is likely to be black, older males who are from Jamaican backgrounds who can relate to either the artist, lyrics or both.

• K-pop - Common conventions for kpop would usually consist of attractive looking male and female idols performing or the main characters of a narrative. Colourful, happy or sad depending what type of concept they take on, dancing, close-ups of the artist, fashionable. The target audience would often be ages around 12-25. Those who enjoy an idol or group to invest their time to.

Mainstream and niche genres

Music genres can be divided into two groups of the following, main stream or niche. This is according to the particular music videos and artists are promoted in. Mainstream music are usually more popular as they have more screen time or your television or more air time on your radios. This is because they follow the common conventions follow mainstream ideas that large proportions of the public enjoy watching and listening to, genres such as pop, r&b, rap, genres that are commonly known everywhere. Whereas niche genres such swing, alternative, western, blues etc are less likely to be heard on popular media platforms. The mainstream genre is most likely to have a younger target audience whereas the niche genres are likely to have an older target audience. This is because mainstream artists are constantly having to keep up with the new trends with the younger generation. Niche targets the older generation are likely to relate to the artists who are more likely to produce sons that are relatable.

Table of conventions

Importance of genres for an audience

Different people have different expectations for the type of genres they listen to this is why its important because not everyone enjoys the same genre. Its important that the audience are able to identify the genre almost immediately in order to keep them entertained. If they are satisfied and enjoy the music video in that particular genre then they are likely to make that genre more popular as it could increase the fan base. In addition, keeping the audience satisfied is also likely to secure the loyal existing fan base and concludes why its important for the artist to exceed to the audiences expectation to maintain their interest in your music.

Conventions of music genres are important as the audience may be able to relate to one as it may have a narrative meaning the video could contain realistic themes and therefore, all music in the same genre should ensure they follow conventions so the audience are able to relate to all the same way.

Conclusion

From my research I've learnt that the genre of the song is particularly important as the music video to the song must follow common conventions by meeting the audiences expectations which will allow the video to receive viewings and for the artist to secure new fans and maintain their loyal ones. Conventions such as character representations and mise en scene should be clearly portrayed so that it'll make easier for the audience to distinguish between the artists and songs. Moreover, this means that genres enable order and audiences can identify the genre of songs easily according the conventions presented to them.
Researching genres and their conventions has helped me develop my knowledge further regarding genres as I now know what conventions I need to include to ensure that my music appeals to my target audience. I want to create my music video according to a mainstream music genre as I've learnt today that these particular genres are very popular amongst large groups of people. The conventions I intend on including in my music video will consist if urban locations, buildings, expensive mise sen scene such as clothing and jewellery. Young artists to appeal to the audience and help the video get views.