Q2How effective is the

combination of my main product and ancillary

texts?

By Eliana Medalie

Aim

• When creating my three products I attempted to make them similar to each other in several ways. I wanted the website and digipak to appear to be in conjunction with my music video so that one product would be recognisable as merchandise connected to the single after seeing another product.

Why is it important that all three products link?

• By making all the products related to each other, the audience and fans can connect to the band as they associate certain images or products with the artist or band. This is how branding occurs.

For example

• If the products did not compliment each other, then the group would not be able to form an identity that the audience could relate to or identify.

Illustration

• If I had used this kind of shot for my website homepage background and dressed the artist in similar clothes or style for the music video I had made, the audience would not be able to make a connection between the two media.

How do my products link?IMAGERY

• One of if not the most iconic symbol in my music video is the mirror. It is symbolic of self-reflection and imitation. On location on the day of the shoot I took some photographs of the mirror against the tree and edited them to achieve the effect seen in these pictures.

• Although the colour scheme in the website and digipak inside cover are stark contrast to the music video as they have cool colours whilst in the music video the natural warm autumn colours were projected, the symbol is extremely poignant and therefore representative and connecting of all three products.

How do my products link?Location

•  My digipak inside, front and back together emulate all of the types of shots imagery and locations we used when filming. The front cover is representative of the silhouette section of the music video and is also one of the photos included on the sites’ photo page. The back cover is taken from the memories in the park section of the video. Finally the mirror is the background for the website homepage as well as an occurring symbol in the video.

How do my products link?Fonts

• Although I did not use this branded font for my music video as I had not created it yet, I used the same fonts in both my ancillary texts.

• I mirrored the font in the title of the website for Amy’s signature font for her other product. Furthermore, I copied the font I used for the subtext heading in the website for my singles title. I edited the text on the digipak to give it more effect by using the mesh warp tool in coral PHOTOPAINT.

• I feel this gives my digipak design more shape and body thus making it more appealing to a potential consumerist audience.

THE BAND/ SONG NAME

• The constant repetition of both the single and artists name should now be ingrained in the audiences mind as I have mentioned them in all three of my ancillary products which affirm their link. Furthermore I have written a biography for Amy on the website. This allows for fans and audience members to feel that they have become acquainted with her. This permits them to know her on a more personal level which encourages fan and audience subscription or dedicated support or following.

Convergence

• I linked my products together by adding a social networking bar on my website such as Facebook page and soundcloud link to Amy’s account. Moreover, I included links to iTunes and to finding out details for the next live shows.

Synergy

• Synergy is the interaction or cooperation of two or more organizations, to produce a combined effect or achieve an aim greater than the sum of their separate effects. I did this by collaborating the artist with the production company Emerging Records which appears on both of my ancillary texts.

Together

• Convergence and synergy have allowed me to link individual projects and associated products with the singer to her website so all companies and merchandise or fan bases are under one umbrella term.

How do they not combine?

• My music video is largely made up of natural light, urban warm shots. However the main homepage image and the images I used for my digipak are edited extensively. This stark contrast weakens the overall link between my products and thus the overall branding of the artist and single.

What would I do differently?

• I would show an audience the music video and then ask them to identify their favourite shot they would use for a digipak cover and think more about what they think is representative of the overall music video and branding of the single.