ARTIST RESEARCH

A big part of this looking for any media appearances, which I've covered before. This is just a quick guide to the topics/themes you should explore - ideally before your main shoots commence. For eval Q1 (and potentially aspects of exam Q1A/1B) it is important to be crystal clear on which 'conventions' (think branding too) you followed, and which you challenged (and why, of course!).

KEY AREAS OF RESEARCH

BRIEF HISTORY incl. DISCOGRAPHY  + CHART STATUS + (SUB-)GENRE/S 
RECORD LABEL/S (eg UK, US)
SOCIAL MEDIA, STREAMING (+ AUDIENCE)
MEDIA APPEARANCES (+ AUDIENCE)
EXISTING TEXTS: VIDS, DIGIPAK, WEBSITE, MERCH
BRAND/IMAGE SUMMARY + POSSIBLE INFLUENCES

BRIEF HISTORY incl. DISCOGRAPHY  + CHART STATUS + (SUB-)GENRE/S
Don't fall into the common trap of a pointlessly lengthy bio, a too common website 'feature' in the Wiki era. Keep it pithy! Do include their discography (Wiki screenshot/s are fine) + not just facts on their charts record but commentary/assessment on this. Is your promo package likely to be hitting a mainstream audience? Is there a pattern of appeal in any particular market/s (ie country/ies)? Any key line-up changes?
Remember you'll likely want to feature some or all of their album discography in your website (linked to DL/streaming).
It should be obvious that correctly stating their genre(s) is key, but its not always easy - and certainly DON'T rely on Wiki for that!!! They might have mixed multiple genres over time, or be defined as hybrid act. Whichever genre(s) you identify as pertinent you'll need some (not necessarily huge detail on every one!) research into notable conventions, especially visual/image. You could use genre chart; Spotify tagging, article quotes etc as evidence.


RECORD LABEL/S (eg UK, US)
Are they Indie or big 3 (WUS)?
They may be both: Indie production label tied into a big 3 distribution deal. Its also possible they may be Indie in some markets but big 3 in others, though this is less common than it used to be with globalisation.
Look at what other acts are on their label/s - are any useful for genre research? Do you see any recurring names (auteurs?) for promo videos?

SOCIAL MEDIA, STREAMING (+ AUDIENCE)
You don't have to mimic (simulacra...) their existing texts, but you do need to be able to summarise their key, recurring features ... ie, their brand image. Are there any useful pointers from their social on genre/s + comparable bands, audience or simply techniques you might adopt?
Look thoroughly at their range of social/streaming profiles. Are they successful? (you need to detail a big mainstream success AND a comparable genre artist to provide context) Do they receive/provide much audience engagement? Is there any notable tone to their mode of address?
look carefully at seemingly minor details: profile pic, banner pic where there is one + anything else which will help you when you work on branding - especially for your website, social + digipak.

MEDIA APPEARANCES (+ AUDIENCE)
This is central to exploring their existing audience (which isn't necessarily the same you'll target). Quite simply, seek to identify any media coverage + attempt to assess the target audience of those media outlets (eg Q magazine skews much older, upmarket and male than Kerrang!, ditto BBC Radio 2 or Radio 6 over Radio 1). This can be real gold dust for arguing for a secondary audience appeal too!!! Many media platforms will have a published audience profile to help attract advertisers - even non-commercial media like the BBC have audience data and research published, so you should be able to find useful evidence - if not, look at language, user comments etc to deduce this.

EXISTING TEXTS: VIDS, DIGIPAK, WEBSITE, MERCH
I've seen many times over the years coursework groups belatedly looking at their artists' existing output and the penny dropping that there are many great ideas that might (have been) influence on their idea. The bottom line, regardless of whether or not you're seeking more of a simulacrum, you need to have a grasp on your artist's image/aesthetic/brand. For acts with longer histories that may seem difficult, but to take 2 examples its not really - both the Pixies and Depeche Mode have used graininess, quirkiness and black and white as reflections of their Indie status (though Mode's label was eventually bought up). Both have challenged the basic form of the video, eg with single take vids and use of discontinuity editing - both have videos which unfold in reverse, and Corbijn's videos show a heavy influence of French New Wave techniques in general). Both actively undermine the basic glamourisation of the singer (especially)/band. Where they differ is the Pixies' reluctance to cut performance footage for theirs - arguably a smart idea (and cost-effective too) since their recording relaunch earlier this decade.
On digipaks, consider album art even if its not for a digipak format - and vinyl of course (which inspires the digipak concept) is useful too ... and you'd be foolish not to show a basic grasp of audience/industry by pushing a vinyl release through your website/social (a near direct copy/paste of your digipak art!).

BRAND/IMAGE SUMMARY + POSSIBLE INFLUENCES
Quite simple - always try to clearly show how your applying such research. I tend to use the phrase possible influences as it gives wider scope - ideas you might use.