Research and Planning: Institutional Research

When creating an artist or band, it's important to think about who can promote them, manage them and produce their music the best. With so many record labels across the own, some major, some independent it's important to consider who our artist would be signed to and why.

The Internet, the group we took inspiration from, are signed to two record labels:

• Columbia Records
• Odd Future Records

Columbia Records:
Columbia Records is an American record label which is owned by Sony Music Entertainment, one of the 'Big Three' music labels across the world. Founded in 1887, it's headquarters are in New York City and they sign artists of many different genres. Some of their well known artists include:

• Adele (Soul/Pop)
• Beyoncé (R&B/Pop)
• Calvin Harris (EDM)
• Daft Punk (Electronic/House)
• Earl Sweatshirt (Hip Hop)
• J Cole (Hip Hop)
• One Direction (Pop/Rock)
• The Script (Pop Rock/Soft Rock)

The majority of their artists focus on pop music which strays away from the kind of music The Internet and our artist wishes to make; however they do manage artists and bands who wish to create an alternative sound.

Having plenty of funding means that being signed to this record label allows Lia Tamera to get promoted very well and gives her plenty of opportunity; however being signed to a record label so big means that she might often get overlooked and her personal wishes on her music, concept and overall sound won't be taken into account.

Odd Future Records:

Odd Future Records is an independent recording company founded by Tyler the Creator, a member of the Hip Hop collective Odd Future, in 2011. With it's parent company being Sony Music Entertainment, it is a subsidiary record label company. Created as a means to solely release music from Odd Future, which at the time include the members from The Internet, it focuses on a niche market of music genres:

• Hip Hop
• Alternative Hip Hop
• R&B
• Neo Soul
• Hardcore Punk

This record label better suits the musical tastes of The Internet and therefore our artist too. With only a handful of artists and groups signed to this label, it means that our artist, Lia Tamera, would be able to produce music that fits to her style.

However, being an independent label means that they wouldn't get the funding to promote and market Lia Tamera as an artist as well as a major music label company could. She would, on the positive side, have her opinions heard and valued as often independent music companies care more about the music they produce rather than how much sales they make.

Research and Planning: Analysis of Chosen Song - Under Control by the Internet

Song Analysis

Research and Planning: Copyright

After we decided on which music track, we need to ask the record label for the copyright permission in order for us to be permitted to post our eventual non-profitable music video onto social media, such as YouTube.

Here is a screenshot of my email that I wrote and sent to Sony Music, considering that Columbia Records is a subsidiary label.

Research and Planning: Band and Artist Biography

The Internet Biography

Background Info:
The Internet are a hip hop, neo soul band formed in 2011 consisting of six members, two of which were Odd Future members. The Internet achieved a lot of their popularity as Syd and Matt belonged to Odd Future and so many of their fans support both groups.

Their Breakout:
The Internet achieved a lot of their popularity as Syd and Matt belonged to Odd Future and so many of their fans support both groups.

Discography:
Purple Naked Ladies - released 2011
Feel Good - released 2013
Ego Death - released 2015

Lia Tamera Biography

Background Info:
Lia Tamera is a solo artist who focuses on indie soul, whilst incorporating elements of R&B into her style of music. Born 9th of November, Lia considers her inspirations to be one large spectrum, from currently hiatused pop boygroup "One Direction" to ex-Odd Future members turned global sensation "The Internet" to world reknowned Asian female rapper "Kisum."

Her Breakout:
BBC Introducing is a programme created in 2007 to help aspiring musicians breakout into the industry. After submitting an EP she created on her own, BBC helped support Lia by playing her music on their various radio shows which allowed her music to be heard on a wider scale and attract attention of fans and industry labels. Her breakthrough came as she joined the independent record company: Odd Internet.

Current:
Her debut album, 'The Kids Aren't Alright' is set to be released in summer 2016. She will further promote this on BBC's Introducing stage at major festivals such as Glastonbury, T in the Park and Radio 1's Big Weekend.

For more information on BBC Introducing click here.