Research & Planning: Branding

I have been looking on various websites about how musical artists are branded and how they create their public image. Creating their own public image is important in the music industry as this separates each artists and makes them their own as being individuals. Creating a persona in the public eye whilst on stage, photoshoots, videos helps the audience understand the artist as it helps reflect the musical genre so audiences can get an idea of what the artist is about e.g if artists are rock artists, they will tend to show that through their body language in photoshoots, their clothing, the colours they wear etc...

I came across a website that gave tips on how to develop a image as an artist/band.

The idea behind image and branding: consistency. We’re not talking about good girl/bad girl type of image here (not in this post, anyway); we’re talking about putting forward a consistent public image, so people can easily associate and remember you over time. It has to do with all elements of your public presentation: logos, fonts, album art, merchandise, your appearance, and the overall feel that is presented with all of these elements. All of it is part of branding. For that reason, it’s good to remember that a good brand is not simply created–it is developed. The more consistently you develop your brand, the easier it is for the public to identify you.

1. Decide on an overall visual “look” for your band’s public info–including colours, fonts, etc.–and begin to pattern around it. Website design, flyers, press material, album art, etc. should all start bearing that consistent look. You might want to enlist the help of a graphic artist to design a look that matches your band’s personality.
2. Choose fonts and colours that best reflect the overall theme and feel for your act. (HINT: If your music style is pop/rock, a font named “Gothic Horror” is probably not going to convey the right idea about you.)
3. If your band has a logo, begin putting it on anything and everything that has to do with your band. Make it your aim that when people see that logo, they know it’s you whether or not your band name is with it.
4. Register your stage name and/or logo as a trademark. This ensures that no one else can use your name. (It also lets you know if someone else already has your trade name, so you don’t get sued down the road.)

Let your public image be a reasonable reflection of who you are, as a person and as a musician.

Source: http://artistdevelopmentblog.com/advice/understanding-image-branding-musical-artist/

An example of an artist who has her own creative image:

Nicki Minaj a female rapper from YMCMB records. Over the years Nicki has been a controversial music artist. She was raised in Queens, New York. Nicki changed the female rap industry completely and people's opinions on it. Her first style in the public eye was a Harajuku Barbie fashion, pink hair highlights, pink  dresses, Barbie necklace etc... and creating raps that reflect her 'hood' style, talking about her life in Queens. Over the years, as Nicki has become more recognised and successful, she has chagned her image from this into a new persona. She said herself in an interview "as an artist I have to grow and develop". This change of hers made her fans think of her differerntly, calling this the 'old Nicki'.  

This photo is a recent photoshoot of Nicki Minaj. As you can see by her style of fashion has changed dramatically into more  bright colours, wigs, unique clothing styles. Not only did her image change, people also thought her music changed too. This shows how she has changed her image over the years as shee has become more successful an more recognised. People recognise her now as this crazy, bizzare fashion female rapper. Also in her music videos, she creates her own individuality, which makes people recognise the way she acts anywhere with the facial expressions, the body image, the clothing and the music style.

Here are some ideas we came out with during class with branding.