ASSIGN 15: Analysing websites for bands and artists

Most websites for bands and artists follow a very similar conventional layout, with links to the same kind of information. Using the grid, analyse a range of different websites from the choices below, plus any that you know of, and identify what the key features are. Try to choose from a range of genres.

ARTIST/GROUP: Sam SmithWebsite name: Sam Smith WorldGenre: Pop/R&B/Soul

URL: http://samsmithworld.com/

Where do the links and icons take you? What images are used and what shot types are used?

One link takes you to the history of Sam Smith and what he’s been through, this is represented through a timeline of his career. Once you’ve entered the official site there is several different icons such as the Twitter icon which takes you to Sam Smith’s official twitter page. Another icon is of a painting which takes you to Sam Smith’s official instagram page. Finally, there is a spotify logo which takes you Sam Smith’s spotify page where it has all the songs that he has produced over his career.

There are a few close ups and one low angle shot when Sam Smith is performing at a gig. There are seveal different images used throughout the different pages of the webiste. There is a image of his albumn cover and a image of a list of where he is going to be touring and the dates for that and etc.

Fonts: What styles, colours and sizes of fonts are used? What is the ratio of image to text?A lot more images used than text so I’d say 80/20.

There is a very modern text used throughout the website. The text isn’t very big but big enough that the audience would be able to read the information that Sam Smith is providing. The text is a range of colours at the top of the page, it is red, purple, blue and green. The text infront of the logo’s are white so that the audience can read it very clearly.

There is a lot more images compared to the amount of text. I’d say 60/40.

How does the website speak to its audience? What is the tone and register of language – informal or formal? Examples?

How is costume and other elements of mise-en-scene presented?

The website doesn’t really speak to the audience, it just provides information of upcoming tour dates and shows the audience Sam Smith’s history. But it is quite formaly provided.

In certain images you can see the artists costume. You can see that he is very indie and doesn’t like to follow the crowd with fashion.

How does the overall use of colour relate to the genre?The colour used does relate to the genre and artist as the genre is quite Soul music as well as R&B. Having a range of colours links in to the range of genre in which Sam Smith is.

ARTIST/GROUP: Ella Eyre

Website name: Ella Eyre HomeGenre: Pop Music

URL: http://www.ellaeyre.com/home/

Where do the links and icons take you? What images are used and what shot types are used?

The updates link takes you to images full of what is soon to be happening and when it is supposed to happen. The My life page takes you to a page full of images in which she has taken from her day to day life to show her fans. The watch page takes you to a page full of her music video’s on her official youtube channel. The listen page takes you to a page full of her tracks on soundcloud with links to these tracks. The shows page

There are several images of Ella performing at gigs and her filming music video’s. Also, there is pictures of Ella’s new album cover on the home page. There are several different shot types used, such as a medium shot, close up and low angle shots used.

takes you to a list of all the different locations she is performing at and the dates of these performances. The shop page takes you to a page full of Ella Eyre merchanside in which you can buy online. Fonts: What styles, colours and sizes of fonts are used? What is the ratio of image to text?

The font used is quite a modern text, the text varies in size as her name is very big and so is important information like the tour dates and the albumn name. The colour is pordominatly white.

There is quite a lot of images used in comparsion to text so I’d say 70/30.

How does the website speak to its audience? What is the tone and register of language – informal or formal? Examples?

How is costume and other elements of mise-en-scene presented?

I can’t see how the website speaks to it’s audience. In the albumn cover icon there is quite a good range of mise en scene as there is a lion in it and a quite indie duvet cover and background. The brick layed wall really stands out.

How does the overall use of colour relate to the genre?The colours used does really suit the pop music genre as it quite bold and artistic.

ARTIST/GROUP: Red Hot Chilli Peppers

Website name: RHCP Genre: Alternative Rock

URL: http://redhotchilipeppers.com/

Where do the links and icons take you? What images are used and what shot types are used?

The news link takes you to a page full of all the latest news about the Red Hot Chilli Peppers. The tour link takes you to a page full of the places that the Red Hot Chilli Peppers are touring. The timeline link takes you to a page full of all the history of the Red Hot Chilli Peppers.

There aren’t any images of the band or any shot types used.

Fonts: What styles, colours and sizes of fonts are used? What is the ratio of image to text?

The text is quite modern and quite small text. There isn’t many images used so I’d say it’s 20/80.

How does the website speak to its audience? What is the tone and register of language – informal or formal? Examples?

How is costume and other elements of mise-en-scene presented?

The website doesn’t speak to its audience. There isnt any mise en scene presented.

How does the overall use of colour relate to the genre?The colours are quite dull but I’d say this suits the type of genre in which Red Hot Chilli Peppers are.

When complete the above, do these analysis questions: (copy and complete on blog)

Once you've analysed a range of different websites for bands/artists from a range of genres answer the following questions:

1. What are the shared common features or conventions of band websites?

Think about content and layout/design features Consider whether genre plays a part here

2. What are some of the more uncommon features that you found?