1. Discuss the ways in which media products are
produced and distributed to audiences, within a
media area, which you have studied.
Essay Plan

2. Brief explanation about Sony Music Entertainment and Domino
Records , and how one is an independent label rather than part of a
conglomerate.
Examples of the media products that are within the music
industry, e.g. CD’s, soundtracks (films, games, television), music
videos, advertisements on television, newspapers, magazines (there
are magazines which focus solely on music), the internet (mainly social
networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace, the radio, concerts
and merchandise.
Primarily though – we are talking about music!
Introduction

3. How the music is created, how Sony have different departments within the company
which can each deal with a certain stage of the production of the music, with employees
who are specialised in dealing with that process, e.g. they have their
studios, producers, composers, and own software to record the music on.
VERTICAL AND HORIZONTALLY INTEGRATED
whereas Indie labels have to outsource all the producers, the equipment and software
as its an independent label, and can come quite expensive to them so the process takes
longer.
E.g. Sony have many other well known artists as well and could create a track
featuring a well known artist to give the new artist extra publicity and interest.
Sony have a company which produce the CD’s for them.
First part – The Production of Music

4. In It For The Money (another Indie Label) often go abroad to
manufacture their CD’s as its cheaper for them, meaning more
money can be spent on recording and studio time.
Sony as a conglomerate have lots of smaller separate
labels, this helps them to attract a wider audience as they can
delegate a certain genre of music to each label which will make
the listeners more loyal and trick them into thinking they are
individual labels but actually they are not and have a lot of
money backing.

5. How the music is broadcasted, how Sony could get a band in a music
magazine without trouble whereas it would be virtually impossible for
Indies to get a piece in a magazine about an artist.
Radio’s, CD’s, Live Performances, Gigs, Sony have the ability to distribute
their music through a range of medias to suit the product.
Sony also sell their music through ITunes, Amazon, HMV, play.com and
other well known retailers.
A lot of the music industry use the internet in order to distribute their
products, linking songs onto social networking sights or releasing videos
on YouTube to gain publicity for free – for Independent Artists, this is
their main way of promoting their music, the internet is a powerful thing
when it comes to spreading the word about a new band or artist and if it
works, can gain huge amounts of publicity for an artist for free.
Second Part – the distribution of music

6. Sony have the ability to make music videos, albums, merchandise to
distribute to fans whereas Independent Labels have to distribute
through small music shops, local gigs and shows, promoted by flyers
and posters.
Conglomerates will have easier access to get their artists music onto
television shows as most of the time tv shows will favour the bigger
companies, however Domino Records may find it harder to get their
artists on tv shows as they do not have the contacts the Sony has.

7. Sony have practically everything they need within the company to
produce and distribute their own music, no need for
outsources, they have the funds and ability to promote the music.
Independent Record Labels depend on social networking and the
internet to promote their artists and bands, for free because they
have to outsource all the parts of the producing process and even
the distribution of duplication.
Conclusion

8. There are a few more points and examples you could incorporate into this essay.
Remember to PEE IN YOUR EXAM:
• Point
• Explanation
• Example
Remember you get 20 MARKS for your explanation, 20 MARKS for your examples and 10
MARKS for your terminology
Using the revision guides we have provided note down any more points you could make
for this essay and begin your plan.
GOOD LUCK
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