Presentation

1. Research Task
MUSIC INDUSTRY AS MEDIA

2. Artist/Band: A$AP Rocky
 A$AP Rocky is an American rapper currently
signed to RCA Records of Sony ME.
 In 2013 released his debut studio album
“Long.Live.A$AP” on RCA Records.
 His second studio album,“At.Long.Last.A$AP”
is scheduled to be released on RCA Records
in 2015.

3. Production
 For his first album, there was a range of producers brought in to work
on the album. These include Skrillex and Hit-Boy. Skrillex is signed to
Atlantic records whose parent label is Warner Music Group, this is
an example of horizontal integration as Warner Music Group is a
direct competitor of Sony ME. Similar to this, Hit-Boy is signed to
Interscope Records of Universal Music Group who are also another
direct competitor or Sony ME.
 Additionally, there were other song writers on some of his songs as
featured artists. For example the song 1-Train from his first album
features Kendrick Lamar with a writing credit. Like Hit-Boy, Kendrick
Lamar is signed to Interscope Records who are a direct competitor
of Sony ME.

4. Marketing
 ASAP Rocky will play a part in the
upcoming comedy-drama film
“Dope”. The international
distribution of this film will be
handled by Sony. This is an
example of cross media
convergence and cross media
ownership which Sony takes part in
as it is a conglomerate business.

5. Distribution
 The distribution of ASAP Rocky’s first album(Long.Live.ASAP) was
handled through a variety of mediums.
 YouTube:
 The songs singles were released with music videos on YouTube. For example,
Wild For The Night featuring Skrillex currently has 39,808,103 views on his
YouTube channel “LIVELOVEASAPVEVO” which has 788,493 subscribers.
 Streaming, CDs + iTunes:
 Long.Live.ASAP was available to stream on Spotify, buy on physical CD and
also digitally from iTunes from release. In it’s first week of release it sold 139,000
copies subsequently debuting at number 1 on the US Album charts. It also
peaked at number 7 on the UK album charts. It has recently been certified as
a gold album in America for selling over 500,000 copies combined.

6. Exchange
 One part of the exchange sector for
ASAP Rocky is the ASAP Mob clothing
brand. ASAP Mob is a group which is also
signed to Sony ME and includes ASAP
Rocky.
 They sell a range of clothing items and
merchandise related to ASAP Mob artists
and often appear on tours together
where exclusive tour merchandise will be
on sale.