The documentary examines the marketing of American singer Meatloaf's career through interviews, observations, archive footage, and narration. It focuses on the themes of music marketing, awards, and the music industry. The documentary follows Meatloaf's efforts to promote his music and reinvent himself, observing struggles with budgeting and competition. It ends with Meatloaf achieving number one on the charts due to successful promotion in contrast to other artists who did not market as effectively.

1. The Music Biz: The Marketing of
Meatloaf- Documentary

2. Type of Documentary
‘The Music Biz’ documentary about marketing the
music artist Meatloaf was a mixed documentary.
This was because the documentary included a
range of evidence for the exposition, for example:
 Interviews
 Observations
 Archive Footage
 Narration

3. Themes
The themes within this documentary
were:
 Music Marketing: As it follows the
marketing of the American music
artist Meatloaf’s career, through
events such as CD signings and
publication in magazines etc. Also
the documentary is titled ‘The
Music Biz’.
 Music Awards: There is archive
footage of music award
ceremony's such as the
Grammy’s.
 Music: The whole documentary
focuses on music and how to
make music successful and the
type of music that is out there.

4. Narrative Structure
 Opening: The documentary opens with
a montage of archive footage from
award ceremony's and leads into how
Meatloaf begins to reinvent himself.
 Middle: The documentary then shows
the audience the long journey of
Meatloaf marketing themselves and his
music. It observes budgeting problems
and the conflict/issues concerning
competition from other music artists,
e.g. The Village People.
 End: The documentary ends with
Meatloaf reaching number one due to
their promotion work and good efforts in
contrast to The Village People who
didn’t market themselves as well.

5. Camera Angles
 Close Ups: Lots of close-up shots were used
in the documentary on Meatloaf to show that
he was the star of the documentary.
 Head and Shoulder: In each interview head
and shoulder shots were used –meeting the
codes and conventions of documentaries-
also the rule of thirds was used.
 Flip shot: On one of the interviews the
camera flips the person being
interviewed, this loses the continuity.
 Medium shots are present throughout and
panning shots are also used across the press
rooms and high street.
 There are low angles of Meatloaf in concert
giving him connotations of power.
 A long shot is used in the meeting room
where people from the music business are
discussing Meatloaf’s music video.

6. Mise En Scene
The documentary is set in:
 Music Awards
 Magazine Companies
 On set with Meatloaf at the music video
 Virgin Records
 Music shops on the high street
 Record studio
 William Hill Betting
All of these filming locations are representative of
marketing strategy and follow Meatloaf’s journey. The
documentary also takes a look at Meatloaf’s fans and
supporters.

7. Sound
 Diegetic sound is used in the documentary
through the use of the interviews and narration.
 Non-diegetic sound is also used in the
documentary. Meatloaf’s song ‘I Would Do
Anything For Love’ is played often in the
background softly when diegetic sound is being
played and then gets louder if it is the only sound
present. Also the tracks by the other artists
Meatloaf is competing with are played. Sound
effects are also used such as the Top of The
Pops count down sound.

8. Editing
 Meatloaf is shot in slow motion when
he’s in concert which exaggerates his
power and influence and looks more
dramatic.
 Blue screen is also used during
interviews. The interviewee has a
background in correct mise en
scene, for example: magazine, a
photo of Meatloaf in concert, Bat out
of Hell album cover and Virgin
Records.
 A fade in and fade is used for the
interviews and one interview is flipped
part way through.
 Finally simple cuts are used
throughout.

9. Archive Material
There is lots of archive material throughout the
documentary from:
 Brit Awards
 Acceptance Speech montage of winners
 Celebrities walking up to the stage
 Celebrities on the red carpet
 The Grammys
 Meatloaf on stage and on set
 Meatloaf’s meet and greet with his fans
 Music videos

10. Graphics
 Graphics used are a black line across the bottom
of the screen with the title/logo of the
documentary in red and white. The name of the
interviewee and their job/role in the music
industry is then stated. The graphics are simple to
fit in with the theme of documentaries since they
are factual.