Planning for Music Video: ARTIST'S WEBSITE.

Many well known artists have their own websites to help give their brand, image and songs a push, just like the function of a music video. Back in the early 21st century social networking sites like MySpace were one way of promoting music, and many arising artists still do, they use the more latest sites like Facebook and Twitter to communicate to their targeted audience.

Being a pretty successful British artist already, Pixie Lott has her own official website with a simple URL www.pixielott.com - very short and memorable as it is her stage name. (This is very common with a lot of official artist websites)

As soon as I entered the website, her enter page came up with an image of her and information on her album, this immediately lets the audiences in on what they currently need to know about the artist, her photograph is professionally taken which shows she is big and current! As her new album is the latest thing about her this is clearly stated "New album out Nov 7th, Pre order now" the use of the adverb 'NOW' also emphasises on persuasion (that its a must). There is also a list of online stores you can buy the cd with a hyperlink that leads you directly to the page - no hassle done.

Once you enter the site you are taken straight to her homepage where what you saw on the enter page, comes up again at the top of the page - doing this makes the viewer very aware of her new album. 

Below her 'album header-poster' is a tab bar with pages that have links within her site, these pages have the lastest news about Pixie Lott so that anyone who views her site is up to date with her music career.

'Pixie Who?' is a great heading for a tab bar, it catches the viewers attention with that question who is she? On that page is a chunky paragraph about where she stands in the music industry, obviously it will be interesting, talking about all the positive things in her music career (after all this is all about promoting)

'News, Tour, Newsletters' are pages containing upcoming events or recent Pixie Lott related news. 'Music and Video' would be like a Pixie Lott youtube or a 'PixieTube' (you could say) where all her songs and videos should be uploaded for her website visitors to take a look at.  

'Forum' is a way for all her fans/or critics - (if they ever stumble on her site) to come together into a chat box where they can talk about Pixie Lott, this is a good way for them to communicate on something they all have in common (Pixie Lott of course) 

'Shop.' Marketing items with her brand on it is another way of promoting her image/brand, if she is lucky to get someone wearing it on the streets this can be the way it promotes her on the streets. (Her image/brand would be everywhere!)

Homepage content.

This login/sign-up is presented with 10 different flags above it to show that Pixie has gotten worldwide recognition. 

Latest News says it all, basically all the latest news and upcoming events, shown clearly on the homepage, saves time looking through all the links just to find her calendar of events.

Then a list of all the social/video websites you can keep updated in about her. 

(Pretty much stalking now)

And more images of her in action which promotes her image!  (Below)

At the bottom of her homepage she has a post for where many of her fans leave comments for her (if she ever reads them and replies) Newbies to the site could come across this to see that Pixie Lott has people who love her music and may encourage them to take a look at her songs/videos and judge it for themselves. If they like it then thats +1 more fan, if not then they just wont visit the site anymore. Simple.

There is also an alternative way to keep updated with Pixie, like if there is a problem with internet access - she has a back up. On the 'Newsletter' page on the tab bar they give you the option to sign up which gives you the privilege to stay updated without the need of internet, but by receiving newsletters through your mailbox. All you have to do is sign up, and you also get offers. (Offers are the bribe, visitors may find it 'long' to sign up , however the 'ticket offers' that will be on the newsletters are a way for them to sign up.

So her website comes in handy for her self promotion. However how do people get to the site in the first place? 

Well, it's mostly curiosity. If a person comes across one of her songs on the radio or her video on TV and happens to like what they see or hear, then curiosity kicks in 'who is this Pixie girl?' Her name can be typed on search engines like Google or Bing and her website should be first on the results.

OR

Through the record label website. In Pixie Lott's case, Mercury Records. Mercury music group has its own website (for other reasons) this site containing many artists that have been signed. For example, Rihanna, Kanye West, Jay-Z, The Killers and the classic Elton John.

(Pixie got some lucky fairy dust!) 

These are big time artists, they have their own fans who will eventually come across this record label website (www.mercuryrecords.co.uk) because they want to explore the other artists who have been signed (thats if they like what the record label provides) since they are partially the reason for the artists' stardom.

From this site they can click on Pixie Lott which will lead to her official site.