Research into Music Channels - Miss Georgiou

What is the purpose of music channels? - Music channels have been on our televisions since

MTV 

Target audience consists of teenagers aged from 15-21

Plays chart popular music with varied genres

Incorporates artists including singers and groups such as Beyonce, Jason Derulo or David Guetta. They are all predominantly artists from the dance music genre which appeals to the teenage lifestyle. They are renowned artists that teenagers look up to and use as inspirations. This results in that the popularity of the channel itself increasing as fans use it as a platform to watch their idols.

MTV is owned by Viacom media networks. It is a large company owning a series of channels including other channels such as Nickelodeon, comedy central and VH1. This is done to make MTV a more mainstream music channel appealing to a large widespread audience. It results in the channel becoming more accessible to an audience as it is marketed and accessed around the world.

Examples of programmes within the channel consists of shows such as 'one direction: official top 10' or 'official UK top 20'. This all links in with the teenage target audience as they are both examples of chart music and pop music which appeals to the younger target audience who are seen listening to this music regularly on the radio or through records.

Finally, the logo itself furthermore links in with appealing to the target audience of teenagers and young adults. This is due to it being a bold, outgoing and informal. Through the use of both a graffiti font and font resembling a building, MTV presents the urban lifestyle which links to the popular dance and pop genres often played and the exciting lifestyle of artists appearing on the channel.

Magic TV 

Target audience consisting of middle aged adults

Plays older music, including a variety of relaxing genres

The channel includes artists such as Lionel Richie, Adele, Gary Barlow and Tom Jones. They are a mix of older artists with relaxed singers aimed to appeal to an older, more mature target audience. These artists, predominantly belonging to the soul music genre, are selected to appeal to the relaxed and laid back lifestyle of a mature adult.

Magic TV is owned by 'the Box Plus Network'. This is a very large company owning a large variety of music channels including examples such as 4music, Heat, Kerrang and Kiss TV. Much like MTV this is also done to make the channel more main stream, attracting a wide target audience and again making it accessible to people on a international level.

Examples of programmes shown on Magic TV consists of things like 'the best of the 90s', 'nothing like Gary Barlow' or 'nothing like Sam Smith'. This all links towards the middle aged target audience as the two artists are both part of the relaxed soul genre which is popular within this age group and is expected from the channel itself. Another programme is 'the best of the 90s', this also appeals to their target audience as it dates back to the era when they enjoyed music the most; therefore showing some of there favourite artists and genres.

Additionally the logo itself is also created to appeal to the selected target audience. The blue, flowing font links in with the sea and water which is a relaxing image incorporated with the relaxed music they play.

 4music

A wide Target Audience consisting of all genders; however, most likely to be younger aged including both young adults and teenagers

This is mainly influenced by the music they play, much like MTV they tend to play popular chart music with varied genres. However this often links to the pop/dance genres as this is often seen high in the charts due to a large teenage fan bases.

Differently to MTV, 4music does not play programmes linked with only one artist. Instead, the channel plays chart music programmes from the music app 'spotify'. This often results in the pop, dance and hip hop music being played regularly on the channel, it therefore helps attract the younger target audience who incorporate these genres into their lifestyle. 

4music is owned by 'The Box Plus Network'; much like the other 2 channels this is a very large company owning a series of channels consisting of Kiss TV, the Heat and Kerrang. This again allows them to access a mainstream audience, therefore increasing their viewings.The types of music videos that the conglomerate company owns tend to play chart music that is popular with a young target audience. This young influential target audience is also targeted by 4music,this means they can gain more viewings as they already have easy access to their specific audience. 

Examples of shows seen on 4music consists of programmes such as 'This Week's Fresh Music Top 20', 'The Friday Hotmix!' or 'UKHOT40'. This selection consists mostly of chart shows showing the different artists popular in the UK and within different genres. This mostly includes the dance and pop genres which are seen to be the most popular in the UK. The channels plays this chart music in order to appeal to the younger target audience.

The 4music channel logo is also used to appeal to the younger target audience with it's outgoing pink colours. 

AKA 
This has a far smaller target audience consisting of younger adults and teenagers who are very interested in and enjoy the rap/grime genres.

The channel appeals to this target audience through playing various young, talented, up and coming grime artists. They may not be as popular as other artists, therefore narrowing its target audience.

Formally known as channel U, AKA was created in 2003 and has helped break through artists such as Tinchy Stryder, Tinie Tempah, Dizzee Rascal, Chipmunk, Wretch 32, Devlin and N-Dubz. They are all now well respected and talented artists within the grime and rap genres with large fan bases spanning globally. These fans are the specific young grime and rap fans that AKA aims to appeal to.

After being sold by the company Mushroom TV ,who were forced into liquidation, channel AKA was taken over by All around the world productions. This is a record label based in the UK who created a TV channel in 2008 called Clubland TV. It has grown since creating planet pop TV, greatest hits and more recently taking over the AKA channel. The company itself benefits the channel as it is associated with various other similar music channels that appeal to a similar, younger target audience; this results in AKA gaining access to their selected target audience. Also, through marketing on each channel, both AKA and Clubland,     the two channels can influence teenagers into listening to both grime and dance genres. Therefore widening the size of their audience. 

Examples of programmes seen on AKA consists of shows such as 'grime- the 20 sickest', 'UK vs USA #BangersOnly' or 'AKA'S Weekend Turn Up'. This shows clear intensions of the channel trying to reach out to their target audience. This is seen through the grime and rap genre based programmes but mainly through the use of colloquial British slang with words such as 'sickest', 'bangers' and 'turn up', This appeals to the younger, British fans of the grime genre as it is often part of their every day dialect.

The logo for the channel also helps appeal to this target audience of younger, grime/rap fans. This is done through the conventional presentation of a rap artist with a flat cap and baggy clothing, leaning casually against the large font saying 'AKA'. This is highlighted in red within the logo and emphasises the genre of which the channel is based upon.

Clubland TV

Target Audience of teenagers and young adults aged 15-25

Plays popular chart music; predominantly pop, dance and house genres

Includes various artists such as Avicii, Rudimental, Disclosure and Calvin Harris. This mostly consists of DJs or pop artists selected to appeal to their selected younger target audience. They create a party atmosphere which is linked to teenagers and younger adults who are generally seen going to parties, clubs and bars where this music is often played. The artists played are also very popular globally and specifically in the UK meaning that the channel has a very widespread, mainstream target audience.

Much like AKA, Clubland TV is also owned by the record label 'All around the world productions'. This has similar benefits to Clubland TV as it does to AKA. With the company owning various other music channels aimed towards the younger target audience, the channel is able to gain easy access to their target audience. Additionally, Clubland TV was the first channel created by the record label in 2008. This results in it being the main channel owned by the company, meaning it is well known and can gain more viewings.

The channel consists of various programmes such as 'Thursday is the new Friday', '#BreakfastBangers' or Top 30 dance hits'. They are all created in order to appeal to the channels selected target audience. The programme titles link to the party lifestyle and the weekend night life of which appeals to the younger audience who live for the weekend party lifestyle. It also shows clear indications that the channel focuses around the 'dance' genre; this is very popular within the younger age groups as it again links with the party lifestyle.  

Furthermore, the logo also helps attract this younger, outgoing target audience. The font itself resembles the lights within a club of which the favoured dance and house music is often seen played. 

Most music channels, specifically MTV, have channels divided into separate genres. This is often done in order to attract a wide spread, mainstream target audience; they are the able to attract fans of all types of genres and musics. This results in the channels being able to gain more viewings and therefore make more money. Music channels can be very useful when appealing yo a target audience. Different fans of various genres and music will focus on different television channels. Artists often aim to get their music played on a specific music channel in order to attract their selected target audience. The main thing I have taken away from my research into music channels is the ways in which various artists aim to find and attract their target audiences. This is specifically seen through the variety of music channels, ranging from MTV to Magic TV, aiming to appeal to differing audiences. 
I have chosen to make a video based upon the dance genre. This decision has been influenced by my research into the different music channels.