One Direction - History: Blog tasks

Industry

1) How were One Direction formed and how is this reflected in the music video for History?
They were formed on X Factor as individual acts however Simon Cowell decided to join them together as one boy band. This helped form the music video as it highlights the "history" of One Direction from the beginning of their auditions.

2) What is vertical integration? You may need to check your book for this (or remind yourself from this Year 1 blogpost.)
Vertical integration is when one conglomerate owns different companies in the same chain of production. (Syco Records and Sony)

3) What is horizontal integration? (See link above for help again!)
Horizontal integration is when one company buys other companies at the same level of distribution. (Simon Cowell and Sony)

4) How has technological convergence changed the way audiences consume music videos?
It has changed the way audience consume music videos as they are now available everywhere on any digital platform (smart phones, laptops, TV etc)

5) As a manufactured band, what influence do Simon Cowell and the record company Syco (part of Sony) have over the content and release strategy of One Direction music videos? You may want to read this text from an article in The Inquisitr about the relationship between 1D and Simon Cowell.
They have complete control as to what is inputted within the band. For example their demanour and way they dress has to be appealing for the target audience. The genre of music must also be generically pop to appeal to the audience.

Audience

1) What is the main One Direction audience - demographics and psychographics?
The main One Direction psychographics for a very well-know big boy band is "Mainstream." Demographics of One Direction are : C - middle and upper middle class, A- teenagers but also young adults, G - mainly females.

2) What audience pleasures are offered by the music video for History?

Diversion through a feeling of nostalgia

• Personal relationships: Fans were used to contribute to the single’s chorus. (Collaboration / example of Prosumerism)
• Personal identity with the band members (following through Twitter etc.) who were marketed as ‘the funny one’ and the ‘handsome one’ and also relating to other like-minded fans. 
• Surveillance – insight into behind the scenes.
• Intertextuality of previous tours and footage 

3) Pick out three particular shots, scenes or moments in the video that would particularly appeal to One Direction fans. Why did you choose those moments?
2:29 : This is because is has diegetic of the fans cheering, this is significant because it lets the fans have their own voice in the music video.

3:03 : This is because it is a shot of them 4 hugging , this is strong because it leave the audience feeling distraught and upset as this is there last concert.

0:01 : This is because it is a clip from X Factor when they first became a group.This would appeal to a One Direction Fan because it gives a sense of nostalgia and shows the accomplishments and contrast of then and now.

4) What is nostalgia and why is it a key audience pleasure for the History music video?
Nostalgia is a sentimental longing or wistful affection for a period in the past. It is a key audience pleasure because the whole music video is designed on all their achievements they made in the past that got them to the place they are now.

5) How are fans positioned to respond to the video? What do the producers want One Direction fans to take from the video?

In the first half of the music video, fans are made to feel joyful and laugh along with the band as they are shown to be having a good time and messing around. However, near the end it shows clips of their last concert , them saying goodbye to eachother and hugging.Also at the very end them walking away in 2 different directions. This has all been constructed to make the audience feel a sense of loss and sadness.