Ideologies of the music industry

Keith Negus - In his 1989 book producing pop proposing that there are 2 types of music artists;

• Organic
• Synthetic

He proposed that the music industry works in two distinct ways to promote itself. The first is to promote long-term success and the second method relies on short-term hits. 

Organic Artists:

• Develop a career initially independently of the music industry
• Tend to write and play most of the instruments on their songs
• Develop through playing live venues before signing with a record label 
• Have more freedom initially to chose their image and songs for release
• May start their career independently 

Examples:

• Ed Sheeran
• Taylor Swift
• Arctic Monkeys
• The Beatles
• Kasabian
• Queen
• Kings of Leon
• Oasis
• The Killers
• Coldplay
• Lana Del Rey 

Synthetic Artists:

• Manufactured by the record labels and TV demands
• Generally have an image that is directed towards a tailor made audience e.g. boy band dress to impress young girls
• Begin their careers recording songs either written for them or chosen by record company
• Limited freedom of choice

Examples:

• One Direction
• JLS
• Girls Aloud 
• Destiny's Child
• Louisa Johnson
• Cher Lloyd
• Union J
• Little Mix
• James Arthur
• Black Eyes Peas
• Ariana Grande

The Organic Ideology of Creativity:

•  A 'naturalistic' approach to artists
• The seeds of success are within the artists, who have to be 'nurtured' by the record company
• The image of the artist is 'enhanced' by the record company
• The artist is given time to evolve and progress through their career
• Whereas a synthetic artist is given limited time to build a fanbase and career and if success is not immediately forthcoming they are 'dropped' by the label