Readiing week vid question contd.

Why is branding a band/artist especially important when marketing towards niche subcultures?

Branding is an important marketing tool in insuring that audiences stay interested and part of the band/artists.Bigger more well known artists have opportunities to created large branding companies to promote themselves such as Beyonce who launched the fashion label deroen with her sister promoting herself through clothing, as well Gwen Stefani with her clothing range l.a.m.b and perfume range G.

This increases fans and people admire Beyonces fashion style and her having a label will mean allot of women will love to have the chance to mirror her style for half the price.

Some artists cannot afford to launched such big brand company however find ways of promoting themselves such as Skepta who produced t-shirts with his boy better know label on them and bands such as gallows who design all their t-shirts with the art of lead singer which appeal to the niche audience with his eccentric and punk rock designs.This makes the audience feel part of the band and on the same level as them instead feeling distant.

If particular brands are focused on different genre on music it is more likely the band/artist will gain more fans and make the fans feel that the artist is paying back to their audience letting them have parts of their lifestyle e.g clothing's, hats,accessories, piercings, bags and anything else related to the band/artists.

Niche subcultures are relatively smaller than a mainstream audience so it is easier to sell t-shirts and other products to a niche audience as they pay less and appreciate it more whereas some artists you have to pay over 40 for a t-shirts from a concent showing it isn't personal and just been endorsed by company and not come the artist first hand.

How does within a band increase appeal to a niche audience?

If the branding is within a band rather than done by someone who isn't in the band it becomes less personalised. The audience wont feel connected to the band as it may not reflect them enough as a band meaning the audience Will feel like any other fan.

However if the band has a prominent part in the branding of products then they get to make decision e.g such as t-shirts they ll get to design the logo,colours,designs etc.This Will make the audience feel he same as the band as both band and audience will share the same interests and this will reflect the kind of branding they will produce.

A clear example of within a band branding is the gallows they design all their products which makes there niche audience more likely to want to buy and experience the band through the produce they sell.