Analysis of Existing Web-sites

Madonna

Madonna's home page contains a number of typical features of an artists's website as well as a style that suits Madonna and her image. At the top of the page Madonna's name is displayed in a grey and white sans serif logo. The font type is quite basic but the use of capitals and blending of grey and white make it look professional and eye-catching to capture the audience's attention. The top of the page is seperated by a small white horizantal line across the page to create a header and another graphological feature. The website it used to promote Madonna's latest release- her greatest hits collection 'Celebration' and a small circle image of the album cover in the header offer a link to Amazon to buy the product. This demonstrates the importance of new techonology as artist's can now use the internet and websites to market and promote their products, rather than just in physical sales. The header also contains two icons that allow the viewer to sign in or sign up to the site and newsletter to recieve news about Madonna and other bonuses such as exlusive news to members. This is a key way of involving fans in the latest work of the artist and incentive to view the website. The black background, gumdrop ball and white and pink candy colours used around the video and some of the fonts and borders all link to the style, image and colours used on Madonna's last studio album 'Hard Candy' and her 'Sticky and Sweet Tour'. This creates cohesion and star image for her curren style for this album and at this point in her career. The large image of Madonna clearly displays the artist in a model like shoot containing big, curly Marilyn Manroe style hair and her covering part of her face by a silk sheet. This creates voyeurism and conveys a vulnerable side that people perhaps do not percieve about Madonna. The links to the rest of the site are displayed horizantally at the top of the page. These are News, Exclusives, Music, Media, Tours, Books, Film, Community, Store. Exclusives and Community have small crowns above them to signify these are the areas for members only- giving an incentive to sign up. News offers the latest news about Madonna, Music gives previews of Madonna's music and Media offer photos and all of her music videos to watch. Books and films offer information and links to Madonna's involvement in other projects outside music, tours give the latest information and dates about her tours and store is a link that offers the chance to purchase Madonna products and merchandise. Members get exclusve products and discounts. Therefore all links of the website promote all the areas Madonna is involved in and its main purpose is to provide links to buy her products. Each page has a new backgroud image, all of which are very different and convey how Madonna is versatile and has many images and styles across her career. Other links on the home page include hard candy fitness- a regime designed by Madonna, link to her new calander and links to follow her on Facebook and MySpace. The large video player offers the chance to watch videos of Madonna- the latest being her interview on Bullying on the Ellen Show.

Avril Lavigne

Avril's website shares the same purposes and layout of Madonna's site however they differ to suit the individual style and image of the artist and their music. Like Madonna's this site features a header like section at the top of the page that displays the artist's name, this time the logo is in a grey, sans serif, calligraphy font that along with the green forest background link to Avril's upcoming album 'Goodbye Lullaby'. Therefore it is clear that artist's websites will change their look and style to suit the latest album they have out to create and sustain that image from the curren point in their career. Therefore our music video, digipack and website must all link in style, colour, theme and image. In addition the header again has a link to a newsletter and option to sign up or login in to the membership of the site- this is an obvious way of involving fans and promoting the artist. The links/ tabs at the top of the page include news, videos and photos like Madonna's site but also include bio, blog, events, charity and fragrances- the latter two linking to other projects and products Avril is involved in. Below this is a moving display that shifts between three slides- each displaying and promoting either Avril's album, charity or perfume. This allows the viewer to immediately see the new products as they enter the site, this will grab their attention and encourage them to buy because of the accessibility and ease of doing so. The botton half of the home page acts as a blog that offers posts from Avril herself containing news, stories and events. This involves the viewer and will make them want to view the site as the posts are from Avril and so are personal, making it exciting from the viewer knowing she has wrote them. Down the right side ther are other links to photos and videos of Avril , plus her latest tweet. This highlights the importance of using social networking sites to interact with fans and promote herself and her products.

Overall, from this research I have learnt that the artist's websites are primarily used to promote the artist's latest products as well as providing news and other information about the artist and involving fans in the artist's work through signing up to the site. Websites also continue the style and image over from the album that has been released. This is something we intend to incorporate into our website.