It is evident that reality television programmes such as The X Factor has influenced the music industry at this current time. This has been proven with the popularity of these programmes and the individuals who have become sucessful from them, such as Alexandra Burke from The X Factor 2008. In addition to this, it was proven that the viewing public were encouraged to watch these programmes, vote and in the end buy the winning single and buy tickets for the tours which were held accross the UK. This was identified as commodity fetishism as it was found that an individal did not really need to buy the winners single or the tickets for the tour but they were made to think that they "HAD" to purchace these items becasue they really needed them. Where in actual fact they did not.

The working class, or the mass culture, as Adorno would call them, have been manipulated into thinking that they have to buy the winners single and that they have to go to number one in the “UK top 40 singles chart”. In addition to this, the mass cultures are also manipulated into believing they have to buy tickets for the tour. This would be a good example of the working class having commodity fetishism and false needs. The mass culture have been forced into thinking that they need to by the winners single and tickets, which would be the fetish that Adorno identified and the false needs which he also acknowledged. This is because the producers of the programme, those being the elite have manipulated the working class. However, they are unaware of this and therefore are being exploited by the ruling class. Therefore, “we are said to worship the price we pay for the ticket for the concert, rather than the performance itself, because we are victims of commodity fetishism.” (Strinati 1995 Page 58)

All this publicity relating to The X factor was therefore making the producers “happy” as more of the viewing public were to be watching the programme, its popularity would obviously becoming more popular and so, when it came to nearing the final a lot of the public were watching the programme, talking about it and voting for their favourite. This would be a good example of commodity fetishism as the producers have made the viewing public think the “HAVE” to vote for their favourite and they “HAVE” to buy tickets for the Live Tour as well as buying the winning single. Whereas, it really is not a necessity and the world will indeed run if we don’t really have the latest single by the winning contestant!

Throughout this past series of The X Factor there was not a week that went by without the programme or its contestants being on the front of the popular tabloid newspapers. Examples of these are artists who were to be guests on the following shows, romantic connections including that of Diana and Eoghan, Diana being the favourite contestant throughout the shows, Laura having a relationship with one of the producers and so could affect her place within the competition. these all gave alot of publicity towards the programme and so more of the viewing public were to be watching it every Saturday night as "everyone" would be talking about it.

On the 19th March 2009, Leon Jackson, the winner of The X Factor 2007 has been dropped by Sony; his record label after one album was not a success. However, Rhydian, the runner up of the X Factor 2007, has back him after Leon has been axed. Rhydian has proved that although you do not win the programme you can become a successful artist.

Ray Quinn Has also proved that being a runner up has helped him become very successful. He was runner up to Leona Lewis on The X factor 2006 and since then he has become a star one the West End and very recently won another reality television programme, “Dancing on Ice” which he proved to be very successful in!

Throughout this past series there was not a week that went by without The X factor or its contestants being on the front of the popular tabloid newspapers. Examples of these are artist who were to be guests on the following shows, romantic connections including that of Diana and Eoghan. Diana being the favourite contestant throughout the shows. Laura having a relationship with one of the producers and so could affect her place within the competition.

At the end of last year, The X Factor peaked at 14.59 million viewers, who tuned into watch Alexandra Burke win the X Factor 2008. This an increase of ratings from the previous year being 12.74 million who tuned into watch leòn Jackson win the X Factor 2007. This means that there has been an increase in popularity in the reality television programme X factor with evidence of the viewing rating over the past year and two series’.

Name

Karen Patience


Working Title

How has reality television programmes such as The X Factor influenced the music industry at this current time?


Brief description of proposal (please break this down into the Key Elements that you will consider)

This proposal will analyse reality talent television programs, specifically The X Factor and examine how they have change and developed the music industry over time and where it could progress to in the future.
This proposal will look at history of reality television programmes and people who have immersed from them successfully (“Eurovision”, “Popstars: The Rivals”, “girls Aloud”, “Jackson 5”, “Shayne Ward”, “Leona Lewis”)
It will then examine reality talent television programmes in different countries and how successful individuals have been in their own country and overseas.
This proposal will hopefully determine what the future holds for reality talent television programmes and the artist that come from them.


Outline of the initial theoretical perspective used to discuss the elements of the project. (you will integrate theories from the 2nd half of the course later)

The initial theoretical perspective which will be used to discuss the elements of my project will be a sociological view, with particular reference to the Marxist theory. This will examine how the social elite (the producers) exploit the working class (the viewing public) by manipulating and determining what music product they buy, for example the winner’s single and concert tickets.


URL of Blog www.karen-popularmusic.blogspot.com

Does British Music Still Matter?

I believe British music does still matter within today’s society. This is because I believe that there is a market for British groups. This is because if some artists are unable to “crack” America, they may be able to become successful within the British music market because of their the vast apparent differences in which groups/artists are aired and publicised. However, in relation to myself, I feel tit does not matter whether a certain group or artist comes from Britain or not. This is because I can honestly say I have a large range of music which I enjoy. This can range 60s-00s current music. I do not have any specific artist I listen to more than another either. I tend to listen to music which I enjoy and think has a good beat or is easy on the ear. I feel that not only my peers have had a large influence on my music but I do feel it has a lot to do with my family. This is because while my brother and myself were growing up my mother was constantly listening to music, primarily Motown classics and 70s tunes, which we listen to a lot in this current day and age. In addition to this I am also enjoying songs from my childhood, such as Disney classic songs. I feel this is probably to do with the peers which I socialise with at present. As we are the same age, we obviously grew up in the same era and therefore we are reminiscing on songs and films we used to watch and listen to when we were younger. In addition to this, as I said previously, enjoying 60s, 70, 80s, 90s and 00s music I have become drawn to a local club which plays this music rather that current dance music. However, in addition to this classics I have been subject to music which I listened to when I was in my early teenage years and so I have also found myself reminiscing to music of this era. At the moment, one of my favourite tracks from the Motown era has to be “Ain’t no mountain high enough” by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell. It has been apparent that music can be influenced by your peers because as I am currently enjoying this type of music I have seemed to influence my peers into enjoying the same type of music. However, I can say that I have also been influenced by my peers as they are into upbeat R&B artists such as Chris brown and Ne-Yo which are also in my recently played playlist on my i-pod.