Research: Artist Websites

Artist Websites

The purpose of an artist website is that the website can be the main source of knowledge; e.g; events, fan meet ups, new songs and albums, concert dates and links to different social media pages. An artist website is functioned and designed to attract fans and consumers in buying the producer's products.

What I expect

 For me, what artist websites need to possess would be my attention. After catching my eye with its external design, I would see if the site can answer all my questions or not. Does it take me to events and concert dates? Does it sell tickets so that I can get the chance to go watch them live? Do they sell merchandise, preview new songs and albums?. The site needs to be able to be my number one "go to" source instead of finding out on social media or places like Reddit etc. Whenever I would critique on an artist website, I put myself in the shoes of a "number one fan"and experience how they feel.

KENDRICK LAMAR

The expectations can be seen on Kendrick Lamar's website www.kendricklamar.com:

Firstly, the homepage on the website has many links that can take me to pages categorised from music, video, new and store. Also, it provides all the sources that can make me stay on this site for hours to find out information. Also, it features what is new and hot currently at the moment in the main slidebar. 

As you scroll down the home page, there are even more links of; upcoming albums, preview of new music and also, collaborated works that are frequently updated to the audience and consumers. My personal favourite would be the collaborated works of Kendrick Lamar with Kobe Bryant. The reason is because not only does the site attract Kendrick Lamar fans, but it also attracts basketball fans like myself; attracting more viewers and consumers.

Firstly, below this is the news page o  kendricklamar.com. On this page, there are articles both old and news to update audience on what has happened and what is going to happen that has got to do with Kendrick Lamar. There are a myriad of events that Kendrick is trying to present and sell to his audience from community events and album releases. All of this can be seen on the News page. 

Supporting the news page, there is an upcoming tour date as well for fans in the USA or around the world. Currently, as you can see, Kendrick is going to have a concert coming up in Texas USA. This is also effective because the site acts as a calendar as well and it helps the site become the main source of information for the viewers. 

On the website, there is also a page that keeps photos of events and fan photos being sent online via social media or other platforms. Moreover, whenever there is a promotion with albums or other products, information will be present via this web page. There will be photos being advertised to inform the viewers. Moreover, I like how the photography page also attracts the viewers with emotional and "artsy" photos which are perfect for saving onto computers or phones as desktop pictures and backgrounds. 

I got this background from kendricklamar.com. The website really does attract audiences

The purpose for having a music page is to give a taste of what Kendrick's music sounds like or does it fit to a consumer's interest or not.  Previews promote songs which eventually, if consumers like and want to download Kendrick's music, they can buy albums on iTunes or order digipaks online at the [store] page. This page functions as a money vault for Kendrick Lamar and his record company, because it is promoting his art and also help support the external factors of a digipak and boost the internal factor of Kendrick's album which is a safety in case the external looks of a digipak cover does not attract the audience.

New music videos are uploaded on this page.

Merchandise such as albums can be bought at the store page. It also has a link that can send you to iTunes to download the album digitally as well. Online stores are first come- first serve. Therefore, there will be out of stocks and restocks of products. As a result, there will also be countdown clocks that alert fans in buying the album straight away.

PHARELL WILLIAMS

Pharell's official website is also similar to Kendrick Lamar's. But what differs between Pharrell to Kendrick is the influential styles; Kendrick is more rap, with black monotone backgrounds, whereas to Pharrell Williams, his website is more graphic and pop artsy which matches his "Happy" singing style. 

Furthermore, Pharrell's web page hides media intertextuality as well; his home page is similar to the startup of an online game called Agar.io. The site s also very colourful with different colours that categorise the pages. 

Similar to Kendrick's, Williams presents his Recent news, new songs, albums and upcoming events. However, Pharrell Williams' website also has categories like Art and Design, Fashion etc to lure in a wider range of audiences. Pharrell has many fashion lines and friends who are artists who makes art pieces related to himself. Artists such as Daniel Arsham who makes sculptures and Adidas who collaborates with Pharell Williams in his NMD shoe design and his signature Adidas shoes. 

This is a great way to attract audiences like "Sneakerhead" and Artsy people who enjoy witnessing modern art. Product is also present on Pharrell's website, furniture, bicycles and other products are sold on his site as well. 

In conclusion, a good artist website for me is a website than can keep the audience's attention. Like a music video, an artist website needs to give all the information concisely and also attract the audience with its pages and wide range of products, photos etc. An artist website must outclass websites like Wikipedia, Reddit, Facebook and Twitter as sources of information. It must be a "go to" site for information for the fans. Furthermore, these websites need to look good and have a colour and layout appropriate for the genre's target audience and MUST always try and ATTRACT a wider range of audience other than fans of their own genre.