Keith Negus

Negus suggests that an artist/band is either organic or Synthetic, however both are commercial products as they are selling their image and their music to their target audience.

Organic Qualities:

• Authentic
• Original
• 'Natural'
• Play their own instruments
• write their on music and songs

Synthetic Qualities:

• Manufactured by record company
• Controlled
• Short term profits-helps fund later on
• Record company nutures talent
• The artists will be given a short time to prove their success before other combinations will be tried out

An example of synthetic artists/bands are boybands, such as JLS. They auditioned for X factor and were the runners up of the competition. Although they have choice in what they wear to a certain extent, they are dressed by their personal stylists and are portrayed how their record company want them.

They do no write their own music, lyrics or play their own instuments as their music is made using technology. Their star image has changed throughout their fame in order to fit with their mainstream audience. Because they are mainstream they have had several number ones as they have a huge audience.

An example of an organic artist/band is John Mayer. He writes his own music and lyrics, playing his own instruments. He is not in the charts as much as JLS, however he will have long term income rather than short term whilst being respected just as much.

As you can tell just from their album covers, the synthetic band focus on their looks and their image, whilst the oganic artist, John Mayer focuses on him and his music. This also applies for their music videos.