To gain an understanding of how similar artists within the music industry promote themselves within the media and what common conventions are seen on their social media is needed before we start to produce our own. We chose Tinashe’s instagram page to analyse as she follows a similar demographic and target audience that we have chosen for our star. Her general atmosphere and vibe is also how we want to portray our star when it comes to making a social media page. Below is a screencastify of me and my partner’s analysis of Tinashe’s Instagram page, highlighting what technical conventions are typically seen trhoughout her page.

Screencastify of Social Media Page Analysis:

From analysing an already established star within the industry we were able to pick up on the common conventions seen within her social media page and how she as an artist is portrayed to her audience. The singer follows common conventions typically seen on most artists social media pages; close up profile picture, bio information, highlights/stories, post count and follower count. These common conventions help the media to recognise she is an established star and constantly keeping her page active for her audience, showing she cares for her fans.

Her instagram page also follows the conventions of AIDA- attentions, inerest, desire and action, through her unique images and colour pallette keeping a choerent instagram page, acting as a role model towards her fans, keeping a well organised page with easily accessabile links and audience interaction being encouraged. As well as this the Blumler and Katz, Uses and Gratifications theory, is also shown, creating a sense of entertainment, information, personal identity and social interaction. The posts follow a clever use of both digital design and photography skills creating an ‘ethereal’ and ‘mysterious’ approach towards the star’s character. She also is constantly seen to be updating her information regarding tour dates, merchandise, magazine features and more- important in order to create a brand for a star. Personal identity is seen through the regualr interaction with the audience as well as the option of buying merchandise, connecting the star and the audience together. Social interaction is extremely important for a successful social media page and this is seen through comments, livestreams, videos as well as regualr posts, allowing the fans to always have something to talk about, keeping her highlighted and known within the media.

Richard Dyer’s theory of star image is also shown throughout her instagram page with her being represented as both ordianary and extraordinary. The rgualr interactions with her fans create a humble and caring charcater whereas her posts create a sense of excitment through the professional touch helping to portray her as extraordinary.

Focus Forward:

Now having a clear understadning of how artists are able to promote themselves to stay highlighted within the media we will be able to use this knowledge going forward when creating our own social media page for our star. We have gathered an understanding that is important for our target audience to see our star as both ordinary and extraordinary so they can see different sides to her. As well as this is is extremely important to follow the theories of both AIDA and the uses and gratifications theory in order to keep the audience hooked. Regualr posts, audience interaction, marketing techniques, additional information, a coherent page and products are all common technical conventions which we will be inlcuding within our page in order for it to be successfull. This task has also given us inspiration for what we could post on our own page helping to have a clearer idea of our product.