Evanescence – Rock/Alternative

Official Website - http://www.evanescence.com/

Conventional features

Can download videos from iTunes

Exclusive performance by the band

Photo gallery

New album advertised

Can join their official fan club

Ringtones

Official tour merchandise – T-shirts, bags, keychains, stickers, cards, wristbands, CD cover sticker, 2 piece necklace, button pack

Latest news

Upcoming tour dates

Advertising ‘Nightmare Revisited’ – theme links to their image

Layout design

Dominated at the top by the key image – links to the band’s image

All other options given about equal spacing

Semiotic analysis of key iconography

Black background

Yellow and green misty, use of light, other worldly, supernatural

Image – church-like building, very grand, chandelier, illuminating butterflies

Images used are all of the lead female singer – used to sell the band

Typeface

‘Evanescence’ is in white

Imagery of the moon tied into the font – connotations of something supernatural, witchcraft

Interactivity

New single plays as soon as you enter the site

Nightmare Revisited –can watch the trailer for and the making of ‘Nightmare before Christmas’

MySpace - http://www.myspace.com/evanescence

Conventional features

Image of band

Pop out player – can play their tracks

Can contact them

General information about the band

Upcoming shows

Blog entries Discography – link to all their albums on Amazon

Biography

Nightmare Revisited –can watch the trailer for and the making of ‘Nightmare before Christmas’

Link to:

- Exclusive performance for Live Sets

- Evanescence threads

- Youtube channel

- Fanclub

- E-news

- UK E-news

Watch/download their videos or buy their album

Ringtones

Merchandise

Record label

Layout design

Dominated by animated image of the band at the top

New album not advertised at the top, nearer the bottom

More focus on the band/upcoming tours etc

Semiotic analysis of key iconography

Animated image of the band – distinctive, makes them stand apart

Female lead singer at the forefront, more sexualised, used to sell the band and their music

Female lead singer wearing a black dress made to look unrefined, raw

All dressed in black, serious/moody expressions – band image

Grey misty background, tree branches

Typeface

‘Evanescence’ is in white

Imagery of the moon tied into the font – connotations of something supernatural, witchcraft

Other font is yellow, red and white

Straight, simple

Interactivity

Pop out player – can play their tracks

Nightmare Revisited –can watch the trailer for and the making of ‘Nightmare before Christmas’

Can watch their videos

Ne-Yo – R&B

Official Website - http://www.yearofthegentleman.com/

(named after his album, iconography compliments ‘gentleman’ theme)

Conventional features

New album advertised at the top

Can play the video for his new single ‘Part of the List’

Blog information

Latest gigs

USTREAM – slideshow, videos – live blog etc

USTREAM chat

Can become a member

Twitter feed

Can subscribe to his mailing list, mobile list and Ne-Yo feed

Link to a forum

Images and video links

Advertising a CD with a link to Amazon, Ne-Yo is featured on the album as a duet partner on one of the tracks.

Layout design

More space given to Ne-Yo’s blog

Videos of Ne-Yo live or in the studio are given prime space and more focus

Music video for his new single is on the side at the top.

Semiotic analysis of key iconography

Background – cream colour, image of Ne-Yo his signature look, wearing a hat and suit, slightly blurry.

Goes with the name of his album ‘Year of the Gentleman’

Typeface

Black, white and brown font

Straight, simple, sophisticated, classy

Interactivity

Can play the video for his new single ‘Part of the List’

Videos from his blog

Slide shows

USTREAM chat

MySpace - http://www.myspace.com/neyo

Conventional features

Store – can buy Ne-Yo hats, T-shirts, autographed towels, beanies and a poster

Can access his video blog – takes you to his official website

Video of Ne-Yo dancing in the background

Can add Ne-Yo as a friend

Can play the video for his new single ‘Part of the List’

Loads of images and video links

Biography ‘About Ne-Yo’

Ringtones/videos/wallpapers

Can buy all three of his albums

Advertise album ‘Just Dance’ as it features one of Ne-Yo’s tracks

List of concerts

Layout design

Screen within a screen

His name is bigger than the album title

Album advertised at the top and takes up a lot of space

A lot of space given to the music video for his new single (near the top)

Lions down the sides – connotations of masculinity, strength, the alpha male

Semiotic analysis of key iconography

Background – grey and black, almost 3D effect, image of Ne-Yo his signature look, wearing a hat and long black suit, looking to the left out of the picture,

Goes with the name of his album ‘Year of the Gentleman’

Typeface

Name of his album as a title on the website

Mainly grey font, some gold

Straight, simple, bold

Sophisticated, fancy, curly

Interactivity

Can play the video for his new single ‘Part of the List’

Pop out player – can play his tracks

Ne-Yo’s official website is more about him with the focus on his live blog and video clips of him in studio. His myspace is mainly focused on his new album and new single with his biography near the bottom of his myspace.

La Roux – electro-pop

Official Website - http://www.laroux.co.uk/

Conventional features

Link to a forum

List of their tour dates (click on red door)

General information.

Link to iTunes (click on the internet café), Amazon and HMV

Can download their new track ‘Fascination’ for free by entering your details so that they can add you to their mailing list and will send you latest news about them

Can watch their music videos for free

Images and video links

Social Networks - links to Myspace, facebook, Last FM, Bebo, Youtube.

Can sign up and become a fan.

Audio player and press

Layout design

Dominated by image of the street

The image moves with your mouse

Bottom left corner – advertise new album along with previous debut album

Semiotic analysis of key iconography

Similar to their myspace

Black background – quite edgy

Electric avenue

Colourful iconography – urban city street, modern, distinctive imagery

Electric avenue, The Flamingo Lounge, Nails shop, shops,

Typeface

White and grey

Simple, straight, bold, edgy, pointy

Goes with their cool, edgy image.

Interactivity

The image moves with the mouse.

Noise of the city.

Cars drive by, birds in the background, red door opens, traffic lights,

MySpace - http://www.myspace.com/larouxuk

Conventional features

List of gigs

Link to iTunes and polydor.com so you can buy their music

Pictures

Videos

Banner advertising debut album ‘Bullet Proof’

Link to their Official Site.

Contact list so you can send a message, become a friend etc

General information – music influences

Link to their blog – link to Lily Allen’s blog on file sharing (Lily supported La Roux on their tour)

Layout design

Banner advertising their bedut album at the top

Dominated by image of the street

Music video for new single near the top

Link to the ‘Official Site’ and to ‘Get The Album’ – promotion of the album through the single

More focus on their music

Semiotic analysis of key iconography

Black background – quite edgy

Colourful iconography – urban city street, modern, distinctive imagery

Electric Avenue, The Flamingo Lounge, Nails shop, shops, orange, green, blue and red neon lights,

Typeface

Simple, straight, bold, edgy, pointy

Mainly in white and red

Goes with their cool, edgy image.

Interactivity

Music video plays as soon as you enter the site.

Pop Out Player – can listen to their tracks.

Can mix, sing and remix her music

La Roux’s MySpace has more focus on their new single, albums and music with less emphasis on them as their blog entry is given less space. Their Official Site is more about the band image.