Target Audience

Target audience is crucial in understanding a music genre's ability to appeal to a certain type of audience that will buy an artist or bands songs, hence making a profit. Its also important for understanding audience wants or needs in order for songs to become great hits and artists to be popularised by public liking. 

Whether Indie Pop/Rock or alternative this particular music genre has become increasingly popular over the last few years and has allowed many freelance or independent artists/bands to be producing their own music. The genre can be quite diverse in its branches of sub genres such as pop, rock or alternative which can allow it to appeal to a wider variety of audiences who prefer the rock or pop side of the Indie genre. Since I have decided on the Indie Folk/ Pop genre, it contains a niche audience who are interested in the Indie genre, and help me guideline the conventions and details I could use for my music video. 

Indie music is unique and original to what other mainstream music is like, hinting that the target audience are influenced by the music's themes, artists and songs to be different from the conventional crowd. In terms of class, the music is available to all classes but mainly working and middle class. This is due to the nature and settings of the music videos being low budget (however can have a high budget depending on popularity of the artist to attract the audience) and mainly using a fresh, simple but creative soundtrack or live music. Also the settings take place in public places such as a park, forest, city or the streets. This highlights the connection between the music and its fans, being down to earth, natural singing used with upbeat sounds or effects and common settings that people are surrounded by. Additionally, since most people are middle class it is more accessible on both the Indie Folk and Pop side of the genre, for fans to be attracted by its individuality and popularity.

The songs I will look at are mainly done by female artists, so I can recruit a female performer for my music video. Hence I am aiming my products mostly at the female gender as the Indie female artists aim to. Usually, females are more associated in being fans of popular music, with listening to Pop or R and B and males are more likely to listen to Rock and Indie genres. However, more females are identifying themselves or taking an interest in Indie songs in both style, artists and of course songs and there themes. The audience will buy tickets for concerts, live music festivals and with the influence of the artist themselves the kind of clothes and make up they would wear. The genre of Indie Folk/ Pop music will also have a wider appeal to both female and male audiences, when including some elements of Pop within the main Indie part. Considering this, a male audience and younger or older audience will be able to listen and observe my products too, as I understand the genre’s diversity and the interests of others, in their taste of music and artists within my actual audience.

Considering the age of the audience, it would be mainly targeted at those between 15 - 25. This is because Indie music's nature is divergent and distinctive to societies mainstream flow of music. Teenagers and young adults can be rebellious and unique which sets them apart in the way they think, act and look compared to older adults for example. Within this period, they go through many hardships, the freedom of independence, goodtimes and relationships, making the Indie genre more relatable in its themes, symbolism and lyrics for young adults to compare themselves too. This does not necessarily mean that all Indie songs are about love struggles as many with other themes. With this audience, there is a diversity available for people of these ages to like the genre’s conventions and its visuals, allowing it to become popular with this specific age range.