Planning - Artists Website

During the research I've been doing I looked at the website for the original artist of the song Howl - Florence and the Machine.
The first thing I noticed when looking at this webpage was the landing page that came up first, before taking me to the homepage. This is a great way for the artist to promote herself, there are three big pictures of the artist in the middle of the page; assuming this is the cover of the artists upcoming album Ceremonials. This helps to promote the artist straight away as it advertises her new album and gives details and dates of an Exclusive Album launch live stream which is a way for the artist to connect to her fans and promote her music. The background of the landing page is black and the title of the artist is at the front. in big, grey, curly joint up writing. The font suggests the type of artist she is, quite alternate and different pop. The repetition of the artists picture is reinforcing herself and to continuously promote her and she is seen from many different angles on just the landing page before her actual homepage. The big image also makes it clear to the fans (who are most probably clear to this) I reminder of who she is and how good she looks in this picture! The same album image is used to link her to the album and continuously promote it to her fans and the buyers of her music.

On the homepage of the website there is the same picture (repetition constantly links the artist to her upcoming album) and there are faded images of her in the background too. The font is the same and black background makes the artist (who is pictures in colour and white to contrast the back) stand out the most on the page, thus promoting her. The artist is looking sophisticated in a silver shimmery v neck dress, with her hair out of her face and her eyes closed. Her body language is quite relaxed yet her arm is positioned across her body giving off timid and self conscious connotations. This conveys the type of artist she is, she is not bold, sexy and pictured as confident and powerful. Instead she is pictured shyly and as though she is day dreaming or resting; which connotes her alternative style rather than the bold RnB and Pop artists. As well we the 'grungy,dirty looking' rock artists.

Here are three images of the sort of things features on the artists webpage. At the top there are several links to pages like:

• Gallery - a constant supply of updated images of the artists to entice fans
• Videos - includes videos from her previous album and interviews etc to give the artists
• Members - a place which gives special offers to members who subscribe to the website
• Signup - a chance for new or old fans to sign up to membership at the website
• Live - live talks between fans, so they can share music and continue to promote the artist globally
• Flotique - (play on words makes it more memorable and personalised) artists merchandise to continuously promote her.

Also on the homepage is an embedded video of the artists latest single off her new album. The song automatically plays when you go on the website which ensures that every fan who clicks on her page (with sound!) will have access to the song. There is also an interactive blog which links to social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook which enables another way for the artists to interact with the music on the website. It is also an easier way to reach its audience, as social networking sites and internet are on the go with most phones and gadgets nowadays. There are also images from the artists debut album Lungs which features the popular tracks she was recognised by. Reference to this in the updated version of the website of her new album will remind her fans of her previous album, the type of music it is and this is entice them to purchase her knew album and possibly even sign up to the website!

http://www.florenceandthemachine.net/index - a link to her website.