Research TaskMUSIC INDUSTRY AS MEDIA

Artist/Band: A$AP Rocky A$AP Rocky is an American rapper

currently signed to RCA Records of Sony ME.

In 2013 released his debut studio album “Long.Live.A$AP” on RCA Records.

His second studio album,“At.Long.Last.A$AP” is scheduled to be released on RCA Records in 2015.

Production For his first album, there was a range of producers brought in to

work on the album. These include Skrillex and Hit-Boy. Skrillex is signed to Atlantic records whose parent label is Warner Music Group, this is an example of horizontal integration as Warner Music Group is a direct competitor of Sony ME. Similar to this, Hit-Boy is signed to Interscope Records of Universal Music Group who are also another direct competitor or Sony ME.

Additionally, there were other song writers on some of his songs as featured artists. For example the song 1-Train from his first album features Kendrick Lamar with a writing credit. Like Hit-Boy, Kendrick Lamar is signed to Interscope Records who are a direct competitor of Sony ME.

Marketing

ASAP Rocky will play a part in the upcoming comedy-drama film “Dope”. The international distribution of this film will be handled by Sony. This is an example of cross media convergence and cross media ownership which Sony takes part in as it is a conglomerate business.

Distribution The distribution of ASAP Rocky’s first album(Long.Live.ASAP) was

handled through a variety of mediums. YouTube:

The songs singles were released with music videos on YouTube. For example, Wild For The Night featuring Skrillex currently has 39,808,103 views on his YouTube channel “LIVELOVEASAPVEVO” which has 788,493 subscribers.

Streaming, CDs + iTunes:

Long.Live.ASAP was available to stream on Spotify, buy on physical CD and also digitally from iTunes from release. In it’s first week of release it sold 139,000 copies subsequently debuting at number 1 on the US Album charts. It also peaked at number 7 on the UK album charts. It has recently been certified as a gold album in America for selling over 500,000 copies combined.

Exchange One part of the exchange sector for

ASAP Rocky is the ASAP Mob clothing brand. ASAP Mob is a group which is also signed to Sony ME and includes ASAP Rocky.

They sell a range of clothing items and merchandise related to ASAP Mob artists and often appear on tours together where exclusive tour merchandise will be on sale.