Research & Planning: Initial Research into similar websites

Main Codes and Conventions of music websites:

Usability- Easy to use site with clear areas for navigation around the website.

Grid System- Separate sections of a website to present information in small, easy to access segments.

Centre of Page- Used for main content with navigation tools on the left and/or across the top of the page and links to more information on the right.

Background and Font colour- Used to separate different types of information.

Images- Used to illustrate as much as possible to add visual interest.

Features: Black Background, logo, video, advertisement, menu

Features: Black Background, logo, advertisement, no clear menu, tour dates, social media links, tour footage available

Features: Mainly black background, logo, video, advertisement, no clear menu, social media links.

Features: Bright background, small logo, advertisement, menu and social media links.

Features: Predominantly black background with image slideshow, logo, video, advertisement, menu. 

Features: Black Background, large logo, video, advertisement no clear menu, no clear social media links.

Differences:

• Placebo site has a very bright background.
• Catfish and the Bottlemen site has no background image.

Similarities:

• Black backgrounds
• Arctic Monkeys, Royal Blood and Drowners have a video embedded on the welcome page.
• All websites advertise the latest album on the welcome page.
• Arctic Monkeys, Placebo and Three Days Grace all have a menu at the top of the page.
• Placebo and Drowners have a social media link.

I have found this research extremely interesting. These websites seem to have a holistic approach to advertising the band, For example, the same image is used on the Drowners cover as the image on the website. This is very effective as it creates brand recognition. My favourite website for usability is Placebo, as the navgation titles are in bold at the top of the page.  I also believe that Royal Blood makes great use of the grid system, which makes for a very attractive website.

Update 20th September:
I will not be researching websites any longer as I have decided to create a digipak, magazine advert and music video for A2.