Arctic Monkeys – Audience & Genre Research

Tom Hogan

After analysing music videos by artists such as The Last Shadow Puppets, The Courteeners and Arctic Monkeys, one is able to gather a brief understanding of what the fan bases are like. The musicians and actors within the videos have many apparent similarities that influence their audience and their music. The impression gathered of the fan base after looking at such videos is that the audience is of mixed gender and aged between 16 to late 20’s. They are interested in dressing in a particular way that emphasises their love of the music genre and they could be seen as rather rebellious.

Music Video Research Analysis

The birth of indie rock music took place in the 1980’s with new, young bands such as The Smiths  and Joy Division signing to the independant record label Factory Records. The low production budget combined with the working class musicians resulted in a DIY approach to writing, producing and performing music. Since then, indie rock music has survived to produce many other successful bands - unlike some of the scenes and genres that began as a result of indie music such as Madchester and Acid House - that have influenced the likes of Arctic Monkeys. The early indie-rock musicians themselves were heavily influenced by the earlier Rock n Roll artists from the 50’s and 60’s. The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin played a huge part in setting the foundations for generations of aspiring musicians.

Understanding the history of a music scene/genre

The clothes worn by many of the band members and audiences are traditional of genres that have influenced indie music over the past 60 years, such as rock n roll, punk and psychedelic music. Leather, denim and harrington style jackets are regularly worn by artists and fans of the genre. Combined with skinny jeans and polo/woven shirts, often by brands such as Fred Perry, Ben Sherman and Pretty Green. Having derived from the council estates of Manchester, the indie music genre as a whole has a very urban aesthetic to it, with many music videos taking place in similar city-based areas. The music also tends to appeal to more working class people as they are able to relate to the music easily.

Mise-en-scene of the genre

After researching and analysing album advertisements by Arctic Monkeys and Plan B, there are numerous similarities between the two that adhere to the mise en scene of the genre. The first of which being the presence of a strict colour scheme that is maintained throughout the advertisement. In the AM album advert, a simple black and white colour scheme is used to emphasise the minimalistic theme of the advert. The Plan B advert coincides with this. The name of the band or artist is also published in large, bold letters that contrast with the background colour on both of the adverts. Plan B’s advert conveys his attempts to present himself as a 1950’s/60’s rock n roll/soul singer by picturing him in black and white, holding a retro microphone and wearing a suit. The use of black and white in the arctic monkeys advert also creates a vintage, retro theme in a similar way.

Album advert research analysis

Having been sparked by the appearance of punk band “Sex Pistols” at the Lesser Free Trade Hall in Manchester, 1976, it is unsurprising that many of the early indie bands shared the opinions of anti-establishmentism. With thatcher leader of the conservative party and coming into power in 1979, many of the northern working class people felt disenfranchised and a real hatred towards their government following the closure of many northern mines. The mines were a prime source of income for many northern families which meant many northerners were left unemployed. Famous singer of The Smiths, Morrissey often wrote his anti-monarchist views into his lyrics along with many other indie artists with hit songs such as “The Queen is Dead” (The Smiths), “Elizabeth My Dear” (The Stone Roses), “Her Majesty’s Prisoners” (Manic Street Preachers) and “Flag Day (The Housemartins).

Understand the key ideologies of indie music

Key bands and artists of indie music

The Stone Roses

Arctic MonkeysBloc Party The Smiths

Oasis

Joy Division The Libertines

As a result of Arctic Monkeys’ audience being predominantly young, many will listen to their music as they are able to easily relate to the lyrics. This has been a key motivation for many indie bands’ audiences over the course of the genres history as the lyrics often talk of realistic situations. The melodies of Arctic Monkeys’ songs, particularly in their earlier music, are extremely catchy which has lead to many of their songs being used on TV shows such as The Inbetweeners, which also has a predominantly young audience. Also, some of the audience will listen to their music in order to feel accepted into a group of people.

Motivations of an indie audience