Arctic Monkeys - I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor: Blog Tasks

ARCTIC MONKEYS

Arctic Monkeys: Audience

1) What do we know about the Arctic Monkeys audience? Think demographics, psychographics and how they got into the band.

Their early releases talk about getting drunk and doing teenager things which can be relatable to that type of audience that are teenagers or young adults.

2) What audience pleasures are offered by the music video for I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor?

Realism, they are wearing regular costumes and the energetic performance of the band gives a lively atmosphere of a dancefloor for viewers. It could also stimulate social interaction and portrays their confidence.

3) Pick out three particular shots, scenes or moments in the video that would particularly appeal to Arctic Monkeys fans. Why did you choose those moments?

4) How did fans take a leading role in making Arctic Monkeys famous back in 2005?

Sharing Arctic Monkeys' music through file-sharing websites/platforms which increased the band's exposure leading to more listeners and fans attending live performances.

5) How are fans positioned to respond to the band? What does Arctic Monkeys want fans to think about their video?

The Arctic Monkeys may hope to evoke emotional responses from fans through their music video. Whether it's excitement or nostalgia, trying to strengthen their bond with fans.

Arctic Monkeys: Industry

1) How did the Arctic Monkeys first achieve success and build up their fanbase?

They used the growing popularity of the Internet and social media platforms to promote their music as they uploaded their songs, fans would share their music and discover more. They pretty much harnessed the power of the internet at an early stage and built their strong fanbase from it.

2) Why was P2P file sharing and MySpace an unexpected aspect to Arctic Monkeys' early success?

They gained exposure from it as the platform was provided for artists to directly connect with their fans and share their music so they used it as a promotional tool.

3) How does the rise of Arctic Monkeys differ from how BLACKPINK were formed and became famous?

The Arctic Monkeys did not get formed by a major entertainment company, provided with huge budgets and had their hits written for them unlike BLACKPINK.

4) Who is Arctic Monkeys record label and how many copies did they sell of their debut album? Why did they choose an independent record label?

Their label is Domino Records and they sold 360,000 copies in the first week then over 1.5 million in just the UK. They chose this record label as it aligned with their desire for freedom to develop their music career.

5) Looking at the wider music industry, has the internet been a positive or negative development for record companies and artists? Why?

The Internet has fundamentally transformed the music industry as it provided platforms which can be heard globally, has direct to fan communication and majorly increased exposure

Grade 8/9 extension tasks

Read this excellent Guardian feature on the Arctic Monkeys on the 10th anniversary of I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor. What key statistics can you take from the article concerning developments in the industry and the Arctic Monkeys' role in these changes?

Read this BBC News report from the time - documenting the records Arctic Monkeys broke.

Finally, read this short Guardian feature asking if Arctic Monkeys changed the music industry. What does the article suggest?