How successful have your chosen texts been for their industry?

Introduction: As ever, it’s about establishing overview (the larger picture of the industry) and showing that you understand the demands of the question.

Remember that success can be measured in three ways (The 3C’s approach):

Commercial success: How many did it sell? How many views has it had? How many times has it been played on Spotify?

Critical success: How many did NME give it? What about Pitchfork? What’s its rating on metacritic? How many awards did it win?

Cultural success: What influence has it had on music or culture in general? (somewhat harder to measure this one.

Two points: Of these, the most important to the record industry – what with it being an industry and everything – is the commercial. Secondly, the internet has changed success in many ways – for example do illegal downloads give a measure of success or not?

Beyoncé: Commercial Success

You can cite a blizzard of statistics to measure Beyonce’s success – a good one would be the fact that her most recent album went to Number One in 104 countries, sold over 1 million copies via itunes in 6 days, making it the fastest selling album in the digital music store’s history.

In addition you can point to the success of her most recent Mrs Carter tour – she played 97 dates in 2013 and has recently announced a joint tour with husband Jay Z going the title ‘On the Run’.

She has her own clothing brand and several fragrances – and in addition has featured in promotional adverts for H&M, L’oreal and Pepsi.

Her commercial success can be attributed to a range of factors – the might of Sony, astute marketing (or non-marketing in the case of her latest album), her carefully constructed star-persona, quality of songs and videos (themselves an extension of the fact she’s on Sony who can afford top songwriters, producers, directors etc.)

Beyoncé: Critical Success

Again worth starting with her most recent album. Highly influential website Pitchfork awarded it 8.8 and the title ‘Best New Music’ – giving it critical prestige to go with its commercial clout. Indeed the album was generally reviewed in more positive terms than other Beyoncé albums and was seen as an ‘album of greater depth and darkness’ than her usual work.

The album has a metacritic score of 85 (an average of all reviews).

In terms of awards, there is no end to Beyonce’s accolades – though her record-breaking haul of 17 Grammy’s is probably the most eye-catching of the lot.

Beyoncé: Cultural Success

Much to draw on here. The fact that she was chosen by Barack Obama to sing at his inauguration is of major significance.

She was recently chosen by Time magazine to adorn the cover of its annual ‘100 Most Influential People’ issue.

The fact she has fronted various advertising campaigns is a testament to the power of her star-persona.

She was the first solo female performer to headline Glastonbury.

The brand of empowered femininity that she represents informs a range of pop stars from Little Mix to Lorde.

Arctic monkeys: Commercial success

Their most recent album (AM) is their fifth. These days, few bands survive to that point in their career such are the brutal economics of the industry. Fewer still make an album that is greeted with such critical acclaim.

All five of their albums have entered the UK chart at Number One, with AM selling over 150,000 copies in its first week.

In the US it sold 42,000 in the first week, landing it at No. 6 on the Billboard Chart.

The band have headlined Glastonbury twice and continue to tour the globe extensively. Make the point that such tours compensate for revenue lost to illegal downloading.

Arctic monkeys: Critical success

Where to start? NME gave AM an impeccable 10/10. More significantly the album netted the band a Brit Award for Best Album, securing them the double alongside that for Best Band. Awards such as these, decided by the industry themselves, are usually a reward for commercial success, and help give the record a new promotional push to a wider audience.

A significant milestone on the road to success for the band was the fact their debut album won the prestigious Mercury Prize. This award gives critical prestige and again, helps market the band to a wider audience. (Awards ceremonies are essentially simply big adverts for the industry in question and its wares).

Arctic monkeys: Cultural success

Perhaps the most notable thing here is that Arctic Monkeys are a rare example of a British band who have ‘cracked’ America. Their image and sound has evolved to facilitate this and they have toured extensively to make it happen (touring is a requirement of success for rock bands in America).

Indie guitar music has struggled to make an impact on the charts in recent years – big hopes such as Palma Violets making little headway – the continued success of AM’s is rare.

They have become a reference point in the tradition of influential indie guitar bands alongside The Jam, The Smiths and Oasis.

In 2012 Danny Boyle chose the band to conclude the Olympic Opening Ceremony – a decision based on the fact that he believed that they embodied Great Britain NOW! (Or at least then).

LANA Del REY: Commercial success

Much of what you say will be based on the speed with which she rose to prominence (once, she’d changed her name and image anyway). For this she can thank the speed at which the internet can create global stars in an instant.

Video Games reached Number 9 on the UK chart and a comparatively lowly 91 in the US. (The UK often embraces new artists earlier than the US. This UK success than gives the platform for selling them ‘back home’.)

Her debut album Born to Die reached Number 1 on its week of release in the UK, and Number 2 in the US.

She has signed lucrative commercial deals with international brands such as H&M, Jaguar and Mulberry.

LANA Del REY: Critical success

LDR has been both the toast of the blogosphere and a victim of its ferocity.

Early endorsement from tastemaking website Pitchfork was crucial to her success.

She has won a range of awards, including a 2012 Brit for ‘International Breakthrough Act’ and a second Brit in 2013 for ‘International Female Solo Artist’

In addition, Video Games won a prestigious Ivor Novello award in 2012 for ‘Best Contemporary Song’

LANA Del REY: Cultural success

LDR’s instant success made her something of a cultural sensation – questions over her authenticity, her lips, and her vocal ability became hotly disputed issues in the blogosphere.

She has become a fixture on the fashion circuit – seen on the front row of catwalk shows, enhancing her appeal to fashion-savvy audience.

Mainstream media picked up on her vary quickly – from being playlisted on Radio 1 to appearances on shows such as ‘Tonight With Jonathon Ross’ in the UK and ‘Saturday Night Live’ in the US.