Website Analyses

Public Service Broadcasting 

The homepage of PSB's website features a strong photograph that introduces each band member as well as their new album, with a link to purchase it readily provided. The simplicity of the photograph used is reflective of the band's ideology that their music is a priority over their personal brand or image. There is a navigation bar in the top right to easily access other pages within the website; as well as a calendar and an opportunity to sign up to a newsletter. Other pages of the website can be accessed by simply scrolling up and down, a generic convention of websites. 

 The second page of the website provides various means of purchasing their new studio album. They offer various physical copies such as CD's and Vinyl. As well as digital downloads on iTunes and Google Play, and digital streaming services such as Spotify and Apple Music. The bands awareness of proliferation of music media platforms has allowed them to be successful as they maintain physical 'old school' copies of music, as well as current digital versions. 

The third page allows users to observe upcoming events. Providing dates, locations and cities for each concert. The individual boxes also act as links to purchase tickets. 

Unconventionally, the biography of the band is provided towards the end of the website. This is arguably a representation of how the band as artists prioritise their music and its message over their own star image. This is reflected in the biography, which reads 'J. Willgoose, Esq hopes the story is "applicable to industries all over the western world and possibly beyond, in the way that the Industrial Revolution generated these communities that were so dependent on one particular industry, and what happens to that community when you remove that industry from it, and where that leaves us now".' The band have an album
titled  'inform, educate, entertain', so it is not radical to assume that their philosophy is to spread a message through music, rather than gain fame and fortune as individuals.  

 The store provides quirky and unique merchandise for fans to purchase and support the band. The products are reasonably priced, reflecting a level of respect for fans, and developing trust between consumer and artist. The products are displayed in aesthetically pleasing rows of three, with no background or visible model, a minimalist technique, with a simple description of the item. 

The website provides an opportunity to subscribe to a mailing list/newsletter to receive updates on the band and new music. Very unconventionally, they also offer a 'contact' page, complete with email addresses for not only managers and booking agents, but the band themselves. Mainstream artists would never provide an email address to fans as it inevitably would be flooded with eager messages. Public Service Broadcasting establish a friendship with the consumer, essentially claiming to trust and care for their opinions. I personally contacted the General Manager, David Manders to request permission to use their song in my video, and he replied granting it within 24 hours. 

OK Go 

The layout of OK Go's website is very artistic and creative. Each category, has its own banner which becomes animated and moves when you hover your mouse over it. The conventional categories include: News, music, videos, shows, photos, information and store. At the bottom of the page there are icons with links to various social media platforms and digital streaming and downloading websites. At the top of the page OK Go offer an opportunity to join an email list to claim a free mp3 file of a randomly selected single. I am subscribed to this email list, and on top of the free mp3, you are also sent early access links to shows, and sometimes exclusive EPs, as this was a part of their Christmas Marketing Campaign in 2012. 

The news section of the band's website is a series of pages, the first one publicising the release of their latest music video, and following pages providing credits to those involved in the production of it. They also include other projects, such as covers, demos, TED talks and award acceptance speeches. All of which may have gone unnoticed by some fans should they not check the bands website. 

The music tab of their website provides free soundcloud links to all of their albums, EPs, demos, covers and members' side projects. The bands decision to allow fans free access to their music in a downloadable mp3 format is reflective of their beliefs that sharing music comes before fame and fortune. It establishes trust and loyalty through generosity. 

The video tab provides access to the bands' latest video, Obsession. There are also links to all their works. Including behind the scenes, exclusive interviews, making of videos and TED talks. Their extensive catalog of material makes them shine as true creative directors, not just talented musicians. 

Following the theme of previous tabs, the 'shows' tab also features an animated banner that moves when the mouse is scrolled over it. A quirky act of interactivity. The tab is very minimalist as the band aren't on tour currently. The 'past shows' link allows users to track gigs they were at to receive photos and videos of that concert. 

The info section of the website provides summaries of the bands' origin, their inspirations and influences, creative partners, and goals as artists. The info tab also holds their contact details, unconventional in websites; this would usually be a separate tab. 

OK Go's shop is their final tab, arguably representative of their view that money is not a priority, The products are reasonably priced, and creatively designed, reflective of their aesthetic.