Mainstream
vS
iNDEPENDENT

some Artists that have been signed to Island are: 

Tove Lo

Demi Lovato

Nick Jonas

Disclosure

Leona Lewis

Ariana Grande

Childish Gambino

DISCLOSURE

Disclosure are an English electronic music duo, consisting of brothers Howard (21) and Guy (24). 

They specialise in house/future music.

Disclosure have made themselves a logo which can be identified in any of their ancillary products, this helps their audience distinguish them from other artists due to their uniqueness. 

Clothes

MERCHANDISE​​

Vinyl records/ CD albums

Merchandise: For artists signed to mainstream labels, they are able to produce a lot of different types of merchandise which represent them. For example Disclosure have merchandise which fans can listen to and wear. They can produce many products like these, because they have such a wide audience. Although their main target audience are 18-24 year olds, the vinyl records suggests that they are also targeting those who are older.

INDEPENDENT

LANTERNS ON THE LAKE

Their target audience is a lot smaller than Disclosures' due to their genre being Indie pop. They however will still have loyal fans, just which will purchase their merchandise.

Merchandise:

CD's, Vinyl and posters- not a wide selection due to their budget not being as high as a group that is signed to a mainstream label.

Advantages

• Owns alot more money than Indie labels (independent).
• Mainstream labels can spend more money on promotion due to their large budget. This helps to create a large fan base for their artists. Leading to even more purchases of their merchandise.

disadvantages

• Artists don't have much control over the type of music they want to create/release. 
• They have no control over their image instead its done to please fans; may not reflect their true character.
• Target audience will have to pay alot more to see these artists

Mainstream 

Advantages

• Owns alot more money than Indie labels (independent).
• Mainstream labels can spend more money on promotion due to their large budget. This helps to create a large fan base for their artists. Leading to even more purchases of their merchandise.

disadvantages

• Artists don't have much control over the type of music they want to create/release. 
• They have no control over their image instead its done to please fans; may not reflect their true character.
• Target audience will have to pay alot more to see these artists

Mainstream 

Independent

Advantages

Disadvantages

• The label the artists get signed to is more likely to specialise in their type of genre; allowing less restriction over their input on the type of music they want to create.

• Less money to spend on promotion, therefore the artist/s doesn't get as much recognition as a mainstream artist would. This suggests they also make less money, because their fan base would be alot smaller.

How important is merchandise and ancillary products for success of band and audience:

• Plays a major role in how the audience views the artists. Which will determine how loyal they are to the artists and how much they will support them by buying their merchandise.
• A lot of merchandise and ancillary products promote the artists which help them gain a bigger fan base; suggesting that they get a lot more money.