March Update 
For the month of March I have been going to band rehearsal with InRage. I observed the band that my mentor will be releasing soon.  My mentor has me take notes on the directions he gives to the band. I also take note of technical stuff so that I can help them keep track of what need to be improved.

Blog 17: Answer 3 

EQ

     How can the American recording industry most improve its relationship with artists?

2.  Answer 3 (thesis statement) 

      Creating an effective marketing strategy will help the artist with promotion. 

3.  List three reasons your answer is true with a real-world application for each. 

• Social media helps play a big role in promoting an artist 
•  Most bands or artists use an e-mail list to engage and build their fanbase
•  Marketing is necessary for promoting an artist 

4.  What printed source best supports your answer?

        Helgeson, Lance. "11 Ways To Make Your Next Showcase A Smash Success" MusicBizAcademy.com. September, 2002. Web. 3 October, 2014

5.  What other source supports your answer?

       Kerin, Rodger. Marketing. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2011 Print. 

6.  Tie this together with a  concluding thought.

       Marketing is an easy skill to establish and is useful for expanding an artist's fanbase. Marketing will create longevity in the artist's career. 

February Update: 
For the month of February I didn't really meet up with my mentors since they were busy but I did manage to do more research of record label lawsuits. I mostly did research of a specific lawsuit that the group JYJ had with their former company.

Blog 16: Answer 2

1.  How can artist development most benefit a recording artist?

     How can the American recording industry most improve its relationship with artists?

2.  What is your first answer? (In complete thesis statement format)

The American recording industry could reinstate artist development programs, which would increase the longevity of the artist's career and make the artist more loyal to the company. 

3.  What is your second answer? (In complete thesis statement format)

      The American recording industry should provide a contract that is fair to both the artist and record label.

4.  List three reasons your answer is true with a real-world application for each. 

• TLC had a lawsuit with LA Face Records
• 360 Deals are commonly used with record deals
• Net-Profit deals are not common deals anymore. 

5.  What printed source best supports your answer?

  Penrice,Ronda. "From Billboard hits to bankruptcy: Tlc's slow downfall" The Grio.com. 29 Nov, 2011. Web. 4 Dec, 2014

6.  What other source supports your answer?

       Schwartz,Daylle. Start & Run Your Own Record Label. New York: Watson-Guptill Publications, 2009 Print

7.  Tie this together with a  concluding thought.

       When artists feel more secure with their contracts, they are more likely to stay with the record label or even transfer over to a record label with this type of contract. 

Blog 15: Independent Component 2 Approval 

1. Describe in detail what you plan to do for your 30 hours.
     I plan to watch interview on different artists' experiences with being in a record label or their view on the music industry today. I am also watching a few documentaries for expanding my knowledge on promoting a new artist.
2. Discuss how or what you will do to meet the expectation of sharing 30 hours of evidence. 
     I will be logging in the interviews I watched on a spreadsheet in MLA format. I will also have a binder with the notes I take from watching them and what I learned.
3. Explain how this component will help your explore your topic in more depth.
    With watching the interview, I am able to be view how some artist dealt with lawsuits with their companies and viewing how music executives are able to run their company.
4. Post a log in your Senior Project Hours link and label it Independent Component Log. 

January Update 

For the month of January I managed  a showcase for my independent component. People from my mentorship came as well as some iPoly staff. I was able to perform and present new artist to the audience. The audience had fun and so did I. The showcase ended up being successful as I was able to gain a bigger fanbase for the record label.

Blog 14: Independent Component 

• Literal

          (a) ''I, Vanessa Contreras, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 30 hours of work.''

           (b) Cite your source regrading who or what article or book helped you complete the independent component. 

           (c) Update your hours in your Senior Project Hours link. Make sure it is clearly labeled with hours for individual sessions as well as total hours.

           (d) Explain what you completed.

                 I completed 30 hours with a music showcase

• Interpretive

          The showcase I did makes up 30 hours. I spent 16 hours on researching and planning it out. I spent 13 hours on rehersing and having the show. It's significant because it take alot of planning to put together a showcase. Having rehersal helps prepare the artist for the show. It also helps with getting them comfortable on stage.

• Applied

The component helped me understand my topic better since I got experience from it. I learned to scout artist for a show and manage the acts for peformances. I also learned how to market the artist when I promoted the show to the school. In a way I promoted the artist from InRage Entertainment during the show. I also learned the basics of having stage presence when I performed in the show.