Audience Survey Results

As a form of research for my Music Video, I decided to devise an Audience Survey that would enlighten me as to what my Target Audience preferred in a Music Video. This proved very useful as it has resulted in my contemplating whether a multi-strand narrative would be an interesting addition to my plan and, if I can devise a good enough narrative and storyboard, something I will most probably produce. The survey is to test my chosen plot which I provided the participants with and is situated below before the Survey files:

In a nutshell, I plan for the Music Video to begin with the ending of a party where difficulties have caused a fall out between one of the performers and their partner. After the scene is set that the party is over and all bar the two performers have gone home, one begins to perform the song and the other joins in. To reveal the falling out, there are flashes back to events throughout the night and other days where cracks are forming. By the end of the song; however, it turns out the partner has been listening from the exit and has returned.

Audience Survey

Compiled Survey Results

The data that can be found in the latter is very difficult to understand out of context, so below is a breakdown of each question and the responses I received. I have decided that my target audience will be predominantly Males between the ages 16 and 25 so these are the results I value most, though the others are good feedback for a general response.

Would you consider yourself a fan of acoustic music?

35% No      65% Yes

The majority of the participants that I canvassed expressed a positive opinion towards acoustic music. This is encouraging as a standalone question, though it's purpose was really to then determine the significance of their later answers. The majority of people in my target age demographic also enjoy acoustic music.

Do you enjoy watching Music Videos?

100% Yes

Again, though it reveals that I have chosen the correct brief for my target audience, this question is to determine the level of significance of further answers. 100% of my participants enjoy Music Videos, so the brief is obviously a good choice for all, not just my demographic. This means that I can value all other answers as they will be from people with experience and, more importantly, an interest in watching Music Videos. 

Is it important to see the artist and have them involved in the video?

30% No      70% Yes

70% of my participants felt the artist should feature in the music Video, a view I agree with which was a good result to obtain as I can follow my own beliefs while still catering to a large audience. 80% of my target audience, also, believe the artist should be involved so that solidifies my decision that they will be involved in both narrative and performance.

Do you feel the narrative of a Music Video is more important than the showcasing of performance?

40% Performance 40% Equal
20% Narrative

A number of my younger participants felt the performance side of a music video was more important, though as I am aiming the video at a slightly older audience, I feel their views are more representative of my audiences. I am also making an executive decision, despite there not being an overwhelming majority wanting it, to focus on narrative equally if not more than performance as I feel it will allow me to produce a Music Video more representative of my skills in film making and storytelling. 

What is your favourite Music Video?

It's difficult to represent open questions such as this in results, though I made a note of all responses - found below - and chose to watch all of the videos to gain inspiration, which I will do again when I come to draw my storyboard and shotlist; drawing from the successes of others. Two of the responses I actually chose to analyse for this blog which can be found in earlier posts.

• Bittersweet Symphony by The Verve
• Radioactive by Imagine Dragons
• All the Small Things by Blink 182
• This Too Shall Pass by Ok Go
• Hurt by Johnny Cash
• Teenage Anarchist by Against Me!
• Buddy Holly by Weezer
• Pillow Talk by Wild Child
• Parklife by Blur
• Wicked Game by Chris Isaak
• Telephone by Lady Gaga
• Let Her Go by Passenger
• Little Talks by Of Monsters and Men
• Only Love by Ben Howard
• Billie Jean by Michael Jackson

Would you rather the Music Video involved Humour or was more Poignant?

45% Humour     55% Poignant

This was a fairly definitive question; in the conception of my narrative as their are two basic themes of all texts, the Comedy and the Tragedy. I know that my main plot would work with either, so I decided to obtain which would be most appealing to others. 55% agreed that it should be poignant, though this is only just above half, so the views were fairly equal. Due to this, I may add aspects of humour to please all, though the video will focus mainly on the telling of the story and conveying of emotions.

I plan to use black and White for flashback scenes; would this appeal to you or would you rather they were graded (coloured) differently to express this?

30% Graded   70% B&W

This question is specific to a certain aspect of the video to which I did not know how to create the effect. The majority of the people asked thought Black and White would be a good effect, though a small minority liked the idea of grading the video differently. Of my specific audience, the weightings were fairly similar in opinions so I may use Desaturation and grading to appease both, but also produce an effect I am happy with.



Are you a fan of my idea? (see introduction post)

A resounding majority were fans of my initial idea, which is beginning to flourish as a more fleshed out narrative, so I am happy that I am going the right direction with production. Those that did not like the idea only expressed their scepticism as to keeping interest, which I can hopefully do. One, also, suggested that the story may not be weighty enough for a full video, which began my contemplation of a multi-strand narrative covering a number of the party guests - focusing on the musician and his partner. 

The final question wasn't answered by many as it was very open and optional, though I did receive some good suggestions - including the multi-strand narrative. One participant felt venue was very important, a view I share, so in location hunting I must be sure I have the correct place.