Rachel Smith
J 209
August 2nd, 2011
Final Paper
Lady Gaga: A Growing Media Franchise There are many up and coming singers in the U.S. today striving to set themselves apart from others in order to be recognized in the music industry. Five years ago, this was the case for Stefani Germonotta, a young singer trying to separate herself from all the other singers searching for recognition. Stefani, now known to the world as Lady Gaga, was able to not only gain recognition in the music industry for her singing and song writing, but also learned that she needed to create an image that would completely set herself apart from other pop singers. Now known for her outrageous fashion, daring lyrics, and unpredictable performances, Lady Gaga has gone to extremes to sell herself as a music and media icon. Luckily for her and everyone involved in the brand that is “Lady Gaga,” going to extremes has certainly paid off. There are many individuals and companies that help make up the brand that is “Lady Gaga.” Individually, people that must be considered are the song writers and music producers that create the songs for the albums. Lady Gaga herself actually co-writes many of the songs that end up on her albums. Others include her primary producer RedOne, as well as her one-time boyfriend Rob Fusari who co-wrote some of her early hit singles such as “Paparazzi” (CD jackets, billboard.com). One other crucial individual is the A&R representative, also known as artists and repertoire representative, who serves as the middleman between the artist and the record label. Vincent Herbert has served as the A&R representative for Lady Gaga’s past three albums including The Fame, The Fame Monster, and her latest album Born This Way (CD jackets). Another important individual who is in charge of business decisions and marketing partnerships is Lady Gaga’s manager Troy Carter,