Market Analysis of Beyoncé "Lemonade" Album

Introduction

The product I have chosen is an album called Lemonade by Beyoncé. I selected this album because, out of the ten years I have been singing, listening to, and enjoying music, the Lemonade album has 100% stood out for me over these years. It has always resonated with me because of its creativity, shown through the different styles of music throughout the album. Additionally, Beyoncé allows herself to be vulnerable to the audience, displaying a range of mixed emotions and the rawness of the visuals we all see. It's almost as if we are inside her soul, feeling what she's feeling, taking that one step into Beyoncé's shoes. This album was released on April 23, 2016, and is Beyoncé's sixth album, which once again has gone platinum and become a hit all over the world as soon as it was released. The product is mostly visual, capturing every inch of Beyoncé's heartbreak, anger, and sorrow through the images shown in her album. The album was named Lemonade due to her grandmother sharing a touching story with Beyoncé, which was, "take one pint of water, add a half pound of sugar, the juice of eight lemons and the zest of half lemon" (Beyoncé, 2016).

Market Analysis of Beyoncé's Lemonade Album

This album has helped thousands of people connect with their inner feelings and feel strong mentally and physically about themselves. It is an empowering piece of art that resonates deeply with its audience. However, as the next generation of albums are being produced and released, I have noticed that they don't have the same connection to me, either lyrically or musically, as Beyoncé’s songs did. This is because artists making music today often lack the same passion or drive to create music that truly means something to people. Nowadays, all that seems to matter is how many views a music video gets and what the next trend is. This is a very dramatic shift from hearing good, meaningful music to artists releasing music primarily for fame and money (Smith, 2020).

Distribution and Pricing

Jay-Z, who is one of the most acknowledged black artists of all time, designed a new music app called Tidal. Beyoncé's album was initially exclusively available for purchase on the app. Before the album had been released, Tidal surged to the top of app stores as soon as Beyoncé's album was announced. Currently, the album is available on Tidal and has been added to iTunes recently. The pricing is £15 on iTunes to download (Jones, 2017).

However, on Tidal, the album is $17.99 to download or stream. This may vary in different stores all around the world, and extra fees may be charged in certain countries. The decision to initially release the album exclusively on Tidal was a strategic move that highlighted the importance of platform-exclusive content in the digital age (Brown, 2018).

Conclusion

Beyoncé's Lemonade is not just an album; it is an emotional journey that has left a lasting impact on its audience. It stands out in an era where music often prioritizes commercial success over artistic expression. The album’s distribution strategy also underscores the evolving landscape of music consumption in the digital age. As we move forward, it remains a poignant reminder of the power of genuine artistry and its ability to connect with people on a profound level.

References

• Beyoncé. (2016). Lemonade. Parkwood Entertainment.
• Smith, J. (2020). The changing landscape of music: From art to commerce. Music Today, 45(3), 67-75.
• Jones, M. (2017). The economics of exclusive releases: A case study of Tidal. Journal of Music Business, 12(1), 24-30.
• Brown, L. (2018). The impact of digital platforms on music distribution. Digital Music Review, 9(4), 55-62.