Artist, Audience, and Analysis for Talltale

Artist, Audience, and Analysis for Talltale

1. ARTIST MANAGEMENT - Assignment 1
Artist Selection, Target Audience Profile, and Artist Analysis


FOUNDATION

1. Have each member of your group read this article about the 9 intelligence types.
Then, take this take this quick assessment of your individual strengths.

List the names of your group members below and include their top individual
top 3 strengths. (Please note that this is a loose assessment for the purposes of
understanding your group mates better so you can function more efficiently as a
team, not a definitive statement regarding your personality.)

GROUP MEMBER NAMES AND ASSESSMENT RESULTS

John Russell: Musical Intelligence 100%/ Interpersonal Intelligence 100%/
Intrapersonal Intelligence 100%, Naturalistic Intelligence 97%, Existential
Intelligence 90%

Sydney Palakovich: Bodily-Kinesthetic Intelligence 87%, Spatial-Visual Intelligence
80%, Musical Intelligence 77%/ Naturalistic Intelligence 77%

Max Williams: Musical Intelligence 100%, Bodily Kinesthetic Intelligence 77%,
Interpersonal Intelligence 83%, Naturalistic Intelligence 77%


2. Review the artist requirements in FSO and select an independent artist based on
the given criteria.

Provide the artist’s name and at least one website where I can check out their
music and/or look and aesthetic.

Tatiana Zagorac | Talltale
https://songwhip.com/talltale
https://www.iamtalltale.com/

2. 3. Identify one well- known
artist that is similar to your artist and that would likely share a target audience.

Caroline Polachek and Tatiana share similarities in their music because they both blend
genres. Caroline works with genres such as alternative pop, art pop, indie pop,
experimental pop, and Avant-pop while Tatiana jumps between genres like indie pop and
electronic.

TARGET AUDIENCE
Answer the questions in the “TARGET AUDIENCE” section for your artist’s
audience based on research into the well-known artist that you have identified
above. A minimum of one resource is required to be cited and listed in APA
format in the Target Audience section.

4. Target Audience - Demographics:
In 1 or 2 well-written paragraphs, provide information regarding the target
audience’s age (5-10 age year range), relevant social communities or
scenes they’re in, lifestyle descriptions, and anything else you deem
relevant. Use this article to help guide additional inclusions.

The target audience for Talltale spans ages 16-35, with a core segment likely between
18-28. This group comprises all genders, with a slight lean toward young women and
LGBTQ+ members who resonate with alternative, indie pop, and introspective
storytelling. This audience is highly engaged in online social communities where self-
expression and individuality are celebrated, often gravitating toward platforms like
TikTok, Instagram, and Spotify. Many members are active in social circles that
appreciate anime culture, rave and festival scenes, and alternative lifestyles, with some
overlap in emo and gothic communities. These scenes allow fans to explore unique
aesthetics and forms of self-expression, both visually and musically, which aligns with
Talltale’s authentic and creative approach.

3. Lifestyle-wise, they’re urban-based, either living in or connected to major cities where
indie music thrives and live shows are frequent. This audience values inclusivity,
creativity, and emotional depth, finding identity within niche communities that
embrace diversity and alternative perspectives. They are likely to attend live music
events, enjoy art and visual culture, and support artists who share personal, authentic
content. With a love for storytelling, they resonate with artists who explore raw
emotions and relatable narratives, making them a fitting demographic for Talltale’s
introspective and expressive style.





5. Target Audience- Psychographics:
Give 3 specific examples of each of the following behavioral categories as
they pertain to your artist’s target audience.
1. Hobbies/Lifestyle Choices (Ex. fitness enthusiasts, cars,
outdoors, social justice movements, dancing, etc.)
Among releasing music and touring, Caroline avidly travels,
models, and shows interest in her distinct style of fashion
sporting many eclectic designer pieces.

2. Clothing/Accessory Brands (Where do they shop and what do
they buy?)
In 2017, Caroline Polachek was featured in a #MYCALVINS ad.
“Solange, Kelela, Caroline Polachek, Kindness, and Dev Hynes
are all featured in Calvin Klein's new #MYCALVINS campaign,
and, in a new video, the group comes together for a jam
session while sporting their Calvin Klein denim.” (Dandridge-
Lemco, 2017) Caroline has also worn Loewe and
Ann Demeulemeester.

3. Major Social Media Accounts They Follow
Caroline follows Pitchfork, Crack Magazine, and Numero
Magazine, she has also done interviews with them.

4. Relevant Personalities/Influencers They Follow
Caroline Polachek follows Jimmy Fallon and Stephen Colbert
and has performed on their live shows. She also follows
Beyonce and has collaborated with her in the past.

5. Other Similar Artists
Caroline’s most recent collaboration has been with Charli

4. XCX. Their collaboration on “Everything is Romantic” was
released on October 10, 2024. She has also opened for Dua
Lipa’s Future Nostalgia Tour in 2022 and has collaborated
with The 1975.

6. Movies and TV Shows
Caroline has released songs for several movie soundtracks
including “I Saw the TV Glow” and “Minions: The Rise of Gru”
as well as had her music featured in shows like “The Summer
I Turned Pretty”.




6. Quick Pitch
Read this article about how Spotify uses quick pitches in their playlisting
decisions (there are example pitches at the bottom of the article), as well
as any additional research into the process that you would like to utilize.

Write a 500-character maximum pitch for your artist. Currently at 659
characters.
Based in Edmonton and Toronto, Canada, Talltale is a 30-year-old singer who
refreshingly blends indie pop with electro-pop. While music is her first love, she is by
no means a stranger to the arts with a background in photography and videography.
Talltale attended MacEwan University’s music program for composing and drumming
and has experience collaborating with numerous artists. While she produces music in
her home studio, Talltale has performed for Music Day in Canada, toured with Laur Elle
playing drums, and even has been nominated for electronic/ dance artist of the year for
her mini-album “Sunshower” which was released in 2023 for BreakOut West.

7. Primary Platforms
Identify at least 3 online platforms (examples: Instagram, Twitch,
SoundCloud) that you feel will be crucial to the success of your artist based
on their music, personality, strengths, fan habits, and the success of
similar artists.

List the 3 platforms you have chosen below and prove a minimum 2-
sentence description for each regarding why you feel that platform is
important and why your artist could thrive there.

YouTube- Talltale already has a collection of music videos posted to her YouTube
platform, with a combined view count of over 40,000. Since she is a smaller artist it would
be beneficial for her to post more music videos and visuals for her songs to be discovered.
The most recent song she released is her song Crush XOX which was uploaded in April

5. 2024. Her most recent video was posted a year ago, so keeping her platform as updated
as possible would be beneficial.

Instagram- Instagram is a great platform for artists to advertise on because it is free to
post to and one of the most simplest forms of social media. Talltale currently has over
2,000 followers and it is essential to let her fans and followers know about upcoming
releases, milestones, new projects, live events, and snippets. Caroline Polachek has over
600,000 followers and regularly updates her page with stories, posts, and news.

Even- After continuing to boost Talltale’s social media and once she gains more traction
it would be most beneficial for her to join Even. Even is a platform that allows fans to
support their favorite artists directly by purchasing their music, and paying for exclusive
content, limited merchandise, and fan experiences. The great thing about this platform is
you can use it along with streaming as an additional source of income and you can get
paid daily and have more access to detailed fan data.


8. Provide at least two pictures of ideal members of the artist’s target audience.
Remember to consider the demographic and psychographic information you listed
above when choosing these images.

GETTING TO KNOW THE ARTIST:

Discuss the questions sections below thoroughly with your group in regard to your
artist, then answer them in writing.

Talents

6. Choose at least 3 talents out of the list below that apply to your chosen artist and
write 4 sentences describing each talent (total of 12 sentences).

Please elaborate and provide specific details, considering things like particular lyrics that
grabbed you or got them attention, influences, other artists they get compared to, etc.

1. Singing

Talltale has a unique voice that mixes emotion and clarity. Her ability to convey
vulnerability allows listeners to connect deeply with her music. Her enchanting harmonies
and melodies will stay floating in your head.

2. Songwriting and Lyricism

Talltale's songwriting shines through with her deep lyrics. She creates narratives that can
resonate with any listeners, often drawing from personal experiences but still including
universal themes. Lyrics like "keep me up, i’ve been sleeping with my eyes half shut".
showcase her ability to transform vulnerability into strength. Some compare her writing
with artists like Phoebe Bridgers and Caroline Polachek.

3. Look and/or Aesthetic

Talltale's aesthetic is a blend of indie and almost ethereal elegance, which perfectly
complements the genre of music that she works in. She often uses visuals in her videos
or streaming service banners. Her choice of colors and theming evokes a dreamy,
introspective atmosphere. An artist who uses the same strangergies is Lana Del Rey.

Elements of Experience
Choose at least 3 elements of experience that apply to your chosen artist and write 4
sentences describing each element of experience. (Total of 12 sentences) Please
elaborate and provide specific details.

1. Recording/Producing
Talltale creates her music from a small home studio where she has been working
for over 8 years. Her main focus when recording music is to bring to life to the
emotions she felt when creating the song. It allows the listener to really zone into
the artist's perspective on the creation of the song.

2. Cowriting and Collaborating
Impressively, Talltale has collaborated with four artists over the span of her
career. These artists include Madi Allen, Alex Klingle, Laur Elle, and Father Bobby
Townsend. Her collaborations reflect a mix of musical styles, giving her the chance
to experiment with different genres. These not only demonstrate her versatility
but also create a new sound that could appeal to a broad audience.

7. 3. Social Media Growth
Across all social media platforms, Talltale has expanded her following to around
3k followers and 24.8k monthly listeners on Spotify after nearly 7 years of officially
releasing music. This was caused by her consistency in music and the success of
her biggest single titled ‘Tennis Club’ which has accumulated 1,027,933 streams
as of 10/29/24. This single marked a milestone for her as it is her only song to
surpass 1,00,000 streams. Her top 5 most popular songs on Spotify hold a joint
streaming total of 2,015,749.



ARTIST SWOT ANALYSIS:

To evaluate your chosen artist, write 4 sentences describing each element of a SWOT
analysis. (Total of 16 sentences) Please provide a minimum of 2 specific examples of
each category and give specific details.

1. Strengths
One of Talltale’s biggest strengths currently as an artist is her artist branding.
Across all platforms including her YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and website her
pastel, ethereal aesthetic continues to remain consistent which is essential for
building credibility especially when reaching new fans and audiences. A second
strength of Talltale’s is her packed discography. She has released albums, EP’s, and
singles dating back to 2017 which is impressive considering how small she still
remains. Not to mention many collaborations with various artists which opens her
up to exposure from new audiences. To her advantage, she also has fun beats and
catchy lyrics that are perfect for dancing and singing along to lyrics.

2. Weaknesses
A main weakness of Talltales’ is that she currently has no TikTok platform which is
an essential way of marketing for artists that may seem daunting to new users.
The great thing about marketing on TikTok for artists is that artists can choose how
involved they want to be on the platform. Some may feel the need to post their
music every day, but something as simple as posting a cover of a song creates
exposure for new fans. TikTok also allows artists to gain a deeper understanding
of their target audience by getting the chance to repost videos, use artists’ audio,
and comment/ interact. While Talltale does have a packed discography, it has
been over six months since she released music which can be considered a
weakness since consistency is key, especially for small artists, and can limit her
discoverability. Because of this, she also lacks social media content, leaving room
for fans to be discouraged when wanting new music. During this period, she
should be posting covers of music and posting sneak peeks of upcoming music.
She also just recently completed her first tour, so she should be posting pictures

8. from her shows and live performances.

3. Opportunities
A potential opportunity for Talltale is to create an email list for fans to join when
visiting her website. Her website design is flawlessly executed and matches her
branding as an artist. While there is a link on her website to email her directly,
there’s nowhere for diehard fans to sign up for updates, merchandise, pre-saves,
or tour announcements. This is a simple feature for Talltale’s fans never to miss
an update from her and her work. As mentioned previously, Talltale has an
extensive background in photography and videography. While she has directed
and edited some of her music videos, she has the potential opportunity to
transform her social media even further completely. She can edit and record
short-form video content to upload as Reels on Instagram, TikTok videos, and
Reels on Facebook while continually advancing her game as an artist by shooting
new music videos for songs like “crush xox” and “kiss, kiss, cry”.

4. Threats
A potential threat of Talltale’s is the ambiguity of her current target audience.
Because she is so small and her audience is so vast it may be hard to target her
audience completely. While this is a threat, it is by no means a critical one as she
can she just keep targeting her general audience for the time being, and the ability
to know specific demographics of her audience will come with time. Another
threat of Talltale’s is the size of her current music genre. The indie-pop genre has
gotten so popular that it could be hard to stand out among other artists. According
to Pinzón (2024), “The indie sector made up more than one-third of the overall
music business in 2023.” To avoid this, Talltale needs to regularly post content and
continue to release her outstanding music proving she is different from other
talented artists.

ACTION ITEMS:

Read this article regarding potential revenue sources for an independent artist: -
https://bandzoogle.com/blog/18-ways-musicians-can-make-money

For each of the 2 strengths identified in the SWOT analysis, brainstorm a list of 3
potential revenue sources for the artist. (Total of 6)

STRENGTH 1 – Consistent Branding - Potential Revenue Sources

1. Merchandise Sales - With her strong pastel and ethereal aesthetic, Talltale could
create branded merchandise that resonates with her fans, such as t-shirts,
posters, hats, and accessories that reflect her visual style. Merchandise with her
unique branding would attract her audience and reinforce her visual identity.

9. 2. Sponsorship and Brand Partnerships - Her consistent aesthetic across social
platforms makes her a suitable candidate for brand partnerships, especially with
companies in fashion, beauty, or lifestyle that align with her pastel and dreamy
aesthetic. Potential sponsors could include brands like Glossier, ColourPop, or
smaller brands that specialize in alternative/indie aesthetics.

3. Patreon or Subscription-Based Content - Talltale could monetize her aesthetic
and behind-the-scenes content by offering exclusive material on platforms like
Patreon. Subscribers could gain access to exclusive music, video content, early
releases, or themed visual content packages that reflect her signature style.

STRENGTH 2 – Packed Discography - Potential Revenue Sources

1. Streaming and Download Revenue - With a well-established discography, Talltale
can earn revenue through streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and
YouTube. Fans of her past work are likely to revisit her music frequently,
generating consistent income from her catalog.

2. Sync Licensing - Talltale’s collection of catchy songs is ideal for sync licensing,
where her music could be placed in movies, TV shows, or advertisements. Songs
with fun beats and catchy lyrics are particularly attractive for commercial
placements, which could bring in substantial revenue.

3. Physical and Digital Album Sales - Offering her discography in physical formats,
such as vinyl or limited-edition CDs, could appeal to her dedicated fans and
collectors. Additionally, digital album bundles or exclusive editions on her website
would provide a direct revenue stream while connecting fans more personally to
her work.

For each of the 2 weaknesses identified in the SWOT analysis, brainstorm a list of 2
potential ways to improve or fix the issue/circumstance. (Total of 4)

WEAKNESS 1 – Limited Audience Reach

1. Social Media Engagement - come up with social media campaigns that can
connect with new listeners by using content that appeals to specific
demographics.
2. Genre Appeal - Her music isn't considered as a major genre yet so if she
branched out experimenting with new sounds that crossroads with popular
genres such as pop or even R&B, she could be able to attract a wider audience.

WEAKNESS 2 – Branding

10. 1. Brand Identity - it would be useful to create a main visual and thematic identity
including a logo or font style for the era. The theming would be most effective if
it matched her persona and music vibe.
2. Content - consistently scheduling content postings on social media platforms
would boost her engagement. If Talltale started sharing behind-the-scenes
footage, personal stories that helped her write songs, and music insights, she
could build a stronger brand narrative for herself.

11. An Interview with Talltale



Q: Who was the first artist/band you saw live?

A: Hilary Duff. It was such a fun concert and I am a huge fan of Hilary Duff and seeing
her live was a huge highlight for me as a kid. So a very cool full circle moment, music
isn’t my main source of income, I actually do photography and video for musicians as
well. I got to take some photos for a band called Winnetka Bowling League, which
Hilary Duff’s husband is the lead singer for. Hilary actually reposted some of my
photos as well.

Q: What has been your biggest streaming month and how many monthly listeners did you
accumulate?

A: 20,000-25,000 for at least a year, but around 2020ish I had about 40,000.

Q: Have you always had a passion for music?

A: I have always loved music, but I didn’t come from a very musical family. My parents
were Serbian immigrants, so I did not grow up listening to popular music. One of the
first pieces of pop music I listened to was a Backstreet Boys cassette. I started writing
songs at a very young age and I still remember some of my original childhood songs.
I also joined a band in high school, played clarinet and hated it, so I switched to drums
and that’s how I came to study percussion in university.

Q: How early did you start singing/writing songs?

A: Around 9 or 10 year old. I didn't develop my voice until around my 3rd year of
university. I had performed at talent shows and even organized talent shows, because
I was in leadership at the time. I used to get booed at talent shows and that helped
give me the drive to take vocal lessons and improve across the board.

Q: Where is your favorite place to create and produce music? Do you go into a professional
studio setting, or do you have a home studio?

A: I have a home studio, which has been nice for some projects, but my co-producer
Robbie Townsend has a studio and that is where I can work with no distractions. Kiss,
kiss cry/Crush XOX were done in about a day in the studio with Robbie. I find that I am
much more focused when I have a deadline and I am in that professional environment.

Q: I know that you love to travel. Has that impacted your music, or sound in any way? Or
perhaps sparked more inspiration? If so, explain how?

A: Yeah for sure, my first mini album was heavily inspired by trips to Japan. I got a
message from a fan a few months after my last album came out and they had an
anecdote about traveling to japan and coming across my album Sunshower, and it
became a backdrop for their trip. They described the music to have a real sense of
longing and this was what I have been trying to capture from the beginning. It is crazy
that someone was on a bullet train experiencing the same things I was experiencing

12. while in Japan, which had inspired that mini album to begin with. Trying to capture the
bittersweet feeling of preemptive nostalgia has always been a big thing for me. It’s sad
to some people, but it’s those human emotions that I really connect with and what my
audience connect with as well..

Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 years, in regards to your music career (or just in general)?

A: Caroline Polachek is a great example of where I would want to be in about 5 years,
or so. Her and I have such similar styles and she has been a huge inspiration for me,
as well as Porter Robinson. He is my favorite artist and his music has had a profound
impact on me over the years. I want to keep moving forward and growing as an artist,
which means continuing to experiment with my sound and establish my own identity
as well. I also don’t want societal stigmas against age to hold me back, because in this
business, as soon as you’re over 26, you’re considered ancient and it’s especially bad
for women. So this is something I want to fight against..

Q: How have you blocked out any negative opinions formed on your career?

A: I don’t haha. In my opinion, I’m not big enough for people to really have valid critiques
on my career. As I have gotten older my anxiety has gotten worse and when I read
comment sections and try to understand people’s feelings, I get in my own head and
it becomes overwhelming. I haven’t had to deal with any direct negativity thankfully,
but the idea of that does hold me back in a big way and affects me releasing music
sometimes.

Q: Which artists do you take the most inspiration from?

A: Well Caroline Polachek for sure and Porter Robinson (specifically his Nurture
record). I have a tough relationship with my family, so that album was very healing and
inspiring. “Look at the sky” really affected me emotionally and he is hyper inspiring to
me. Having no fear when it comes to making music that he wants to make is how I
want to be. Imogen Heap is also a huge inspiration. Not many people expect this, but
Owl City (Ocean Eyes) was actually the first electronic album I ever listened to and
loved. I used to just be a paramore girl, but Owl City inspired a lot of my sound.

Q: What are you most proud of in your career so far?

A: That’s a great question, but a hard one to answer. Aside from trying not to compare
myself to other artists, I try not to look at numbers and set overly high expectations for
myself and my music. There are several things that are out of my control and I have to
accept that. I got to perform at the Canadian Embassy Showcase in Japan. It was a
small show and I wasn’t super happy with the turnout, but it was still a great
experience. I love Kpop and got to go to Korea and write with a Kpop artist/friend of
mine and see other Kpop artists that I love. Moments like that are when I feel like, not
necessarily proud, but I think to myself “hey, this is pretty cool”.



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