Issues in contemporary music industry & Research into two decades in music industry
1.
2.
3. Streaming videos is content sent in compressed form
over the Internet and displayed by the viewer in real
time. With streaming video, a Web user does not have to
wait to download a file to play it. Instead, the media is
sent in a continuous stream of data and is played a it
arrives. YouTube is one of the most biggest and popular
music video streaming program. There are dozens of
musicians who allow there music videos to be viewed by
fans and viewers on streaming programs (YouTube).
Many artists prefer streaming as they can still earn a
lot of money through the number of views.
For example Musician Zoë Keating is also in
favour of streaming music videos. Google Doc
revealed that nearly 97% of Keating's income
came from sales of her music on iTunes,
Amazon and her own Band camp website.
4.
5. Streaming music videos means that music videos are now
targeting the niche market through the use of internet. This
means that music videos have also been able to become unique,
challenging and diverse, so they no longer have to appeal to
everyone; instead they can reflect the genre of their music and
push the boundaries.
Zoe Keating is a non-mainstream artist and she specifically
targets audiences who like to listen to Contemporary classical
and cello rock
Keating mainly uses the music-streaming service called Spotify
6. A new button within the Spotify app
allow users to bounce whatever music
they're playing to compatible speakers
on their Wi-Fi network. This is because
Spotify streams directly to the speaker
from its server, it doesn't necessarily
need the device that was used to initiate
the streaming to remain near it, or even
to remain on.
This means that any device linked to
the Wi-Fi network can connect to the
speakers. It also means it doesn't
drain the battery or prevent you from
doing certain things with your phone
while you're listening to music at
home
7. Record labels are losing the control
they have over the distribution of
music videos due to losing control
over audiences accessibility. This is
because audience no longer have
the need to watch the most
expensive and dynamic videos such
as buying albums, instead audience
can watch music videos on YouTube
or Daily Motion
8. Audiences are no longer controlled; they watch what
they watch to watch; instead of watching/listening to
radio stations or music channels such MTV which
selects which tracks and music videos to play. The
increasing number of fans have emphasised the power
and popularity of music videos. For example the
`Gangnam style` hit 1 billion YouTube views.
Streaming also gives unsigned artists the chance to be
noticed and discovered- For example; Scooter Braun
“found” Justin `Bieber` on YouTube
9.
10. In the 1970s Disco become one of the biggest
genre of the decade, especially across North
America, Europe and Oceania. Other popular
genres were smooth jazz, soul, funk and hip
hop. Rock (punk rock, heavy metal, hard rock
and art rock) was mostly popular in the
Western countries.
11. Disco is the genre music which is
most associated with the 1970s.
Discos music videos consisted of
first appearing in dance clubs
using popular dance movement
such as “The Hustle” by Van
McCoy
Many Disco Divas at the time
were singers such as Diana Ross,
Donna Summer, Gloria Gaynor
and Anita Ward.
The film `Saturday Night Fever` was
released in December 1977, starring John
Travolta and featured the music of the `Bee
Gees` and several other artists. It had the
effect of setting off disco mania in the
United States. The `Bee Gees' soundtrack
to Saturday Night Fever became the bestselling album of all time.
12. Another reason for the rise of popularity of Hip
hop music during the 1970s is because it was
described as an outlet and a "voice" for the
disenfranchised youth of low-economic areas, as
the culture reflected the social, economic and
political realities of their lives (genre audience;
mostly in New York City-Bronx). The lyrics told
stories which artists went through and through
Hip Hop music they presented their values and
believes (which were similar/shared by a lot
people living in New York at the time)
Rapping roots from African-American music. AfricanAmerican traditions of signifyin, the dozens, and jazz
poetry all influence hip hop music, as well as the call
and response patterns of African and AfricanAmerican religious ceremonies. Hip Hop music and
culture was formed during 1970s in block parties; It
was introduced first in New York by immigrants from
Jamaica and from the Caribbean (including DJ Kool
Herc0considered father of Hip Hop). It then became
increasingly popular in New York City, especially
among African American youth residing in the Bronx
13. The Hip Hop subculture is a world wide influence (majority of
its audience are non-black-75%) and it is one of the most
popular genre in the USA. Hip Hop grew its popularity through
being played at parties, basement parties and on the streets of
New York. Busy Bee Starki, DJ Hollywood and DJ Afrika
Bambaataa are known for inventing the term `Hip Hop. In
1979, hip hop rose awareness through the production of Sugar
Hill Gang's "Rapper's Delight." This was the first enormously
successful hip-hop song. As hip-hop began to evolve, rap
became a rhythmic form of expression against "the system"
such as the police. Subsequently, this prompted the music and
film industry to endorse rap and to collaborate with it. In 1985,
Krush Groove was released. This movie depicted the life of rap
music, earned $17 million and took rap to the next level: such
as becoming mainstream.
14. Music was mostly consumed through the
Radio and record album & tape.
`Rock` and `Roll` was one of the main
genre during this era (some famous artists
from this genre was Elvis and Chuck Berry)
Chuck Berry made Rock & Roll influential
by incorporating things that weren’t
focused before the 1950s such as electric
guitars, showmanship, guitar solos
Musicians would constantly be seen
on the road; to reach a wider range
of new audiences; in order to be
widely spread in being noticed
Subculture was based on
youth; teen gangs in
particular which emerged
from the culture of being
progressive, non-conformist,
open about sexuality and
resisting authority
UK major record
companies
established-several
producers and artists
launched for
independent label as
an outlet for their
work but failed
Before being famous, artists started small and
worked their way up to be recognised; they
started to perform locally at clubs and pubs and
worked in low end jobs such as waiters in Tinsel
Town
15. The British Invasion was a
phenomenon that occurred in the midBeatles was a band
1960s; when blue rock, beat sound,
which was part of the
rock and pop music of British culture
British invasionbecome popular within the US
developed a viable
national music industry
`swinging
60s`
Television broadcasted
music award shows, which
highlighted the best music
of the month/that year;
these shows helped albums
to become popular and
sales of certain records
continued to rise
The rock era continued
and American country
music was also introduced
Music during this era was more than
R&B-at that time the music was
about taping into what was
happening politically e.g. `Happy
Birthday` for Martin Luther King (for
his birthday to become a national
holiday) by Stevie Wonder
16. A lot of artists rose to fame because their
music was tackling a lot of real life issue for
example Elvis Presley’s song were often
controversial or dealt with issues such as the
`Civil Rights Movement`
Very Political era-`Feminism`
and Racial tension (equal pay
rights and civil right act and).
There was a shift from religion
morals and traditional views
such as men being the
breadwinners whilst women are
domesticated and stay at home
as housewives. There was a
thirst for change and
progression (such as equality for
all races and genders)
Social impacts-people going
out and socialising e.g.
enjoying themselves with
friends and partners at the
Disco (social gatherings)
Elvis Presley’s Unique selling
Point-although he was white
he sang like a black man (he
could sing at a very fast pace
e.g. like in rap songs)
It was the beginning and the start of a modernising and
developing society (which started to unfold itself during
this era) towards progression for example the values of
the society known were religious and strict; many parents
of young girls who were fans of Elvis were worried. This is
because Elvis use to have a sexually provocative
performance style such as swinging his hips. Many young
girls of that generation loved him and his pop star image.
However, the generation before such as parents saw this
as a concern; the new generation were less attached by
traditional values and belief such as religion
17. Society started to become more
progressive and less tied down by
traditional values and beliefs e.g.
Dance movement which were
unacceptable during the previous eras
now started to become more
acceptable e.g. the Elvis Hip thrusting
movement become a lot tolerable by
parents and audience.
Audiences consumed music through
“tapes” and “cassettes” (fairly cheaprecording popular songs of the radio
channels) and the TV such as `MTV`
and `Top of the Pop` =easiest way to
watch music videos
Famous artist Michael Jackson (often referred as the
`king of Pop`) not only influenced singers to just sing (in
particularly Black Afro-Caribbean American artists) but
also to perform and dance (Michael was one of the
first artist to create music video-one of the reason why
he is still a musician legend)
`R&B` & `Pop` was
very famous e.g. Abba,
Queen (rock), Michael
Jackson. Whitney
Houston, Prince, Lionel
Richie, Flash’s them
Public gatherings & parties-artist recognised in
bars & performance clubs (mouth-of-word) and
therefore being noticed and signed by label
records. + Going to concerts was high on the rise
because it was a chance to see the artist
Michael Jackson’s `Moon Walk`-everyone went wild for it;
kids would stay up late to watch this, his music and dance
style. A lot of Michael's song such as `Billie Jean` was
targeted at younger audience than adult (more focused on
a younger market)
Music videos (very popular in 80s) took focus
from radio-MTV (channel which aired music
videos and music which were top of the chart)
changed the essence of music (now no longer just
songs but also visuals) and a lot of money was
pumped into it because it was a big promotional
method as it was visuals-communicates the
power of visual art and how it had an impact on
the music industry
18. `Hip Hop` continued to
grow e.g. artist such as
Britney Spears and rose to
fame and `Pop` and `Punk`
were another genre which
continue to grow
Hip Hop become the biggest
Era when different genres
selling
collaborated + reconstructed
together e.g. `neo-soul` + `punk funk`
Michael Jackson was named
as the `King of Pop`
Largely delivering music to public
while selling CD remained popular
Madonna (although was controversy
Adoption of the internet-opened
at the timeup other ways for people and
sexualised and blasphemous) came
audience to listen to CD and songs
into success and had influence over
(e.g. online downloads and
Western media culture. Rappers such
websites offering music)
as `2Pac` also came into fame
(however 2Pac’s death occurred
Female rap artist such as `Foxy Brown` and `Little Song’s` were
during this era)
quite sexually explicit; sang and expressed rap through
mentioning about sex: it was what male rapper would usually sing
Although rap was seen as
about (was seen as a masculine thing)= proved and showed that
masculine; was dominated by they can do the same thing despite them being women
female rappers such as `Queen
Latifah` and `Salt-n-Pepa`
Women embracing their bodies and
flaunting it for their own advantage=
sexual liberalism
19. There was a rise in female
singers and
Female bands
`Spice Girl` were one of
the biggest girl bandthat’s why they were
more popular (Unique
Selling Point)
Spice girls help set a
foundation of what a girl
band should be-were one of
the first who helped turn
female bands into a genre
e.g. different characters such
as `Scary Spice`, `Posh Spice,`
`Sporty Spice,` `Baby Spice`
and `Ginger Spice`
Girl power= `Spice Girl`
made way for other female
bands e.g. `Destiny’s Child`
Spice girl=they led to a rise
in all female bands= they
were the most successful
UK girl band in history and
broke into the American
market and championed
Spice Girls were one of the
most successful girl band (all the Girl Power movement.
They had movies made
female band) and set the
about them, dolls featuring
trend if the rise of female
each group member; had a
bands
lot of merchandises
20. Reality shows which
encouraged amateur singers to
become professionals and to
start a career as artists such as
`Pop Idols,` `X Factor` and `The
Voice` (allowed to create own
singles an get the attention of
the publicity
High School Musicintroduced the pathway
of musical shows as
well as setting the trend
of incorporating music
into soap dramas (Glee)
and films (Camp Rock)
Hip Hop remained popular
and artists collaborated to
create an image e.g.
`Rihanna` ft. `Drake` and
`Jennifer Lopez` ft `Pitball`
Matrix came out-led a
trend in introducing slow
motion moves and fastpacked movement in
YouTube became very
music videos
popular and becoming a very
popular ground for allowing
amateur singers to realise
their own clips and be
recognised by record label
and than being able to
Consumed through
pursue a career as a
CD’s, music
professional artist companies
channels, online
for example artists such as
music webpage
Justin Bieber and Sarah Nash
such as YouTube
and Free YouTube
convertor (also the UK genres= garage and
electronic music initiated from
car radio)
early 90s e.g. Lissia Mactia, Ms.
Dynamite-these music still get
signed by record companies
21. Artists use social media to
promote themselves e.g. fan
page on Facebook. Twitter
Indie Pop become
increasingly popular
`Sex` being promoted,
represented displayed and
expressed freely than ever
before e.g. music videos with
adult or sexual content e.g. New
songs with blacj guy
Pop stars having more
power over consumer such
as setting fashion trends
e.g, 2003-2004 Ian shogger
hairstyle and beard become
popular among young men
in the UK
Underground institutions targeted a
niche market e.g. although Lady
Gaga’s style of music and visual are
unusual and very much underground
she has also started to target a
mainstream audience
Selling merchandises such as
T-shirts, posters, artist’s own
makeup brand/ eye lashes
has become increasingly
popular e.g. Girls Aloud eye
lashes set
Pop stars being involved in other
Mainstream institution media and events (film premiers)
target a wide market and other than music and videos to
help further increase their
follows values of what
popularity and `brand awareness`
normal artists should
e.g. L'Oreal advert featuring Cheryl
feature in their music
Cole and Rihanna staring in and
videos
Lady Gaga as a special appearance
in `Men in Black Film/`One
Direction The Movie`