The music industry has been around for over two centuries (PBS).
Its volatility can be measured by its ability to shift and change according to its time period, the technologies that arise through the ages and the public’s shift in musical taste. The music industry is comprised of many different components, organizations and individuals that operate within it. Some of these components include the artists who compose the music themselves, the producers that engineer the sounds created by the artists, the companies that handle distribution and promotion of the recorded music, the broadcasters of the music such as radio stations, and professionals who assist the artists to further and better their livelihoods, such as lawyers and managers. All of these components work in cohesion to compose what is the larger industry of music. In order to fully understand how the music industry has survived and changed in the face of obstacles, one must look at its short history.
The music industry only really started to emerge in the 19th century when sheet music began to be printed and distributed. People did not listen to recorded music until 1877 when Thomas Edison invented the original phonograph, so instead they would buy sheet music and play the music for themselves. Over the next century technologies were invented that streamlined the recording and listening of music such as creation of records, jukeboxes and the household radio. Mass production techniques were invented at the turn of the century that allowed music listening to become a regular past time, which propelled the profits of the music industry. Household music listening soon became adopted worldwide and thus shaped the industry that we know today. Globalization has both benefited and plagued the modern music industry. It has allowed for the worldwide spread of music globally through technological breakthroughs such as radio and more modern technologies such as digital distribution. Contrary to this, these modern technologies have also led to some of the greatest downfalls of the music industry, almost crippling it permanently.
This Essay Discusses The Future Of The Music Industry From
This essay discusses the future of the music industry from a technical point of view, probing into details such as Napster case verdict, iPods, iTunes and next generation audio delivery formats. The Music Industry A Futuristic Look Although only a miniscule percentage of music presently sold is also distributed digitally, downloads, subscription services, ringtones and ringbacks are expected to ...
Recording labels have been forced to completely remodel they’re respective business models in order to adapt to the advent of the digital music era. The sector has benefited from globalization in more than one way. For instance, these days, it is so easy to find share and listen to music, anyone with a computer can have access to listen and buy music. Also because of the rise of the Internet, artists aren’t confined to national boundaries. Music these days transcends borders (Bloomberg).
In the case of Justin Bieber, a Canadian whose music is recognized and accepted widely by the youth of the world, has fans spreading continents all because listening to his music just requires looking up a song name on Youtube. The rise of digital technology and the Internet allows for the industry to bring together the world by finding communalities in musical taste with mass positive reception for an artist and the music he or she creates. No matter if a person is from Egypt or Thailand, that person can access and enjoy the music of any artist he or she desires. Although the music industry has benefitted from globalization, most of its pitfalls have arisen from the same source that is globalization. The rise of digital technology and the Internet has bankrupt many of the music industries biggest names. A prime example of this is court ordered liquidation of Richard Branson’s 26 Virgin Megastores closings in France due to the rise of online music retailing such as Apple’s Itunes music store, which led to Virgin France’s bankruptcy in 2013 (BBC).
The Research paper on Music Industry
The Filipinos dedication and love to music started during pre-Hispanic period. Early Filipinos love to express themselves through ethnic musical instruments. These early settlers played diversity of musical instruments which includes flutes, nose flutes, gong and guitar to play appropriate songs in commemoration of courtship, marriage, and harvest. Even during the hardest time of Philippine ...
Another fatal blow to the music industries crippled foundation was the rise of online piracy. As easy as it is to go online and buy or stream music, it is just as easy to steal it. There are thousands of websites dedicated to music piracy. Although music piracy has been on the decline in the past couple years, still about 11 percent of people using the Internet admit to downloading music illegally (Bloomberg).
Over the past decade, the use of CDs has been replaced with online streaming and retailing. This has eliminated much of the record companies revenues as they were used to making most of their profit off of distribution and promotion of physical copies of artists albums (Niemen).
This has caused for a major shift and remodeling of major players in the music industries business models. Companies such Sony, Warner Music Group and Universal Music Group have started to completely rethink the way they conduct business (Forbes).
In the past record labels were not only responsible for production, distribution and promotion of an artist and his/her music, but they also acted as a bank (Forbes), funding the artists tours and recording sessions. Recently, these music giants have been moving towards becoming more of a modular network organization. What this means is that they are less occupied with the nitty gritty, and more focused on what they do best which is distribution and promotion. This also allows for more freedom of creativity for the artist as well as fairer split of profits (Forbes).
This adaption of new business models clearly shows the versatility of the music industry in adapting to new times and technologies. One can only speculate the future of the music industry. As aforementioned, the music industry is in constant flux, changing shape and adapting to new trends and innovations. If the music industry can survive the blows dealt by the rise of the digital era, than in my opinion, it can withstand whatever test time delivers.
Hopefully, as the future of music and globalization proceeds, we will see a convergence between the music industry, artists and consumers that will benefit all parties. Globalization has the power to ruin industries or propel them to heights unseen. In the case of the music industry, although it has been affected negatively in the past, recent data shows that for the first time in years, the music industry has seen growth due to globalization and the widespread popularity of the artist Adele (Bloomberg).
The Essay on The Effect Of Digital Technology On The Music Industry
Nowadays, teenagers are living constantly surrounded by technology. Even if the younger generation may not see it, technology has had an impact on different factors. The widespread use of digital technology in the music industry has allowed consumers to reproduce digital versions of copyrighted songs inexpensively, with the help of many software and websites. There has been an increase in digital ...
This proves that something positive can be found in every negative experience, especially in regards to globalization and the music industry.
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The Evolution of Taipei’s Music Industry: Cluster and Network Dynamics in the Innovation Practices of the Music Industry. Vol. 51 Issue 2, p335-354.
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Music Radio and the Record Industry: Songs, Sounds, and Power. Popular Music & Society. Vol. 34 Issue 4, p455-473. 19p.
GÜNDÜZ, Uğur (2012).
Digital Music Format Mp3 as a New Communications Technology and the Future of the Music Industry. Scientific Journal of Humanistic Studies. Vol. 4 Issue 7, p202-207.
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Music Lessons Lessons Inform Photojournalism’s Future. “The record business died as the digital music business was born. Photojournalism finds itself at a similar juncture now.” Retrieved from http://www.nieman.harvard.edu/reports/article/102116/Music-Lessons-Inform-Photojournalisms-Future.aspx
Schweizer, Kristen (2013).
Music Industry Grows First Time in a Decade on Digital Adele. Retrieved from http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-02-26/digital-music-with-adele-helps-record-industry-return-to-growth.html
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Digital Music Report 2012. A digital world that rewards artists and creators. Retrieved from http://www.ifpi.org/content/library/DMR2012.pdf
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The Essay on Report on the Music Industry
Despite a year of headline-generating turmoil, musicians, techies, media executives and lawmakers gathering for the second Future of Music conference on Monday will find that much remains unresolved on the digital-music landscape.Over the past year, recording companies managed to force the shutdown of the free online song-swapping service Napster and launch services of their own. But they also saw ...
Taintor, Callie (2004) Chronology: Technology and the Music Industry. “An examination of some of the technological milestones of recorded music.” Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/music/inside/cron.html
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50 Cent’s The Latest To Exploit The Music Industry’s Newest Business Model. Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/sites/bobbyowsinski/2014/03/04/50-cent-the-latest-to-exploit-the-music-industrys-newest-business-model/
