Technology And Change: The Effects On Music And The Artists Who Create It

1660 Words4 Pages

Introduction: In the past, music has been a costly business, where only people with a lot of money could enter and be successful in the industry. Changes in the music industry coupled with new computer technology have made it much easier for people without a lot of money to compose, produce, and distribute their creation. In order to get a better understanding of the music industry in comparison to 2014, one has to look at its history. There were many things that happened from the 1980’s onward, and they brought on a significant impact towards the music industry. Development in computer technology has also made a big impression on music. Many things within these fields have enabled artists to connect with their fans in a way they couldn’t before, and on a lower budget. In this paper, the discussion will be about all of these topics, and about the factors that help transform the music industry into something altogether easier for new people to contribute. History: Back in the early 1980’s, record labels controlled what people could hear through airplay, record distribution and manufacturing, and selective promotion of music based on their judgement of their audience. An artist’s only feasible option was to go through this system. To obtain music of high quality, people had to buy vinyl singles or albums or tape, and later, only CDs. There was no practical way to listen to music before buying it without listening to or taping off the radio. Music was very restricted by several different record companies. The record labels in the industry select what music they think people want to hear, and they try to sell the music. Although a lot of times the artists the labels push are not successful, there are also times where they succeed. Art... ... middle of paper ... ...ability have been transformed by the internet, newer technologies, and other changes throughout time. What happens now is in the hands of the artists and their fans. Works Cited Calamar, G., Gallo, P., & Calamar, S. (2009). Record store days: From vinyl to digital and back again. New York, NY: Sterling. Haire, M. (2009, July 1). A brief history of the walkman. Time, 1-2. Retrieved from http://content.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1907884,00.html Kot, G. (2009). Ripped: How the wired generation revolutionized music. New York: Scribner. Prices for pro equipment. (n.d.). Retrieved from B & H Photo Video website: http://www.bhphotovideo.com Telecommunications Act of 1996. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://transition.fcc.gov/telecom.html The way the music died. (2004, May 27). Retrieved December 16, 2013, from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/music/

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