Music Industry

The current state of the music business is disappointing, yet progressive.

It’s extremely interesting the way it has morphed and continues to do so. The

switch to digital music has brought about a new era which affects all aspects of

the business. There are varying opinions on whether the business has improved

or declined, but the one thing that holds true is the fact that it is changing and

the future of music will form before our eyes. It’s quite clear that there are

advantages and disadvantages regarding the current industry, but is it the same

as it used to be?

The frequently used statement “back in the day” commonly refers to an older

time where things were different. Often grandparents use it explaining life in the

40’s and 50’s. In the music industry however, the statement “back in the day”

refers to a time before itunes. It refers to a time before digital music. It could

refer to the days in the 90’s when people would line up outside of Tower

Records waiting for that new album or single to drop. Of course the music

industry changed during the evolution of the LP, 8 track, cassette, and cd, but

none of these changes came close to the switch to digital music. Some say that

itunes is saving the music world. Others say they are ruining it. If itunes were

the only means of obtaining music, it would make the industry a lot less

complicated. Unfortunately there are those pesky little websites that have been

popping up for years such as Limewire or Kazaa, which provide free/illegal

downloads to pretty much any song or video the guest desires. There is no

telling what kind of revenue artists have missed out on due to these bootleg sites,

as millions are stealing their music. It is...

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...or can knock them off.

It’s my understanding that whether you believe that the industry has and will

be changing for the better or for the worse, it will always be a driving force in the

economy even during times of economic downturn. The companies like Apple

and Live Nation will surely remain on top in the foreseeable future, but anything

could happen. Unfortunately, it seems as though CD’s become more and more

obsolete as new methods of obtaining music arise. Hopefully the industry will

continue to flourish as major labels begin to make less and less sense as far as

true music is concerned. It’s truly amazing how the industry grows and changes

in a matter of a year. It clearly has its benefits as well as its negative attributes

much like any other business. The music industry is a living breathing thing, and

that will continue to remain true.