Does the music industry creat the market?

Music labels nowadays are part of a big corporation who have interests in other Medias as well. For example Sony, who have their own production companies for television and film, Song also create the products technical products that we use. So many companies have control over many elements of the global industry I can be correct to say that the music industry does create the market, as they are creating the music that we have and listen to, they decide what is being released. The music that is released is only what we know, and what is being broadcasted to us so people begin to like certain music and begin to follow. The music industry has control over the making and releasing of the music, but they do not have control over individual taste. The music industry however does not have complete control over the industry, they are release and promote the music and artists but it is the audience who decide if they like it or not and decide what they are going to buy, and this is normally something that they like.

Are Blackness and whiteness useful concepts in the study of popular music?

The concepts of Blackness and Whiteness can to a useful term when referencing the artist or where the origin of the music is from. However the terms can just be seen as a term that is easier to understand. Music today is not just produced my black and white people or just from within the genres of music that is originally from that background. Music can not just be classed as either just black or white music. Music has become a global industry which produces a variety of music from different backgrounds and cultures who create music about the issues that effect the way that they live. Although the idea of white and black music can been seen as having an influence on some of the music that is created from these within cultures. E.G Bhangra Panjabi Good morning (2003). The use of these concepts reduces it to colour and not the talent of the artist.

Are subcultures a sign of revolt or an expression of style?

Subcultures are when groups within society are formed based on an idea or beliefs, these groups tended to use style as a way of expressing their thoughts and opinions on the way that society was run or the way they they felt it should be run. I think that subcultures can be seen as both a form of revolt and style. For example the punk movement created style that had a radical imapct on society.

Can popular music be a genuine force for political change?

Popular music has an influence on society today, when it comes to political issues music has been used on various occasions to promote a political or protest on certain issues. Band Aid in the 80s created an awareness of the African poverty, the media coverage of the song was huge so it created an awareness of this issue. A political song like band aid can only be influential, depending on the listener and how they are effect by the issues that are being sung about. One song can have an effect on one person, but may not on another and from this their political viewers and opinions can change. I believe that political music and protest can have a genuine change on a person’s opinion, however the music does not have a force upon this person unless they are willing to embrace the lyrics and mean of the song and do something about the issue.

IS DRM the best way to save the music industry?

DRM stands for: Digital rights management. DRM limits what you can do with a digital file, it won’t let you copy files, and it also won’t let you play files on different formats. DRM can be seen in use by apple, who only allows you to play their songs that you purchase from their store on either I-tunes player or on an Apple I-pod. In a way this helps them safe guide their products as the songs can not be copied. DRM in many respects does protect the music industry; however there are many other ways for people to gain music, for instance illegal download sites where people file share. These sites can be viewed in two ways, the first is that the programs are stopping the industry from making money, secondly is that the programs also create promotions from the artists which may influence people to go out and buy the artists album. I believe that people use these sites as CD are too expensive and they see that most of their money goes to the music company and not the artist.

Week Four: What is world music and why does it exist?

World music is normally music that is outside the ‘normal Anglo American’ sphere. World music is what we class as music that is not spoken in the English language, for instance record shops categories world this way, as it is spoken and produced in another part of the world. People from other culture would see our music as world music due to the language barrier and the cultural differences from different parts of the world.
World music exists because music is a world wide business and an interest and passion to many people. If there was no passion for music it would not be made, people make music to represent there thoughts and feelings on where they are from or even issues that are happening within their culture. World music is hard to define in many ways, however depending where you live and where you are raised, you will class world music as music that is not sung in your spoken language and that comes from a different country.

Week Two- What are the strengths and weeknesses of Petersons Production of Culture and Perpective in the Birthof Rock N' Roll?

What are the strengths and weeknesses of Petersons Production of Culture and Perpective in the Birthof Rock N' Roll?

The weaknesses of Peterson’s article is that he focuses on the industrial side of the music industry and how it is organised and that these things were the reasons why the birth of rock n’ roll happened. Peterson doesn’t look at the emotional side of rock n’ Rock, looking at the performers of the music and that the lyric, music and the actually performers could be the main reason why rock n’ roll was born. In many ways people have to like the performer of the music, and the music for people to have an interest. Although the strengths of the article are the many elements within the industry which helped develop the music. The ASCAP wanting to increase their licensing fee meant that the radio networks that were in disputes with them set up BMI, which allowed all the writers and publishers that, had been excluded by ASCAP. By doing this meant that blues and soul music were able to be played more, this type of music can be heard in many rock n’ roll music.