The music industry, as with most other media forms, is in the middle of
a period of enormous transformation. Digital technologies have empowered
producers and consumers of music - traditional ways of making and
distributing music are under threat as musicians and their audiences
embrace new opportunities, many of which bypass the incumbent middlemen.
Whilst it is clear that the music industry is thriving, the traditional
recording industry, dominated by a handful of multinational corporations
is struggling to stay relevant.
The changes are so dramatic that the term "Music 2.0" has become
commonly used to delineate old and new business models and approaches.
But the demise of the traditional music industry is overstating things -
the reality is that (whilst their profits may be diminishing) they still
dominate a multi-billion dollar marketplace and exercise unprecedented
control over the star-making process. And, of course, they have the
resources to be able to reinvent themselves.
The actual future of music is a complex and contested one. This book
aims to unpack that complexity, map the changes and explain the causes
and motivations surrounding an industry undergoing change. It explores
the world of popular music from three distinct perspectives. Firstly, it
examines the new opportunities available to consumers of music -
interrogating how the lines between production and consumption are
blurring, creating fans who do much more than just listen to music.
Secondly, it draws on interviews with a diverse range of musicians
explaining their place in the brave new world and trying to articulate
their newly defined roles. Finally, it examines the industry itself, and
unpack the responses to current challenges from new and old players
alike.
