The third edition of Popular Music and Society is fully revised and
updated, deftly exploring the study of popular music in the context of
wider debates in sociology and media and cultural studies. Astute and
accessible, it continues to set the agenda for research and teaching in
this area. The book begins by examining the ways in which popular music
is produced, before moving on to explore its structure as text and the
ways in which audiences understand and use music. Packed with up-to-date
examples and data on the contemporary production and consumption of
popular music, the book includes overviews and critiques of theoretical
approaches to this exciting area of study and outlines the most
important empirical studies which have shaped the discipline. Topics
covered include:
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The contemporary organization of the music industry
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The effects of technological change on production
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The history and politics of popular music
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Gender, sexuality and ethnicity
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Subcultures
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Fans and music celebrities
This new edition adds sections on the impact of digital media on popular
music production and consumption and incorporates original ethnographic
research on musicianship and musical practices. It will continue to be
required reading for students of the sociology of culture, media and
communication studies, and popular culture.